Tradeshow Promotion Staff - Does the hot pants approach really work?

Hi All;

I wanted to ask all the tradeshow and exhibition buffs here their opinions on using Promotional Staff on booths.

Does the approach of having a model standing at the booth or walking about in hotpants really work in terms of attracting the right sort of prospect or do u think it cheapens the image of the company using them?

If you have used promotion models what has been your experience? Did they do their job? how big a role did they play in attracting clients to the booth and generating new sales leads? How well did they integrate with your team?

Also what was the process you used to hire them? Was it through an agency? if so; to what extent did the agency help you find the right person for you?

I am currently writing an article on the art of using Promotion models at tradeshows and exhibitions and would welcome some informed opinions and comments from the members here.

Thanks

Lee
www.expostars.com

Tags: Models, Promotion, Staff, Tradeshow

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Permalink Reply by Michael Boone on March 14, 2008 at 18:59

As a former buyer in the industry before coming onto the Installation and Dismantling side, it always was a bit of a draw to go see the pretty ladies. Did it mean I wrote business? NO.
This would be up to the product and the sales staff.
Did it get me close enough for one of them to speak with me. YES.
Should they be out walking the show floor and handing out discount tickets to a strip club?? NO
Yet they have been at a couple of shows recently. This may devalue a show to those people it offends.
They should stay in an exhibit space or do not come to the show.
It is creative marketing, and it is Vegas, but there are many people with many viewpoints and cultures and their rights to avoid it should be protected.

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Permalink Reply by Richard O'Malley on March 14, 2008 at 22:16

No, having a hot girl in the booth only works if they know your product. I mean really know it. Most guys look at the model and keep walking to get a better angle at those hot pants.

You'd be better off spending the $$ on talent to attract attention.

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Permalink Reply by Kathy Sveen on May 30, 2008 at 17:18

You also need to know your demographic! If you put a bunch of hot women in a booth, that, in their off time, also work the Vegas Strip, and the demographic OF THE SHOW, is women- guess what- you just wasted your money. I good traffic builder does not have to be attractive bodies, it just needs to be different and fun to hold people there.

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Permalink Reply by Melissa on July 21, 2008 at 22:28

Having knowledgeable and articulate models/talent is a definite plus! You will increase qualified leads and decrease costs by utilizing local talent which reduces high travel expenses caused by rising fuel costs and economic pressures worldwide. All while allowing your sales people and support staff to remain in the field or offices generating revenue and servicing existing customers. I would love to provide even more information to assist you with your article. Please contact me at mplatt@cmtagency.com.

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Permalink Reply by Julie McKenna on August 21, 2008 at 15:51

It does work...It attracts customer flow to your stand.... not just that...some form of entertainment at your stand will also attract customers. If it is just you, with a couple of pull ups...sorry... but pretty girls sell products!!!
btw...if you need those pretty girls...I'm your firsl port of call!!!!

julie.
www.tophatevents.net

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Permalink Reply by simon naudi on September 12, 2008 at 15:32

Hi Lee
It is a 'politically correct/incorrect hot potato' at the moment. I have seen crowds all tutting at the 'outrageous' behaviour and attire of some girls at a show recently - it didnt stop them looking! The secret seems to be to either have someone working the 'tutting' crowd as they watch or better still, have some scantily clad beauty who also has brains and a good sales approach. Rarely will she be denied and if she can qualify or data capture at the same time all the better. The issue is still whether it cheapens your product - it depends upon who your clients are and what your products are as well i guess.

Simon

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Permalink Reply by Nigel Francis on September 12, 2008 at 23:19

Hi Lee

If you want to grab peoples attention, sparsely clad young ladies may well achieve the objective, but only briefly. It rapidly becomes embarrassing for professional business people to be seen with their tongues hanging out in the company of their colleagues and potential customers, consequently this does not produce sustained interest, which is what you actually need to give your staff time to engage them in conversation.

If you are looking for a Traffic-stopper have you considered enlisting the services of a close-up magician?

Why concern yourself with grabbing the attention of individual members of passing foot traffic, for a matter of seconds, when you can repeatedly attract, build and maintain a whole crowd of people for several minutes at a time.

Close-up Magic creates a huge amount of interest. Also the performing of close-up magic is extremely disarming. A close-up magician can easily "break the ice" and will ask questions from random crowd members. This allows your sales staff, based on the responses to these questions, to cherrypick specific people from the crowd, rather than wasting valuable time talking to people who they are unlikely to do business with.

Of course I am a Close-up Magician myself, but although you may consider me to have a biased opinion. The fact of the matter is, I am still right.