sunburnfrog

Has anyone had any experiences good or bad with bridal shows (advertising HVLP tanning services)? The one that I am considering signing up for is going to cost over $1200 for booth, advertising, flyers, etc.

Are these worth the money, or would I be better off networking with bridal shops for this type of business?

What activities did you have in your booth? Video of spray tan , tan demo, etc?

I would be the only spray tanner at this event with 400 booths and 600-800 brides.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance!

illtanu

Thats awesome! Where are you from? I'am getting ready to do a bridal fair in September first one. It is only $350.00 and only 20 something booths!! Im hoping it does well I have never done anything like this!

CrystalSS

Don't spend a dime to make a nickel. That booth is too high for the revenue generated for spray tanning and you will not generate enough leads to pay for it in the long run. Been there done that. Better off doing a co-op with another business on a table at a lesser costing show than to pay that high booth rental. We rent booths for our travel business but then for us just one lead pays for the rental. Best wishes!

sunburnfrog

Thanks for the tip Crystal! I saw that you highly recommend Chamber of Commerce events for networking. Do you have any other tips you want to share about where money is best spent on advertising for spray tans ?

tintmobile

Here's a tip (I think I actually got this tip from Crystal...thanks!!). Contact newspapers to have them do an article on you for their business section. I recently got an article done for my business and yesterday I got 3 calls from it. Granted, its a very small paper, but its free advertising! Give it a try.

goatee72

i have done bridal expo's and i will say this, "waste of time and money"
most of those brides that are there wont be getting married for 2-3 years from then. IF they hang on to your business card, and still want a tan, well great! but they are there well in advance. what we do is a last min. deal just days before the wedding. we are the Chicklets at the checkout counter. expos are like catching them walking in the door.

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illtanu

Thank you everyone, I have already paid for it and the back out time has ended so hopefully I get something out of it. Hopefully not just a lesson learned :).

sunburnfrog, another thing that works for us is our maganets on our car, ordered from Vista print they are cheap and sometimes free depending on when you order them. Just make sure you get the large ones they fit just right for the door. Also remeber less wording easier to read. Ours read our name, price and phone number! They can find out your address when they call!!

CrystalSS

Attend any and all networking groups and there are lots of them. Some have small fees but much more worth the return. We just did a cruise booth last weekend and one lady came over with her friend and they literally RAKED our whole pile of our trade show promo key chains and other freebies into their bags. Never said a word except one said, "we need to get more bags." I am not even sure they knew what our both was but how on earth are you going to use 50 cruise ship key chains is beyond me. Yes! they are there to take for free, but totally rude to scrape off the whole table of them! Just goes to show that ANYTHING free brings out the greedy in some people. Unreal!

spraytannedjenn

If you are committed to going then I would spray them in the booth and do some kind of giveaway in your booth. free spray or something like that. The other thing you need to do is keep all the info and leads you get from the show and follow up with them. Be sure to tell them to be sure to have thier e mail address because that is how you will notifying them when they win "wink wink" that way you have the ifo you need to follow up with them,
P.S. I agree that seem really high for the booth rent.

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illtanu

$350 is to high? What is normal?

The company putting on the event told me I would get a phone number and e-mail of every guest that came, bride or not!! I figured I would do some sort of give away just not sure what yet! Thank you everyone.