Exhibitor Checklist Generator

Generate a personalized, phased trade show preparation checklist — built from your actual show details, not a generic template with 80% items that don't apply to you.

A good exhibitor checklist is one people actually use. That means: items specific to this show, owners assigned to real functions (not vague "team"), deadlines that are concrete, and a format that works in whatever project management tool the team is using.

When this skill triggers:

• - Use it once the team knows enough about the show to start real execution planning
• Use it after budget approval or when a show is likely enough that owners and deadlines matter
• Do not use it for cost modeling; use trade-show-budget-planner for that

Workflow

Step 1: Gather Context

Extract from the user's request. Ask only for what's missing and needed to customize the output.

Required:

• - Show name and dates (or approximate timeframe)
• Booth size (sqm or sqft, and type: shell scheme vs. custom build)
• Team size traveling (affects logistics, staffing, and shift planning)
• Primary goal(s): lead generation, product launch, brand awareness, distributor meetings, market entry

Helpful:

• - First-time exhibitor or returning? (first-timers need more granular steps)
• Booth location already assigned? (if yes, skip booth selection tasks)
• Shipping origin country (for international shows, customs timelines shift significantly)
• Lead capture system: manual cards, badge scanner rental, CRM-integrated app
• Any special booth elements: AV, demo units, live product demos, hosted meetings

If show dates are not given, generate relative deadlines ("8 weeks before show" instead of a calendar date).

Step 2: Build the Checklist

Output three phases. Adapt the items based on what you know about the user's situation — skip items that obviously don't apply, add items that clearly do.

Phase 1: 8+ Weeks Before Show

Strategic and logistical foundations. Delays here compound into problems later.

Focus areas:

• - Booth space confirmation and contract
• Booth design brief and supplier selection (custom) or shell scheme order (shell)
• Product/demo selection and demo script planning
• Staff selection and travel booking
• Pre-show marketing planning (invite campaign, social, PR)
• Competitor and exhibitor research
• Lead capture system selection

Phase 2: 2–4 Weeks Before Show

Execution phase. Decisions made in Phase 1 materialize here.

Focus areas:

• - Booth graphics/signage finalize and order
• Staff training on booth script and product demos
• Pre-show invite campaign launch (email, LinkedIn)
• Giveaway/swag production confirmed and on-order
• Shipping logistics: pack list, freight booking, customs docs (international)
• Lead capture system configured and tested
• Hotel and ground transport confirmed
• Demo units staged and tested
• Meeting scheduling with key targets

Phase 3: Show Week

Execution and on-site. Includes day-before setup and post-show day-1 wrap.

Focus areas:

• - Booth setup (move-in day)
• Staff briefing: goals, scripts, lead qualification process
• Daily: lead batch review each evening, hot leads escalated
• Daily: booth supply check (materials, power, giveaways)
• Final day: pack-down, return freight, lead list export
• Day after show: hot lead follow-up triggered (within 24 hours)

Step 3: Format the Output

Every checklist item must follow this exact format for copy-paste compatibility:

CODEBLOCK0

Use role names, not person names — "Marketing Manager", not "Sarah". This makes the checklist reusable across shows.

Group items under clear phase and sub-section headers. Use H2 for phase, H3 for sub-section. This renders correctly in Notion, Linear, GitHub, and most project tools.

Tone: action-oriented, direct. Start every item with a verb.

Step 4: Add Logistics Notes

After the checklist, add a short Key Deadlines Summary and First-Timer Notes if applicable:

Key Deadlines Summary (only items where missing the deadline causes cascade failures):

• - Custom booth build: order 8–10 weeks before
• International freight: book 4–6 weeks before, customs docs finalized 2 weeks before
• Badge scanner rental: book 4+ weeks before (often sells out at major shows)
• Pre-show invite campaign: launch 3–4 weeks before

First-Timer Notes (only if flagged as first-time exhibitor):

• - Shell scheme vs. custom build: first timers should almost always start with shell scheme
• Booth staff ratio: plan for 1 staff per 4–5 sqm of booth space per day
• Move-in day: arrive early — priority move-in windows fill fast

Critical Path Summary:

• - [3-5 items most likely to derail the show if missed]

Next-Step Handoff:

• - Use booth-invitation-writer for outbound meeting generation
• Use booth-script-generator for staff prep once the message and demo plan are clear
• Use post-show-followup to pre-plan day-after-show lead response before the event starts

Output Footer

End every output with:

Quality Checks

Before delivering results:

• - Every checklist item must start with a verb (Confirm, Book, Finalize, Send, Test, etc.)
• Every item must have an Owner role and a Deadline — no exceptions
• If show dates are known, use calendar dates for Phase 3 and work back to absolute dates for Phases 1–2
• Do not include items that the user has already confirmed are done (e.g., "Booth space already assigned" → skip those items)
• If the show is international and shipping origin wasn't provided, add a note flagging customs timeline uncertainty
• First-time exhibitors should get more granular steps in Phase 1 (e.g., "Research shell scheme vs. custom build options" as a separate step, not assumed knowledge)
• The Key Deadlines Summary must be genuinely concise — if the cascade-failure items have already been addressed, omit or shorten it
• Include at least one lead-capture / follow-up preparation item and one staff-briefing item for standard exhibitor workflows