Comments on: Size of the Show, or “what the hell am I doing here?” http://startupkidsline.com/2007/09/23/size-of-the-show-or-what-the-hell-am-i-doing-here/ Journals our expreriences starting a children's clothing line and apparel manufacturing business. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:00:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Barb Lawson-Miller http://startupkidsline.com/2007/09/23/size-of-the-show-or-what-the-hell-am-i-doing-here/#comment-2511 Barb Lawson-Miller Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:07:43 +0000 http://startupkidsline.com/2007/09/23/size-of-the-show-or-what-the-hell-am-i-doing-here/#comment-2511 Great information. I am a small company that sells children's books. Exhibiting at the ABC show for the first time. Any suggestions for booth configurations. Any booth designs you loved? Any companies that design booths? Any photos? Thanks. Barb Great information. I am a small company that sells children’s books. Exhibiting at the ABC show for the first time. Any suggestions for booth configurations. Any booth designs you loved? Any companies that design booths? Any photos? Thanks. Barb

]]> By: Alli http://startupkidsline.com/2007/09/23/size-of-the-show-or-what-the-hell-am-i-doing-here/#comment-1462 Alli Sun, 21 Oct 2007 21:30:24 +0000 http://startupkidsline.com/2007/09/23/size-of-the-show-or-what-the-hell-am-i-doing-here/#comment-1462 Wow! Great reading all the first hand experiences on your site. I am just launching my first baby line. It's a small line of specialty baby essentials. I am a Canadian company, but looking to expose my line to the US. Was looking at the ABC show but know it is not an apparel show. Am currently looking at the MagicKids show but for a first time show, I have to admit, I'm a little intimidated. It's very expensive and by the sounds of it.....huge! Any recommendations??? Allison Wow! Great reading all the first hand experiences on your site. I am just launching my first baby line. It’s a small line of specialty baby essentials. I am a Canadian company, but looking to expose my line to the US. Was looking at the ABC show but know it is not an apparel show. Am currently looking at the MagicKids show but for a first time show, I have to admit, I’m a little intimidated. It’s very expensive and by the sounds of it…..huge! Any recommendations???
Allison

]]> By: amber http://startupkidsline.com/2007/09/23/size-of-the-show-or-what-the-hell-am-i-doing-here/#comment-1316 amber Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:56:26 +0000 http://startupkidsline.com/2007/09/23/size-of-the-show-or-what-the-hell-am-i-doing-here/#comment-1316 Here's what I think is invaluable about trade shows - the interstate buyers. Even if I'm getting out and doing sales, I can't cover a lot of areas in-person. As we grow, we'll get sales reps, but even then, we'll add one territory at a time. For now, trade shows enable us to gain clients from multiple-states in one venue. And I highly recommend doing at least the first show yourself - it's invaluable experience into how your product is presented, what types of questions there are about your products, and like I said earlier (and Jamie too) - it's the contacts that really matter! Here’s what I think is invaluable about trade shows - the interstate buyers. Even if I’m getting out and doing sales, I can’t cover a lot of areas in-person. As we grow, we’ll get sales reps, but even then, we’ll add one territory at a time. For now, trade shows enable us to gain clients from multiple-states in one venue.

And I highly recommend doing at least the first show yourself - it’s invaluable experience into how your product is presented, what types of questions there are about your products, and like I said earlier (and Jamie too) - it’s the contacts that really matter!

]]> By: Lisa NYC http://startupkidsline.com/2007/09/23/size-of-the-show-or-what-the-hell-am-i-doing-here/#comment-1314 Lisa NYC Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:05:34 +0000 http://startupkidsline.com/2007/09/23/size-of-the-show-or-what-the-hell-am-i-doing-here/#comment-1314 Sounds as it was just a big money maker for the show hosts, not the vendors. How disappointing and intimidating! I would so prefer never to do a show, but I think I need to in order to get a decent rep. However, a fellow girls' designer is going to show her active rep my stuff--so we'll see. The whole "market" thing is just so expensive--not to mention exhausting. Thanks for sharing your experience. Sounds as it was just a big money maker for the show hosts, not the vendors. How disappointing and intimidating!

I would so prefer never to do a show, but I think I need to in order to get a decent rep. However, a fellow girls’ designer is going to show her active rep my stuff–so we’ll see.

The whole “market” thing is just so expensive–not to mention exhausting.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

]]> By: amber http://startupkidsline.com/2007/09/23/size-of-the-show-or-what-the-hell-am-i-doing-here/#comment-1313 amber Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:25:16 +0000 http://startupkidsline.com/2007/09/23/size-of-the-show-or-what-the-hell-am-i-doing-here/#comment-1313 I was saying I think the only hope would be for it to become a juried show. Honestly, I had thought KIDShow in Feb. was slow, but I wrote as many accounts each day of that show as I did the entire ABC show. I don't know. It's so hard to measure exposure... I was saying I think the only hope would be for it to become a juried show. Honestly, I had thought KIDShow in Feb. was slow, but I wrote as many accounts each day of that show as I did the entire ABC show.

I don’t know. It’s so hard to measure exposure…

]]> By: Jamie Lentzner http://startupkidsline.com/2007/09/23/size-of-the-show-or-what-the-hell-am-i-doing-here/#comment-1312 Jamie Lentzner Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:04:49 +0000 http://startupkidsline.com/2007/09/23/size-of-the-show-or-what-the-hell-am-i-doing-here/#comment-1312 What great advice and information. I think you did everything you could do (and I know the frustration)....I will link up and track back with others I heard same things this week - I swear. I am still playing catch up with existing accounts! The show was too big and too long when I exhibited - 3 years ago! I really wish they would not just take everyone - too large - too much stuff. I sure hope that ABC does a survey before continuing....... Love your honesty - and contacts are great! What great advice and information. I think you did everything you could do (and I know the frustration)….I will link up and track back with others I heard same things this week - I swear. I am still playing catch up with existing accounts! The show was too big and too long when I exhibited - 3 years ago! I really wish they would not just take everyone - too large - too much stuff. I sure hope that ABC does a survey before continuing…….
Love your honesty - and contacts are great!

]]> By: canadianmompreneur http://startupkidsline.com/2007/09/23/size-of-the-show-or-what-the-hell-am-i-doing-here/#comment-1309 canadianmompreneur Mon, 24 Sep 2007 01:46:44 +0000 http://startupkidsline.com/2007/09/23/size-of-the-show-or-what-the-hell-am-i-doing-here/#comment-1309 I can't imagine what it's going to be next year. More space, more vendors, more days!!! OMG. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be next year. More space, more vendors, more days!!! OMG.

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