Baby Fairs or similar

#1 (**permalink**) 13-03-2008, 09:15

Am wondering how many of you have attended any baby fairs, or similar? I am attending 2 in a couple of weeks (just local ones, with an estimated 500 visitors at each) but have never done anything like this before, and am hoping to gain any words of wisdom or helpful hints

Thanks loves!

Jeewhizz · #2 (**permalink**) 13-03-2008, 09:32

Never been, but at fairs I have been to, the most popular stands are ones where there are freebies

Pop yourself down to the supermarket, and grab several packs of their own brand biscuits, and have them out for people to munch on!

pvcprinting · #3 (**permalink**) 13-03-2008, 09:35

Laura,

We have been to the baby show nearly every year and loved it everytime
Whilst having not (as yet) attended as an exhibitor - just to experience that sort of exhibition was awesome

Whilst there were naturally many many 'big hitter's giving away what seemed the world for free, there were more than plenty of SME's also in attendance

I would say that a good 30 / 40% of the stands were small businesses...some doing nothing more than getting their face seen by the public

I have attached a link here to the show at the NEC

http://www.thebabyshow.co.uk/

Hope it is of some help

BellaMiller · #4 (**permalink**) 13-03-2008, 09:56

Hiya
I would approach the fair to gain something else other than selling your stuff - because if you don't sell loads you'll feel that it might have been a wasted opportunity.
I took a stand at a fair the other week - I sold some stuff but my target was to promote my new agents scheme.
Try and think ahead about what you'd like your outcomes to be

Sue · #5 (**permalink**) 13-03-2008, 09:59

We're off to the Harrogate Nursery Fair in a couple of weeks.

It's our second year.

Last year we stayed in Harrogate the previous night and then made an early start at the fair but by 2pm we were bog eyed and set off home (it's a fair drive).

This year we're travelling down on the morning in time to have lunch and then visit the fair in the afternoon then we'll stay over and visit again in the morning.

I plan to see our existing suppliers the first day so I can see what their new ranges are and place my orders then I can take stock on the evening and work out how much I have left to splash out on day 2.

Day 2 will be all about looking for new suppliers, I will gather as much info as poss but might need to wait until later to place orders depending on how much budget I have left.

My tips would be ...

Last year all of the changing bag suppliers were raving that designer bags were HUGE and I bought a small range to pop on the site but it would appear that customers either want to touch and see a bag they are spending that much on or that they go to big name stores. I had to discount them just before Christmas to move them and we ended up making our money back but not making a profit. My point here being sales reps are there to sell so take what they say with a pinch of salt. I have a few that I've got to know and trust and when they say that something is a big seller I know it's true but be careful when you first meet a new rep.
Pace yourself. Last year I ended up baffled after talking to too many people in one go and couldn't remember who had said what. Stop every now and then for a coffee (or your favourite soft drink) and gather yourself together.
Some companies will have discounts or offers which kick in if you order at the show.
Some companies will be taking orders but you won't get your stock delivery for a while so check when you can expect to see your order.
We're internet only and some nursery companies won't touch us with a barge pole. I always start by explaining that we're internet only to save wasting time chatting only to find the company doesn't want to know. It helps to say that you don't sell on Ebay.
Take a look at the exhibitors list and try to plan who you'd like to visit. Some times this is difficult as you can't tell by a company name what they sell but if you Google the name they often have a web site. If you can plan a route it will save you missing someone you'd like to see or having to wander backwards and forwards in to different exhibition areas. Harrogate Fair has a site of it's own http://www.nurseryfair.co.uk/ and if you click on Halls you can click on each one to see who's exhibiting there. There's also another site http://www.exhibitions.co.uk/ which has actually been upgraded since I last looked but you used to be able to drill down to specific shows and then to the exhibitors list on there.
Gather as many leaflets as you can for any one that you are interested in then go through them when you get back and weed them out. A lot of the companies you've given your details to will phone you a few weeks later to see if you are wanting to place an order.

Best of luck

Sue · #6 (**permalink**) 13-03-2008, 10:00

Ooo ... just read BellaMiller's reply ... I was thinking you were visiting as a buyer sorry ... my mistake

#7 (**permalink**) 13-03-2008, 10:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue

Ooo ... just read BellaMiller's reply ... I was thinking you were visiting as a buyer sorry ... my mistake

lol that ok, now I have tips as a buyer too!

(which Ive never been before either!)

Fuzzy · #8 (**permalink**) 13-03-2008, 10:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fill-Your-Pants

Am wondering how many of you have attended any baby fairs, or similar? I am attending 2 in a couple of weeks (just local ones, with an estimated 500 visitors at each) but have never done anything like this before, and am hoping to gain any words of wisdom or helpful hints

Thanks loves!

As a buyer or seller pet ?