Trade shows are used extensively, especially in the food industry, to promote new products and network with potential buyers and other stakeholders.  You may want to use a trade show if you are a start-up business or an established business with a new product.  However, trade shows can be expensive and time consuming.  You need to be sure you will get a return for your time and effort.

If you are new to the industry, it may be valuable for you to just attend the trade show rather than spending the time and money for a booth.  If you just attend the trade show you are not tied down at the booth.  This allows you to mingle with others at the trade show and learn about the industry and your competitors.

To learn more about trade shows read Steps for Using Trade Shows and Using Trade Shows for Product Promotion.  When you are Creating a Display for a trade show, be sure it focuses on what you want to achieve.

For more information on this topic, see the links listed below of articles posted on related Web sites.

• Trade Shows – Small Business Administration -- Trade shows are designed to let entrepreneurs meet many potential customers face-to-face in a brief period of time inexpensively.
  
• Attending a Trade Show - Entrepreneur.com -- They're easy enough to find. But what do you do to get there?
  
• How to Work a Trade Show - Entrepreneur.com -- Whether you're exhibiting or attending, here's all you need to know to make any trade show a success.
  
• Industry Trade Shows – Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Alberta, Canada -- Participating in trade shows can be an important part of a marketing strategy.