pre-show-competitor-analysis

Pre-Show Competitor Analysis

Analyze who is exhibiting at a target show, how they're positioning, and what it means for your strategy.

When this skill triggers:

• Read references/competitor-analysis-framework.md before starting
• This is pre-show intelligence, not real-time booth observation (use trade-show-competitor-radar for on-site intel)
• Ask only for the missing show, segment, or offer context; do not start with a generic research questionnaire

Workflow

Step 1: Determine Analysis Mode

Three modes:

1. Specific competitor deep-dive Example: "What do we know about Acme Corp's presence at MEDICA 2026?"

2. Landscape overview Example: "Who's exhibiting in surgical robotics at MEDICA?"

3. Positioning gap analysis Example: "Where's the open space in the surgical workflow market at this show?"

Step 2: Collect Target Show Data

Gather:

• Confirmed exhibitor list (if published)
• Floor plan with booth assignments
• Show segmentation (halls, pavilions, themes)
• Your company's planned booth location (if known)

Verify all data is for the correct upcoming edition.

Step 3: Analyze Competitor Presence

For each relevant competitor:

Booth signals:

• Size and location (corner, island, inline)
• Hall placement (main vs. secondary)
• Proximity to entrances, competitors, or complementary vendors

Messaging signals:

• Listed product categories
• Taglines or positioning statements
• Sponsorship level (if visible)

Activity signals:

• Speaking slots or featured presentations
• Demo schedules or events
• New product launch indicators

Tag every data point for source clarity — use the same system as trade-show-competitor-radar:

Tag	Meaning
[OBS]	Directly read or observed (exhibitor list, floor plan, official site)
[INF]	Reasonably inferred from observable signals
[HEARD]	Second-hand or unverified claim
[EST]	Estimated numerical value (booth size, sponsorship tier)
[UNK]	Cannot determine from available data

Step 4: Score Threat and Opportunity

For each competitor:

Dimension	Score	Notes
Direct overlap	1-5	How similar is their offer to yours?
Booth prominence	1-5	Size, location, sponsorship
Messaging clash	1-5	Are they claiming the same value prop?
Total threat	3-15	Higher = more direct competition

Identify:

• Primary threats (score 12-15): Direct competitors with strong presence
• Secondary threats (score 8-11): Some overlap or strong positioning
• Watch list (score 3-7): Monitor but not immediate concern
• Partnership candidates: Complementary offers, adjacent spaces

Step 5: Develop Strategic Response

For primary threats:

• Differentiation angle: What can you claim they can't?
• Counter-messaging: How to address their positioning
• Booth strategy: Traffic flow, demo placement, staff briefing

For the show overall:

• White space opportunities: Underserved segments or positions
• Partnership angles: Who to approach for joint presence
• Content themes: What topics are crowded vs. open

Step 6: Output Format

## Executive Summary
[One paragraph: threat level, key competitors, strategic implication]

## Show Context
- Show: [name, dates, location]
- Your booth: [location if known]
- Total exhibitors analyzed: [N]
- Analysis date: [date]

## Competitor Landscape

### Primary Threats (High Overlap + Strong Presence)
| Competitor | Booth | Size | Positioning | Threat Score | Key Moves |
|------------|-------|------|-------------|--------------|-----------|

### Secondary Threats
| Competitor | Booth | Overlap Areas | Threat Score |
|------------|-------|---------------|--------------|

### Partnership Candidates
| Company | Offer | Partnership Angle |
|---------|-------|-------------------|

## Strategic Recommendations

### Messaging
- [Differentiation angle]
- [Counter-positioning]

### Booth Strategy
- [Traffic/demo recommendations]
- [Staff briefing points]

### Staff Briefing Priorities
- [Competitor claim staff should expect to hear]
- [Question staff should be ready to answer]
- [Signal to verify on-site]

### Outreach Timing
- [Pre-show: what to communicate]
- [On-site: what to watch for]

## Knowledge Gaps
- [What to verify on-site]
- [What to monitor post-show]

## Next Steps
- Continue with `booth-invitation-writer` to develop differentiated outreach
- Use `trade-show-budget-planner` if booth changes are needed
- Schedule on-site `trade-show-competitor-radar` for real-time intel

Output Footer

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Analysis based on publicly available exhibitor lists and floor plans. Real-time intelligence requires on-site observation. See Lensmor for exhibitor data and competitor tracking.

Quality Checks

• Verify exhibitor list is for the correct show edition
• Distinguish between confirmed presence and speculation; use [OBS] only for facts from official sources
• Do not invent booth details not visible in floor plans; mark unknown dimensions as [UNK]
• Flag estimated figures (booth size, visitor share) as [EST]; replace TBC with [UNK] when the source is genuinely unavailable
• Keep threat scoring consistent across competitors — apply the same rubric to all
• If the user is preparing to exhibit, include at least one staff-briefing takeaway, not just market commentary