Those That Do Home Shows..

ruskent

I got my first home show coming up this weekend. What do you guys have potential customers fill out that want information/proposals? Do you just use a peice of paper with colums, note cards, or something else?

toddcla2002

What I do is go to a professional printing house and I have them print up these stacks of paper that are bound by some type of glue at the top. The size that I have now is fairly big so that it makes it easier for me to read the writing. I did them in a word document at 8.5*11 and then they were divided in half hamburger wise. I included: Company logo at the top, then sections for name, phone number, work #, cell #, email, then a couple different categories of services and they could circle one or fill in the blank of other and then the last section was a comments section for addditional info. I hope this helps!

~todd

Susan Betz

I used to do trade shows (with a business I ran for years, now closed) and the simplest way to gather names is to have people register for a giveaway. It persuades them to give you their information. Make sure you get email addresses and ask them to opt-out. That is, provide a check box on the paper form that says "I prefer not to receive email from your company". Most people won't check it that box. Then you have a low-cost way to warm drip on these leads.

Also, I used to give away magnets. People would call for years after picking up a magnet. Make sure they're attractive and have all relevant information.

__________________
Fences of Distinction, Ocala, FL
http://www.fencesofdistinction.com

ruskent

I am not doing any raffles or give aways. I am only interested in qualified leads.

Susan Betz

Aren't we all?

__________________
Fences of Distinction, Ocala, FL
http://www.fencesofdistinction.com

dougchips

I printed up some contact forms with project info and other useful questions. When I do it again I will use a nicer paper and make sure that people fill out every piece of required info.

At some point I will post the results of my first show, it will take a while for the numbers to roll in. Most of the "free drawing leads" were crappy but some of them are real winners. Just got back from a roofing/siding/window estimate that will be priced somewhere around 60k (big house).

I do not believe in confirming appointments, I feel that it gives people with cold feet a chance to back out before the see my presentation. With that said, I need to find a way for them to remember the appointment. I think I will hand people a block of wood with our appointment time on the back of it at my next show.

vinylguy

a free drawing is the way to go . alot are crap but if you sell 1 job that takes care of the rest. people get bombarded at these home shows so sometimes they like what they see and just don't want bothered or pessured so they use the free giveaway as a means of contact because they know your going to call them for it. also you have about 4 seconds to get with a customer before they move on so if your talking to someelse youv'e just missed them. not to mention a nice drawing creates a buzz around your booth and makes people look your way. hope this help sianora!

toddcla2002

I would just go with what I said earlier. I talk to each and every person that fills one of those out. Makes them a well qualified lead. Last year I got about 92-94 leads from a homeshow and sold 150k worth of work. Well worth it for a small painting business.

You can do the gimmicky crud but I don't like playing that cold call game. I like well qualified leads!

~todd

Charles Bagley

The first thing you should do is show some interest if people show some interest in your booth. We went to a home show this weekend and were interested in some vendors products. Two vendors we WERE interested in stood outside their booth just basically in a daze. I acknowleged them and went inside their booth to look around and picked up some literature and their card. They didn't initiate any contact or bother to see if they could help me. I stood back and watched this same thing go on with other people who were obviously interested in their product. I thought jeeze if you are going to spend the money to come to the show, at least TRY to get some business out of it. Needless to say, they are on the bottom of my choices to do business with.

ruskent

150k is alot of paint!!! I have no idea how much work i am going to get. I got 3 home shows in march. I'm hoping to pull atleast 1 pool out of each show. Some guys told me if i couldn't pull 4-6 pools out of a show i shouldn't be in sales. We will see.

I got a sweet booth set up. I belive i am around 1100-1200 dollars fo my booth i built. Would of been alot less except the marble and travertine pavers i am using were 640 bucks. I got some innovative ideas in my booth and will post pics after the show.

bill r

Why not write the info down yourself...its a great opportunity to interact with you and get acquainted with you. Asking me to fill out a form is always taken as a put-down. Write into what is clearly your own personal pocket notebook.

POOLMANinCT

i know s*N j**N will set up a huge display for their dealers at a cho (providing enough dealers in area) then dealers fight it out