Learn How Home Shows Help Businesses Expand Their Reach

Home shows draw people across the industry together. Vendors, manufacturers, customers, salespeople, the media and more all converge in the same location to celebrate the industry. Coming together for an event is exciting and can get people energized about the home industry. Trade shows and home shows are also a time to learn more about the business, make contacts and get your company noticed. Here are just five ways how home shows help businesses expand their reach.

1. Stay on Top of Trends

Technology is always changing and improving, and styles evolve, too. Home shows bring industry experts and trendsetters together. The ability to collect and see the best of the industry together in one place creates an opportunity to gauge how your product offerings and services stack up. Closely following trends can help give you insight into where the industry is going, so you can evolve along.

Monitor Marketing Trends

Attending home shows gives you a view of what your competitors are doing. You will have a front row seat to view displays, product offerings and services and even how they organize their booth and accept orders. This vantage point makes it possible to see what is working and what falls flat. Use this information to fine-tune your product and service offerings and marketing. This will allow you to keep your brand relevant and engaging with customers.

2. Make Friends Within the Industry

Contacts within the industry can be an immense help. Industry professionals understand the unique challenges you face, and they are positioned to offer help and solid advice. This advice can help you steer your business in a way that will expand your reach.

Build Your Network

Maintaining a good relationship with vendors in noncompeting fields can land you recommendations. For instance, if another vendor has a client that asks them for a recommendation in your niche they will be more apt to recommend you if you have a good rapport. Make sure to return the favor when your clients ask for recommendations beyond the scope of your offerings.

3. Meet the Press

Members of the media attend trade shows and industry events, and this is an excellent opportunity to make contacts. Put together a press kit and make sure those are turned in at the proper time and location.

Bloggers and media experts in the home show industry have a lot of contacts and an extensive reach. Put their reach to work for your brand. Attend any sponsored events members of the media will be likely to attend. Introduce yourself and let your media contacts know you are available for interviews or a quote if necessary. If you are quoted or referenced in an article share a link to the piece on your business’s social media accounts. Tag your media contact and the publication in your post. This will help get your business in front of a wider audience.

4. Generate Leads

People come to home shows with the implicit goal of meeting people in the industry to secure contractors and vendors for their home renovation projects. You need to be there to meet them. Train staff to be proactive in their outreach. As people walk by your booth, have employees positioned to greet them and available to answer questions.

Hand Out Takeaways

From business cards to pens emblazoned with your logo and contact info takeaways can come in many forms. Have an item available to give visitors to your booth. A good practice is to include your web address, so people can visit your site if they want to conduct additional research after the home show.

5. Be Involved

Event planners for large events also typically host mini events, like cocktail hours or educational seminars. Attending these types of events offer value and make easy work of expanding your reach.

Increase Your Network

You will meet all sorts of people in the industry by attending sponsored events. Whether they be other exhibitors, members of the media or whatever get to know as many people as possible. Grow your network and build relationships. It may take time to foster a rapport, but laying the groundwork now can create a beneficial relationship later, either in the form of a future partner or a recommendation or something else altogether.

Increase Your Knowledge

Seminars, education sessions, and keynote addresses offer information specific to the state of the home industry. This is an excellent opportunity to pick up tips and tricks and learn about advancements that may help your company.

Expand Your Reach

Expanding the reach of your brand will increase business and profitability and solidify your position in the industry. Making industry and media contacts, trend watching, attending events and making sure your staff is prepared and ready all contribute to successfully exhibiting at a home show and expanding your brand’s reach. Sign up today to put a home show to work for your company!

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