A trade show is a large operation, so wouldn’t it be great if you could have a team of event-planning experts behind you? When you schedule a conference at Overland Park Convention Center, that’s exactly what you get.
Planning an event requires an eye for detail, and it’s easy for things to fall through the cracks. But we’ll be behind you, double- and triple-checking everything, so you can focus on ensuring your trade show is the best it can be.
But how do we help event planners like you host the perfect consumer trade shows? Take a look at our blog to find out for yourself.
What Is a Trade Show?
A trade show is the perfect time for the people of your client’s industry to show off the best and the newest products in the field.
Trade shows can be extremely important for the success of new businesses and the launch of new products. It also allows investors and business owners to meet face to face and discuss market trends and exciting opportunities.
A trade show can be instrumental for the success of a business, so it’s important that there aren’t any surprises. We’ve hosted plenty of consumer trade shows, and we have the experience you need to facilitate a smooth, productive event.
Resources We Offer
Trade shows can be large or small, public or private, but they all have one thing in common—they need the right venue. And when you finally settle on the right venue for your trade show, you don’t want to be left to take care of all the specifics on your own.
At OPCC, we can manage the details for you, so you don’t have to sweat the small stuff. Let’s go over some options we offer for event planners like you.
Our Team
The first and perhaps most helpful resource you’ll receive when you work with us at OPCC is our team. Our experience sets us apart, and once you meet our team, you’ll understand exactly what we mean.
We’ve worked with countless planners, organizing countless events. From trade shows to business conferences to weddings—we’ve done it all. And we can offer you expert advice based on your needs.
We anticipate your wants before you communicate them, because we know when you’re working hard, you don’t always remember to ask for help. And with the OPCC team at your back, you won’t need to.
Marketing
You can’t have a trade show without guests! With the right marketing strategy, you can help ensure that hundreds of excited guests fill your event space. But what if you’re not a marketer? What if you don’t know the first thing about organizing a marketing campaign?
You don’t want to go to all the work of organizing a trade show just for no one to show up. Don’t worry—at OPCC, we offer in-house marketing services to spread the word about your event.
We’ll post about upcoming consumer trade shows on our socials, so any interested guests have all the necessary information about your event.
Catering Services
Our award-winning head chef can provide a meal for any occasion. Our varied and delicious menu options allow us to cater to any expectation, with room for customization to accommodate dietary restrictions. From savory breakfast to dinner with dessert, nobody leaves with an empty stomach.
Ordering Portal
You can order any necessary equipment online with the help of our convenient ordering portal. Here, event planners can order booth equipment, AV services, and more. Save time and prevent headaches with this handy tool.
Loading Docks
We offer access to our loading docks to anyone planning a consumer trade show. You or your exhibitors may need to wheel in objects that are too large to fit through standard doors.
But at Overland Park Convention Center, we never want to limit planners at any step of the process. So let us know if you need to use our loading docks, and we can make the necessary accommodations.
Audiovisual Services
No event is complete without state-of-the-art audiovisual services.
Maybe you want to communicate upcoming events or activities to your guests wandering the trade show floor. Maybe you want to project a slideshow with pertinent information. Or maybe you just want to play some music to keep things lively throughout the day. No matter the reason behind your A/V needs, we can offer set-up services and dedicated support.
And with free Wi-Fi for everyone, guests don’t feel isolated or cut-off during consumer trade shows. With the help of OPCC, you don’t have to be a technical genius to bring your event into the 21st century.
Security Officials
The last thing planners want to worry about during consumer trade shows is guest safety. Many trade shows are large-scale events, so we want to mitigate risk in any way we can.
Our security cameras monitor the event spaces 24 hours a day. We also have security staff onsite to help keep every guest safe throughout the course of an event.
And should an emergency arise, our security officers have the necessary training to respond accordingly. Our security measures can provide you with some much-needed peace of mind.
Our Event Spaces
A trade show can’t happen just anywhere. You want to be sure that the location of your consumer trade show has the space and the resources you need to make your event a hit. Let’s look closer at some of our available event spaces.
Exhibition Halls
The first choice we offer for a consumer trade show venue is our exhibition halls. The exhibition halls are located on the first floor of our event center, and with 30-foot ceilings, there’s enough space for just about anything your clients may be interested in featuring.
This space also has direct access to the aforementioned loading docks. With a built-in sound system and an open floor plan, the exhibitor halls are perfect for your next consumer trade show.
Ballrooms
You may think that our ballrooms are only for banquets, weddings, or galas, and while this space is perfect for those kinds of events, they also make a great space for a consumer trade show.
This space can fit over 2,000 people, meaning that you’ll have all the floor space you need to accommodate your guests. And with LED lighting capabilities, you can be sure no one feels left in the dark.
Courtyard Rooms
Not every trade show will need to accommodate several thousand people, and with a capacity of 1,412, our courtyard rooms still have the space you need.
One of the best parts about hosting an event in one of our courtyard rooms is that they’re incredibly customizable. If you want to increase or decrease the size of your event, we can adapt the size of the venue to match your needs, so you won’t feel cramped by tight walls or exposed in an oversized space.
Become an Exhibitor
If you’re less interested in hosting a consumer trade show and more interested in becoming an exhibitor, then the best way to do that is to contact the trade show planner directly. We want to be sure there’s no disconnect between the event planner and the exhibitors, so we’ll help connect any interested parties.
We’ll post the event planner’s contact details on our event calendar, so if you’re an exhibitor and you see any upcoming consumer trade shows that could be right for you, take a look and reach out to the planner for more information.
Exhibition Advantage Program
One resource we offer for our clients is the Exhibition Advantage Program. This program offers reduced costs and can elevate the entire planning process for trade show producers and exhibitors alike. This program includes benefits like:
- A cash-back loyalty program for frequent partners
- 50% discounts at concessions for exhibitors and event staff
- Access to storage space
- Use of digital content displays
- Equipment and tool sharing to reduce setup costs
- Swag bags, filled with perks for exhibitors
- Complimentary coffee and snacks
Not only can this program make the process more convenient, but it can also make it more affordable. Our clients deserve the best, and this is just one way we provide it.
Who We Are
If you’ve never worked with Overland Park Convention Center, allow us to take a moment to introduce ourselves.
We’re an event center located in the Corporate Woods of Overland Park. EXHIBITOR Magazine, an industry-leading publication, has awarded us “Best Small Convention Center in North America,” and we couldn’t be more honored.
We’d like to think EXHIBITOR granted us this award because of our passion for event planning. We know how difficult it can be to juggle all the moving parts of a successful event, and we love being able to offer you the resources to make the process a little easier.
Learn More About Trade Shows
Want to learn more about the planning process for trade shows? Maybe you’re looking for more information about one of our other event types. Either way, our blog could be the resource you need.
We update our blog every month with new information for planners like you to use so you can offer the best possible event. Take advantage of this resource and hear the tips you need from the experts you can trust.
Plan Your Trade Show With Us
You don’t need to come in and meet with us in person to take the first steps of planning your next event. If you can’t wait to begin planning your consumer trade show, try at our online event planning tool. This tool can give you a preliminary pricing estimate based on your answers to the provided questions.
Just fill in some basic information and send it to our team. The questionnaire only takes a few minutes to complete, and it’s absolutely free, so there’s no reason to wait. Get your online estimate and get started organizing your event today.
