Tradeshow tips + etiquette

[nappywun]

Hi all,
I will be exhibiting for the first time at a tradeshow in February and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions.

-do I have to make samples of eveything in my collection or will a linesheet suffice?
-what should I take with me?
-how should I "court" buyers
-what terms should I set for orders (if any)
-should I plan to stay an extra day after the show closes?
-what are some do's and don'ts when it comes to exhibiting?

thanks

 

[Lena]

*you need a sample from all the items in your collection, plus colour-cards in available fabrics
*take an order placement book and company stamp, business cards, any editorial tearsheets of any, any kind of professional 'book' and mags or videos showing your work
*first of all, invite them..
send out invites asap and dont forget any local or 'industry' Press
decorate your boots and have some chocolates and water/soft drinks to offer to your guests
if you can afford provide your guests with a model who can show them your clothes 'live' and in movement
*i dont know where you are placed or what are your products..
usually it is 30% upfront when placing the order..
delivery max two months following the confirmation of the order
final deliveries by late July the latest (since we talk fw06.07)
* no need to stay an extra day.. all business is usually on the first day of the tradeshow
*dont go all alone, you need at least one more person with you
arrive one or two days before the show and try to press all your collection and see details of the last moment
ask if they provide you with hangers cause they usually dont

good luck and let us know how it went

Hi all,
I will be exhibiting for the first time at a tradeshow in February and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions.

-do I have to make samples of eveything in my collection or will a linesheet suffice?
-what should I take with me?
-how should I "court" buyers
-what terms should I set for orders (if any)
-should I plan to stay an extra day after the show closes?
-what are some do's and don'ts when it comes to exhibiting?

thanks

 

[Twin85]

Hey Lena,

Do you know the discount breakdown for orders? Such as orders over 250 get a 2% discount, over 500 dollars get a 3% discount, over 1000 gets a 4% discount.

Obviously that isn't it, but do you know what I am talking about?

Thanks

 

[Lena]

this is something you can fix for your own company, there is no fixed rule applying there..
i dont know your market but i'd stay out of minimum orders if i started showing my line, just take whatever quanities they ask you for and if you like to work a discount system, better give it to them based on how soon they pay you for their order..
eg. one month -10% / two months -5% / four months +5% etc

you need to understand that most markets will try a new line with a small -not to say tiny- order and test from there

 

[nappywun]

Thanks Lena.

My line consists of hand treated tees, so part of my design aesthetic is that each garment is unique. Do you thinks it's wise to take a sample that has the design heat transferred instead of screen printed and explain to the buyers that the delivered product will be screen printed onto the garment? I spoke to my printer and they assured me the only difference in the look will be in the process. I will also have similar designs which will be screen printed in my booth. Both time and money are preventing me from doing exact samples of everything by the time of the show.

 

[Lena]

truth is that clients do not want 'explanations' much more if you show in a real professional trade fair.. they need to see what the finished product will look like..
why not showing less items and stay with those which wont cause you any trouble? you can have some silkscreens like 'on the side' and present them only to the clients which seem willing to place orders..

 

[Jay Allen]

Jay Allen - Designer - Portland, Maine

Hello....I am an unknown designer that will be exhibiting, for the first time, at the Pool Show next month. I'm looking for information on how best to show my work to stylists that may want something completely different for a shoot they are working on.

I am primarily doing t-shirts, hoodies, hats, and a few "one of" sneakers at the moment. I know there are tons of people with t-shirt lines out there but I believe my work is different from anything currently on the market. I do my own graphics, dyeing, printing, etc right here in my studio on the waterfront in Portland, Maine.

I don't want to start spamming people with my website information. If there is a non intrusive way to show people my work I would like to do it. Thanks in advance for any help.

Jay Allen

 

[BetteT]

I get spammed all the time ... and if it has a couple of clear, imbedded images (small res) and a link, I'll take a look at it and if it interests me, I'll bookmark it for later reference. I usually don't know what I'll need for a shoot before the concept is laid out ... then I search for things that work within the concept and I start with my bookmarks.

Designers' publicists usually email me and ask it they can send a look book ... so it's not quite spamming ...they are asking to send me stuff. But I really prefer a good, regularily updated site ...it's just so much easier when I'm actually looking for wardrobe. Look books are only good for the current season and since they are all different sizes ... so they are a filing nightmare.

My thoughts... my personal preferences.