Please see below important information that will help you prepare for the Trade Fair. If you are unable to exhibit, please advise us as soon as possible (no later than 72 hours prior to the event) at events@supplynation.org.au. Indigenous businesses must be Registered or Certified with Supply Nation to exhibit.

Event details:

Date: Tuesday 16 April 2024
Exhibitor bump in: from 7:30am (more details below)
Event Start and Finish: 9:00am – 12:30pm
Location: Auditorium, Cairns Convention Centre, Sheridan St & Wharf St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
Number of exhibitors: expecting maximum 80 business to be showcased. View the exhibitor list here.
Number of buyers: we are expecting over 200 buyers to attend on the day
Tickets: registrations have now closed

Please note: we are unable to provide personal information or details on our suppliers or members pre, during and post-event. You will receive the exhibitor list with company names only prior to the day.

What will I be provided with on the day?

As an exhibitor, you will be provided with the following items:

• 1 x trestle table (unclothed; suppliers are welcome to bring / use their own branded table cloths) 
• 2 x chairs 
• light morning tea and coffee 

Important note: there is no power provided to tables.

What is not included?

The free venue wi-fi can be unreliable; if you need a wireless connection on the day for any devices, please ensure you organise prior to the event. Supply Nation is unable to offer an alternative option. 

Paid Parking is available at the Convention centre, please check their website for more details.   

Exhibitor tables will not have electricity provided. 

What can I bring?

You can bring anything you like that showcases your organisation or core business activities, including any products, services or goods you offer or sell. We do not have use of the loading dock, and as such exhibitors are encouraged to bring a small quantity of items that you can comfortably carry or bring into the venue on your own small trolley or dolly. 

Please note: power is not provided to exhibitor tables. If you are bringing electronic items, such as laptops or portable screens, ensure that they are fully charged, or bring your own portable power bank. 

See below for a list of items you may consider packing for your exhibitor table: 

Your pull-up banners should be a standard size (approx. 80cm x 200cm) and should not exceed the width of your trestle table (1.8m width). Larger media walls or frames with stretched fabric are not permitted. 

What time is bump-in?

Bump-in and exhibitor registration is from 7:30am – 8:30am. Tradeshow doors will open to attendees at 9am, we recommend that you arrive early and are set up before the start time. 

What time is bump-out?

You must start packing down once the Trade Fair ends at 12:30pm and be completely bumped out by 2:00pm. 

Can I sell items on the day?

Yes. However, please be mindful that you will not have access to power and the free venue wi-fi is not recommended for business operations as it can be unreliable. We encourage you to utilise your time at the Trade Fair to make connections and seek business opportunities, and limit the amount of collateral / stock you bring on the day, including items for sale.  

Instead, bring the capability for attendees to place orders with you; this might be a printed QR code with a link through to your online catalogue, shop, or capability statement, or a clipboard with a hardcopy newsletter sign-up sheet etc. 

Can I bring food items or samples?

To distribute sample servings of food and beverage, you must get approval from Supply Nation and the Cairns Convention Centre. To get Cairns Convention Centre approval, please complete this sampling and selling approval form and return it to events@cairnsconvention.com.au no later than 10 business days prior to your event, Tuesday 2 April 2024, anything after this you will not be able to provide food samples. 

Mandatory Requirements:

• Items to be sampled must be directly related to the exhibitor’s core business & served as bite-size pieces or in maximum 50g portions.  
• Beverage portions are limited to:  
  • non-alcoholic beverage (100ml or less)
  • liquor spirit (20ml or less)
  • wine & beer (50ml or less).  
• All persons serving alcohol samples must hold a current Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA), a copy of  which must be supplied to the event organiser & Cairns Convention Centre prior to tenancy.
• Mandatory RSA signage shall be clearly displayed at each location / stand serving alcohol.  
• Food safety standards must be adhered to, including hygiene, temperature control, cleaning, & sanitation.  
• Details of the ingredients in food & beverage products shall be available including the presence of any allergens.  
• The FOOD ACT 2006 food safety regulations that cover all distribution of food & beverage products, apply to all events held at Cairns Convention Centre  
• Businesses are required to register for a Cairns Regional Council Temporary Food Business Licence which must be provided with your Cairns Convention Centre application. Please visit the Cairns Regional Council website for further information. 
• It is the responsibility of all persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) & their staff to ensure that Workplace Health & Safety (WHS) legislation & safe work practices are followed to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health & safety of all persons that may be affected by the activity. 

Can I arrange for my items to be delivered to the loading dock?

Due to excessive costs imposed on Supply Nation for the use of the loading dock (including porterage, storage, staffing and use of forklifts and other equipment) we have chosen not to use the loading dock at Cairns Convention Centre to keep this Trade Fair as a free event, as we do not wish to pass these expenses onto attendees or exhibitors.   

If you strongly wish to make use of the loading dock, please contact us so we can provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision. Any costs associated with the use of the loading dock at Cairns Convention Centre will be passed onto the relevant exhibitor.   

What if I can no longer attend?

Please let us know as soon as possible if you cannot attend the Trade Fair. We are running a waitlist for Indigenous business to exhibit and would like to offer the opportunity for these businesses to attend if space allows. Once you have notified us that you can no longer attend, Supply Nation will cancel your tickets via the ticket registration platform. If someone in your team becomes unwell, we encourage you to swap the ticket with another colleague.  

If you are unable to attend, please let the Supply Nation events team know at least 72 hours prior to the event.  

How can I edit or update my ticket details?

1. Search for the confirmation email sent to you by Humanitix when you registered to exhibit/ attend
2. Within this email select ‘edit order’ (highlighted in screenshot below)
3. Update the relevant details for all of the tickets in your order
4. Click ‘save’ to update your details

What do I need to provide prior to the event?

If you are bringing food samples or items, please provide your sampling form to events@supplynation.org.au and events@cairnsconvention.com.au no later than Tuesday 2 April 2024. 

What else can I do to prepare for the Trade Fair?

• Generate and print your own QR code to link back to your business information, website or capability statement.  
• Alternatively Bring a pen and paper to take attendee details as Supply Nation will not be supplying these post event. 
• Ensure your sampling form is filled out and returned (if required)   
• If you don’t have your ticket confirmation email, please request it to be re-sent by emailing events@supplynation.org.au   

Where can I park?  

The Cairns Convention Centre supplies parking, check their website for more details.

 Alternatively there is paid street parking around the Convention Centre.