[amayausers] Re: Trade Show FLOP!
- From: Kushnerick <bkushner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 21 May 2006 11:00:21 -0600
Roland
I have to agree with you on attending trade shows. To me, hauling the
machine around, running the risk of damaging it and putting up with the
hassle .... isn't worth it [but I imagine there are others which will
disagree].
We have found groups [schools, clubs, large businesses, volunteer
organizations, churches, etc.] to be very good for spreading word about
our work. The thing I like about working with groups [besides the larger
quantities ordered] is that when those in the group head home, they tend
to go in all different directions ..... taking our work with them. This
is a great way to spread the word about what we do .... the key here
though, is that the quality must be very good because you want people
telling others about how satisfied they are with the embroidery.
Bob
Roland R. Irish III wrote:
>My thoughts on trade show setups...after 30 years in retail business,
>20 as a silversmith, graphics on and off until 22 years ago....added
>embroidery 2 years ago so I had 'the course' in getting and taking
>orders for clothing...and STILL get people that think I can whip up 4
>screens to print ONE shirt in half an hour for $15.....
>Don't go into any show thinking you will take orders...won't happen.
>I used to do 'Home Show's', Chamber of Commerce shows, Wedding shows,
>etc. and usually didn't even make an order to cover lunch. It is more
>of a 'meet and greet' for other people to see you...and the group
>running the show to make money off YOU.
>We (ex wife and I) would set up at shows to do jewelry, and realized
>right off you can't sit there and make a custom piece while everyone
>is watching, talking, picking up stuff, trying to rip you off....so
>we would work on 'other' orders-we had rings and bracelets we would
>wholesale by the dozen...so THAT's what we would work on-and tell
>potential customers to just give us their order and a deposit-and
>meet us at the shop.
>At the USSC (United States Sign Council) shows, the vendors (like
>Signfoam, etc.) hire sign makers to sit at the show and demonstrate
>the carving of foam, for example. What was the guy working on that
>had a shop in Cape Cod? not only was he getting paid to be at the
>show for a demo-the work he was doing was for his OWN customer-so
>when he got home, the job was done-and he got paid not only to SHOW
>how to carve the sign, but for selling the sign!
>So bring your regular jobs with you as a 'demo'.
>Otherwise, maybe a case of tote bags (Sanmar, real cheap) and run off
>STOCK designs while people watch...and tell them- like this? Buy it
>for your mom-add her name, only $5 plus the finished tote bag. If no
>one buys it, you have a sample for your shop, or eventually a case of
>totes to sell to some local 'craft store' at a discount.
>Your best bet for new accounts? If you are looking for BUSINESS
>accounts, large or small, join your local chamber of commerce, and
>run off a batch of hats and tote bags for the 'staff' at the
>chamber...then donate hats or totes to their upcoming event. I ran
>off 150 tote bags for the golf tournament they had last year...my
>logo on one side, their logo on the other. They filled them with
>other 'freebies' donated by other businesses...and gave them to every
>one at the tournament. Guess who some of the other businesses came to
>for the ad specialties to give away! Me!
>And I got orders for other stuff from THE TOTE bag, because the golf
>teams were all BUSINESS MEN!
>Now I give a case of something to every event the chamber does...and
>get orders every time. Did a batch of shirts with the chamber logo,
>and gave them some fleece blankets at the same time-they auctioned
>those off and made money! Fleece blankets- Big Lots- $1.99, bought 2
>grocery carts full!
>Not interested in doing any shows-not worth hauling the machine
>around. Better results and costs less to run off a case of hats or
>totes and GIVING them to the businesses. Figure your time (2 days @
>$20 per hour), loading and unloading the machine, setting it up, 2
>days wasted from running paying jobs...vs. a case of hats ($1.59,
>unstructured canvas) or totes (less than $2) handed out directly to
>every business in your area....see the savings
>Good luck!
>Roland
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