Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Natural light, taller ceilings, and more functional spaces transform this midcentuary-modern home.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
1.) No but wuldnt mind goin to see some new stuff
2.)No - have never heard of anyone getting solid jobs from these.
I think if you have a product to sell you might be more inclined to get business than if you strictly sell a service.
I've only sold at one an I got a very significant sold job out of it.
I used to do them in the 80-90's when I was in business. Always walked away with leads, I think in the 40 range at most of them. Everything from roofing, siding to whole house remodels.
Normally figured about 150k of business from each one I did. I did do one that didn't result in a thing, but I was sick the week after the show and didn't get to set appointments up in time.
I recently saw what DanT ran ..
he had a kitchen and bath trailer.
just pulled it in ... and bang ... set up was done.
I thought a great idea.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
great idea until you realize it costs 6k to have it in the show.
<!----><!----><!---->
I refuse to accept that there are limitations to what we can accomplish. Pete Draganic
Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day. Matt Garcia
what cost $6K?
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
the spot at the Home and Garden show to set up a display
<!----><!----><!---->
I refuse to accept that there are limitations to what we can accomplish. Pete Draganic
Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day. Matt Garcia
I just finished a show for the resturaunt industry (pizza & ice cream) 2 days and my booth was 10x10 41700 for a corner booth. I have 8 solid leads to follow and the architecht helping out has at least 10."this dog may be old but he ain't cold. And he still knows how to bury a bone."
Lattimore
http://www.rehmodeling.com
Did you really mean $41,700 for a 10x10 booth?That must be a great home show.
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
that sounds high ... but even if ...
if yer pulling 60-80% of your business from there, and seeing as how another 20 or so would be referals ... from previous home show customers ...
and grossing say $300K/yr ...
$6K don't sound like a bad investment.
either way ... if someone is set on doing a home show ... I loved the "display on wheels" idea. Everyone I've ever talked to that does them on a regular basis likes them for the business they bring in ... hates then for the work involved in set up and tear down.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
one thing I'd do to the trailer would be get a full wrap.
There's a guy here ... bet they're everywhere ... that can take a photo and make it an overlay wrap for your van, trailer or what ever. Can even split it down the middle ... have a kitchen and a bath on each side of the trailer ... logo up the front real nice ...
full size billboard inside the home show.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I have been in numerous shows and never spent more than $1200 to be in one. I have done a week at various fairs and only spent $450. DanT
I used to do trade shows for a living. They can be great if done properly, and they can be a real time & money sink if done poorly. Getting a table and putting out a bunch of brochures ain't going to cut it. If you have a great booth - or a crappy one - if you sit in the back of the booth talking on the cell phone, eating, and generally waiting to be asked a question - that ain't going to cut it either.
There's a ton of up front planning. There's the show itself which should be non-stop activity. And then there's a well thought after-show follow-up campaign - no just a one-time call but a plan for several months of contact.
I could do a brain dump and go and on but what do you really want to know? Happy to share.
-Norm
I work at Home Depot and we are getting a booth. This is store level not corporate.
I have to say my store is not like the rest. We really try hard and think "outside the
box" . We will have things like American Craftsman and Andersen windows,
Behr Paint, Guardian whole house generators, Timbertech decking, our Garden
Club etc. etc. Honestly I am looking at all facets of the thing. I do know that the
booth was $900 for a 10x10. If it does not produce measurable (sales) results it will
be the last I'm sure. The reps for each product will be their, not just the product.
I'll offer up the other side.
I hate consumer-oriented trade shows, but with a remodel in the works and a vacation day to kill, my wife, newborn baby and a roll of 24 X 36's made the trip to the late summer '08 Seattle home show. I mostly wanted to find any interesting updates to fit into our own plans (e.g. foam insulation alternatives, window manufacturers, heating systems, etc...) and see if any rebates or discounting was going on.
For the most part, the show was disappointing. A lot of the booths were occupied with sales people who knew little about their product. But boy, did they seem a little on the desperate side... No one wanted to talk to me about direct sales (insulation, floor heating, etc..) - they all wanted to sell packages. As an aside, the Penguin people should be shot on site - Audubon membership be damned...
However, we saw an unmanned window display that actually made us want to stop and look - Sierra Pacific. We left our names, got moving on it a few weeks later, and now at this point, we're 90% likely to use them.
We talked to a handful of contracting outfits, although they all seem a little obsessed with design/build. Not the smartest move when you're talking to someone with a set of plans rolled up under his arm... It wasn't a big deal, we already had four contractors referred to us, and we were just getting started. Still, no one seem interested in our project, they just wanted to show me their projects. We went to the "upstairs" section and it was like stumbling into a carnival sideshow: healing crystal diplays, the scamwow rag, feng shui consultants, - obviously the low rent district. We enjoyed the spectacle for a quick pass, and then went back downstairs and header for the door.
As we were walking out, we walked past a big display for a "custom luxury home" outfit. A very pregnant looking woman sitting in the booth motioned us over. I told her we were just doing a small addition, I was doing the finish work myself, and the designs were complete. The booth was covered with pictures of high-end work.
"Great - we do a lot of owner-builder work!"
I sighed and we walked over. A little small talk over the baby/babies and she asked to see the plans. I was a little pleased to see her look through a plan set with purpose.
"Hmmm, 800 sq. feet, covered porch, a little stucco work..."
She pointed out a few examples in the company plan book that matched design details of our plans.
"How far do you want us to go?"
I said drywall inspection - and I don't want to mud, either.
"Perfect" she said - and slid the guest book over.
