232

Chapter

30

Building Your Network Marketing Business

with Trade Shows, Booths, and Fairs

Dr. Don and Mary Lou Vollmer

T

here are many places throughout North America and internationally
where one can set up a booth to sell network marketing products and
generate interested prospect leads. These events also provide your com-
pany, your products, and/or your services with greater visibility and of-
fer distributors the opportunity to generate income. In this chapter, the
different types of shows are covered individually.
There are several factors to consider when deciding whether to partici-
pate in a show or booth. The first consideration is location. Do you have to
travel by air or train to the show? This adds to the expense and must be ac-
counted for in the budget. Can you stay at home in the evening, or do you
need to pay extra for lodging and meals? What are the other costs involved in
the city you will be in? New York City is going to be more expensive than
Denver, for example.
The second consideration is the cost of the show itself. Some of the
trade shows can charge several thousand dollars for a 10-by-10-foot space.
Other shows, such as a local fair, may be only $100. Some small events
may have booths or tabletop space available for little or no investment.
Evaluation of the end result is critical when making this type of financial
commitment. It boils down to this: What will be the final cost of each lead
or sale generated?
The next consideration would be attendance. How many people are
projected to attend the show you are considering, and what are the exhibit
hours? Note that $1,000 for a one-day show with four hours of legitimate
busy time and eight hours of scheduled time may actually be less cost-effec-
tive than a show that costs $3,000 for three and a half days and four times
as much contact with attendees. What types of products will appeal to this
audience? How will the staff dress? Will a show special or a drawing for a