PRES stagers are brilliant in using trade shows as part of their marketing strategy! Trade shows are a great marketing strategy and while they do take time, money and energy the pay off can be huge IF you follow up! The best time for trade shows is in the spring and fall. There are industry specific trade shows with realtors and stagers and then the Home & Garden shows are a terrific way for PRES stagers to promote their business.
Earlier this year PRES stagers Deena Cottingham of Green Apple Staging and Janet Voth of Designing Spacez both servicing the Calgary area had a tremendous response with visitors to their booths.
PRES stagers on the West Coast have been active in a number of real estate trade shows and Sally Weatherley of Exit Stage Right was involved with the BC Real Estate Convention trade show held April 8th & 9th. She set up a fantastic looking booth and had a colleague Gita Wood help her out one morning.
Lois North of Lois Interiors attended the trade show and passed out her marketing materials such as her information packages and business cards. That’s a terrific strategy and one that is ‘FREE’. It involves your time and energy and is well worth it.
The key to any successful marketing strategy like a trade show is of course FOLLOW UP! PRES Stagers will have a draw for a ‘free’ staging consultation or perhaps a ‘free’ power stage or even as much as a ‘free home staging job’!
Throughout the year many of the PRES members are participating in industry related trade shows. Here are a few TIPS for anyone who is participating in a trade show:
Stay tuned throughout the year as we post photos of some of the 2010 trade show successes with our PRES members.
Set up a budget for the trade show which includes the booth cost, advertising in the show directory, your stage set up costs, electrical costs, internet connection costs if you are using this, some shows you need to purchase carpet, some you need to do flooring and walls so make sure you know what is expected of you – read over the contract carefully
Make sure there are at least 2 people in the booth so that you can spell each other off for dinner or other breaks
Wear really comfortable shoes and bring a few pairs to change into – most flooring is concrete so that is not so good to stand on all day
Create a stunning vignette in your booth that represents your ability as a stager to stage this scene – do a cozy living room vignette with 2 chairs, lamp, table, small carpet, cushions, accessories, or try a bedroom look that says WOW!
Stand in front of your booth never inside so people have to come in to you – be very approachable and chat with people as they come by
Have lots of wrapped candies (chocolate seems to be the favourite) to give out
Have plenty of small give-aways like nail files, measuring tapes, pens, etc
Have 1 GRAND PRIZE DRAW and make people fill out your entry form – be sure to ask for their name, phone, address, email and what their biggest challenges are in their homes
You can also add a request for them to check off if they would like to receive your monthly emails – this way when you follow up they will know who you are (privacy issues)
FOLLOW UP is the name of the game here – after all your time, money and energy that you will have put into the show you want to get clients from it – so follow up with a phone call to them (email 2nd but phone first)
FOLLOW UP you can offer specials to people who attended the show in a variety of ways: 20% staging their home, 10% off product if they buy your inventory, Special Show Promotion $200 off their redesign or staging job, etc etc – be creative
HAVE FUN while you are doing this and make notes after about what worked best, what you would do differently next time
Trade shows are a great way to market your business and they provide the opportunity for the public to get to know you and your company. Choose ones that attract your target market.