That was about six months ago. Now we're a few days from signing a contract with them. Glowing references, nice looking work, and the GC put together the exact bid I was looking for.
So, overall? We went to the home show hoping to kill a day, pick up a few coupons and get motivated to start our project. We ended up seeing the windows we wanted and the contractor we wanted - without looking for either.
And I'll never go to another one.
-t
Edited 2/26/2009 4:18 pm by webted
When I was in business we did a couple of these a year. We built a show trailer for them We always were able to sell 4-6 jobs from each of them with the high being 9 once. You have to be willing to chat with people though.
At the shows I would answer any questions and at the first oppurtunity offer to come look over the situation. A lot of folks will go to the show that won't call anyone because the like having the initial meet on neutural ground. They feel safer. Once you have sold yourself then they will let you come to the house and quote the work. Generally speaking I booked 1/3 to 1/2 of my sales calls that I got from these shows. DanT
Dan,Do you have any pictures of how your booth was set up? I have a home show coming up in about a month and I'm trying to spruce our booth up, along with our general plan of attack.
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Jon,
I used a trailer that had a shower stall, a bath tub and surround, and a small kitchen cabinet set installed in it. On the floor we had 4 different types of laminet floor laid out and carpet on the exposed wall. My thought always was the booth or display didn't have to really do anything other than start a conversation and look professional.
I always did a trailer because it is quick to set up and tear down and I never had to worry much about security. I will try to find shots of both the first generation and the second. I apologize for the size issue as I don't know how to reduce them. First time in my life size was an issue darn it! DanT
Dan,Thanks for the photos. That gives me some good ideas.
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Whoops, missed one! DanT
I walk through some of the other local cities shows, mainly looking for other's marketing ideas.
We are in our local home show every year, 10x10 booth cost 400ish, 10x20 is about 700ish. We up-sized to a 10x20 this year for a variety of reasons.
All in the cost of running the show is fairly small once the booth is built. We generate between 80-120k worth of wok. Typically from 30-40 leads. Anything from smaller T&M jobs up to room additions.
For us it's well worth it BUT you have to learn/know how to work the show to make it successful.
I haven't done one but have been thinking about it. Here in the Tampa area they are run by these folks.
http://bighomeshow.com/index.htm
I hear the rates are fair but they do have a supplemental charges for carpet, tables, chairs, electricity, etc.
A few of the specialized guys I know (windows, new technology products) go and get alot of leads however the one or two builders I have known that went said they got almost nothing as folks don't seem to go there to specifically look for a contractor as much as new products and ideas.
I manned the booth for the local building department when I worked there and it was fun chatting with folks and discussing construction so I imagine it would at least be a fun thing to do especially if you got some work out of it.
I go to the shows as a sub looking for work and talking to companies that I am interested in their products.
I also talk to realtors and home inspectors about needed repairs for closings.
I also look at a lot of different companies project books for ideas and creative projects.Sometimes I have even recommended some of these guys for parts of jobs I am on.
I collect alot of literature and use that as references for projects that I am on.
Another thing is I keep an eye out for old customers and subs I have worked with before to try and drum up business.
Last but not least I have taken some customers to the shows to try and feel out what their wants and needs are.
ANDYSZ2
WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
We just finished the Toronto Show.
It was slower than usual, however we were in the Dream Gardens where the booths are free but the expectations are higher. We supplied about 15k of woodwork and the landscapers put about the same in as well. I had 80 hours into planning and organizing.
We are working a few leads, but time will tell.
We haven't had time to do these shows in 5 years and really I didn't have the time to invest it was at the expense of family time.. which I regret.
Anyhow...
Worth doing if you do it right and can handle what comes.
There are photos on the decks blog.
L
GardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it! Decks Blog
Edited 3/2/2009 12:54 pm ET by Lawrence
Lawrence,
my neighbor and good friend is a landscape contractor--- our wives are even better friends------ so as a result we each know waaaaaaay too much about each others business. His wife tells us that one of HIS friendly competitors put over 20K into a Home and Garden show last year and got exactly ZERO sales out of it( in this area I am guessing it must have been the cleveland show at the IX center absolutely no reflection on any of the posters here but my wife and I were talking about this yesterday---when we were first married and bought a house---we went to shows maybe the first 5 years----never bought a thing. when I became a contractor-- I have visited maybe 3 shows as a spectator-------- In my head i have a list of local contractors that I would be willing to say, roof my house if I was paralyzed and couldn't do it myself????? I never see THOSE contractors at a show-- that is-- I don't see anybody I would choose to do business with at the shows---so I don't want to be lumped in with that category--- there are other reasons I won't do a show---- but THAT is the biggest one( guilt by association) again- no reflection on anybody here-- and maybe it's different here--- but I wouldn't get involved.
stephen
Hi Steven,
Good Point, however as contractors we are a bit tight with the cash.
The guys that go to the show do it to put on a show, position themselves and build their brand.
GardenStructure.com is now Designers, Builders and Landscape Companies, that can all gang up on projects like this and really make noise as a group.
A small independant could never do it ongoing.
Sure... a booth, however their hit rate would be much lower.
I've estimated about 300k worth of work in the last 4 days from the show... have a few more to track down, but we get business for months after shows like this one.
Our group likely has about 100 appointments booked from that show... 130,000 people come through.
Remember, this is all summer work and this show was late february in Toronto... way below zero here.
Here's what the booth looked like (during setup--the putty did disappear).
L
GardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it! Decks Blog
Edited 3/2/2009 7:43 pm ET by Lawrence