Hey Nailtechies! I'm so glad to see this thread floating around. I'm printing all the comments and going to show them to Tony Cuccio after I'm done typing this. Here's a couple things to consider. Some of us represent our distributors when we do all the shows. And I've run into problems where the show didn't list us as "Star Nail" or "Cuccio" but X,Y,Z distribution. Then I get calls from techs saying, "Why weren't you at the show?". VERY common and aggravating mistake.
Very few Manufacturers spin a profit. When we add the cost of booth, educators, hotels, airline tickets, food, UNION (to get booth and product into the show...and out of the show)...it usually is 10,000+ depending on the size of the booth. But in our minds, it is part of the advertising budget. And as an educator who's worked these shows for 15 years....attendance to my classes has dropped so much that we've now decided to do them within the booth while demo'ing. More of a one on one. For me to stop working in the booth, pack up my table, run across a HUGE floor to the rooms and have 5 people is heart breaking. I wish more people wanted these classes like those of you posting here. The one thing we won't stop doing (and just happened to work on the Chicago order and show prices just yesterday) is SHOW DEALS. Using this coming Chicago show as an example, we're doing a 30 foot by 20 foot booth. I'm bringing almost double the product because we're giving so many deals. Most of the product is 50% off salon. Also lots of buy one, get one. We are having two demo tables (soak off gels and acrylics) and two try me stations for all things Cuccio. Soooooo...we do hear you guys...and I'm going to be sure Tony hears you guys. It's just I do understand what all the manufacturers are going through now that I'm on this side of the fence (don't worry my heart is still on the other side LOL). It's REALLY expensive to do these things. When all is said and done, I'll share what we spent on this show and what we made. Thanks for the feedback! It isn't in vain. :) Elaine (aka Elaine from Maine) Elaine T. Watson Star Nail International Vice President of Marketing and Sales Global Education Director 800.782.7624 extension 321 fax 661.257.5847 [email protected] Blog: itsnotarealjob.blogspot.com On Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 10:50 PM, Michelle Cordes <[email protected]>wrote: > Wow... you folks have been busy... :) > Look what happens when I don't turn on my computer for a day... LOL.... > > So, my turn to chime in. There are many factors to this situation to > consider... > First, I used to be an independent educator for a nail product company. One > time, I convinced the company for us to be present at our local "big" trade > show. I said I was not going to look like a fool traveling around a 3 state > area talking about how great we are, and then have us not be at our only > "big" show. I got my way... they rented the smallest booth, and flew the > corporate office educator up here to do the show with me. They shipped > product, paid for the hotel, and paid a small wage to us. I was told if it > didn't make money, it was never happening again, and they didn't want to > hear squat about it. I said deal. It was a long weekend, and the 2 of us > flying duo ran our asses off, but we made a profit. A mighty small one, but > a profit nonetheless. Even though I was no longer an educator by the next > year, what I learned from this experience was this.... 1) The manufacturers > look at shows as a sales event, not an advertising event. If there is not a > profit, it was not a success. 2) We got it done with two educators but we > hustled big time (those who know me, know I have no shortage of energy!). > Luckily, my corp office educator and I worked really well together my entire > tenure there. My feet hurt, my legs hurt, my back hurt... let's face it, > there are many people out there now who don't have the work ethic to do > that. They just aren't that invested. It's not just our industry, it's ALL > industries. And more people working=more payroll= higher cost= see #1 above. > 3) BUT, I stand by my insistence that we were there. I saw some regulars, we > sold some tickets to an upcoming class, and we sold quite a few kits. I love > that product, and it showed. THAT is how we made sales.... 