Denver Home Decorating & Remodeling Show

PowerWash Pros

PowerWash Pros

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Hey guys - we were lucky enough to snag a spot at this years Home Decorating and remodeling show in Denver at the Convention Center. It is Friday 10-9 Saturday 10-9 and Sunday 12-9. The show averages 400,000 people per day!! :D

This is our first home show so any tips and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Here are some ideas that I already have!:confused:

*Computer slideshow of work
*Large poster sized before and afters.
*Physical Examples - I am thinking of getting an old gate and power washing half of it and putting that as a backstand at our display. Also some decortive stones that are half washed.
*Business card magnets
*4x6 Postcards with coupons as handouts:


What should we give away? Services or DVD players? :confused:
 
I have an idea......


I
What if I did a small scale house with privacy fence and make my space into a back yard setting. Nathans parents just recently resided their house and put up new fencing and they have some old stuff left over. I could build out the side of a house complete with privacy fence on the side. We would wash half of the siding and half of the fencing. I would use a patio table for my literature and to house my computer for my slideshow. I could put down half washed stepping stones and also accent the area with some flower boxes.

What do you guys think - besides this will take alot of work?
 
I think it would look awesome and would be very memorable and eye-catching.
 
Hey Nicole,

A few things: First, I've not done a home show, though I always intend to do a couple--it just never has got done. Here is the common consensus from all that I know that have done it:

1) extraordinary lead generator
2) More exhausting than you might imagine
3) Expensive

The key problems all have warned me of are: You need people out front WEEDING OUT the 'intrigued' from the 'potential customers'. They weed, send the 'potentials back to a closer (you/hubby). The people involved have to be able to get people in and out, and make quick determinations about them. You as well. I'd be as concerned about your lead tracking system as your booth set-up. What if you get 500 leads?? They all want estimates?? What are you going to do about that?? You could run the risk of making a poor showing of your company.

A guy I know that has a lot of success at shows suggested to me to "take it easy" at the first show, don't go to crazy. Maybe like you said, a gate half done. A small vinyl wall half dirty/half clean. A display video. Marketing materials, and a few people to screen tire-kickers. Maybe see how it goes---and make big plans for a big showing at the spring show!

Man, I just re-read all that and it kinda sounds like I am an energy Vampire. Please don't read it that way. Do what makes you happy--this is just how I'd play it, but i tend to go conservative. Let us know how it goes!!
 
Fife- your right about the tire kickers....it will be overwhelming! I have about 6 people helping me out at the show...basically friends and family....they dont know crap about power washing, but definetly know how to read someone. If people are geniune then like you said, Nathan and I will step in and talk to them and see what their concerns are. The home and garden show is in the spring - if things go well here, we will follow up with that one.

Hot Shot - We are going to go with the free house wash, I am going to put out a large flashy "ENTER TO WIN" BUCKET or Fish Bowl.


For the people who come up and are serious I will keep a seperate tracking sheet for them! Maybe give a show discount for booking an appointment at the show??? What do you think of this?


I get all cheesed out and giddy like a little 5 yr old on christmas just thinking of this!
 
Good thing they don't have that the same weekend as the beer festival (sept 28-30) or you wouldn't get anyone to show up. Good luck on your endeavor. Pictures we want pictures.
 
Nicole

All your ideas are good, I really like the slide show idea of before/afters. The main thing is to be active during the show, stand out front and talk with everyone, smile and have a good time.

I hope you have enough backing and personell in place to help with the huge rush of estimates and jobs after the show, good luck.
 
:cool: Nicole......Over the years, I have done several Home Showns, They are great, I was in the portable Spa business. Yes you will be overwhelmed, A lot of BSers, but alot of good leads. Take your Day planner and try to set appointments at the show. make your entry forms(for prizeses) a questionnaire about there possiable cleaning needs. Do not try to remember anything wright it all down. Send thank you cards to everyone you can get a name and an address from people in the next booth,across the ilsie,everyone! Network with all the venders. Don't let the people helping you or your self for that matter set in the back of the booth. everyone needs to be up front greeting people and inviting them to stop and register for a FREE
what ever. Sample first Qustions. Do you live in ______? Are you a home owner? If they can't answer these two to the positive be nice but don't waste your time with them. Remember most peoples favorite subject to talk about is "themselves" what they have and what they want. The more they talk about them selves the more you learn, the more you learn about them the easaer the sale. If they bring a pet , a child, or Grandchild get the name, write it down. On your fellow-up to them ask about the Child,Grandchild etc. by name. I could go on for hours but I'll stop for now. P.S. If you don"t like any of these suggestions You and your sister could always just pass out flyers while wearing a Bikini... Sorry Russ made me do it. All joking aside good luck with your show. You will be glad when it's over, but also glad you did it.
 
Nicole,
We had a home buisness in San Diago and went to 3 differant gatherings like this. We had everyone fill out a survay sheet and then on the bottom we had check boxes for what they were interested in and wanted a free chance to win.
I made a rough of what we used as pertaining to this buisness. The numbers at top is you tracking #. As the people fill them out cut off all the tickets and put the marked in the proper dre bowl. Then file the card in a box. Keep them in order by # and once they go in the box they do not come out. If you get the idea that a person want to do buisness then simply X the card in the corner or set up an appointment and write the time & date on back of card.
When you get home take the cards from the box put them face down and anything with writing in the back gets first priority. This saves you time in not haveing to make double entries while at the show.

Again this is just a rough in changing what we used to the cleaning buisness.

My .000002 cents worth...
 

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PS the best thing about this way is that you can do it all on you computer and it is self sustaining.
 
Home shows are exhausting if you work them right but should really give your business a boost.
I never did one for cleaning but I used to do them when I was in product sales.
 
The great thing is that we are the ONLY power washing company in the entire show and there are over 1000 booths. Second, we dont have any MAJOR competitors here in Denver- alot of the power washers are un-insured and dont have alot of residential experience.

I heard the guy at the Nashville Home and Garden show who does powerwashing has been in the show for 10 years, and he gets a solid 6 months of work from the show. His income is largely dependent upon attending the show. Like I said " I heard this" but I wouldnt doubt a good portion of calls coming in!
 
OK, when do we all get to line up and tell Nicole she doesn't know what she's doing and is going to end up broke living under the overpass?




Oh, right. Different board.
;)
 
I think Nicole is bright enough to know how much she needs to charge to cover her overhead and make money. In fact I heard she is taking Ron & I out to dinner next week.
 
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