What is the difference between Exhibitions and Trade Shows?

Exhibitions and trade shows are both events where people gather to network, learn about new products or services, and potentially direct sales. However, there are some key differences between the two.

A trade show is an event that focuses on one niche industry at a time and is catered towards larger companies. These events are typically business-to-business (B2B) interactions, where companies in a specific industry come together to display their products or services and network with other industry professionals. Trade shows are more focused on the quality of attendees and exhibitors rather than the number of attendees. Eligibility for these events is strictly trade-only, which means exhibitors will receive an extremely targeted group of visitors that already understand the industry and are decision-makers who are looking to find out about what is new and upcoming that has yet to be officially launched.

On the other hand, an exhibition also belongs to the B2B category. It is a place where trade professionals and resellers gather to introduce new products and services1. The primary objective of an exhibition is to showcase products and services, usually covering one industry at a time, and is geared towards building the general image of a company/brand.

In summary, while both exhibitions and trade shows are events where people gather to network and learn about new products or services, trade shows are more focused on one niche industry at a time and are catered towards larger companies, while exhibitions are geared towards building the general image of a company/brand.