Business Expo

[Executive Detail]

Let me start first by saying, I often see on this forum, people asking how to get more business or get their name out to the general public. As we all know...marketing cost money (fliers, business cards, signs, websites, etc). What you may want to consider doing, is joining your local Camber of Commerce. For those of you that aren't familiar with this, it's nothing more than a big networking organization. Reasonably, they cost anywhere between $100-$300/year...in most cases. Also, most cities have one.

Do they work?!? Yes they do. I joined one locally last year. Our motto, "Chamber members doing business with Chamber members." Meaning...every person I meet in the chamber and every business card I hand out to them, I have a higher chance of getting business/referrals from them. I will say that I have gotten quite a bit of business just within the group from the past year. During the holidays when it is usually "slow" for business...I wasn't.

On with the topic...

Each year this particular Chamber puts on a business expo for all chamber members to promote their particular business/service. I particularly like this because it's an excellent way to meet and greet people face-to-face and talk about detailing itself and products used and so forth. This was my first year participating in the expo and as you will notice in the few pics I have (besides my cheesy self), I used a Wolfgang kit, a Pinnacle kit, my banner, and Autogeek's banner. Unfortunately, the fasteners that held the Autogeek banner to the table didn't work quite so well. After about an hour or so, the banner came down. I didn't want anyone tripping over it in the walkway. After the pics were taken, I also spread out about 15 DoDo Juice sample waxes for decoration. I met a lot of people and had really good feed-back already. This event was done on 3/15/11. On with the (3) pics...

Sorry for the quality of the pics. I left the Nikon at home and used the iPhone camera.

Me at the booth
Expo Me.jpg

Wolfgang Display
Expo Wolfgang.jpg

Pinnacle Display
Expo Pinnacle.jpg

I want to say thanks to Meghan for your help and ideas!!!

 

[Executive Detail]

MODERATORS!!! You may delete this post since it doesn't look like the pics attached like they were supposed to. Thanks!

 

[ShaunD]

Thanks for the great info. I have been trying to get over to the CofC here for a few weeks now, and need to get my biz license too. Something to look into for most anyway.

 

[Crazy Amos]

Excellent info Jeremy, it is appreciated more than you know!

That's a really nice, clean and organized display. I am sure you portrayed yourself in a professional and knowledgable way.

I love these types of posts, thanks again!

Where are you located?

 

[Executive Detail]

Thanks for the great info. I have been trying to get over to the CofC here for a few weeks now, and need to get my biz license too. Something to look into for most anyway.

Definitely. The sooner the better!!!

Excellent info Jeremy, it is appreciated more than you know!

That's a really nice, clean and organized display. I am sure you portrayed yourself in a professional and knowledgable way.

I love these types of posts, thanks again!

Where are you located?

Thanks for the compliments. It looked exactly the way I had in mind. I also had a detailing video that I shot replaying on the laptop the whole time too. The video gained lots of attention. It wasn't a "how to" video...just a "this is what I can do" type.

 

[Crazy Amos]

Great idea!

 

[Executive Detail]

I am also the only detailer that participated at the event and a member of the Chamber.

 

[Perfections]

You are correct, being a member of COC does increase your business and gets your name out, this technique is probably way under utilized in our profession, which makes this post potentially valuable to most detailers reading it, great post!