A digital product catalog for an exhibition stall is a mobile web page with your full range — categories, photos, specifications and, if you choose, prices — that opens when a visitor scans your QR code. The most useful ones don't stop at browsing: the visitor can select the products they're interested in and send an enquiry with their requirements, so you leave the show with specific, quotable requests instead of a pile of "please send details" contacts.
This guide explains why that matters, what to put in an exhibition catalog, and how to run it at your stall.
The limits of a PDF brochure at an exhibition
Sending a PDF brochure — on paper or on WhatsApp — is a big improvement on printed handouts. But a brochure still has limits:
- It's a one-way document. The visitor can read it, but there's no simple way to say "I want these three products, in this size, this quantity".
- It gets out of date. Prices, stock and models change; printed and PDF brochures don't.
- Large ranges don't fit. A manufacturer with hundreds of products ends up with either a huge file or a brochure that leaves most of the range out.
- You learn nothing. You don't know which products the visitor looked at or cared about.
A digital catalog solves all four — as long as it includes a way to enquire.
From browsing to an enquiry with specifications
The difference between a viewable catalog and a useful one is the enquiry step:
- The visitor scans the QR code at your stall. The catalog opens in their phone's browser — no app to install.
- They browse by category and open the products that interest them, with photos and specifications.
- They select the products they want to know more about.
- They add their name, phone number and a message with their requirements — for example sizes, quantities, materials, delivery location or timeline.
- They submit, and you receive a structured enquiry: who they are, which products, and what they need.
Compare the two leads you might get from the same visitor:
The second one can be quoted the same day. It also tells you how serious the visitor is — see lead qualification questions for exhibitions for why specifics like quantity and timeline matter.
Why enquiries from a catalog are better leads
- They're specific. You know exactly which products to quote, without a discovery call.
- They're self-qualified. A visitor who selects products and types requirements is showing real intent.
- They reduce mistakes. The visitor writes their own requirements; nothing depends on a staff member remembering a conversation.
- They work after the show. The same catalog link can be shared later, so visitors who didn't have time at the stall can still enquire from their office.
- They reveal demand. Over a show, you see which products attract the most enquiries.
What to put in an exhibition catalog
- Clear categories that match how buyers think — by application, material or size, not by your internal codes.
- Good photos of each product, ideally on a plain background.
- Key specifications buyers compare: dimensions, capacity, material, finish, certifications.
- Price or "price on request". For B2B products where pricing depends on quantity or customisation, enquiry-first works better than fixed prices.
- Minimum order quantity and lead time, if they apply.
- Variants — sizes, colours, grades — so the visitor can be precise in their enquiry.
- Your contact details and a short line about your company.
Keep it current: one of the main advantages over a printed brochure is that you can update prices and photos at any time.
How to run a digital catalog at your stall
- Display the catalog QR code prominently with a clear call to action, such as "Scan to see our full range and send an enquiry". Our QR code guide covers size and placement.
- Use it in conversations. Staff can open the catalog on a phone or tablet to show products the stall doesn't have space to display.
- Add product-specific QR codes next to key display items, linking directly to that product.
- Share the link afterwards on WhatsApp with visitors who were short of time.
- Test before the show on a mobile data connection, not just office Wi-Fi.
Digital catalog vs PDF brochure
| PDF brochure | Digital catalog with enquiries | |
|---|---|---|
| Shows your full range | Often only a selection | Yes |
| Always up to date | No — a new file for every change | Yes — update any time |
| Visitor can select products | No | Yes |
| Visitor can send requirements | Only by replying separately | Yes, in the enquiry |
| You see what interested them | No | Yes, from the enquiry |
| Works after the show | As a file in their downloads | As a link they can open any time |
Brochures still have a place — a short company profile or a technical datasheet is often best as a PDF. Many exhibitors use both.
After the show: respond to enquiries fast
A catalog enquiry is a warm, specific request — treat it like a hot lead. Reply the same day if you can, send the quote or a clarifying question, and track each enquiry's status until it closes. Our 30-day follow-up plan applies here too.
Using a digital catalog alongside StallLead
StallLead and a digital catalog do different jobs, and work well together:
- StallLead captures every visitor as a lead — from your stall QR code via WhatsApp, a scanned business card, or manual entry — shares your brochures in the visitor's WhatsApp chat, and tracks interest levels and follow-ups for your team.
- A digital catalog gives visitors your full range to browse and a way to send product-specific enquiries.
A simple way to connect them: in StallLead, add a quick-action option such as "View full catalogue" whose reply message contains your catalog link. Visitors who choose it get the link right in their WhatsApp chat, and you also know they were interested enough to ask for it.
QueueKart: a digital catalog with product enquiries
One platform built for exactly this is QueueKart — our sister product, also built by Neyaro Technologies, the company behind StallLead. It lets you create a digital product catalog that customers open by scanning a QR code or tapping a shareable link — no app needed — with photos and live prices you can update at any time. Its Product Enquiry Mode is designed for manufacturers, machinery suppliers, wholesalers and other B2B sellers: instead of placing a direct order, visitors browse the catalog, select the products they're interested in, and submit an enquiry with their name, phone and message. Enquiries arrive in an admin dashboard for follow-up.
For exhibitions specifically, see QueueKart for exhibition stalls.
Frequently asked questions
What is a digital catalog for an exhibition stall?
It's a mobile web page with your products — categories, photos, specifications and optional prices — that visitors open by scanning a QR code at your stall. Good ones also let visitors select products and send an enquiry.
Can visitors send an enquiry from a digital catalog?
Yes, if the catalog supports it. The visitor selects the products they're interested in and submits their name, phone number and a message with their requirements, which you receive as a structured enquiry.
Is a digital catalog better than a PDF brochure?
For showing a large or changing range and collecting product-specific enquiries, yes. A PDF is still useful for a company profile or technical datasheet, so many exhibitors use both.
Do visitors need an app to view a digital catalog?
No. A web-based catalog opens in the phone's browser after scanning a QR code or tapping a link.