A 3D Configurator at Trade Shows: Every Variant on a One-Product Stand
4 min read
Your stand fits one product, but you sell dozens of variants. How a configurator on a screen shows them all and brings home inquiries instead of business cards.
A trade show stand fits one or two products. A buyer walks up, looks at the sauna, asks whether it comes longer or with a different finish, and gets a brochure. After the show, most brochures end up in the bin, and you have a pile of business cards with no context.
A configurator on a screen or tablet changes that.
The short answer
At a trade show, a configurator lets you show every variant while only one product stands on the stand, and collect inquiries with a full specification on the spot. After the show you know not only who stopped by, but what each of them wanted.
Three problems it solves
1. Not much fits on a stand
You brought one 2400 mm sauna, but you sell three lengths, two stoves and five finishes. On a screen, the buyer sees their own version in a minute, and the salesperson doesn't have to explain with their hands.
2. Contacts without context
A business card doesn't tell you what size sauna someone wanted. An inquiry from the configurator does: the size, extras, the price they saw, and their contact details.
3. Too few salespeople at peak times
When five people are at the stand and there is one salesperson, some leave. With a tablet or a QR code on the product, they can start building their own while the salesperson is busy.
How to set it up on the stand
- A large screen running the configurator, showing the product even when no one is using it.
- One or two tablets where the salesperson and buyer put together a variant together.
- A QR code on the product and brochure that opens the same configurator on a phone. Buyers can continue at home.
- Sending the inquiry on the stand: the buyer enters an email or phone number, and the salesperson notes that the contact came from the show.
After the show
Most of a trade show's value comes in the days after it. With inquiries from the configurator you can:
- send a quote the same week for exactly the variant each person created;
- sort contacts by product and budget;
- see which variants drew the most interest, and plan production for the season accordingly.
The same configurator everywhere
A configurator for a trade show isn't separate work. It's the same tool that runs on your website all year. At the show, it simply runs on a big screen. If you have dealers, they can use the same one in their showrooms.
When to prepare
Spring building, garden and leisure shows usually run from March to May. If you want a configurator on your stand, start planning in winter, so there is time to test it on your website before the event.
