FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
This page will be updated frequently, please continue to check back to find answers to new questions.
Re-arranged on December 18th from by Date to by Topic.
CUSTOM BOOTH LINKS
When will I receive my custom booth link?
Custom Booth links will be emailed directly to Primary Contacts on December 30th.
How will the custom booth links work?
Starting January 12th when the show opens:
- Logged in attendees will go straight to your booth when they click on your custom link
- Registered attendees that are not logged in will be taken to a login page and then redirected to your booth
- Anyone that has not yet registered that clicks on your custom link will have to register first.
Starting December 30th, when we launch advanced access to the Matchmaking and Networking platform, the Custom Booth Link will take attendees to the Pre-Event Landing page where they can learn more about the event and access matchmaking only.
REPORTING DASHBOARD (QUANT)
Where can I learn more about the reporting capabilities and which metrics to expect?
We encourage exhibitors to review the recent training webinar held on this topic which covered what metrics will be tracked and how to use the reporting dashboard. Access the recording here.
What information can we extract from our reporting dashboard about the attendees that visited our booth?
Name, Company, Title, Mailing Address, City, State, Zip, Country and Email Address. You will also be able to see what they clicked on within your booth.
When will I receive my login?
The exact date is to be annouced, it will be closer to the launch of the event when metrics will start being tracked.
How often are reporting metrics updated for us to view within our reporting dashboard?
Reports, which include attendee booth visits, are updated hourly (approximately).
Who at my company will have access to the reporting dashboard?
Primary Contacts will receive an email with access information closer to the event. This can be shared with others within your organization.
Can we export the data available within our reporting dashboard?
Yes. You can export the data to excel.
Will be we able to see what booth visitors clicked on while in our booth?
Yes, every click within your booth will be tracked and will be available within the report, this includes items like your website link, collateral pieces, videos, etc.
How often is the dashboard updated?
During the event, the dashboard is updated hourly (approximately) and after the event, the dashboard is updated once a day.
Can we customize our dashboard?
No, the dashboard is the same for everyone, but you can export the data and manipulate it as you'd like outside of the system. You can click on column headers within the dashboard views to sort the data, e.g.- sort by Name, Sort by Date/Time stamp, etc.
If a booth visitor interacts with my booth content in multiple ways, will they appear on the report multiple times?
Yes. This is by design so you can see everything they have interacted with inside your booth and follow your visitor's journey. The dashboard does display a count of "unique visitors" which is the de-duped count of total booth visitors.
VIRTUAL BOOTH
Booth Chat Recommendation
We recommend using the booth chat as an informative way to enagage with attendees with the main purpose being to get them to "Drop a Business Card" or schedule a meeting with your company to have a private conversation.
Can we export the transcripts of the live booth chat?
No, reporting on the chat is not available.
Will names appear with the submitted text messages in the live chat box?
Yes, First and Last name will appear before the message so everyone can see who is posting the message.
Within the virtual booth, where does the "Schedule a Meeting" button go?
The Schedule a Meeting button will take users to your company's Matchmaking and Networking page where they will be able to see your representatives, their profiles and availability. This allows them to easily schedule meetings with your company directly from your booth.
"Drop a Business Card" button in the virtual booth - What does this do?
When an attendee clicks the Drop a Business Card button within your virtual booth, their information is saved to your reporting dashboard along with some additional details about the attendee:
- Business Type (eg: Retail, Non-Retail)
- Primary Job Function
- Job Level
- Role in Purchase Decisions
When will our booth be accessible to registered attendees?
January 12th when the show opens.
When crafting your marketing pieces, consider using language like- "Visit us at NRF 2021 - Chapter One starting January 12th by clicking here" if you are planning to use the link to your booth in advance of the show opening. Or, mention they can click your link for pre-event access to schedule a meeting with you at the event. Keep in mind recipients of your custom links do need to be registered for the event, this is a great way to encourage them to do so.
Is the event available for use outside of the event dates and hours?
Although the event will be “live” on specific days at specific times it is important to note that the Matchmaking & Networking platform will be fully functioning 24/7. This means if an exhibitor wants to do a targeted campaign to their overseas customers and do special demos at 2:00am Eastern Time, for example, they absolutely can. Starting December 29th, when the Matchmaking & Networking portal opens, exhibitors will be able to update their profiles and setup their calendars in preparation to schedule meetings that can occur any time between January 12th thru January 22nd.
Are we required to staff our virtual booth throughout the event?
No, however each day of the event has Virtual Expo time from 12pm-3pm EST when attendees will be encouraged to visit the expo hall and interact with exhibitors. We recommend having a member of your team available during the expo hours to monitor your Live Booth Chat.
Can I edit my booth during the event?
No, once the booth building deadline has passed, booths are ”locked down” for the duration of the event.
How will attendees find our booth?
Attendees will be able to filter the exhibitor list by location and product categories. They will also have the ability to refine their search with keywords.
Will we receive a direct link to our booth to use in our marketing campaigns?
Yes, exhibitors will receive a custom link that goes directly to their booth. An email will go out to exhibitors once these links are available to share.
Logged in attendees will go straight to your booth when they click on your custom link. Registered attendees that are not logged in will be taken to a login page and then redirected to your booth upon successfully logging into the system. Anyone that has not yet registered that clicks on your custom link will have to register first.
Can I see when attendees are “in” my booth?
In real time, no, however, all booth visits will be tracked and exhibitors will be able to view reports within their reporting dashboard. Leading up to and during the event, reports are updated hourly.
