FD2B Talk Radio Insight of the Night: Kevin McLaughlin

Home shows and flower shows are a great opportunity for landscape contractors to “touch” their customers and promote their businesses, but they can get expensive. Between the cost of the booth itself, the materials and labor necessary to build the display and the time required to man the booth during the show, expenses can rise very quickly—regardless of whether you have a 10-ft.-by-10-ft. booth or a 3,000-sq.-ft. living landscape display.

To help minimize these costs, Kevin McLaughlin of Mac Events suggests asking your vendors to “participate” in the costs when building your display. In other words, ask your most frequented vendors to supply you with the materials you'll need to create your display.

Naturally you’ll promote the products they donated as a way of thanking them and promoting their businesses.

Don't forget to ask them to deliver the products right to your booth at the show, saving you even more time and money. While you’re at it, see if you can keep the stuff, too.

 

Show: Trade shows and home shows—an insider's look

Guest: Kevin McLaughlin, Mac Events, Spring Lake, N.J.

Date: Jan. 16, 2013

To listen to the full show, CLICK HERE. 

Editor's note: As part of a new partnership between Landscape Management and FD2B Talk Radio, we'll be posting an "Insight of the Night" every Thursday from the previous night's radio show. FD2B Talk Radio is a Green Industry radio show that broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7 p.m. Eastern. Its host and founder is LM columnist Jody Shilan, who's also the editor and founder of FromDesign2Build.com.