Comments on: TradeShow Booth Babes

By: Thinking Outside the (Trade Show) Box

Thinking Outside the (Trade Show) Box — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 20:09:24 +0000

[...] are people saying about it? If everyone is talking about your trade show booth and the half naked trade show booth babe juggling kittens, but they have no idea of who your company is or what you do, then you’ve [...]

By: Best Trade Show Giveaway Idea Ever?

Best Trade Show Giveaway Idea Ever? — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 18:00:10 +0000

[...] that I’ve gone to many a time (and not because of the Makita Tools calendar girls and other booth babes there… not that there’s anything wrong with them though). WestTec is the place to see [...]

By: KrazyFace

KrazyFace — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 14:00:03 +0000

Hahahahaha!!! I was led to this site because I WENT LOOKING for booth babes!!! I’m a 30 year old male that does occasional work for the gaming industry, where (trust me on this) booth babes are a MUST at trade shows and events. There are so many gorgeous female characters from games, that to have them portayed in a more realistic form is for a lot of fans, a big bonus when visiting these shows. I can however understand that putting a scantily clad woman infront of a business booth selling grasscutter engines or windows or what-have-you, is not only insulting to potential customers but demeaning to the woman herself. Nice article.

PS, Where’d you find that picture of my dad’s synchronised swimming class buddies!?

By: The Trade Show Guru

The Trade Show Guru — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:46:35 +0000

David,
Thanks for the comment. I understand that companies will sometimes hire models who are well trained and professionally dressed, and are also attractive. But if they are professionally dressed, then they really aren’t “booth babes”… they are just attractive professional booth staff.
I think we both agree that “booth babes” are usually a bad idea, but sometimes work depending on what and where you are exhibiting.
Thanks for commenting! Steve

By: Trade Show Booth Models

Trade Show Booth Models — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:26:40 +0000

I work for a trade show model staffing company and agree with most of the comments made on this post. However it should be noted that most companies that hire trade show models don’t ask them to wear outfits like the one you see above. The majority of businesses that hire models ask them to wear business attire so that they blend in with their sales staff. Obviously if you’re hiring a booth babe for a UFC expo you will probably have them dressed in sexy outfits, but this is usually an exception to the rule. Most companies hire models to help distribute their promotional materials or get customers to try out their products or take surveys. They have much more success getting attendees walking a trade show floor to do these things when they have an attractive (male/female) booth babe doing the asking opposed to their average Joe sales person. You have to remember that a lot of the “companies” that attend trade shows are very small and might not have the most outgoing people working for them.
Two other reason companies hire booth models:
1) Foreign companies (from India and China) hire booth models to act as interpreters.
2) Companies that exhibit at trade shows across the country hire promotional models because it is cheaper than flying multiple sales staff around (hotels, airfare, rental cars, food etc.)
So I guess my point is, its true booth babes dressed in sexy outfits are a bad idea for most trade shows, but the majority of the time they just blend in with the rest of the sales staff and do an excellent job at converting potential customers into sales.
-David

By: The Trade Show Guru

The Trade Show Guru — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:23:16 +0000

Rick,
Well put… at best, most (intelligent) prospects won’t fall it, and at worst, they will be offended.
I know if I was signing an expensive deal, it would depend on the deal itself, and not the cleavage of the person handing me the pen.
Thanks for stopping by. ~ Steve

By: Rick Short

Rick Short — Wed, 12 May 2010 19:14:35 +0000

When the topic is NOT beautiful people, then using a “booth babe” is simply demeaning. At our company we respect our professionals far too much to imply that any of them (or their peers) are merely objects – and our staff and audience are far too intelligent to fall for it.

By: The Trade Show Guru

The Trade Show Guru — Tue, 11 May 2010 21:13:10 +0000

hi Jack,
You are right, it depends on what you are selling, as well as who you are selling it to. As I said, for some trade shows, booth babes may make sense (like a swim suit show, as you point out), but for “most” trade shows, they don’t… IMHO.
Thanks for stopping by. ~ Steve

By: Jack

Jack — Tue, 11 May 2010 17:41:57 +0000

I think it depends on the show. Can you image a swim suit trade show without real models? It wouldn’t be much of a show, would it?

By: The Trade Show Guru

The Trade Show Guru — Tue, 04 May 2010 14:45:49 +0000

hi Anders,
Thanks for your comment. Your story about reps leaving their booth to go hit on other booth’s booth babes is incredible, and is yet another reason against the traditional stereotypical booth babe. Although as other commentors pointed out, on a few occasions and for a few products and companies booth babes may work, they are usually a bad idea. ~ Steve
PS. Thanks for adding your insight on Europe and Asia as well!