What is the Difference Between Trade Shows and Consumer Shows?
The difference between trade shows and consumer shows is, primarily, that an industry trade show is attended by businesses targeting other businesses (B2B), while consumer trade shows, also called expos, are attended by businesses targeting all potential customers (B2C).
At an industry trade show, your brand can promote itself to relevant buyers in the industry, such as wholesalers or retailers. Your business can benefit from forming and maintaining relationships with partners as well as generating new leads. These shows revolve more heavily around pre-arranged appointments with other companies where your booth staff present your brand’s product or service.
At a consumer trade show, you can promote your brand to consumers from the general public. The primary goals of attending these shows are to make sales to the attendees and raise brand awareness to encourage future sales. As these shows do not rely on any pre-arranged appointments, potential customers need to be drawn in with everything from free samples of your product to useful trade show promotional items to fun competitions where attendees can win prizes.