4) This was the > show that I met Scott Haken.... > > Flash forward 9 years to the Nailpro Show last November in Sacramento. > Ticket prices were fair, I thought, and I paid for the class on Monday on > business building. Arrived to...A half full show floor *sigh*. But the > booths were busy. You dang near couldn't squish into the YN booth! I spent > $200 at the show that I didn't mean to spend... and I'm HAPPY with the > product I use... you could have spent waaaaaay more! The deals were okay, > not great, but the classes/demos were good so I spent my moola. I had a > great time, saw a lot, got re-energized about our industry... but left sad. > There were many companies not there... and it's in central California for > the love of pete! How many manufacturers are IN California?!?! And I was > happy I drove- you can't take damn shampoo on a plane anymore, never mind > nail products. But guess what... after all these years.... I got to say hi > to Scott Haken... STILL workin' it. Some manufacturers hang in there; CND is > at every show I have been to... > > You see, folks, I think we need to not be complaining to the trade show > companies... they DON'T care about us. WE need to take the leadership we > already lend to our industry to the next level. If I could, one little > school division educator, convince a manufacturer to be there.... then YOU > can too! Are you the "best" at something you do? Offer to do classes at your > local show. Call your local distributor and offer to do a class. Be a guest > speaker at your local beauty schools. Don't take no for an answer. Annoy > them. Put your blood, sweat, and tears into our industry the same way we > put it into our salons and WE will group-handedly raise the bar. The HRTE > and networking events are fabulous, we didn't have any of that years ago... > but clearly that isn't enough. Companies are operating for a profit... we > are going to have to show them the money! Help them staff the booths with > enthusiastic, passionate professionals and promote what you love. Let us, as > leaders (that's why we're HERE right?), work together to make this industry > exactly what we want it to be... > > This begs the questions.... SO, what do WE want? > ***What I want is.... > 1) 3-4 shows a year, around the country geographically, where nail techs > can be catered to. Orlando seems to already be one, the Sacramento show > seems to be good for the west coast if we could get the damn manufacturers > there.... I will probably only attend one a year, but I will rotate it > around if they are all good. So, where else? Orlando is June, Sacramento is > Oct/Nov.... When else? > 2) What defines a "good show" for us? Lots of nail booths? Good deals? Lots > of classes? Presenters on the main stage? I would like to see lots of > in-booth demos going on non-stop from lots of companies and good trial kits > to spend a little and take it home to play... > 3) How much are we willing to spend for a ticket and for what in exchange? > At what $ point is it "worth it"? Metro area or in suburbia? I will spend > about $500 in travel expenses and show ticket... so wherever that can get > me... LOL.... > > Do you see what I'm saying guys? Let's sound off about specifics. If I > was a manufacturer I would be frustrated too... we are looking like a bunch > of ladies that are never happy no matter what we get but can't agree on what > we want in the first dang place! Sounds like some of our clients... LOL.... > sorry, had to say it. If we can figure out what we're yelling about, we can > shout it out in one, loud voice... > > Food for thought. > Michelle Cordes, Licensed Nail Technician > The Nail Spa @ Steel Magnolias Salon > "The spa for your hands and feet since 1997" > Bremerton, Washington > www.myspace.com/thenailspa > > > ------------------------------ > *From:* Maggie in Visalia <[email protected]> > *To:* [email protected] > *Sent:* Sun, February 28, 2010 7:15:21 PM > *Subject:* Re: NailTech:: why support large trade shows when they don't > support us nail techs? > > Problem is, I'm willing to bet our frustration has NOTHING to do with > the show or show organizers. > > Our nail industry companies have every bit the same opportunity to exhibit > at these shows that companies from the hair and skin industries have. > > For reasons that range widely, more and more nail industry companies are > choosing NOT to participate at these shows. > > It's not the SHOWS that we need to take our torches and pitchforks to-- > it's the companies that we want to see at the shows. > > Start writing letters and let these companies know you miss them at the > shows. I've told my TT rep numerous times when he calls just before or just > after a big tradeshow that I am "saving my money for the show" or that I > "have to recover from" the show I just went to. Then I demand to know why > they don't do any westcoast shows? Then I make a disapproving Wookie noise > and tell him "that sucks." > > I admit, TT hasn't shown up at a west coast tradeshow because of this yet, > and I have not-- as yet-- switch products... but I keep seriously > considering doing so. > > I don't get why nail companies are so busy complaining about the cost of > tradeshows when it seems that hair companies still find the expense > worthwhile? > > Maggie Franklin: Attitudes Salon; Visalia, CA > "Visionary rebel dreamer; obviously way ahead of my time." > Art of Nailz <http://artofnailz.info/> > Maggie Rants [and rav...