Your focus when travelling needs to be broad and also include safety precautions before and after the show. These additional measures should be arranged well in advance of your travel plans and be reviewed each time you attend a different show. The extra effort on your part can not only protect your product and discourage criminals, but will also give you added peace of mind. Consider the following tips to maximize security before, during, and after the show:
Before
- Check with your insurance company and review what your coverage limits are.
- Arrange for your merchandise to be shipped to the show by an armoured courier service.
- If you can’t have product shipped, immediately store it in the vaults at the location of the trade show upon your arrival. Never trust your hotel safe will suffice.
- Book a reputable hotel that is highly secure.
- Be discreet and don’t share your plans or identity with other travellers. Consider creating a cover story, such as you’re visiting family or going to a business conference. Get creative and be prepared to give a few specifics in case additional questions are asked about your itinerary.
- If the security offered at the trade show is lacking or non-existent, contemplate whether it’s worth the risk to even go in the first place.
During
- Provide one-on-one attention to each customer.
- Show only one item at a time.
- Regardless of how many times you have to open and close your displays, they should always be locked.
- Use a wrist key holder or other accessory to ensure your keys are not only easily accessible, but will also prevent you from setting them down and forgetting them somewhere.
- Switch thefts are common at trade shows, so carefully re-examine each piece after it is handled by another person.
- Whether it’s with merchandise or markers, trays should be filled at all times, so you can quickly ecognize discrepancies.
After
- Take your badge off immediately after leaving the show, so criminals can’t identify you.
- Showing and selling your jewellery should be done on the trade show floor, not informally back at your hotel room after hours.
- For the safety of you and your customers, ship all jewellery that is bought at the show.
- Even if you are not returning with product, avoid displaying bags, cases, or other branded merchandise of show vendors that could potentially make you
a target. - Arrange for a ride to pick you up and avoid hailing a cab at all cost.
