Page 203 - 597 Business Ideas You can Start from Home - doing what you LOVE! (Beginner Internet Marketing Series)

1 96 Your Idea, Inc.

nullion­ Farmers' markets are trade shows, too! If you have a food-
product, they can be a great place to start. Farmers'
dollar
markets generate great buzz and can even garner some
TIP valuable local press. They are an inexpensive, casual way to
get consumers' reactions right on the spot and then tweak or
im prove your product before you exhibit "big time" at, say, a
gourmet foods show. Give away lots of small samples.

Visit a Show Before You Exhibit

If you've never been to a trade show, try to attend at least one before
becoming an exhibitor. I n New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, or Las
Vegas, this task will be easy because trade shows are held in those
cities every week. If you absolutely cannot get to a show before exhib­
iting there, you can usually find photos of the show online or in a
trade magazine, since they are usually covered by industry press.

Get In

Some shows charge a fee (the same fee they charge to attend­
ees, which ranges from $25 to a couple hundred) for "walking" the
show. You can sometimes talk your way out of the fee if you explain
that you plan to exhibit your product there next year. If the initial
person you speak to refuses to waive the fee, try to plead your case
to upper management.

Other shows are restricted to "trade only," where you need to
show credentials that prove that you are part of the industry. Have
some business cards printed ahead of time so you can show them
as credentials.

If you can't find a relevant trade show locally, you could even go
to a "consumer" show, where businesses promote products or ser­
vices directly to the consumer (rather than to buyers or owners of
stores). You can find these shows advertised locally. In fact, you've