English for Business and Tourism

Lesson 10 — The Trade Fair

1. Dialogue Transcript
2. Language Notes
3. Word List
4. Language Activity
5. Reading Comprehension
6. Crossword Puzzle
7. Word Search Puzzle
8. Answer Key
READING COMPREHENSION
TRADE FAIRS

A trade fair or trade show is an exhibition where companies in a specific industry can showcase and
demonstrate their latest products and services, meet with industry partners and customers, study
the activities of rivals, and examine recent market trends and opportunities. In contrast to consumer
fairs, only some trade fairs are open to the public, while others can only be attended by professionals
and members of the press. Therefore, trade shows are classified as either "public" or "trade only". A
few fairs are hybrids of the two; one example is the Frankfurt Book Fair, which is trade only for its
first three days and open to the general public on its final two days.

Trade fairs play an important role in marketing as well as business networking. Participants will seek
to meet people and companies at their own level in the supply chain, as well as potential suppliers
and potential buyers.

Generally, there will be a central trade show floor with stands where exhibitors display their goods or
services, and throughout the day there will be seminars on matters relevant to the industry, like best
practices, trends, and regulation. There will also be some shared meals with keynote speakers, and
social events in the evenings. Stands range from simple tables to elaborate constructions.

Trade fairs often involve a considerable investment in time and money by participating companies.
Costs include space rental, stand design and construction of trade show displays,
telecommunications, travel, accommodation, and promotional literature and items to give to visitors.

TRUE OR FALSE?

Say whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE according to the text.

1. Consumer fairs are open to the public.

2. The Frankfurt Book Fair is neither public nor trade only.
3. The Frankfurt Book Fair lasts for five days.
4. An exhibitor is a display of goods or services.
5. The word ‘accommodation’ refers to the activity
of welcoming visitors to the trade fair.

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LANGUAGE ACTIVITY
Choose the correct word.

SALES MANAGER: Hello, can I help you with anything?

VISITOR: No, I’m just looking thanks.

SALES MANAGER: [1] May/Will/Do I tell you a little about our company and
its products?

VISITOR: OK.

SALES MANAGER: Well, Global Furniture was [2] found/founded/founding in 1985 and has been
making and selling office equipment and [3] furniture/furnitures in the UK for well over 30 years.

VISITOR: That’s very [4] interest/interested/interesting. Do you export?

SALES MANAGER: Yes, we export to countries all [5] on/in/over Europe. Where are you based?

VISITOR: France.

SALES MANAGER: We have a number of clients in France. Is there anything in particular you are
[6] interest/interested/interesting in?

VISITOR: In fact, I work as a buyer for a large French insurance company, and we are in the process of
[7] equip/equipping/equipment our new head office in Toulouse.

SALES MANAGER: Let me give you a copy of our latest catalogue. We’ve just
[8] launch/launched/launching a new range of desks and chairs.

VISITOR: Yes, it’s the sort of thing we might be interested [9] in/to/on. Do you offer discounts on
large [10] orders/commands/offers?

SALES MANAGER: That would depend [11] in/on/of the exact size of the order, but I’m sure we could
[12] come/reach/arrive to an agreement. Let me give you my card.

VISITOR: Thank you, and here’s mine. What are your delivery [13] information/times/delays?

SALES MANAGER: Goods are normally [14] dispatched/dispatching/dispatch within two weeks of
receipt of your purchase order. Why [15] don’t/won’t/can’t you e-mail me a list of the items you are
interested in along with the quantities, and I’ll send you a pro forma [16] account/bill/invoice?

VISITOR: Yes, that sounds [17] me/like/as a good idea. I’ll see to it as soon [18] as/that/than I get
back to France.

SALES MANAGER: I look forward to [19] hear/hearing from you. In the meantime, feel free to look
[20] around/up/in our stand, and enjoy the rest of the show.

VISITOR: Thank you. I will.

