who knows what?

Dan S

New Member
Can anybody tell me how to have a successfull HOME SHOW?

How do ya do it? ( I already have the prices and contacts )

Im meaning how do ya have a succesfull one

What have you guys experienced .....how do you set up for it?

did it work for you ?
and would you do it again?
 

DanKes

New Member
I assume you are going to have a booth at an existing show. I've done them in the past, and you need to get people to stop at your booth. Some suggestions are: Have large & dramatic before/after photos posted, have estimate sign up sheets ready to go, possibly a video that loops(replays continually) showing your services, have handouts with your name & number i.e. pencils, bags, cards, etc. Possiblly have part of a deck 1/2 cleaned, or brick patio, (I'm not sure what market you are in), even some mossy & mildewed siding half cleaned.
 

davidwil

New Member
Dan S,

I can't speak from experience, but I've got my first home and garden show coming up Feb 14-16 and thought I would share what I have planned for it. I have a 15x25 booth ($450 for 3 days, estimated 9000 people) and plan to hang a large blue tarp for a backdrop. On the backdrop I'll put a large Company logo, a list of services we provide and blown up before and after shots. For the blow ups, I just took regular photos to a copy store and had color enlargements made (11x17) on a heavy paper. I then used spray adhesive to put them on foam backer board. . . WALA! Instant eye-grabbers at a cost of about $2.50 each.

On one end of the booth, I plan to have an 8 foot section of wood fence that has been 1/2 restored. If I can find it, I will also have a "deck" that is 1/2 restored also. On the deck I will put some white resin lawn furniture that has been half cleaned. If I have time, I want to video the cleaning and restoration of the fence and keep that playing.

On the other end will be an easel with a big colorful sign that will announce our "Show Prize" to be given away. Probably a house wash. The registration slips ought to get me quite a few good leads for mailers. I have also put a box on the slips to check if they would like for us to call and schedule an estimate.

Out front, I will set up a table with a monitor and have a set of before and after shots in a continuous loop. Also will have flyers to hand out to as many people as I can get to take one! Any estimate scheduled during the show will get a 15% discount. After the show, if they present the flyer, they get a 10 % discount, Until march 31.

I thought it was pretty interesting that what I had already planned is almost exactly what DanKes mentioned in his post. I had not thought about the mildew or algae covered siding. I'm going to start looking for it today!

If anyone has any other thoughts or suggestions on how to make a show successful, I would sure like to hear them as well.
 
P

paul-uk

Guest
flyer's\coupons

try this
Accept expired coupons: Your goal is to get new customers so don't drive off a potential customer because their coupon
is expired. This act of goodwill will be remembered by the customer.

****accept competitor's coupons (put it on your flyers). ****

Empower your best customers to give special discounts to their families, friends and business associates.

get thier e-mail addresses so you can offer them new service announcements, news, newsletters, etc.

a banner with the legend "if you can wet it....i can restore it like new"

some tips i have picked up off the boards.

cheers paul.
 

ron

New Member
Dan

you should look at/talk to Greg at deck guide.
He set-up a real nice disply and has done a couple of these home shows. His disply looks real professional. There are pics on his site.
 

Dan S

New Member
Hey David,
I may do 2 shows one is done by a T.V station .......and the other one a radio station .. first one is this month and the next one next month..About 500.00 for each show 3 days long and 10x15 space. or I could go bigger for more.

I have all kinds of professional flyers which I would like to hand out.

I think I may use a old picket fence I have and do a before/after on it. and also I thought I would build a small deck outa some old treated that I have and do the same with it.

Thanks guys !

ANybody else have any suggestions?

How to have a successful home-show?

lets hear them....................Dont be shy !

 

Larry L.

PWN TEAM - Moderator Emeritus
Don't be like all the others,be different from the others,be the one everybody says "did you see dat guys display".Be not like all of the others,if you see one you have seen them all,all your needing is to draw them to your booth even from word of mouth in the crowd.Your needing them to stop for more then a sec to look around your booth,you need a crowd pleaser for even the kids.My ideal takes time to build but can be used year after year,even adding on to.Ask me about it some day when you have time,its not a rush job in building,your booth will have a crowd around it alday.Now I haveta go down to the shop and stand around a wood stove to tell more ly's,ask me about it sometime.....C-ya
 

ron

New Member
get BARNEY, a HOOTER'S girl,and a Brad Pitt look a like.
Something for everyone.
You might try free helium boloons with your logo on them.
Some kind of giveaway[free house wash] for putting there buissness card/address in a box.[customer mailing list].
Sometimes even a stupid game of chance[throw a sponge into a bucket] can get traffic stopped. When there's a crowd people want to know "what's up"
There are a lot of little give-a-ways and paperwork given out at these things. Be the guy who gives out the little plastic bags with the hand hold. Put your info on the bag.
I still think the hooters girl will work the best.
What about tagging the cars in the parking lot?
 

Dan S

New Member
Im not into TAGGING....... I think thats a waste of time,money,paper....... and It pisses people off.

