Exhibition's

[purplepoppy]

Hi
I'm just starting my own business and aswell as selling on the internet I have a stand at an exhibition in October. I was wondering if anyone has experience of selling via exhibitions? This will be my first one and Im not 100% of what to expect or what marketing materials I would need, but I'm on a very tight budget!. The product Im selling is very simple and quite small so a bit worried my stand will look a bit sparse!!
Any advice woud be very gratefully recieved.
Thanks for reading
Purplepoppy
:redface:

 

[affluentdesign]

Hi, i have no experience of selling at exhibitions. But we have exhibited our work at several art shows. You can fill up your space quite well with flyers, leaflets and business cards that people can just pick up, its also a good way to advertise your business further because all of these things get passed round person to person aswell. Also if you made or had made some kind of stand to sell your product on. This can be designed with your company logo and information on aswell so you are advertising further.

 

[oldeagleeye]

I have laid on my than a few exbitions in my time. If you let me know which expo I check it out. PM me if you like and tell me what your product is. I should be able to give you some idea of the potential.

It is pity you didn't ask before because I presume you have paid in full for the stand and Shell scheme is expensive and people drop out after paying the deposit usually 40%. The organizer then is usually quite happy to pass that discount on - BUT only if you ask.

 

[oldeagleeye]

Forgot to add. Affluentdesign. You can't make your own stand. All the purpose made stands you see at expo are built to strict fire and safety regulations. Sorry mate. A paste table may be OK for a boot fair but not an exhibition.

 

[RBS]

I had an idea of taking part in Interbuild 2009, but it would cost me around 4k, so decided go for next year. Just do math if it will pay you off.

 

[affluentdesign]

Sorry i didnt mean like the whole stall. I meant a small stand to hold your product in which would sit on the stall, the expo provides you.

 

[oldeagleeye]

It is a condition that you hire all tables - chairs etc from the stand contractors. They are not expensive but that all add to the contractors profits.

Robert.

 

[Display Wizard]

Hi, doing an exhibition doesn't have to cost the earth! Just make sure you go well prepared with business cards and leaflets as affluentdesign said. Have a look at our tips for exhibiting as well:

http://www.displaywizard.co.uk/tips_for_successful_exhibiting.html

We also sell exhibition start up kits to create a more high impact display:

http://www.displaywizard.co.uk/exhibiting_start_up_kits.html

Hope this help and all the best with the exhibition in October!

Pete

 

[RBS]

Hi, doing an exhibition doesn't have to cost the earth!

Well, 400£ per sq/m +Insurance +booking fee +VAT.

 

[Display Wizard]

Well, 400£ per sq/m +Insurance +booking fee +VAT.

As well as working for Display Wizard, I also run my own business importing and distributing guitars. I recently did an exhibition at Excel in London, which cost me under £2,000, which is fairly cheap considering the returns I got! £400 per sq/m is a bit high i think!

 

[RBS]

£400 per sq/m is a bit high i think!

These are actual Interbuild 2009 prices.

Dimension: 3m x 3m (9m²)
Spec: Shell Scheme
Spec: One Side Open
Cost: £ 3,220.00

+Insurance +deks/chairs +booking fee +VAT

 

[Display Wizard]

These are actual Interbuild 2009 prices.

Dimension: 3m x 3m (9m²)
Spec: Shell Scheme
Spec: One Side Open
Cost: £ 3,220.00

+Insurance +deks/chairs +booking fee +VAT

The one I did was the London International International Music Show and I had a 3m x 2m Shell Scheme with 3 walls, which was about £200 per sq/m and I managed to get discount of that price. Also my business insurance already covered exhibitions. If you go to an exhibition well prepared, the results can more than cover the costs!

 

[RBS]

Looks like prices vary by exibitions subject. Computers/construction being highest, flowers/music being cheaper.

 

[Display Wizard]

Looks like prices vary by exibitions subject. Computers/construction being highest, flowers/music being cheaper.

Yeah, I suppose its relative to the amount of money involved in the industry.

 

[virtuallysorted]

My top tip - get some of those sticky pad velcro things to put up posters/flyers on the wall.

Other top tips:
- have a way of capturing people's contact information (a sign up sheet, a business card competition etc). The key to success at these things isn't bumping into someone who needs your service right now, it's about following up with everyone who was at it so you are front of mind whenever they need you!
- ask the organisers if you can get the door data/email addresses of people registered. This is a really easy way of gathering the data and a lot of conference organisers will now do this as standard as part of the exhibition fee. Ditto get your marketing materials in the goody bags.
- moving images on a laptop screen/plasma screen will grab people's attention. Create this using powerpoint/flash.
- wear comfortable shoes and drink lots of water. You will be knackered - make sure you get a proper break.

 

[LighthouseDM]

Hi,

It really depends on the type of product and customer you are targeting. It also depends on what your aims of the exhibition are. Flyers and leaflets are okay but if your product/service works better if you have control of the relationship. Therefore, take the details of all your visitors so you can send them literature/contact them after the show.

The other thing is make yourself stand out. Use a gimmick. We had a really low budget for a recent B2B exhibition so we built a lighthouse out of Lego bricks and ran a competition to guess the number of bricks in return for business cards. We now constantly mail these contacts with info about our company, updates offers etc.

I'd be delighted to talk to you further if you like.

Regards

Andy