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WORD LIST
a number of ......................................... more than a few but not many
agreement ........................................... the situation when people have the same opinion or have
made the same decision about something
along with ............................................ as well as
buyer.................................................... someone whose job is to choose and buy goods for a company
card ...................................................... a small piece of stiff paper with a person’s name, address and
phone number on it (aka business card)
catalogue ............................................. a book containing pictures and information about things you
can buy
chair ..................................................... a piece of furniture with legs that you sit on
client .................................................... a business customer
company .............................................. an organization that provides services, or that makes or sells
goods for money
copy ..................................................... a single newspaper, book, etc of many that are all the same
country ................................................ an area of land with its own government and borders
desk ..................................................... a table that you sit at to write or work
delivery ................................................ the process of bringing goods to a place
delivery time........................................ the period of time between receipt of an order and delivery
depend (on) ......................................... if one thing depends on another, it is affected or changed by it
discount (n).......................................... a reduction in the price of something
dispatch (v) .......................................... to send someone or something somewhere
e-mail (v).............................................. to send a message to someone by e-mail
equip .................................................... to provide a place with the things they need
exhibition ............................................. an occasion when objects are shown to the public
export (v) ............................................. to send goods to another country for sale
found (v) .............................................. to start a new business or organization
furniture .............................................. things such as chairs, tables, beds etc.
goods ................................................... things that are made to be sold
head office ........................................... the main office of a company or organization
in the process of (doing) ...................... used to say that someone is doing something at the time you
are talking about it
insurance company ............................. a company whose business is providing and selling insurance
item ..................................................... an individual thing, usually one of several in a group or on a list
large ..................................................... bigger than usual in size
look around ......................................... to walk around a place and see what it there
make .................................................... to create or produce something
meantime (in the)................................ during the time between two events
normally............................................... in most situations or cases
offer (v) ................................................ to let someone know that you will give them something
office equipment ................................. things you find in an office such as computers, printers, etc
order (n) .............................................. a request for a product to be made and delivered to you
product ................................................ something that is made so that it can be sold
pro forma invoice ................................ a quotation that tells a customer how much sth would cost
purchase order .................................... a document that asks a company to supply goods or services
quantity ............................................... the amount or number of something
range.................................................... goods of a particular type made by one company
receipt ................................................. the act of receiving something
see to (something)............................... to deal with, to take care of
show (n) ............................................... an exhibition
stand (n) .............................................. a large table at an exhibition where an organization offers
information, goods, or services
trade fair .............................................. an event at which companies show their new products
UK ....................................................... the United Kingdom

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CROSSWORD
1 2 3 4

6 7 8

10 11

12 13

14 15

16 17 18

19

20

21

Across Down
1 The amount or number of something (8) 2 The aim of a negotiation is to reach an
_____ (9)
3 Many computers are on top of this! (4)
3 To send (goods) somewhere (8)
7 Goods of a particular type (5)
4 A place where companies display their
9 A business organization (7)
goods at an Expo, for example (5)
10 An individual thing (4)
5 An event at which the public can see new
11 Goods made to be sold (8) products (4)
12 An event where companies show their 6 Collective term for tables, chairs, etc. (9)
products (5,4)
8 Things used for a particular purpose (9)
14 Manufacture or produce (4)
13 Abbreviation for United Kingdom (2)
16 Another word for 5 Down (10)
15 To sell goods in a foreign country (6)
19 To start a new company (5)
17 A seller needs one! (5)
20 A business customer (6)
18 We can _____ you a 10% discount (5)
21 The act of receiving something (7)

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WORD SEARCH
O A G R E E M E N T F O U N D
R Q S R D I S P A T C H W L G
D C A T A L O G U E K O D G O
E K T R A D E F A I R S W P O
R Y Y L M N W L Y S K E D R D
U F Z E V Q D R I Y R H C O S
Q D T O H T E V Q U N X L D R
U I E U E V O Q T P E C I U E
A C H A I R E I U G Z M E C C
N I G L E Z N X N I Z A N T E
T Y E F R R A A P B P B T K I
I D F E U M R S H O W M A O P
T O Y F Q B D E S K R M E W T
Y U D I S C O U N T P T G N M
B P P Q E X H I B I T I O N T

Agreement Goods
Buyer Item
Catalogue Make
Chair Offer
Client Order
Delivery Product
Desk Quantity
Discount Range
Dispatch Receipt
Equipment Show
Exhibition Stand
Export Trade fair
Found
Furniture

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