Shows and Events
At this point I’m only committed to participating in one show - the Skin and Steel show at the Dome in April. It’s a great deal: $80 for a 10 ft. x 10 ft. booth, $50 for each additional booth. Pretty cheap for a show.
I’m planning on getting two booths (together). That should give me enough space to display six to eight scooters. (I think they’ll contrast nicely with the Harleys and the tattoos.)
I’m considering two ways to dress the booth. One is to get a 10 x 10 EZ-Up canopy from Schwinn and pitching it over the Schwinn scooters. Cost is under $100 and is printed with the Schwinn logo.
The other option is a backdrop. A friend of mine owns a company that designs and builds trade show booths. He can get me an 8 x 10 free-standing, weatherproof backdrop, custom printed with whatever full-color graphics I choose, for around $1200. Not cheap, but reusable and fully “Urban Village Scooters” branded. I’d probably set it up in the showroom when not at an event.
I’m trying to find other events to exhibit at. Rochester is a big festival town - there’s at least one every weekend between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Probably the biggest (and most expensive?) is the Lilac Festival in May. I’d try for a weekend-only spot to help control costs. [Update: I’ve contacted the Lilac Festival. It’s a ten day event, and they require commercial exhibitors to be there for the entire ten days - no weekend-only spots. For a 10 x 10 spot the cost is $3240 which includes tent, table, and chairs. 15 x 15 spots are $5000. I’m going to pass this year.]
Speaking of costs, one big one to consider is personnel. For any event I’ll need at least one other person to help man the booth, and either someone to staff the shop or I’ll have to close the store while at the event.
