our local home and trade show.. my display

[Ajcoholic]

For those who are looking for exposure for increasing your business - for the cost (vs other forms of advertising) it is hard to beat the local home & trade shows.

This weekend is the Timmins Construction Association show, and it is my 2nd year in this show. I am still fairly unknown here, and although I have been several months backed up with work since I started in my new shop 25 months ago, there are still a lot of people who are unaware a shop like mine exists here, and what I am capable of making in wood.

You get to show people hands on what really well crafted furniture is, and sell yourself and your product. I still get a lot of calls from last years show, where people took one of my cards. It is a long term investment. Well worth the preparation and costs involved. And, I think the return on your dollar spent is much better than a radio or newspaper ad.

Here is a shot of my booth (24' wide, 10 feet deep). I set up today, early. So I could drive my truck and trailer into the arena. All booths sold out so there will be lots of others around me tomorrow when it opens to the public.

Luckily for me, all the stuff I am showing this year has been made for a customer, or is one of my samples, or work I did in the past year I borrowed to display. The only thing I built expressly for this years display was the live edge cherry bench. So, it didn't cost me a lot in materials or time, since come Monday most of the stuff will be delivered to the customers.

A lot of what I am displaying had use of my Shopbot in its production

[Ajcoholic]

Keen eyes will see the VEctric free project from a month back- the bread box. I made one last week (for myself) in red alder, and brought it to the show to show off the capabilities of the router.

Its on the roll top desk...

AJC

[myxpykalix]

Nice stuff, great work......now you just need to learn how to deal with the "Lookie-Loo's" that want to waste your time chit chatting....it's good to have someone else with you in the booth to catch real prospects from walking away. You need to set up a secret signal for your help to come and get you out of a no end conversation, like say a tug on your ear or rub your nose, so they can interrupt you to move on....

[dlcw]

I agree with Jack on his comments. I've been doing the same show for 4 years now and the lookie lous can really take your time if you are not careful. This year I had to man the booth by myself for three days and I know I lost a few prospects due to tire kickers taking up my time with frivolous questions.

Your furniture is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

[Ajcoholic]

You guys forget I've been in business and attending trade shows for 18 years since I took over the business from my father. I know how to talk business, and move on from the ones who aren't interested. Last year I must have spoken to a few thousand people easily. I got lots of work from the show. I hope this year is as good!

The thing is I am there for 24 hours over three days. I will talk to as many people as I can to make potential contacts for work. I don't judge too harshly the " tire kickers" so to speak. You have to give everyone a chance you know.

[Ajcoholic]

Ps I have two guys with me. Ill be able to take a pee break this year!

[Simops]

My experience with Trade shows has not been all that good.....albeit it was not a woodworking show. I use my Bot making parts for my sim business and a few years ago took out a 20 x 10 foot booth at a large international Aviation air show with a large trade show attached (Avalon). Cost me (after a discount) $15,000 for the booth over 5 days. It was a grind. 80% tyre kickers and the rest genuine industry representation. At the end of it sold one unit which did not cover my show costs. All left a bad taste for some time to come.....maybe one day again

Good luck with the show Andrew.....you have some good wares to show!!

Cheers

[scottp55]

Andrew, I love the live edge, I especially love it when people run their hands over it while asking "How do you DO that?" good work. Scott

[Ajcoholic]

My experience with Trade shows has not been all that good.....albeit it was not a woodworking show. I use my Bot making parts for my sim business and a few years ago took out a 20 x 10 foot booth at a large international Aviation air show with a large trade show attached (Avalon). Cost me (after a discount) $15,000 for the booth over 5 days. It was a grind. 80% tyre kickers and the rest genuine industry representation. At the end of it sold one unit which did not cover my show costs. All left a bad taste for some time to come.....maybe one day again

Good luck with the show Andrew.....you have some good wares to show!!

Cheers

I guess I was referring more to the general "home targeted" shows. Every community around here has one, where various builders (construction companies and other trades, furnishings, decorator stuff, etc) show off their stuff.

For cost, my booth this year cost me $850 for the weekend. I lose a few days setting up and tearing down. But, for thew cost is is really very cheap advertising. That same $$ spent for instance on radio would get me about 20, 30 seconds ads. And, there is NO better way to show people what you can do than to get them to sit on one of your chairs, feel the drawers open and close, etc... see your finish up close, and just see what REAL wood looks like vs all the fake stuff on today's market is.

Some people say custom wood furniture is dying... I am on a mission in my life to change that! One pc at a time And there is money to be made, for sure.

[Ajcoholic]

Andrew, I love the live edge, I especially love it when people run their hands over it while asking "How do you DO that?" good work. Scott

There are lots of cottages and rustic homes around here. I am hoping someone will buy that