Prize Wheels? Obsolete or Still Relevant?

 It’s often been said by trade show experts that you want to create a Casino-like atmosphere at your trade show booth. Why? Because you want to stand out from the crowd and also to attract potential customers…and keep them there long enough to make a sale or stoke further interest. One of the best ways to generate excitement is with a game like the good old-fashioned prize wheel—long a favorite tool in nearly all smart trade shower’s toolboxes. Still, with so much new technology available, you may well ask is the old reliable prize wheel a bit out of step with today’s modern world? Why a Prize Wheel? Nothing says “Casino Experience” like a game of chance. Experts tell us people are attracted to noise and bright lights, so optimally you should make your attractions more interactive and hands-on. That’s how you get the “see it, feel it, hear it” trifecta working for you, and that’s how you engage potential clients. You want to make the clients personally-engaged clients, not just a passive audience for a sales pitch or product demonstration. Prize wheels are easy to use (for both you and the customer) and allow the customer or potential client to win great prizes almost instantly. Instant gratification for the customer is a worthy goal in any marketing campaign, and hard to achieve. The prize wheel gets booth visitors excited and engaged with your product and it doesn’t get much better than that at a trade show. There’s An App For That Of course somebody had to come out with an app for prize wheels. They are here, they are cheap, but no…they don’t remotely come close to replacing the good old-fashioned prize wheel. For one thing, although they are often advertised as “only $5” or some other relatively low figure, there are often hidden costs. You will find “premium” versions of the apps may be required to be effective, and costs three times as much. For optimum use, you will need at least an iPad or laptop to use with the app, as well as connector cables and a projector. That is unless you expect to generate much excitement at a trade show with a smartphone or an iPad alone. The truth is, the app is neat and might make an interesting conversation piece or device for training (or backup to your wheel) but nothing beats the excitement of a real prize wheel. It’s tactile, interactive, impressive looking, and fun. The casinos still use real roulette wheels and blackjack dealers for a reason. For similar reasons, we’d say the prize wheel is also rather future proof. Give one a try if you haven’t already and watch the crowds gather at the next show. For first-rate trade show materials, check out http://thedisplayoutlet.com. They have prize wheels and much more, all at very attractive prices.