Types of promotional staffing jobs

Promotional models are hired by brands to interact with potential customers at trade shows, conventions and other events. By distributing marketing materials and freebies or attracting people to a certain product or service, promotional models persuade consumers to learn more and make a purchase.

Promotional Modelling vs. Traditional Modelling

Promotional modelling jobs differ from traditional fashion modelling jobs. Fashion models usually have to fit into specific categories, especially when it comes to height, but promotional models are much more varied. Unlike fashion models, promotional models have to interact with potential clients instead of only being featured in print or on the runway.

Promotional models are carefully chosen to fit the company’s brand. Often, they have to meet specific physical requirements, including height, body type, eye colour and hair colour. Not only does the model’s appearance have to attract consumers, but their personality and knowledge have to turn the potential customer into an actual customer.

4 Types of Promotional Modelling

There are a few different titles and roles for promotional models, including trade show and convention model; retail model; spokesmodel; and brand ambassador. While there are differences between the various promotional modelling jobs, each model has to interact with potential customers on behalf of a brand. At times, promotional models will be tasked with managing a team of other promotional models.

1. Trade Show and Convention Modelling

Trade show and convention models may have one or more tasks, including distributing fliers, handing out free samples, demonstrating a product, attracting guests to the booth and answering questions. Ultimately, trade show and convention models represent a brand at an event. They’re expected to take the initiative and engage guests in conversation, either by passing out freebies or drawing people to a promotional area.

2. Retail Modelling

Promotional models who work in retail stores are considered retail models. The model will operate a brand’s booth by conducting demonstrations, handing out free samples, answering questions, and telling passersby about the product or service. The booth may be in a large showroom or a small area of a store. Retail models are typically used when there’s a specific promotion the brand wants to push. The model encourages the immediate purchase of the product by offering the special promotion.

3. Spokes models

Have you ever gone to your favourite bar and noticed a group of girls or guys wearing branded swag and passing out free drinks? That means those people are spokesmodels for that brand. Spokesmodels are most frequently used to socialize at bars, night clubs and parties with the greater goal of promoting a brand, product or service. They may offer shots of a new flavour of tequila or give out free beer in specialty bottles. Guests are also likely to go home with something like a branded shot glass or bottle opener.

4. Brand Ambassadors

The line between promotional model and brand ambassador can easily become blurred. Every promotional model is a brand ambassador, but not all brand ambassadors are promotional models. For example, some brand ambassadors may also be employed as promotional models and work at promotional parties, night clubs or bars to advocate for a brand through socializing. On the same note, some promotional models work as brand ambassadors on social media sites. They go online to promote and write content about brands, products and services. Brand ambassadors include a broad range of roles, including street teams, promotional staff, promotional models, event staff and trade show hosts. Overall, brand ambassadors are usually outgoing, friendly, adaptable and easy to talk to.

Promotional models convince consumers to invest in a product or service. They’re hired to represent a brand by interacting with customers in person; sometimes there’s also an online element to the job. It’s necessary for promotional models to fit a certain image, to have solid public speaking skills, and to be knowledgeable about both the brand and product. While many promotional modelling jobs are one-off gigs, some brands prefer to work with the same models for several events. The benefit to hiring the same models is that they already have background knowledge of the brand and require less training to get up to speed.