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Beware of raffles rigged at conferences

Posted on 01. Oct, 2008 by p syrek in Tradeshow tips and tiffs

If you frequent tradeshows and conferences, you will continually see all sorts of raffles going on at exhibitor booths.  “Win a Harley”, “Chance at an iPhone”.  Over 10 years I’ve seen all sorts of crazy prizes.  BUT LET’S GET REAL PEOPLE.  These raffles are rigged.  Last year I was with a “rookie” at a tradeshow.  We were obviously exhibitors, but just making the rounds on the show floor to socialize.

We’ll this girl was just stopping everywhere to drop off her card, or get her badge scanned or fill out a prize registration form.  She must have been entered in a dozen raffles.   She had high hopes that she was coming out of the show with a trip to Bermuda.

The reality:  This is not foolproof, but unless an exhibitor offering a prize does the drawing in public, the winner is usually fixed.  Now this is not bad practice from a business stand point.  It’s not fair but who said business is fair?

When offering a prize, exhibiting companies are going to go through all of their leads from the show and pick out what leads have the most potential.  From those leads, they will then pick a lucky winner.  Why give away a $400 iPhone to a fellow exhibitor who happened to win or to a prospect that only visited your booth to be entered in the raffle.

Imagine giving away a $4000 “vacation for two” to your competition.  You may be able to get a job at your competition now, but your company is going to be livid. 

Conclusion:  I’m not a huge fan of the raffle.  I think it is a last resort in creative concepts that draw attendees to the booth.   It lacks true, authentic interaction with the prospects.  But sometimes the raffle is the only thing to do.  With that, if you don’t want to feel “scummy” about the whole “raffle rigging”, budget for several prizes, or at least various levels of prizes (high and low).  Have an “honest” raffle with everyone who has entered, and then raffle the “high level” prizes to the prospects that will benefit you.    
In the end everyone is happy.

Tags: attendees, conferences, humor, promo, raffles, tradeshows