Would you participate in a Women's Show?

I was licensed this year and have opened a fairly small private treatment room in my home. I have done services for friends and their family and plan to build my business by referral.

There is a smallish "Women's Show" in my town coming up in November. I was thinking of renting a table to widen my possible client base.

I am looking for suggestions or ideas. I can obviously stand there with my brochures & business cards but what would really get attention? I thought I could bring my makeup chair and offer demo microcurrent eye lifts. (Any walk-ups would have to fill out/sign a client consent card.)

Have any of you marketed this way? The least expensive table is 150.00.

Thanks for any & all ideas, suggestions and responses.

Julia in Woodinville, WA

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ann Prendergast on September 28, 2011 at 6:41am

I have participated in a few of these types of shows but have never had to pay even close the that amount. Personally I think that is pretty expensive but if you could make it back by getting clients it would be worth it plus it would always be a biz write off for taxes :) I don't want to discourage you, but I have never had much success with these...perhaps it is my area of the country (blue collar & agricultural Southern WI) but the tables people are crowding around are the familiar MLM's (Mary Kay, Avon, Tastefully Simple etc etc). I think your eye lift idea however is fabulous and that might just be the ticket to getting your name out there! Best of luck Julia!!

Permalink Reply by Karen Borgfeldt on September 28, 2011 at 7:29am

I would do it! It would be great experience for you to reach out to the public and market yourself! With all the other aesthetic advanced traing courses that are out there for 10 times the price, no one is offering that kind of training or expeience. Why not go out on a limb? That's where the fruit is! In my opinion. Work it and have fun!

Permalink Reply by Brenda Griffin on September 28, 2011 at 8:12am

Julia, I think this sounds like a fabulous idea! I have not personally done this but have held open houses, not at home, of course. Get creative and do make it interacive. Do not just stand there and hand out cards and brochures. Offer drawings, take samples, do make-up, something. Ask for help, I learned this the hard way. Ask family or friends who are just as excited about your business and what you offer as you are. Have them signing people up for the drawing or the mini sessions you are performing, sell product, sell pkgs. of facials, peels or something. If they buy the pkg. that day, they receive something complimentary. Buy two, get one free. Do eyebrow waxing. Have your backbar there so you can have them try products on their hands, etc. If you do body scrubs, let them try it on the top of their hand. Hope some of this inspires you. If you are excited about it your guests will be. Like Ann said they probably will flock to the MLM's but make yourself stand out by doing something that shows off your skills, not just selling products. The MLM's do not know skin like you do, they know their products. Knock 'em dead!

Permalink Reply by jackie mozingo on September 28, 2011 at 8:19am

Absolutely do it. Basically your face is what you are selling. The "who you are" is what they will remember. The more time people see your face and hear your name they will remember you. Wear something quirky, like a big hat or loud colored shirt. You don't wan to blend in with the crowd. Don't be to serious either, have fun and ask questions about their family, get to know them on a personal level. Make them feel like you are their best friend and they call talk to you about anything. When a new client comes into my room I never talk about me or my products. They are usually here as a referral anyway so they already know something about me. When they leave my room not only do they make their next appointment they take a tons of cards and are so eager to tell their friends, why because I was at their level. The next appointment I start recommending extra services or give them some advice on skincare or how to treat a certain skincare problem. So anyway, yes yes yes do the both, but be full of energy and you will walk away with lots of business cards to follow up with. Good luck.

Permalink Reply by Laura Cooksey on September 28, 2011 at 12:09pm

If I were you, I would invest in a skin scanner. It shows the sun damage that people have in the layers of their skin using a blacklight (I think...). You can also see it at the same time and point out to the person how much they need chemical peels, sunscreen, etc., in other words, they need YOU.

This device tends to elicit a lot of attention and gasps from people. Great way to sell your services for anti-aging skin care.

Permalink Reply by Brenda Griffin on September 28, 2011 at 12:29pm

Great idea, @Laura, that's why you're so good at what you do. Do you mean a woods lamp or an actual scanner? Just curious.

Permalink Reply by Julia Elliott on September 28, 2011 at 12:48pm

Wow, Laura - that would be so cool. I wonder if it is possible to lease or rent one. They are pretty pricey, I believe.

Hmmm.

Verrrrry good ideas here. Thank you, Laura & everyone!

Julia

Permalink Reply by Laura Cooksey on September 28, 2011 at 4:24pm

@Brenda - it's a wood's lamp in the form of a scanner.

@Julia - You can get one for $150. I wouldn't pay any more than that. Here's some on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/items/skin%20scanner?_dmd=2&_cpr=249

Permalink Reply by Julia Elliott on September 28, 2011 at 5:30pm

Wow, Laura - you really have me thinking. The $150.00 ones have 100.00 shipping, but I am going to work on it.

Thanks again. :)

Julia

Permalink Reply by Laura Cooksey on September 28, 2011 at 6:07pm

Shop around - I just googled that and found it, but didn't look at it too closely. You might find a used one somewhere.

Permalink Reply by Ronda Greger on October 7, 2011 at 3:03pm

A Wood's Lamp...very good idea!!! Thank you!

Permalink Reply by Bessie Ktistakis on September 29, 2011 at 6:41pm

How about doing a raffle drawing. They can enter to win a facial or what ever you choose, and you can collect their name, email, phone # for future promotions.