SOME QUICK SHOW FACTS
- Each of our Shows regularly attracts between 1,500 and 2,000 brides and a total atttendance of more than 5,000 people.
- Our Shows attract more party planners (professional and amateur) than any other comparable event - party planners who use the Show as a resource for parties or corporate events that are being planned.
- Our Shows are always FREE ADMISSION to the public and are the BEST ATTENDED Fall and Spring bridal events in the Ottawa market. No other show comes close. Surveys consistently show that over 1/2 of prospective qualified attendees don't attend consumer shows that have an entry fee. If you exhibit only at bridal events that have an entry fee you are missing a huge part of the market.
- Our Fall show September 6 & 7, 2008 is the first Fall bridal event - a not-to-be- missed opportunity to meet those engaged in the Spring and Summer who are looking for wedding suppliers.
- Our Spring show April 4 & 5, 2009 is the first bridal event after Winter and the first show following Valentine's day (Feb 14) - which is still the # 1 Day of the year for people to be engaged !!
- We believe that you should exhibit in as many shows as possible ! At a January event you may get first shot at those engaged over the Christmas holidays BUT for those couples engaged in the 9 months between mid-January to September - they likely will attend our Spring and Fall shows and establish a relationship with key suppliers. You won't get a real shot at their business if miss these shows ! Don't take a chance !
If you are not exhibiting at The Ottawa Wedding Show at Lansdowne Park you are passing up lots of potential business to your competitors !
- Brides and Grooms are badged and easily identifiable to exhibitors PLUS a list of all brides with contact information is provided after the Show.
- Lansdowne Park is easily Ottawa's favourite location for consumer shows. Almost 100 % of Ottawa's major consumer shows are held at Lansdowne Park - and for a very good reason.
It is centrally located and easy to find and has lots of easily accessible inexpensive on-site parking as well as free on-street parking near the facility. Home Shows, Boat Shows, Cottage Shows, Ski Shows, Bon Appetit, The Ottawa Wine & Food Show, The Auto Show and The National Women's Show - all now take place at Lansdowne Park and these shows appeal to a wide demographic range.
- We can offer exhibit space at a very reasonable rate because we do many shows in different industries and spread our overheads over many events. This means you pay less for your exhibit space. To help your cash flow we can even arrange a payment plan to make your participation possible.
- Qualified prospects in a short period of time
Sell to your target market in a time efficient and cost-effective way - just 2 days ! And because the Show is FREE to the public it attracts many qualified visitors who simply will not pay to attend other bridal shows.
- Network with other wedding professionals
There is no better place to establish strategic relationships with other professionals who can refer you business.
- Check the pulse of the industry
Find out what kind of products your prospects are looking for. Determine trends for the year. Take surveys to make better buying decisions.
- Increase your firm's industry profile
To brides and wedding planners your presence in the Show gives them comfort that you are a 'serious' player.
INTERESTED IN EXHIBITING ?
The Exhibit Space fees and the terms of payment are described on the Space Application Form.
You can find the Space Application Form for the September 2008 Show and the April 2009 Show by going to the following page : Space Application Page and downloading the Space Application Form.
Need a copy of our Exhibitor Brochure?
Just click on Exhibitor Brochure to view and print the brochure in PDF format.
For Additional Info contact
Yolande Adams Show Manager
Tel (Direct) 613-591-7610
FOR MORE VALUABLE INSIGHTS ON SHOWS READ BELOW - BASED ON 20 YEARS OF OUR EXPERIENCE
WHY DO A SHOW ?
Over the last 20 years we’ve produced over 80 consumer and trade shows in a variety of industries : bridal, ski, hospitality, food & wine, construction, direct mail, computer, telecom, franchise and more.
Almost 1 million people have visited our events and thousands of exhibitors have participated. Many of our exhibitors have built the foundations of their business or dramatically expanded their business using shows.
It always amazes us - at any consumer show there will be exhibitors who do absolutely great with fantastic results – and other exhibitors who do less well.
What’s the difference between these 2 exhibitors ?
Same show. Same qualified audience attending. And both exhibitors offering the same type of service. Why is one exhibitor successful and delighted and will return show after show - and the other exhibitor may only do the Show once ?
Because of the number of shows we’ve produced in many different industries it’s obvious to us what works and what doesn’t.
Below we’ve outlined some key marketing secrets that successful exhibitors understand and implement.
