Made it through my 2nd home show.. - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

ruskent · 03-11-2007, 09:16 PM

Well i just finished up my second home show. I did 10x better my first show. The first show was in a area where my product is more popular. But show 2 was huge. There were over 550 vendors. Absoultly a huge show.

Now i booked this show late and was way in the back. I had almost NO interest. Yet when i took walks around my compeitors were swamped with people i never talked to. The first home show had a direction you had to go. This one you could go anywhere, which means people could easily miss you.

In the future i know to book these shows way in advance so i can get a decent spot. I am also going to invest alot more money in my booth and come up with something more eye catching.

I did very poorly at this show, but i made some great contacts with other contractors. SO i do not consider it a waste at all. As long as i learn something and keep improving, its ok. I could still get a couple jobs from this, you never know.

BTW this has got to be the last home show i work all alone!! I am dead now! I left my house friday at 6am to drive 1.5 hours and then set the display up. Show was friday 3.30-9.30, sat 10-9, and today 10-6. It was a longg weekend.

Matt

BreyerConstruct · 03-11-2007, 09:39 PM

Matt,

We just finished up our first.
It's a long weekend, and our's was close to home!

Get some sleep & help man- best wishes!!

~Matt

vwovw · 03-11-2007, 09:48 PM

i hate home show homes....lots of pressure and usually less pay. BUT

good for marketing yourself

dougchips · 03-11-2007, 09:52 PM

Matt, did you drive back home each day or did you get a local hotel?

dirt diggler · 03-11-2007, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruskent

you never know.
Matt

got a job from a an old mailer i had sent out to about 150 people this time last year

i had forgotten all about it ... the guy kept saying "flyer" -- i checked his address on this year's list ... he wasn't there

he showed it to me ... i said "ill be damn"

(not out loud)

point is YOU NEVER KNOW ....

marc · 03-12-2007, 06:54 AM

We just finished our 11th show of the year. Wasn't very good. We only set 9 appointments. Win some lose some.
39 more shows to go before we start a new year. THANK GOD I DON'T WORK THEM

WHODAMAN007 · 03-12-2007, 07:17 AM

How much is the fee to display your stuff?

ruskent · 03-12-2007, 08:53 AM

I stayed at a hotel. No way i could drive 80 miles back and forth.

I think the booth from this one was 1295.

Dirt- People will save everything. I have gotten calls from letters i mailed after a year. Alot of vendors say if i talk to someone, i should not let them leave my booth until i get thier info.

However, alot of people are in the process of buying land, buildings, looking for a house etc, and are 6-18 off from needing my service. Those people really do not want to give out their info. Thats fine with me. I give them the catolog and if they really like my product they will call when they are interested.

Best part of these shows is networking with other vendors.

dougchips · 03-12-2007, 10:31 AM

I just interviewed a new sub on Saturday. Once I was done I asked how he found me----a mailer I did last year. Got all call last week for a siding job 50+ square from a "million dollar bill" handout from the Home show this spring.