Planning for a trade show or event takes significant preparation, especially when it comes to gathering all the necessary materials to make your booth stand out. From banners and signage to promotional products and business cards, exhibitors often spend valuable time and resources trying to find quality products from multiple sources.
But what if you could work with a single sourcing partner who could provide all your event materials in one place? By partnering with a company that specializes in print and marketing materials, you can save time, reduce costs, and guarantee consistent, high-quality branding. Let’s explore why having a sourcing partner is an advantage for any vendor or exhibitor.
Save Hours of Research with a Sourcing Partner
One of the biggest challenges for exhibitors is the amount of time it takes to research, compare, and purchase materials for an event.
The Time Spent on Research and Purchasing
Business owners often spend up to 20 hours researching suppliers for a single event. This includes reading reviews, comparing prices, and verifying quality standards. Imagine delegating this time-consuming task to a trusted partner, freeing you to focus on engaging with customers and perfecting your offerings instead.
The Value of Your Time
For small business owners and exhibitors, time is money. If your hourly revenue averages $50, those 20 hours spent sourcing materials could otherwise bring in $1,000 in business. By working with a sourcing partner, exhibitors can redirect those hours into core business activities, maximizing their revenue potential and ensuring event success.
Unlock Cost Savings Through Bulk Discounts
In addition to time savings, a sourcing partner provides a cost-effective approach to sourcing quality event materials.
Bulk Discounts and Specialized Pricing
Sourcing partners regularly purchase large quantities from trusted suppliers, unlocking rates that aren’t available to individual buyers. For example, exhibitors can get better deals on essentials like banners, signage, and brochures without compromising quality.
Reduced Costs on Custom Materials
Need something unique for your booth? A sourcing partner can access competitive pricing on custom products like branded trade show displays, backdrop walls, and pop-up booths. By working with trade-only suppliers, they ensure top-tier materials that fit your budget while maintaining professional standards.
Ensure Consistent Branding Across All Materials
A single sourcing partner ensures that your branding stays consistent across all event materials, from signage to brochures.
Maintain Brand Cohesion
When all your materials come from one source, your brand identity remains cohesive. Your sourcing partner will apply your logo, colors, and font to all products, ensuring a unified look that enhances brand recognition. For exhibitors attending multiple events, this consistency helps make a professional and lasting impression.
Easy Reordering
Your sourcing partner will keep your artwork and brand specifications on file, making it easy to reorder materials for future events. This eliminates the hassle of providing new details each time and reduces setup fees.
Quality Assurance Through Established Relationships
A sourcing partner provides access to reliable, high-quality suppliers through their established industry connections.
Access to Trade-Only Printers and Manufacturers
Many sourcing partners have strong relationships with large-scale printers and trade-only suppliers. This allows them to secure priority service and exceptional quality. For example, if you need a last-minute banner or promotional product, a sourcing partner can expedite your order without compromising standards.
Local Printers as Sourcing Partners
Even local print shops can act as sourcing partners by leveraging reseller accounts with larger printing companies. This means exhibitors can enjoy the convenience of one-stop shopping while benefiting from the expertise and reliability of local providers.
Convenience: A One-Stop Shop for All Event Needs
Working with a sourcing partner simplifies the entire process of preparing for events.
Everything You Need in One Place
Sourcing partners can supply a full range of event materials, including:
- Business cards and brochures
- Banners and signage
- Booth games and branded giveaways
- Tents, table covers, and flags
- Trade show displays like modular backdrops and pop-up booths
This one-stop approach saves exhibitors the hassle of coordinating with multiple vendors, making the ordering process smoother and more efficient.
Flexibility for Last-Minute Orders
Sourcing partners are experienced in meeting tight deadlines and can often expedite orders as needed. For example, they can arrange overnight shipping on critical items, ensuring you have everything ready for the event.
Real-Life Example: Saving Time and Money with a Sourcing Partner
A local food vendor preparing for a summer festival needed branded tents, promotional banners, uniforms for staff, and custom giveaways. Instead of sourcing from multiple vendors, they partnered with their trusted event display provider, who managed everything from design to delivery.
The partner leveraged their network to secure bulk discounts on promotional products and expedited the production of branded uniforms. As a result, the vendor saved 15 hours of preparation time and reduced overall costs by 20%, ensuring a professional, cohesive look for their event.
Elevate Your Trade Show and Event Experience
For vendors and exhibitors, a sourcing partner can make all the difference in event success. With benefits like time savings, cost reduction, quality assurance, and brand consistency, a sourcing partner becomes a key asset in your event strategy.
