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QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE YOU COMMIT:
- Is this an annual event and, if so, how many people attended the last time
it was run?
- What percentage of the vendors that participated last time will participate
again?
- How many vendors do you estimate at this event? What types of vendors do you
have signed up now?
- What type of experience do the organizers and promoters of this event
have?
- How will you promote this event?
- Who is the primary audience of this event?
- How much parking is available and is there a fee for this?
- Is there an admission fee and, if so, how much?
- If we agree to participate, will we be the exclusive vendor in this
category?
- Is there a contract or a non-refundable deposit required?
- What is the fee structure and what are the dimensions of the booth space for
this event?
- Are there electrical outlets available? How far?
- Do I need to provide my own lighting?
- Do participants have to meet any qualifications?
- How much set-up and break-down time is allowed?
- If we participate, where would we be located?
NOT ALL EVENTS ARE CREATED EQUAL.
Do your homework before you commit. Check the fees involved for you to participate and make sure
that it not only appears to be competitive for similar-sized events in your area, but that the
event will be the right fit to promote your business. If the event itself is not located in a
convenient location with adequate parking for customers and the vendors, it has a smaller chance of
success.
TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL BOOTH
- Location, location, location. Ask for it or you will probably not get it.
Ask for and study a map of the proposed layout. Ask for first right of refusal on the location
for the next one.
- Know who your customers are and make sure this matches who will attend the
event.
- Interact with every person who walks by your booth. Make eye
contact, smile and create an interactive environment with as many people as
possible.
- Make sure and take several people with you if it is a big event.
TEAM.
- Be the exclusive vendor in your category. Don’t assume this will happen
without asking. You also won't always get it.
- Decorate your booth with drama and artistic flair. Utilize your own
lighting, use high quality, interesting decorating materials like velvet, flowers, and mirrors.
Use attractive and professional displays, signs, photos and let your displays create ideas for
use of your products or services.
- Offer brochures, flyers, your business cards. Not everyone will purchase
from you on the day of the event. These marketing materials will also help you solicit interest
for additional purchases and referrals.
- Offer a prize drawing for something the people would love to have.
Have them fill out a brief questionaire with their info on it.
- Dress to attract interest for what you are trying to promote or to match the
theme of the event so you bring more attention to yourself and your booth.
- Gather an E-mail list of interested participants to use for future marketing
and within 24 hours after the event, send a thank you. E-mail to let them know how much you
appreciated their interest and to remind them that you have added them to your mailing list and
that their contact information is confidential and never shared.
- Follow-up on all leads that you generated at the event within 48
hours, while interest is still strong or they will probably be lost forever. FORTUNE
IS IN THE FOLLOW-UP
- Gather business cards by offering a drawing for one of your products
or services.
- If you have videos for sale or informational videos about your products or
company, continuously play them to attract interest.
- Offer complimentary chocolate, beverages, anything to get them to stop...but
don't just display it in a dish; offer it with outstretched hands and eye contact so that
interaction is inevitable.
- Vendors at the event are also potential customers. Take
time to introduce yourself and your business to as many of them as possible, show sincere
interest in their products or services and offer them a discount at your booth.
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