@nails Magazine <http://blogs.nailsmag.com/maggie/> > Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/onykophile> > > > > --- On *Sun, 2/28/10, Jill in Ky <[email protected]>* wrote: > > > From: Jill in Ky <[email protected]> > Subject: NailTech:: why support large trade shows when they don't support > us nail techs? > To: "NailTech" <[email protected]> > Date: Sunday, February 28, 2010, 6:00 PM > > That's the burning question.........why give your money, time, and > effort to support a system that mainly caters to hair? Why do techs > continually go out of their way to attend large trade shows, then come > back and complain about the few nail classes and nail booths? > > My philosophy is that anyone can work without hair, but try letting > them work without hands and feet! > > Perhaps we need a "bus boycott" or a "restaurant counter boycott"? > What about our rights as nail techs to be treated equally with > respect? Or perhaps respect begins by respecting oneself first? After > all these years of routinely being referred to as "the nail girl", > are we content to own that title? > > As a small business owners, we routinely support businesses that treat > us right. If we're treated rudely or indifferently by a company, then > we do not give them our repeat business. Why should choosing a > location to receive nail tech education be any different? > > The grassroots efforts by nail techs to create networking events are > gaining momentum, with new ones popping up all over the country, > mainly because nail techs are frustrated by the steady decline in nail > education at the large industry shows (with the exception of the > Orlando show and kudos to Debbie Doerrlamm for organizing the > corresponding nail tech BBQ). So if you're contemplating going to a > large trade show, please consider supporting the networking events, > too! > > What large trade show gives you lunch? None! You feel lucky to find a > spot to sit on the floor to eat your $5 pizza slice with drink your $4 > soda. No floor sitting at the Smoky Mountain Event, with all the comfy > chairs and massive oak tables! Wander out thru the wall of french > doors onto the tree-shaded balconey overlooking the stream, or rest in > an adirondack chair in front of the Event Center while you eat your > lunch and visit with like-minded nail techs (see photos on my Facebook > page showing techs doing just that). > > When was the last time you received a goodie bag of nail products at a > large trade show? Never! You're shocked just to get a sample, and then > it's usually of a hair product. What a let down! > > Ever win a door prize at a large trade show? Nope! With only 100 guest > reservations accepted, your chances of winning one of the many > fabulous door prizes are extremely good. Everyone at the 1st Smoky > Mountain Event went home with a prize, and the majority of the people > at the 2nd Event did, too! > > Getting tired of milling through the crowd at a large trade show, > trying to find the few nail booths? At the networking events, it's ALL > about the nail techs. Nail techs' are the divas, so we celebrate our > uniqueness by only featuring nail products demo'd by the rock stars of > the nail world! > > Why support an industry that doesn't support you as a nail tech? > Curious to see how you can make a difference? > > Support your nearest nail tech networking event now! > > > > Jill Wright Spa for Nails > 728 Chestnut St. suite 200 > Bowling Green, KY. 42101 > (270) 799-3637 > www.jillsnails.com > [email protected]<http://us.mc431.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]> > http://www.facebook.com/profile.phpid=1073352006 > www.linkedin.com/in/jillwrightntnesmokymtns > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "NailTech" group. > To post to this group, send email to > [email protected]<http://us.mc431.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]> > . > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to nailtech+ > [email protected]<http://us.mc431.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/nailtech?hl=en. > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "NailTech" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<nailtech%[email protected]> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/nailtech?hl=en. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "NailTech" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<nailtech%[email protected]> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/nailtech?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NailTech" group. 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