I like your other ideas though.......

okay big- you got my attention.... and IM ASKING ..... lets hear it man lets hear it ....... I wanna hear it NOW ...... let me have it .... GIVE it to me >>>>>>>>>>>
 

Jon

New Member
Dan, BOLD COLORS with large letters is an eye catcher.

As for tagging I am with you, I never buy from companies that tag my windshield or door at home, I trash that stuff.

You do need a fence so that picket fence around your booth with say every 5 dirty and 5 finished should make it stand out as to the before and after
 
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Larry L.

PWN TEAM - Moderator Emeritus
Nope none of those,like I said if you see one you have seen them all,those ideals aren't new.Have something different from the rest and get the point across without saying a word,will maybe saying thank you but it was Bigboys ideal.
 

Dan S

New Member
I agree there big.... What if i stand around in my spider-man underwear? and maybe even wear a bra? oh what about
>>> billy bob teeth? oh maybe even play feelings on my guitar................... LOL


yes I woould like to be different then the "norm" ......... this is going to be an adventure!!!!!!!!!
 

ron

New Member
bigboy prob wants you to construct a plexi-glass booth and do some power washing right at the show.[set-up show times]
If that wont work nothin will.
Maybe set-up a car wash in the parking lot to show how you can do fleet's.
 

Larry L.

PWN TEAM - Moderator Emeritus
lol,my ideals aren't nothing like the others,altho it could cover siding,fence,roof,flatwork,fleets,deck,snow plow,ect.,and even the crowd would stand in amaz'ment.Hint,It can be done in a 2 foot x 4 foot space but 4 foot x 8 foot would be more interesting for the crowd to stand longer at your booth.

I'm just glad this thread is in the shoot the bull,I'd haveta polish the stain to a glow if it wasn't.

Put your minds to work...think...think...think don't be like the others,be different,don't be a copy cat,when in douth think it out.

here,6 in. of snow on the ground and still putting it down,think I'll go and stand around a wood stove somewhere.
 

Dan S

New Member
maybe there isnt alot folks who do home show's or maybe they are just reading to find some answers.. i find it hard to believe that there are only a handfull of people that really do know how to have a successful home show .WHy dont they speak up? I see that they are reading and posting else where ... why cant they take a moment and respond to a simple request?

AHHHH fear sets in and maybe that dont want to give trade secret's. thats okay ... no-really it is .. I have a company that can answer all the questions ....... but hey thanks to those who took time out to respond.


I agree with big on being different ........... and alot of thought and planning is going into this.. I will snap some pic's of the booth when it's up and running ..... in March ..and post 'em here.

ok?
c-ya on the flip side <<^^>>
 

Larry L.

PWN TEAM - Moderator Emeritus
Sorry Dan,I will not share nomore of my ideals to the world as for them to make money off a dumm redneck.... post your e-mail or phone #,it may take awhile for me to answer but I will answer.
 

davidwil

New Member
Homeshow results

Hey Dan,

We got through the home show and I thought I'd share my experience and maybe offer a tip or two. We had around 9000 folks go through the show.
I wound up with at least 15 good prospects to follow up on. One job could be in the 10,000 or so range! At least 3 are over 1000! 5 or so are 500 or more! Several of these jobs seem very promising. These 15 prospects I got by talking to people who visited my booth and by offering a 15% discount IF they told me right then to call them and set up a time for an estimate.
I also have another 30 or so to call. They came from my "show prize" registration slips (I gave away a house wash, but wish I had just given cash! I think the cash would have been a bigger drawing card and would have been a lot easier on me!) When I printed up the registration slips, I included a box to check if they would like for me to call and make an appointment to give an estimate on some work they wanted done. Only 200 or so signed up, but 15% of them checked the "call me" box! I thought that was pretty good.
Some "dos" . . . DO speak to everybody that walks by . . . DO give away something of value that everybody wants ($100?) . . . DO have some large before and after shots! . . . DO lay out plenty of business cards (I put out flyers that actually had my card copied on the top - nobody would take them so I put out my actual cards - lots of folks took one.) . . . DO be sure to carefully record the names and numbers of prospects
Some "don'ts" . . . DON'T pre-judge folks by there looks! . . . DON't leave your booth unattended . . . DON'T block access to your booth with a table (leave room for folks to walk up and look at your pictures, etc.) . . . DON'T forget to "follow up" on all your prospects as soon as possible.
I'm sure there's a lot more but these are some things that I thought were important. Hope they help. I think this show will prove to be quite profitable for us and I plan to do it again next year.
BTW, did you ever get bigboy to tell you his secrets for success?
 

Dan S

New Member
no he wouldnt say a word David. Shhhhhhh I think he wants money ....LOL

he told me to e-mail him and I keep forgetting ..

hey big I lost your e-mail address... e-me
smwash@pennswoods.net

you had some great points in your post David.... this came at a great time ,my home show is next week.

Thank you very much for taking the time to help.
 

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