I've often wondered that myself---why not just take orders and ship it later. Seems like that would solve problems all the way around. Or at least give out coupons or something with a special "show" code on them. That would implement them getting our email addresses for future contact.
On Tue, Mar 2, 2010 at 4:14 PM, Maggie in Visalia <[email protected]>wrote: > Well, looking at the exhibitor info for IBS Las Vegas, it looks like the > cheapest booth you can opt for is 100 sq ft of linear space (no corners or > islands) at about $1700. That's just the booth. That doesn't include the > mandatory insurance policy you have to have. That's before you ship a bunch > of product, pay people to work the booth, put them up in hotels, or even get > them to the show... > > Yeah. I can totally understand how it's not uncommon to rack up a $10K bill > for a big show. > > So-- Nailpro doesn't have exhibitor info on the website, for those of you > who know, how does the cost of exhibiting at a Nailpro show compare? > > Cuz Nailpro got into the tradeshow game with big talk about having several > shows in many areas around the country-- and now they're down to one show in > Sacramento each year, and we've all discussed that that show appears to be > fading into obscurity none too slowly. > > At this point, they could hold it in a smaller venue-- possibly a > conference room at a hotel or even one of the smaller rooms at the > convention center. That should bring down the cost of the venue and at least > you wouldn't be overwhelmed by all the empty space in the room! > > Heck-- they could hold the thing in a high school gym. Nailpro is already > leasing the entire room at the convention center-- why not just give each > exhibitor MORE space for the same money? It'll make the show look better and > give exhibitors a chance to do some in-booth education-- and maybe we could > actually SHOP the YN booth AND have room for the audience that the demos > draw? As a matter of fact-- why is the YN booth kicking so much butt while > everyone else is whining about the cost of being there? > > I've put a lot of thought into it and I'm not mad at the big shows. I'm not > disappointed in them. I don't blame them. The shows are doing fine and the > organizers are in it for a profit and they seem to be making one. I can't > get mad at them for that. > > I'm mad at the nail industry companies who aren't budgeting for the shows. > I'm mad at the nail industry companies that are refusing to get outside the > boxes they built 30 years ago. Who are falling prey to the same > excuse-mongering for not being able to compete that I see from the hoards of > nail techs who are now working in other fields because "you just can't make > money doing nails any more." > > The business changes. If anyone who works in the business expects to > continue to be successful in it, they will be forced to change too. And that > applies to our manufacturers and distributors as well. > > The more we discuss this issue, the more I see a lot of companies who > haven't gone back to the drawing board and re-invented their tradeshow plan. > > For one thing-- yeah. It does need to be thought of as partially > advertising. This is a chance to be SEEN and EXPERIENCED FIRST HAND by > potential customers. Especially the young and new-to-the-biz who are going > to tradeshows early in their careers. These are techs who are still looking > for the perfect product that will solve their time and lifting problems-- > veterans know that (for the most part) these are problems that are solved > with education and experience, but here's a company's chance to grab those > new techs and educate them...and sell them on that company's products for a > lifetime. > > I sure don't see many companies making an effort to gnab this demographic > through any other means. The local beauty schools aren't bringing in reps > from several different manufacturers to lure the up and coming portion of > the industry. The local suppliers sure aren't offering a plethora of brands > to choose from. The advertising in the magazines gets lost among all the > other ads, and I almost never receive mailings from companies who are trying > to market directly to techs or the salons they work in. > > Tradeshows are an effective-- albeit expensive-- way to get your brand in > front of this group. > > Also, how many companies have devised adequate means of tracking the > business they get from a tradeshow that may not have purchased AT the show? > Many of us have stopped buying at the shows just because it's about > impossible trying to cart product home on plane! But we might go home and > order from the company in the future BECAUSE of our interaction with that > company at the show. Seems to me that companies aren't taking this type of > business into consideration when they figure out the profits from being at a > show. > > And why can't a company simply TAKE ORDERS from the show? Just take my > order and ship it for me. So you don't have to haul truck loads of products > around the country and I don't have to figure out how to get them home? > Offer a deal on the shipping to make it worth my while. > > Point is-- you have to get creative in business and it seem OBVIOUS that > the techs in the industry WANT to see these companies at the shows. So it > strikes me as odd, and makes me a little miffed, that instead of hearing, > "OH! We had no idea it was that important to you! Let us figure something > out!" from our manufacturers, we seem to hear a lot of, "well you just don't > understand...it's so expensive." > > I do understand. I run a business too. And when I say, "but your product is > so expensive" to a manufacturer's rep or eduactor, they are quick with the > "well, business is expensive, but you have to spend it to make it and you > should respect yourself enough as a professional to make the investment in > quality product and education so you can set yourself apart from the > competition" speech. > > Back atcha, folks. > > > > > 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 *Mon, 3/1/10, Michelle Cordes <[email protected]>* wrote: > > > From: Michelle Cordes <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: NailTech:: why support large trade shows when they don't > support us nail techs? LONG > To: [email protected] > Date: Monday, March 1, 2010, 10:50 PM > > > 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. > 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. > -- Renee Parnell Chattanooga, TN -- 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]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nailtech?hl=en.
