| We took the Rod Organizers to the Nautical Flea | | | | you may not want to go to an event that is a |
| Market in Port Charlotte this weekend. What an | | | | first-year event. First-year events have no track |
| interesting show. We learned a lot about what not to | | | | record, therefore you have no idea how many |
| do and what to look into before coughing up loads of | | | | people will actually show up to purchase your |
| money up front in the hopes to make it rich for next | | | | product. But then again, sometimes the newer shows |
| time. | | | | have less expensive booth rates too, so it may |
| First, look into the producer of the event. Check out | | | | come down to simple math as to what shows you |
| how long they have been producing shows and | | | | start with. |
| exactly how many shows in that time they have put | | | | Also, being new, you probably do not want to travel |
| together. Were the shows they did successful? | | | | to far from home. Stay within driving distance of |
| Where were the shows and how many people | | | | your home so you don't have to spend money on a |
| showed up? (this may be difficult to ascertain due to | | | | hotel. This will limit the number of shows you have to |
| hyped up numbers) And, did most of the shows | | | | choose from, but if you keep your expenses down, |
| repeat more than once or twice, or did they dwindle | | | | even doing a new show that doesn't do a lot, will |
| away due to possibly bad production. | | | | give you the experience you need and possibly the |
| Next, check into the events in the surrounding area | | | | seed money to go to bigger and better shows |
| of the show you are looking at going to. Are there a | | | | farther away. |
| lot of other events happening on that weekend? Are | | | | Once you have decided upon the show, set up a |
| they the same length and are they direct competition | | | | practice booth before you get there. Plan out how |
| type of shows. Meaning for instance, you are looking | | | | you will set up to see if it works for you logistically. |
| at a Nautical show and there is a fishing tournament | | | | Don't over do anything, keep it simple. You don't |
| the same weekend, which will basically be taking | | | | want to over stimulate the patrons. They are literally |
| some of your market away from you. | | | | seeing hundreds of products so you really want to |
| Those will usually cover everything to make sure the | | | | make sure what you are showing them pops out |
| show will turn out well for you, but just to be on the | | | | immediately and without to much explanation. |
| safe side, see if the producer is regulating the | | | | Now, you are actually at the show, you need to |
| vendors. If you are going to a Nautical show, how | | | | have a quick simple pitch with great incentives. Once |
| many vendors are being allowed to come in that | | | | the pitch has been given, make sure you get the |
| have nothing to do with the industry. And, most | | | | product in their hands (unless it's to big to hold), and |
| importantly, make sure they are not allowing more | | | | then step away from them. Let them come back to |
| than one of your product, unless the show is | | | | you and before they can give you the product back |
| absolutely huge and you will be at opposite ends of | | | | ask them if they want 1, 2 or 3. Maybe even offer |
| the venue. But a show like that, you might not be | | | | another incentive if they buy in multiples. |
| able to afford the booth fees to begin with, since | | | | Our next event will be much better planned out. In |
| the larger the show usually means the larger the | | | | fact we have set up with a secondary product to |
| price to get in. | | | | draw people in, a kind of His-n-Hers booth. One side |
| Then, you need to look at how stable you are as | | | | will be for the Rod Organizers and the other side will |
| well. If you are just getting into doing trade shows | | | | be for our kids toys. |