Car show. Has anyone been a vendor/service at one?

BrothersElite

BrothersElite

New member
Joined
Jul 19, 2012
Messages
32
Reaction score
0
We have a large car show here in MN this weekend and am going to have a booth in the vendor/swap meet location.

Has anyone done this before? I'm new to public appearances :)

We are an authorized reseller for Chem Guys, so I will be bringing those products. However, I am looking to just get our name out some more.

We have a 12x20 tent and 3x7 banners, business cards and flyers. I am also thinking of bringing my benz to kinda have a hands on sort of demo with products.. Sound like a good idea?
 
I've worked at more car shows than I can remember and while it's a lot of work it can also be very rewarding.

I don't have much forum time today as I'm working on offline projects but here's a tips...

Get a booth space near food and you'll have plenty of traffic.

Make sure you have power and go with the full intention of doing demonstrations

You turn the buffer on and people will come to check you out.

Be educated and ready to talk the walk and the walk the talk.

Always present yourself and your company in the most professional manner, you never know who you might be talking to.

In a public arena like this the customer or spectator is always right.

Time wasters
Sometimes you'll have people purposefully trying to heckle you or argue or prove you wrong or any number of other things and the thing to do is let them be right, agree and go along, do what it takes to get them to move along as all they will do is stall you out.

Don't ever engage anyone in public situations like this, pick your battles carefully in life and don't get dragged into the mud by others.

Stay positive
Arrive early
Smile
Be prepared
Enjoy what you do
Be your best
Dress business casual, wear your colors
Shave, haircut, clean breath, have extra gum on hand
Save any socializing/adult beverages and such for after the show


:xyxthumbs:
 
I did a car show this past weekend. I had a good time but I also got to listen to the drag racing all day!! I was right in front of the food stands.
 
I sent you an email, but I'll also add that a lot of people will have their guard up and assume you are trying to peddle products like a carny. You are going to have to prove to them why you and your products are better.

Sometimes it is a tough sell and like Mike stated, you have to know when to cut the person loose. If you fire up a buffer and have a Brinkman or some good halogens, people will come running to see what is going on.

Let me know if you need anything or have any questions. Heck, maybe I'll swing into the show and visit!

Randy
 
I don't know how long you've been doing this or how much equipment you have but you need to have it all there at the show. I had my trailer, all my buffers, my carpet extractor, my VX5000, my optima steamer, all the products I use, pictures, I had my canopies set up, I had a 3x6 banner made plus other stuff out there. Let people see you are the real deal.

And If you don't get any business from it do it again. I had people stop and say I've seen you driving down the road which lets me know I'm being seen!
 
Bob, the owner of Autogeek, asked me to do Ecklers with him one year and use my car as the demo for Pinnacle. Its was one of the best moments. You meet everyone and most if not all are really down to earth. Even the other vendors are seriously cool and most are friends and treat each other well.
 
ZimRandy said:
I sent you an email, but I'll also add that a lot of people will have their guard up and assume you are trying to peddle products like a carny. You are going to have to prove to them why you and your products are better.

Sometimes it is a tough sell and like Mike stated, you have to know when to cut the person loose. If you fire up a buffer and have a Brinkman or some good halogens, people will come running to see what is going on.

Let me know if you need anything or have any questions. Heck, maybe I'll swing into the show and visit!

Randy
Click to expand...

I sent you a couple emails now. I never received a reply.

I'm Mobile
 
Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
I've worked at more car shows than I can remember and while it's a lot of work it can also be very rewarding.

I don't have much forum time today as I'm working on offline projects but here's a tips...

Get a booth space near food and you'll have plenty of traffic.

Make sure you have power and go with the full intention of doing demonstrations

You turn the buffer on and people will come to check you out.

Be educated and ready to talk the walk and the walk the talk.

Always present yourself and your company in the most professional manner, you never know who you might be talking to.

In a public arena like this the customer or spectator is always right.

Time wasters
Sometimes you'll have people purposefully trying to heckle you or argue or prove you wrong or any number of other things and the thing to do is let them be right, agree and go along, do what it takes to get them to move along as all they will do is stall you out.

Don't ever engage anyone in public situations like this, pick your battles carefully in life and don't get dragged into the mud by others.

Stay positive
Arrive early
Smile
Be prepared
Enjoy what you do
Be your best
Dress business casual, wear your colors
Shave, haircut, clean breath, have extra gum on hand
Save any socializing/adult beverages and such for after the show


:xyxthumbs:
Click to expand...


A experienced Professional words of wisdom!
Excellent advice!
 
Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
I've worked at more car shows than I can remember and while it's a lot of work it can also be very rewarding.

I don't have much forum time today as I'm working on offline projects but here's a tips...

Get a booth space near food and you'll have plenty of traffic.

Make sure you have power and go with the full intention of doing demonstrations

You turn the buffer on and people will come to check you out.

Be educated and ready to talk the walk and the walk the talk.

Always present yourself and your company in the most professional manner, you never know who you might be talking to.

In a public arena like this the customer or spectator is always right.

Time wasters
Sometimes you'll have people purposefully trying to heckle you or argue or prove you wrong or any number of other things and the thing to do is let them be right, agree and go along, do what it takes to get them to move along as all they will do is stall you out.

Don't ever engage anyone in public situations like this, pick your battles carefully in life and don't get dragged into the mud by others.

Stay positive
Arrive early
Smile
Be prepared
Enjoy what you do
Be your best
Dress business casual, wear your colors
Shave, haircut, clean breath, have extra gum on hand
Save any socializing/adult beverages and such for after the show


:xyxthumbs:
Click to expand...

Great advice. Your insight is always appreciated!
 
ZimRandy, thanks for stopping by. Due to our location at the car show, foot traffic sucked! We did manage to pass out some cards.

Live and learn.
 
BrothersElite said:
ZimRandy, thanks for stopping by. Due to our location at the car show, foot traffic sucked! We did manage to pass out some cards.

Live and learn.
Click to expand...

It was fun hanging out with you guys for awhile, too. I think you had to have about the single worst spot to be in the whole show. If you do it again next year, I'd try to get on the car show side instead of the swap side. There were a lot of cars that need your help!

Randy
 
*Bump* also waiting for pictures from Brothers Elite....

I didn't get any pictures, but they were along the wall of the arts and crafts building and the spot next to them was a vendor with a large tent with side walls. About the only way to see their spot was to be right in front of the booth. As they were on the aisle that led to the arts and crafts building, traffic was pretty low with prospective customers.

Halfway through the day, the vendor next to them removed the side walls and that helped the visability a little bit, but it was a poor spot overall, IMO.

Randy
 
Here you go.



IMG950036.jpg




I'm Mobile
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top