Question

Topic: Advertising/PR

Booth Prop Ideas At Events (eye Catching)

Posted by Anonymous on 4/4/2012 at 8:46 PM ET 125 Points
Hello All-

I'm new to the self-employment world and I've been trying to come up with great ideas to help market my new business. I'm an Event Planner (not only for weddings) and I specialize in making each experience personal and memorable. Well I've been invited to attend my first event at the "Botanic Gardens" in Fort Worth, TX to advertise my business. Although I'm not really sure how I should setup my booth since my business focuses on all types of events (birthday parties, weddings, anniversary parties, divorce parties) you name it we frame it! ^_^ (that's our tag line) anyway I would like to know if any of you had any ideas to offer me with this being my first time.

Any suggestions would be great!
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by CarolBlaha on 4/4/2012 at 9:12 PM Accepted
    since your "brand" is to make it memorable, that is what you should do. Either recreate something over the top at your booth or with graphics. And gear it to the audience, if this is a B2B group it might have different image than B2C.
  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 4/4/2012 at 9:48 PM Accepted
    Is this a show (where other event planners are likely to have booths) or simply a table (at a upcoming special event)?

    As for how to showcase your business, do you have a good idea of what type of person would be attending the event you'll be at? Who specifically is your ideal customer (age, budget, gender, location, style, etc.)?

    The basic notion is to highlight your new business as specifically targeting a group of people. After all, you can't truly be everything for everyone. You have a certain natural skill/style - what clientele does this best match? How do you know? How can you prove it to THEM?

    If you're just starting out, then create a picture book/video of looks that you like (or ideally, people have hired you to create). Most people like tangible examples to see what you're capable of. Showcase your "resume" to your prospective customers.
  • Posted by Gail@PUBLISIDE on 4/4/2012 at 10:03 PM Accepted
    Jay hit the nail on the head. Target an audience for this show and demonstrate to visitors that you know, and are super at everything you do for that group. If you learn that this show will attract mostly brides-to-be, play up the wedding amenities. For another show, maybe you focus on birthday events because you'll have a more attentive audience.

    It's more difficult for you and your audience to get a grasp of what you do well if you try to appease too many audiences at one time.
  • Posted on 4/4/2012 at 10:04 PM Author
    Thanks for your quick responses...
    Carol-This is a B2C based event (however there could also be a bit of B2B there as well) and I'm thinking of going big using all the space I have.

    Jay Hamilton-this event is called a hat's and heels event and it will be somewhat of a fashion show, showcasing shoes and hats. In the same token there will be other vendors there but Im not sure what they will be targeting. I do know that I will be the only Event Planner because she is trying not to have the same business like businesses there together to avoid clashing. There is no specific age, gender, location, or style; im sure many of my customers will have very different styles and I plan to accomodate them all. I honestly do not have an ideal customer at this point but I have a feeling that alot of my business will come from weddings. Since I don't have a portfolio yet I was thinking I should browse around for ideas and pictures of work i could perform. I do understand that the business industry I'm trying to target would be more on the middle class side. How can I narrow down my decision?
  • Posted by CarolBlaha on 4/4/2012 at 10:11 PM Member
    that is all so cool, you have a lot to work on.

    So if you were doing a event for a client who's theme was "hats and heels" and you had 8' to do it in (assuming booth size" what would you do?
    Hats and heels means top to bottom, start to finish. This is a perfect event an event planner would want to align themself to, or one that could better identify them with.

    This is your theme top to bottom, start to finish
  • Posted on 4/4/2012 at 10:58 PM Author
    Given the theme of "Top to Bottom" I would think to have an exhibit that shows my work from start to finish. In other words I need to think of specific event I would want to present (ie. wedding, birthday celebration, anniversary) that is strong enough to tell a believeable story but my options are limited to 8' of space so I have a lot planning to do.

    Answering your question:
    The event would focus on fashion, so we would arrange a fashion show displaying hats, purses, shoes, makeup, and accessories.
  • Posted on 4/6/2012 at 11:37 AM Accepted
    I would ask the event producer if there is something you could add to their show as your own mini area (a kids area, men's waiting area, etc.). It would be a free service to them to help make their event better but would allow you to have your first "client" and show people what you are capable of doing. Then you could market your event planning business around it with signage, takeaway promotional items (maybe a themed cookie with your business card attached, etc.) and have a small table at the side for you to meet people and give quick consultations about upcoming events they are planning. You could create a free "event planning checklist" or list of "ideas for creating memorable events" with your contact information to pass out as well. If you can't get a mini area then I'd take the time to produce some great ideas to showcase (samples of some great wedding favors, centerpieces showcasing various color themes, etc.).
  • Posted by marketbase on 4/9/2012 at 4:40 PM Accepted
    On your booth, consider posting seasonal graphic titles: SPRING, SUMMER, AUTUMN, WINTER with accompanying calendar months and photos of (actual) events and/or image details (invitations, floral arrangement, punch bowl, catering display, etc). Include a montage of event types you're prepared to coordinate: weddings, anniversaries, showers, community events, etc. along with the services you coordinate: photography, video, floral, catering, etc.) Put together a one-page lead generator which collects names, address, phone # for raffle to win (either a 'coveted' item or a discount on services for event coordination fee. Fill a bowl with Hershey kisses or other wrapped candy/convection--people may find their way to your booth on that alone.

    Best of luck
  • Posted by sacredcoyote on 4/13/2012 at 3:31 PM Accepted
    Hi, I'd like to chime in a bit tho I'm not in this industry. It could be nice to find out what the theme of the show is (if they have botanical gardens in the area you are going to be setup in) and do a mock up of a garden themed wedding reception, etc. Since you do not have a portfolio, maybe you could do a couple of different mock up events for photographs (weddings, birthdays, new years, etc) to have up and the mock up tables in your booth so at least people would get an idea of what you can come up with.
    At wedding faires here in San Francisco bay area, the tables are usually very drab and how do you remember one from another. But I think standing out would be the first thing (and rather than a table with brocures and you you'd have flowers & colors, etc) then once you've caught their attention, you could go into more detail.

    Good luck with your show! :0)
    Nicole
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