Setting Up A Booth For Send Out Cards

NOTE: You do not need all of the things listed below to have a successful booth or table! The goal is to earn your investment back and start making a profit, so buy things as you can afford them.

1. Have display board ready to go with samples of our cards attached to it, pick colorful cards and cards that show the various important features – an inexpensive way to create one is to go to Joann’s or Michaels and buy a foam board tri-fold I think it’s under $10. You can use the Velcro round dots to attach your cards to the foam board and switch them out for each season/occasion/audience. I use a showcase display that I ordered from my local Fast Signs store – it is a hard sided tri-fold case and it was about $350 – it has the backing on it that works with Velcro to hold your cards and they can be positioned however you want around the display. It also comes with a header card that I had Fast Signs create with the SOC logo and tag line. My first year in business I used the foam board display and then I made it my goal to buy the more expensive version when I promoted to Sr. Mgr.
2. Have sample cards & envelope w/ stamp available to put in peoples’ hands to show them we have real cards, not e-cards. Again show the important personalization features like cards in your handwriting, photos on the front with Picture Plus (and inside), gift cards.
3. Have handouts ready for estimated number of people attending:
o Flyers with contact information
o Brochures (to those who are serious) & Opportunity DVD’s
o Business cards
o In Touch Journal
o Success From Home Magazine
o Price List (give sparingly to analytical type personalities) or else it can bias someone’s answer before you have a chance to walk them through a gift account.
4. Plastic sleeves with sample Handwriting Font Form to show how it works
5. Acrylic box or other container for raffle entries, and entry forms – glass vase from WalMart or basket, or acrylic box available at Office Max or Staples.
6. Pens (with Sendoutcards logo if possible)
7. SOC Boxes – have a stack of them on your display table – make a sign that lists 3-4 features that will communicate to the people standing around your table waiting to ask you or your team a question. I would highly recommend having a laptop with wireless connection so you can activate each box before the customer leaves your table. Another option would be go to your Main Menu, Management Tools, “Transfer a SOC Box” and print out the list of all of your serial numbers for each SOC Box – write the customer’s name next to the correct serial number. Have a form ready that will ask them to fill out all of the information required to activate the box, staple a business card to the form for back up; then you can activate each box at home.
8. Sendoutcards Banner if location permits. If you are working as a team, try and coordinate your outfits if possible, and wear a name badge. Great resource for name badges: www.linzcottimages.com or 913-322-0411.
9. Sendoutcards Table cloth available on SOCTools.com for $99 or go to Joann’s and buy red fabric like crushed velvet for around $15, I started with a plain bright red table cloth from Bed, Bath & Beyond that was $10, then I invested in the SOC logo tablecloth in my 2nd year in business.
10. Sendoutcards sign kit available on Purchase Products via your Main Menu $9.50 if you have a 10 x 10 booth for hanging signs on the walls. You cut out the SOC logo and tag line and use it for the header on your foam board display.
11. Laptop if the event runs multiple days, if not it is not recommended. Also, another idea is to bring in a T.V. to play the SOC DVD, SOC Review DVD / SOC Link, or America’s Best Products feature (To view go to Customer Service/Site Index/”M” Media Coverage)
12. Send yourself some Avenue Sweets caramels/nougat in bulk to give out as a sample. Call Bruce Jones to order: 801-556-9788
13. Send yourself some gifts so you can display examples on your table, like brownies, cookies, or books.
14. Digital camera – take photo of yourself in the booth for follow-up cards to prospects. Walk around if you can and take photos of other vendors, send them a follow-up card. Take photos of people who come to your booth as you choose for follow-up card to them.
15. Have FUN, be excited and have “Give to Give” Attitude. We have something special that can help EVERYONE you speak to in their business or personal life.
Talk to the other vendors at the event – try to do this before the public is let in so you’re not seen as a distraction. Ask them how they plan on following up with the people visiting their booth. Have your camera ready, ask to take a picture of them in their booth and you can send them a card. Also have card samples with a business card image on the inside to show them how it can be done. Make sure you get their business card, and take a moment to verify if their mailing address is on the card, if not ask for it! Or else you will be following up by phone/e-mail just to get it. To make it fair among all of your team members, agree ahead of time which vendors each of you will talk to, so each person has a chance to share the number of vendors in the room (for instance, row #1 goes to Nina, row #2 goes to Kristi, row #3 goes to Judy) Look around the room, and discuss with your team, if you already know or have walked through a gift account with some of the vendors, so they don’t get bombarded by everyone.
How to talk to people at your booth – make sure you never sit down during the event! This gives off lackluster energy and people will not be drawn to come over. Stand in front of your table, remember to smile, and have a card and envelope in your hand. People will sometimes try to walk by your booth quickly, walk up to them, introduce yourself, and ask them if they have ever heard of Send Out Cards. If the answer is ‘No’ then say “It is a fantastic service…” and then turn towards your table and start walking to your table while you are still talking about it, and people will always follow you to your table! Because they do not want to be left standing by themselves, and people are naturally lead by a person who is engaging and confident.
Follow Up with sending a card out to all the people who visited your booth that same night or as soon as possible. When you are talking to people and asking them about themselves, when they walk away, make sure to jot some notes on the back of their business card so you can personalize the follow up card you will send. If you are sharing the booth with several team members, agree ahead of time that whoever each person talks to, you will put your name on the back of that person’s business card and that will be who you follow up with. If there are people who just come by and drop their card in your raffle box, then those with no names will be split evenly among all team members. Separate your “Hot” prospects from the rest of your leads, and call them immediately for an appointment, do not wait for the card to get to them. Set up a campaign drip system for people who do not sign up right away, or who you have not returned your phone calls or e-mails. *Here is where it is key to break even on your cost of the booth, and turn a profit for your time and money – you must be diligent in following up otherwise, you will think you’re working your business, but in reality you are operating at a loss by letting those leads go cold.

I wish you the very best success – and I will see you at the top!!!