Overview

This guide provides a comprehensive strategy for leveraging Cut+Dry's Boost features to maximize the success of your culinary showcases and food shows. By combining catalog banners, featured lists, broadcast messaging, and customer engagement tools, you can drive higher attendance, increase product discovery, and boost post-event sales.

Key Objectives:

• Drive event attendance through targeted pre-event promotion
• Increase product engagement during the event using mobile-friendly tools
• Convert interest into orders with streamlined post-event follow-up
• Maximize vendor visibility and satisfaction

Phase 1: pre-event promotion (2-4 weeks before)

Create Event Banner

Navigation: Boost → Catalog Home → Primary Banners. For a step-by-step, click here.

1. Upload desktop banner (1200x400px recommended)
2. Upload mobile banner (800x600px recommended)
3. Link banner to Featured Item List (your event product collection)
4. Toggle "Active" status to green
5. Click “Save Changes”

Build Featured Product List

Navigation: Boost → Featured Lists → Create New Featured List. For a step-by-step, click here.

1. Name the list clearly: "[Event Name] 2025 Featured Products"
2. Add products: Search by brand, SKU, or product name and click Add
3. Organize strategically: Drag to reorder by booth location or priority
4. Recommended list size: 20-100 products for optimal browsing
5. Toggle "Display Status" to green (active)

Send Announcement Broadcast

Navigation: Boost → Broadcasts → Add Message. For a step-by-step, click here.

1. Audience: All Customers or Filtered Group
2. URL/Hyperlink: Add RSVP form link (Custom URL field)
3. Notification: Enable both SMS and Email for maximum reach
4. Timing: 9am-11am or 2pm-4pm on weekdays for best open rates

Activate Brand Boost for Exhibitors. 

Navigation: Boost → Brand Boost. For a step-by-step, click here.

• Select each exhibiting vendor from the dropdown
• Set boost level: +1.5 to +2.0 for featured brands

Result: Exhibitor products appear higher in search results during the event period

Phase 2: customer engagement strategy

The "Heart It" Strategy

Educate customers on how to use the Cut+Dry app as their digital shopping companion at the event.

Pre-Event Customer Communication

Send a message to your customers before the event.

During-Event Benefits

• Mobile browsing: Customers can browse your catalog on their phones while at vendor booths
• Product comparison: View high-quality photos, pricing, pack sizes, and specifications
• Digital shopping list: Favorited items create a personalized list for post-event ordering
• No paper needed: Eliminate paper catalogs and manual order forms

Post-Event Follow-Up

Send a targeted broadcast within 48 hours of the event.

Phase 3: vendor-specific promotions

Customer-Specific Broadcasts

Navigation: Customers → [Select Customer] → Boost tab → Edit Message. For a step-by-step, click here.

Use cases:

• VIP customer invitations to exclusive demos
• Personalized vendor recommendations based on purchase history
• Booth-specific promotions ("Visit [Vendor] at Booth #12 for exclusive samples")

Product Recommendations

Navigation: Boost → Suggestive Sales → Top Category Picks. For a step-by-step, click here.

• Add showcase products to relevant category carousels
• Configure "Recommended for Customer" carousel with event products
• Enable "Don't Forget to Order" for favorited event items

Advanced tactics

Multi-Banner Strategy

Use both Primary and Secondary banner sections strategically:

Multiple Featured Lists

Create targeted lists for different audiences or purposes:

• "[Event] New Products" — Items launching at the event
• "[Event] Best Sellers" — Proven favorites being showcased
• "[Event] Special Pricing" — Event-exclusive deals
• "[Vendor Name] Showcase" — Vendor-specific collections

End-to-end workflow example

For this example, we're using the event: Spring Food Show 2025

4 Weeks Before

1. Create featured list: "Spring Food Show 2025"
2. Add 50-100 showcase products from participating vendors
3. Upload event banner (linked to featured list)
4. Send broadcast: "Join us at Spring Food Show—preview products now"
5. Include RSVP link in broadcast message

2 Weeks Before

• Activate Brand Boost (+1.5) for all exhibiting vendors
• Add secondary banner with booth map
• Send reminder broadcast: "Don't forget—Spring Food Show next week!"
• Configure Top Category Picks with showcase products

Event Week

1. Verify all banners and featured lists are active
2. Send customer-specific broadcasts to VIP accounts
3. Daily broadcasts: "Today's demos at Booth #12 - Don't miss [Vendor]!"
4. Monitor customer engagement (favorites, catalog views)

Post-Event (Within 48 Hours)

1. Send broadcast: "Order your favorited items—10% off this week!"
2. Keep featured list active for 2 weeks for easy ordering
3. Track conversion: favorited items → completed orders
4. Gather vendor feedback on product visibility

Key benefits by stakeholder

Technical requirements and best practices

Banner Specifications

• Desktop: 1200x400px recommended
• Mobile: 800x600px recommended
• Format: JPG or PNG
• File size: <2MB for fast loading

Featured List Best Practices

• 20-100 products per list (optimal browsing)
• Clear naming with event name and year
• Logical ordering by booth, category, or priority

Broadcast Timing

• Avoid weekends for B2B audiences
• Optimal send times: 9am-11am or 2pm-4pm
• Limit to 1-2 broadcasts per week to avoid fatigue

Common pitfalls to avoid

1. Too many featured lists — Keep to 2-3 max per event
2. Outdated banners — Remove or update immediately after event ends
3. No post-event follow-up — Send broadcast within 48 hours while interest is high
4. Unclear messaging — Always include event name, date, and location
5. Forgetting mobile — Test all features on the mobile app first
6. Missing RSVP tracking — Use Custom URL field to link to RSVP forms
7. Not educating customers — Communicate the "Heart It" strategy before the event