We just completed our first local home and garden show this past weekend. It was definitely worth the time and effort. Our main focus was to further establish our company name in the community and to promote window cleaning. We met many very nice people, gathered a lot of solid leads, and handed out hundreds of business cards and magnets.
I built a window display and had a window cleaning contest for people that were interested. Since most people really do not like to clean windows, we did not have a lot contestants (maybe 10). I think it was very effective in getting people to see that we clean windows and shows there is a real need for our service. I did give numerous demonstrations and even had “squeegee-off” with a local pressure washing company for the fun of it. (Thanks Randy B!) I also wore my tool belt the entire show.
I’m doing my first trade show here in Topeka next week with the 2nd in Kansas end of the month so great to read the awesome response you had at yours.
I plan on doing a contest too with free window cleaning, blind cleaning and a free blu ray player as well as hand out brochures and business cards etc Didn’t think about putting on a window cleaning display nice idea of yours to do that.
Are you planning on doing this 2-3 a year from now on? How many estimates do you get from the trade show and was it a 3 day event?
Nice looking booth Casey! Sounds like it was well received. Keep us updated on any work you get from it. By the way what was the cost of having the booth?
The show was 10 to 4 Saturday and Sunday. Cost for the show was $740 plus we get (35) 30-second commercials on some of the local radio stations. We probably had another $300 in materials we purchased for the show most of which we will use for future shows.
We have somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 definite requests for quotes. Not all window cleaning though. We had many more people who took our information that certainly seemed interested in our services. I am sure we will continue to get calls throughout the year as a result of this show. From the numbers I heard, I would estimate about 1,000 to 1,500 people attended the show.
Two more small shows planned this spring. They are one day shows and the cost is minimal.
I think it is very valuable getting your face in front of people. We actually had a number of people comment that they have seen our previous ads in the newspaper and such which I guess makes those advertisements more effective as well. All in all it was fun and felt well worth it.
Glad to hear that it went well.
I’d lose the part on your website that you use"german-engineered" tools. It’s not a bmw. Just sounds strange to me.
Love your logo!
We thought about doing our local home show this past weekend in Peoria, Il, (20,000 visitors), but with the business just starting we just didn’t have the funds in the account. I like your set up. That was one thing we weren’t sure on was how to make our display look professional. We considered the window frame setup, and also would have drawings every couple of hours… Free services, half off, etc. Glad to know it worked well on an advertising basis. We will definitely do it next spring. There is a fall womens lifestyle show in Oct., considered it but with it being fall, aka nearing end of season for houses, I’m not sure it would be worth our money.
I’ll be doing a show for the Local Chamber, and am going to have a contest every hour on the hour, to have one of the audience members go up against one of my best guys. If they participate, they’ll get $50.00 worth of free window cleaning, and if they win, I’ll give them $100.00 worth of free cleaning, it’s not until September. But i’ll let ya’ll know how it goes.
Another thing you could do is have a box with 30% off coupons in it and have a sign that says draw to win. when they win take down the info for the estimate right then. That way your foots already in the door.
