Top Tips for JFS Success!

January Furniture Show hosts over 20,000 visitors who want to explore contemporary furniture, design innovations and homewares at the UK's largest furniture trade event. To make the most of your presence, there are some key things to get right—because let’s be honest, just showing up isn’t enough.

Since 2007, Tecna UK have worked with brands to deliver impactful and meaningful displays that wow the crowd. To help you on your way to exhibition success, We’ve compiled some essential tips to maximize your exhibiting experience at JFS. Let’s make your debut unforgettable, for all the right reasons.

Define your exhibiting goals

Before you even start thinking about stand design, take a moment to clarify your goals. Are you here to generate leads, increase brand awareness, launch a product, or something else entirely? Defining what success looks like to you from the start will guide your choices and ensure you have something measurable to celebrate afterwards!

Set a realistic budget

Booking space is easy, but filling it wisely is the challenge. It can be tempting to book the biggest space you can afford, which is why you should set a reasonable budget for every aspect of exhibiting..

Allocate funds to your stand design, flooring, furniture, lighting, activations, giveaways, marketing materials, and even transportation requirements. Speak to your trusted stand designer to help you with choosing the best floor space for your budget.

Choose a stand service that suits your needs

First impressions matter, and your stand is the face of your brand for the entire event. It needs to be eye-catching, functional, and aligned with your brand identity.

Research suppliers carefully, focusing not just on cost but on reliability and creativity. You can even invest in a fully managed service to ensure all aspects are managed by a single team.

Don’t forget to book power with the venue for your stand depending on the appliances and other electricals you’ll need for the show including TV’s, lighting and laptops for any demonstrations. Head to the JFS Exhibitor Zone to find out more.

Consider the time and expertise required to set up and dismantle the stand. Portable and pop-up stands offer quick assembly, while custom and double-decker stands may need professional assistance, increasing setup time and costs.

Know your competition

Identify your direct competitors by checking the exhibitor list. Look at their floor space, where they’re positioned, and what their brand and product offerings are. This gives you a peek at what they’re likely to look like to help you set your brand apart and enhance your own identity through colour, messaging and imagery.

Maximise show opportunities

Unlock the full potential of exhibiting at January Furniture Show by tapping into all the show resources available to you. Gain more exposure and easily reach your target audience by looking through their website for any opportunities including speaking or sponsorships options. 

You can also spice up your marketing mix with JFS show tools in the exhibitor zone. From social media templates to outreach opportunities, there’s lots of different ways to engage and attract new audiences to your brand.

Book your travel

The NEC offers lots of different transport links, including Birmingham Airport, Taxi ranks, bus and coach stops, as well as Birmingham International Railway Station being a 5 minute walk away. However, to make sure you’re in budget and organised for the show it’s vital to pre-plan how you, your team and even your show materials are getting to and from the venue. Whether it’s plane, train or automobile – plan ahead to reduce any issues on the day.

Staying nearby overnight? Book accommodations early to secure the best rates, focusing on proximity to the venue or transport links for easy access..

Research food and drink options

Keep your team fueled! It’s well worth making a list of nearby coffee shops, supermarkets and lunch options so that your team are well prepared with options, especially if they have any dietary requirements.

Some of our favourite restaurants are Las Iguanas, Karaage and Miller & Carter which are all a short distance away. There are also plenty of options within the NEC if you’re looking for a quick bite to eat.

If you’re planning a networking dinner or celebratory drinks for a successful show, book ahead to make sure you’ve got a table for the time you want.

Brief your team

Once you have picked your team for JFS, get everyone together to brief them a few weeks before the show. Provide some clarity on why you’re exhibiting, explain your show objectives and remind them of any rules while on the stand (e.g. dress code, mobile phone ban etc.). Ask for their input as well to foster motivation and investment in the show’s success.

Be selective with giveaways

Giveaways, marketing materials and merch are used in exhibitions to promote your brand long after attendees have visited your stand. Take time to look thoughtful and engaging items that work with your price range – usually the best kind of giveaways capture your brand perfectly and delight the crowd. As a hub for the latest innovations across food and drink, it’s well worth considering using food and drink samples or miniatures related to your business. It’s also not a bad idea to encourage a social media opportunity to reach a wider audience. 

Sustainability is of huge importance in many industries – if you’re opting for a sustainable exhibition stand why not also consider your giveaways? There are a range of angles to approach this including sourcing options that are biodegradable, recycled or recyclable. It’s also worth avoiding single use items and considering whether your giveaways will be useful to attendees for years to come.

Are you prepared for January Furniture Show?

Whether you’re new to exhibiting at JFS or have participated for many years, there’s always something you can do to refine your exhibition plans. Exhibiting is one of the most powerful ways to showcase your brand, engage with new audiences, and create lasting impressions .

With these must-know tips in your back pocket, you’ll be ready to navigate your first exhibition with confidence and success.

If you’re looking to make a splash at your next event, or if you need help designing the perfect stand, we’d love to chat! At Tecna UK, we turn ideas into extraordinary experiences—so let’s make your exhibition unforgettable.

Author

Mandy Wooster

Head of Marketing, Tecna UK

Mandy Wooster has worked in the exhibition and events industry for over 20 years running exhibitions in Barcelona, China, Australia, UAE and the US for organisers such as RX Global. She has extensive experience in marketing, content, commercial and VIP buyer roles and is a double winner of the EXHIBITION NEWS ‘Best International Trade Show’ award.