Booth Size For Homeshows...

orson

I am doing my first homeshow (ACS show) in the spring. I booked a 10x10 booth but my wife thinks I should up the size.

Our budget is tight and we're having a lousy year so I'm resisting the idea, on the other hand, if it translates to better sales I'd be fine with the investment.

To those of you who have done these types of shows....do you think a bigger booth translates to more sales?

Is a 10x10 booth too small and too easily filled/crowded?

Thanks in advance.

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genecarp

bigger booth does not mean more business, 10x10 is fine

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RCPainting

I attended a home show today. One thing I noticed about the smaller booths (I think they were 5 or 6 feet wide) was when one or two people were standing at the table, I passed by rather than squeeze in. If it was something I really was interested, I made a mental note to go back, didn't always make it!
I think location is important, I noticed the ones along the perimeter wall and way in back were deserted. The ones I noticed that got attention had displays that were eyecatching, stuff you could touch. I think there was a thread a while ago that covered some of this.
One of the busiest was a kitchen cabinet and door display, they had a working oven and were baking cookies to give away!

orson

Nice!! I think I am going to use that one.

My wife said about the same thing, if a booth has a few people in it then she passes it by because it's uncomfortable to jam into the booth.

On the other hand, she does get a bit obsessed with size....

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dougchips

How about two 10x10 booths in different areas of the show?

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Remodel Bud

Take it for what it is worth, but I have personally done over 40 home shows & have managed a "steering committee" with a National Home Improvement Company on this. Location, Location,Location.
Size depends on what you are selling too. Let me give a few ideas
1.) Make the booth inviting if larger, so people can walk through and not feel "outnumbered" by sales reps.
2.) Run a company video of testimonials, pictures & put literature in an easy to reach spot, so people can have easy access & not have to go behind a table, past a sales rep and a pit bull.HA!
3.) Advertise "free consultation, Give away or some enticement. Registration is a good idea.
4.) Make your name very visible and what you do. Brand your name.


There are many tips and ideas. Please ensure it is not a passive environment, but follow every prospect & lead. Take this opportunity to brand our name too.


We would have a 20*40 booth, with Window displays,Siding displays & a sunroom with landscaping. A cash machine for people who booked an appointment, they received 15 seconds in the "cashinator" filled with ones. The average person won 8-10 dollars. We followed up on every lead. Also, we sounded a horn when someone went in it. I bought the machine for 2k & have had it for years. We ran a slide show of before and after pics with video testimonials in it that I created with Photoshop. Our Home Shows were more of a success when we took a unique approach.

You don't need to be this elaborate, but being creative and a bit bigger of a booth will usually benefit. Of course, how much business you want or can handle should be taken into consideration too. What are you going to be offering...in remodeling...kitchens, bathrooms, additions?

hinejs

Start your first one small. 10 x 10. after the first show. you'll know how to better plan for next year. I started w/ one booth and have now grown to 3 booths. over a 3 yr period. Each year we've made significant changes and improvements as well as the investment in the booth rental fee. This year I think we'll go without the folding tables and put the literature on racks on the wall, because the space is precious real estate.

-Jeremy
-I fix broken pools & spas
Florida Leisure Pool & Spa

silvertree

I used to do a 10' x 10'. Then I did a 10' x 20'. Both worked about the same.
I don't give away candy anymore and sometimes I give away carpenter pencils with my name, but I never got a sale off on. So now no giveaway except for flyers that say I give away a stainless steel sink and faucet with all home show kitchen sales. I don't answer whats the sq ft cost for anything, especially countertops. I have a kitchen and door display and a display with just pictures. They both work about the same. This November I have a 10' X 15' booth and I am a speaker at the show. My 3rd speaking engagement. That is good sometimes for leads also. You are a chef and you remodel kitchens, thats a good combination for getting featured as a speaker.
You'll do your show with a 10' x 10' booth and for the next show you'll know what to do different. Good luck.

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Remodel Bud

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rbsremodeling

as a remodeler I would never do a home show.

Why would I pay someone to set up and try to sell my services around my competition, distraction and people who are just looking for a good time and have a million useless questions??

I could thing of a lot better ways to use my money to have customer find, call and use my service instead of competing for their time and money with 100 other guys.

Home show=Brothel

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Remodel Bud

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Remodel Bud

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rbsremodeling

How much does a home show cost You?? I have know Idea can you give me a dollar estimate

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Remodel Bud

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Carport King

How can you be in the business and not do home shows? Just give me a crowd anywhere and I'll show up.

Do not worry about the other contractors just go and set up and do your thing. And this means do not set on the chair behind your table and watch everyone go by.

My best show was with my shoe shine guy. We rented 3 booths and I built a very large shoe shine chair. This created a buzz and I had 3-5 minutes with my client. All I needed was 30 seconds to know if they needed anything if it was a yes I made the appointment if it was a know he recieved my marketing packet to take home with a call to action insert.

All the other contractors called me the shoe shine guy but I laughed all the way to the bank. Gotch Ya!

One most important factor is after the show work your leads like it is your last day on earth.

We do 12 shows a year and $900,000-1,200,000 in sales from them. So for us it is worth it but then we know how to work a show. Good Luck

Falcone

The booth rental is not the biggest expense.

The budget for a 3-day home show we will do in January is $9,000 but the booth is only $1,300 of that. Budget for staffing, displays, literature, meals, follow up materials, uniforms for people working the booth. I also include my time in the budget, not just the hours worked at the event but every hour spent planning and preparing for it.

Remodel Bud

One year I invested in a permanent display I kept in my warehouse and made setting up so much easier and less time consuming. We developed a system to minimize costs.

We already had uniforms as part of our everyday activity,

Staffing....I worked it along with my full commission sales people.

To set up a Sunroom & numerous window displays that I took from my showroom, the extra dollars were nominal & nowhere near 7,000 extra.

I could usually gain 150,000 in sales from the Home Show.


Homeshow 4k-5k
meals $100.

Sales....priceless!

dougchips

Wow, those little things really add up!

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Patrick

We just stop by the shop, grab all our misordered windows and siding, show up and build a house. cheap, cleans out the shop, and gets good results.

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Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.

GitSum

LOL - Cashinator

.youtube.com/watch?v=ztyyBK8maNg