Kudzu Posted September 26, 2014 Report Share Posted September 26, 2014 I have three shows I plan to attend in the spring. Been working on the booth layout and how to get people to stop in and look. I wanted to display a boat and convey some basic info to those people that hate sales pitches. And I am one of those people too! Not finished but here is what I came up with. I want to put the cut-away boat along the isle way and I wanted to display a couple of Posters with the basic info on the boats. WEIGHT, COST, EASY TO BUILD. ETC. This my idea for the stands. I can hold the boat. Two display boards/posters. I can print these myself on my plotter. The stand are just plywood cutouts. Each pair is held together with double notched stringers that will just slide in and interlock. Making it super simple to put up, break down and store. Easy to transport too. Just need to make sure they will fit inside one of my standard shipping boxes. Looks pretty good to me. as long as I haven't overlooked anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwhip Posted September 26, 2014 Report Share Posted September 26, 2014 I'm not a marketing guy, but the company I work for uses a lot of similar cut-aways at our different trade shows. It's pretty helpful for prospective customers to be able to look in, through the different layers, to see how something goes together. Shipping is a booger, but that's to be expected. Have you thought of setting up a laptop and presenting a slide show--maybe the step-by-step of a typical boat assembly that lasts a couple minutes? That might help. People tend to be attracted to flickering lights on a screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Action Tiger Posted September 26, 2014 Report Share Posted September 26, 2014 Those look very slick. Just the right stuff to make ME wander over to see what was what. I like that the stands are similar to the boats, too. Just to be that guy, I'll suggest you figure out some way to convert them into the dolly you were after... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAnimis Posted September 26, 2014 Report Share Posted September 26, 2014 Put a handle at the CG and let people pick it up - with one hand . I also agree that you should run a video, but I would show the toughness test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bcone1381 Posted September 26, 2014 Report Share Posted September 26, 2014 Take a 1" wide strip of the finished fabric and hang 150 pounds from it to demonstrate it's strength to the skeptically curious. Modify your existing "air bag" design into a "dry bag.". The goal is to attract the wilderness camping folks from their $3000 canoes to your kayak and canoe design. My sense after kayaking this summer in Canada is that a large untapped market for your SOF products exists with these folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bcone1381 Posted September 26, 2014 Report Share Posted September 26, 2014 Are you going to be attending Canoecopia in Madison, WI by any chance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudzu Posted September 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2014 Have you thought of setting up a laptop and presenting a slide show--maybe the step-by-step of a typical boat assembly that lasts a couple minutes? That might help. People tend to be attracted to flickering lights on a screen. Yes I have and I have been leaning toward a portable DVD player. Cheaper and I don't have to keep my eye on it. But I might do the lap top and extermal monitor? Still looking at options. Just to be that guy, I'll suggest you figure out some way to convert them into the dolly you were after... Working on the cart. Have an idea for it but this has given me a new idea. I want it and everything else to break down and fit in a shipping box. Easy to load, unload and store in the shop. Put a handle at the CG and let people pick it up - with one hand . What sparked this idea was to put a complete boat out front with a sign. 32 lbs. PICK ME UP! But the cut away will catch more eyes and I don't have space to do both. But they can pick this on up if they want. Take a 1" wide strip of the finished fabric and hang 150 pounds from it to demonstrate it's strength to the skeptically curious. Modify your existing "air bag" design into a "dry bag.". The goal is to attract the wilderness camping folks from their $3000 canoes to your kayak and canoe design. My sense after kayaking this summer in Canada is that a large untapped market for your SOF products exists with these folks. I thought about a frame with a piece of fabric stretched over it and a hammer. Let them beat the crap out of it. At least the video showing me beating up the boat. Changing the bag design wouldn't be to hard, just require sewing the strap on. I am not set up to do that but I did buy a machine a while back from some future projects. That is good and will add that to the list too. Are you going to be attending Canoecopia in Madison, WI by any chance? Not this year. It is $1,000 for a 10 x 10 booth and I need two of them. Add to that travel costs and that is lot of money and it will buy a lot supplies in the store with a guaranteed return on investment. BUT, Canoecopia is on my wish list for 2016. I am planning on going to Quite Water Symposium in Michigan in March. Not signed up yet but it on list as the first stop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ttkayaker Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 What other shows do you plan to attend, any in Ohio? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudzu Posted September 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 I don't know of any in Ohio? Do you know of something? But I am going to be in Spanish Fort, AL and Charleston, SC this spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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