What happens if an attendee posts to our Live Chat when our booth is unmanned?
The attendee’s message will remain in your Live Chat window until you return. We recommend posting an end-of-day message that lets attendees know when you will return and encourage them to drop a business a card for a quick response.
After the event, will our booth remain available to attendees?
Yes, virtual booths will remain accessible to registered attendees for about 30 days after the event. Exhibitors will be able to access their reporting dashboard during this time to review post-event visits; report data will be updated once a day post-event. Chat and Networking features will be disabled after the event, but your booth content and contact information will remain accessible should attendees wish to reach out for more information.
MATCHMAKING & NETWORKING (Grip)
How can I learn more about the matchmaking and networking platform?
- View the end-to-end walkthrough of the platform in webinar format, access the video here.
- Review the Grip PDF Presentation that uses screenshots to show you around the system.
What types of attendees can exhibitor matchmaking representatives connect with on the matchmaking platform?
Retailers, non-retailers and other exhibitors.
When will my team have access to the Matchmaking and Networking platform?
On December 29th we are opening the Matchmaking and Networking platform ahead of the event so that exhibitor representatives and attendees can begin reviewing and updating their Grip Profiles, setting up their calendars/availability and acquainting themselves with the platform. This will give your team a chance to touch the system and see how it works in action. The ability to schedule meetings will also be available; please note: meetings can be scheduled for January 12-22.
Can we record our scheduled meetings?
No, recording functionality is not available.
Does the platform allow for screen sharing during scheduled meetings?
Yes.
Is there a way to see sent/pending meeting requests by my colleagues in order to prevent reaching out to the same retailer?
Yes, there is a shared calendar page where teammates can see who has requested and scheduled meetings with other users. The calendar is color coded to make it easy to view. To review functionality options of the matchmaking platform, check out the PDF Guide.
Who can I schedule meeting requests with?
Exhibitors can schedule meetings with retailers, non-retailers and other exhibitor representatives. The platform works in both directions- retailers can request meetings with exhibitor representatives too.
How many meetings are we able to schedule?
Each exhibiting company may designate up to 20 members of their registered staff to have access to the Matchmaking and Networking platform. Designated Matchmaking participants will be able to send 10 meeting requests at a time. Once a meeting request is answered (accepted/declined) this will free up another slot to send a new meeting request. Unanswered meeting requests can be retracted in order to free up slots as well.
Can I invite other people to join my scheduled meeting?
Yes. Meeting owners will be able to invite other designated matchmaking participants to join their scheduled meeting.
REGISTRATION
I need help with registration, who can I contact?
Please contact Danielle, who supports our exhibitors on behalf of the registration company: NRF20exh@maritz.com
She will be more than happy to assist you.
How do I access exhibitor registration?
On the main page of your Exhibitor Resource Center, click the Exhibitor Registration link and you be logged in automatically to your dashboard.
How do I register my (up to) 20 staff members for matchmaking?
Go to your Exhibitor Registration Dashabord and as your add new registrations, be sure to check off the Matchmaking Participant checkbox on the form. Please note that once you submit a matchmaking participant registration, you cannot make changes to it later (because it will sync over to Grip and we don't want to overwrite your profile there).
Can I swap out my registered matchmaking participants?
Yes, but the process is: You must first cancel one and then add a new one in its palce. The new registrant will sync over to the Matchmaking Platform over night.
GENERAL EVENT & MARKETING INFORMATION
What is the anticipated number of attendees for Chapter One?
Our target is 20,000-35,000.
Where can I find a list of deadlines for this event?
The Exhibitor Manual provides a list of all dates exhibitors need to be aware of for Chapter One, please see page 3 of the Exhibitor Manual in your ERC.
My company is hosting a Big Ideas session- will attendees see this in my booth?
Yes, there will be a direct link to your Big Ideas session(s) located below your company description.
My company has purchased an Interactive Discussion Room- will attendees see this in my booth?
Yes, there will be a direct link to your Interactive Discussion Room located below your company description.
Will we receive a list of attendees before and/or after the event?
A list of registered retailers (Title and Company only) will be available for download within your ERC under the Marketing Resources section approximately 30 days before the event.
During the event, visitors to your booth will be tracked and will be accessible within your reporting dashboard, this includes attendees that opt to drop a business card.
After the event, a Post-Show Attendee List Request Form will be posted to the ERC for download allowing exhibitors to request a one-time use of the attendee list that contains mailing addresses only (no emails).
Will there be press presence at the event and will a press list be available?
Yes, we are expecting members of the press. The press list will be made available to exhibitors approximately one month prior to the start of the show in the Exhibitor Resource Center.
Are there technical requirements for accessing the virtual platform?
Yes:
PC Equipment:
- Dual Core 2 Ghz higher (i3 / i5 / i7 or AMD equivalent)
- 4 Mb. Ram
Operating system:
- Windows: Windows 7, 8 ó 10Mac OS: OS X High Sierra +
Browsers:
- Windows: IE 11+, Edge 12+, Firefox 27+, Chrome 30+Mac: Safari 7+, Firefox 27+, Chrome 30+
Mobile equipment:
- High speed connection 3G, 4G, WIFI
- Smart device iOS 11.0 or higher and Android 6.0 or higher
- Android devices: Chrome browser version higher than 6
- iPad or iPhone devices: Safari browser version higher than iOS 12.2
Bandwidth:
Does the event platform work while on VPN?
In order to avoid connectivity/performance issues, we highly recommend not accessing the event platform while using a VPN.
Return to Exhibitor Resource Center Main Page