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Marketing Science 1995

A Three-Stage Model of Industrial Trade Show Performance

Srinath Gopalakrishna; Gary L. Lilien

Pennsylvania State University

Abstract

Trade shows are an important but under-researched component of the promotion mix for most industrial products. In this paper, we develop a three-stage model of trade show performance, relying on different indices of performance at each stage: attraction, contact, and conversion efficiency. We model the impact of preshow promotion, booth space, use of attention-getting techniques, competition, number and training of booth salespeople on the extent of attraction, contact, and conversion. The results from an empirical application using data from 85 firms that participated in a major trade show in 1991 suggest significant and different impact of these variables. In addition, we illustrate how the model can be used to evaluate trade-offs among different decision variables. Finally, we develop some general results implied by our model concerning the optimal allocation of trade show resources.

DOI
10.1287/mksc.14.1.22
Sources
openalex

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