Secret # 1 – Starting a Relationship
Successful exhibitors understand that the Show is the place for them to START a relationship.
The idea is to START as many relationships as possible at the Show AND to have a clear system or process to nurture this new relationship after the Show.
There are 2 groups at a show that you have potential to start a relationship with :
there are the thousands of qualified visitors to the Show;
and
there are your fellow exhibitors who are in non-competing businesses and can refer you business. This group is probably the most overlooked opportunity.
Make sure YOU exploit all of your relationship opportunities at a show AND establishing relationships with other exhibitors can have a huge impact on your future success.The relationships that you establish with other exhibitors ALONE should make participation worthwhile.
Secret # 2 – Use ‘Pink-Spoon’ Marketing
So how do you start a relationship with someone who is walking past your booth ? To walk past a booth takes a couple of seconds. How do you engage and qualify this person ?
It’s very easy to take the wrong approach.
How many shows have you been at as a vistor where someone sticks his hand out with a brochure and says “Do you need a wedding photographer?” (or DJ, or Hall or whatever).
The person handing out the brochure may be well dressed, has made eye-contact, has a nice booth, even a great brochure. They think they’re doing a great job !
Allow us to be brutally honest. This approach is not ok. More often than not it is a waste of time. There is a better way to approach show visitors that will get you far more business.
Our most successful exhibitors use ‘pink-spoon’ marketing to start relationships. So what the heck is ‘pink-spoon’ marketing ?
Here's a hint: think of Baskin Robbins and trying out your favorite flavor of ice cream. Baskin Robbins recognized early that giving people a ‘pink-spoon’ was a great way for people to sample their product.
Did the first taste leave you wanting more?
To put it simply, ‘pink-spoon marketing’ is the journey one takes from trying a free sample to buying a product.
A ‘pink-spoon’ offering to start relationship building can be incorporated into virtually any service or product at a show. And it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune.
It is MUCH easier to engage a visitor at a show and start a relationship if you have developed a ‘pink spoon’. And isn’t it better to get that visitor to your business location to further develop the relationship.
Below are some of the ‘pink-spoons’ we’ve seen :
Wedding photography business ?
Offer a free studio portrait. This will give you LOTS of time to build trust and a relationship. You can engage people on a one to one basis away from a busy show floor.
Trying to promote your venue ?
How about a tour of the facility with complimentary buffet lunch and a short presentation on what to consider when selecting a venue ? You could hand out VIP Invitations at the Show and host this on a RSVP basis.
Wedding Planners
Free no-obligation Seminars or free 1 to 1 ½ hour consultations. Book these at the Show.
Mortgage Brokers
Free no-obligation Seminars explaining the different types of mortgage and sources of financing.
What you offer as your 'pink-spoon' is only limited by your imagination.
But it's a lot easier to get a show visitor's atttention with "Hey we'd like to give you a free no-obligation X " than "Hey, do you need a Y ?"
Secret # 3 – Lifetime Value of a Client
Professional exhibitors understand ‘Lifetime Value of a Client’.
Sadly, many businesses have no idea what the lifetime value of a client means. Or if they do, they don't know how to put it to use.
Lifetime value is defined as the total dollar amount your average client purchases over the entire period that they're likely to do business with you.
So if every new client (and the clients they refer) generate $6,000 in profit for you over the period they deal with you that is their lifetime value. Unfortunately businesses often only focus on the single first transaction that they do with someone in evaluating the pay-back of their marketing dollars.
So if Show participation involves investing $1,500 and it generates 4 new clients and the initial transaction with each averages only $400 each you may come to the WRONG conclusion that it really wasn’t worth the effort.
But if you view each of these 4 new clients generating an average of $6,000 (or more) in profits over their lifetime or $24,000 you will draw a completely different conclusion.
This principle is simple and it can literally transform your business into a client-focused, profit-producing powerhouse! This concept has a powerful intangible impact on your philosophy of doing business.
It will free you to give more to your clients than they expect, and you will never feel that you are losing money when you offer promotions or free products or offers.
A jewellery store may sell the initial engagement ring but this can lead to further purchases of gifts for anniversaries, birthdays, Mother’s Day and so on.
A photographer may start with a wedding assignment but this may develop into engagements for family portraits, corporate events,team photos, etc.
We hope that we've given you some great ideas on how to make your show presence more rewarding.
To discuss these ideas further please call Yolande Adams, Show Manager, today at (613)591-7610.
|
