[springfever]

What ideas, themes, designs or products have you implemented to get people to your booth? We have done 1 to 3 home shows a year for six years. They are a great jump start for spring work and we generally get work off of a spring show even in the fall. We have had very popular booths in the past, but want to keep our momentum going. We do full hardscapes and usually a water feature. Does anyone have any home run ideas?

[Fine Edge]

Do a live raining tree. It takes a little thought to get it looking right but our Deodor Cedar 2 years ago really brought the people into our booth.

[Ron Soukup]

I know of a landscape company that was trying to increase their landscape lighting division. So they created a tunnel, and lit the inside with their feature lights and creative ideas.

Not only did they win the best booth, but the pulled in many leads and closed on 18 of them. It payed for the booth and then some.

In addition, the also highlighted other aspects of their business. Overall, it was a great idea that turned out well for them.

[mark allen]

Wow, it's good to see that landscapers can be creative in Feb. I have a show this coming weekend... it's a garden show with 100's of exhibitors and last year, many many many people said I had the nicest booth. I am far from the largest company and blew them out of the water..... First I'll tell you what one person did..... ( a good friend) had two booths side by side, and created a beautiful water feature and cedar fence backdrop...here's the kicker ...the only spot in his booth that you could stand in was the size of your bathroom rug. Last time I checked, this is way too small of a bubble of personal space....nice booth put traffic just pushes you by.

I have an end of an aisle with two additional boothes ..4 total.. I started in the back with a very tall (and labor intensive) block wall complete with steps to a raised patio with brickwork. I got the local 'trees on wheels' guy to cut down a 10" dia. maple tree and bring it in and put in the middle ( of course with his signage). the rest was pavers/with quilted patterns (minimal cuts) and a bar height patio set with chairs. the rest is open space.... I've got people cutting thru my booth left and right... I also had pillars with my picture books on them so people would not have to come into the booth and feel 'threatened' ...the reason for the bar height chairs is it is easier to get someone to sit half way down than all the way down..... (it's been researched) ...

This year I have called on friends that are business owners that are not in the show to help out ( I will put up a sign saying all who helped out) I have a paver specialist, a landscape architect helped design the booth ( remember I said I was small) I also have a person who specializes in gardens and pruning coming the last hour of set up to put her finishing touch on the booth.. I have a guy who does low-voltage lighting putting some lights in.... I also had a spa company want to put one of their hot tubs in because they have seen my booth in the past....

All that and a hell of a lot of coffee.... get out there and talk to people when they are looking at your booth.... three years ago I was the only one with real grass (sod) in my booth ....I made sure everybody knew it that walked by...some did not believe it and had to touch it. I brag about how many people and man-hours it takes and you would be surprised how many leads you can get by showing what you do best.

I will post later on what I am doing this year that is going to knock the socks off of the others at the show as well as the people paying to attend.

I liked the one idea I read earlier about a tunnel with lights, can you get next to a wall where it may be easier to do that... I'm sure that really created a lot of interest...

And GOOD pictures, in books everywhere.....