3 Tips for Attending a Pharmaceutical Trade Show

Pharmaceutical trade shows are a valuable experience for everyone from retailers, distributors, to suppliers, but they would seem like a wasted effort if done wrongly. If you’ve attended trade exhibitions like Pharma West Africa in the last few years, you would understand this dichotomy. Eyes gradually become glassy on the third or fourth day of a trade show, and the lackluster booths become nearly invisible to your field of view. If you should be there, but additionally have important work to do, pharmaceutical trade exhibitions can not only seem like a wasted effort, but as if they are making you worse at your job.

No offense, but you may probably be attending the trade show incorrectly. As a pharmaceutical retailer or importer, try to follow these three tips and you will get the most out of your pharma trade show experience.

1. Make a Social Calendar.

Exhibitors often refer to attendee calendars as dance cards. They need to be on yours. Prepare before the show and work out trips to companies that you wish to visit and talk with, fellow attendees you are eager to network with, and new booths you are intent on seeing. Also, allocate an hour for lunch, that’s crucial as well.

2. Attend a Lecture.

Trade expos and conferences are distinct entities, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a slight crossover in the content that they provide. When at a pharmaceutical trade show, the main feature is the exhibit floor. Whereas at a conference, the main feature is lectures. Nevertheless, trade shows will often hire/ask a few experts in varied fields within an industry to give a lecture on any topic of their choice. It is advised to all pharmaceutical retailers and/or distributors that they must go. In the pharma industry, speakers are often research scientists or heads of large companies. You will surely learn something from the experts!

3. Ask About Exhibition Deals.

Deals! Discounts! Free stuff! It’s all available at pharmaceutical exhibition booths, and you should get in on that action. Pharmaceutical companies will offer exclusive deals to repeat customers and new customers if they go to the companies’ booth, hand over a phone number, an email address. Or even purchase something from them at a trade event! Do ensure to ask the salespersons at the companies you have every intention of visiting, whether they are offering any event discounts, whether they are launching a new product. Or whether they have any deals that will be offered exclusively in their booth.

Sum Up

Although pharmaceutical events, including pharmaceutical trade exhibitions and pharma conferences, tend to be time-consuming, expensive, and usually involve travel, they are an invaluable source of information that all pharmaceutical retailers, importers, and distributors can capitalize on and get benefited. To summarize, attending a pharmaceutical trade expo and conference is a great opportunity to grasp new information, network with industry professionals and/or experts, build your reputation, and be up to date with the current trends and latest technological developments in the pharmaceutical industry.