Hello!

I am new here and have gained lots of useful info from browsing around! Thanks so much to all that help out!

I am in VA and just starting out with my business. I have license, insurance and inspection all done for operating as a home business.

There is a bridal show happening in the area and I am thinking of registering for it. The smallest booth they have is a 4feet table for $365. Is that too much for a bridal show booth?

The show is running for 7 years and says its the largest in the area and has been sold out each year. The organizer also said they have the largest number of venues setting up booths so it would be good for networking as well.

They are providing a furnished booth with a 4x6 booth with linens, chairs, no electric connection, and I am able to choose a corner booth if I book now. They are also listing each vendor on their website and in the show directory and providing complimentary tickets to handout.

Please advice if I should go ahead. I am looking to break into the bridal/wedding market and this appears to be a good opportunity.

While I have never done a "bridal" show I have done other things as a vendor, and the most I have paid is $100.00, However I know that some of the bridal shows around here can cost $600 to be a vendor at (I live in Iowa). I would be careful thought, while I hope its the total opposite for you I have not had good luck at those things, usually if I break even thats amazing, and I have done about 6 different things the past year and havent gotten one order out of it...but like I said I hope this doesnt happen to you, and since its a specific bridal show it may not, but just be careful and good luck!

There are a couple of red flags I see from my experience.
Complimentary tickets - usually means they bring YOU tickets and you are to give them out to people to attend.
What other advertising are THEY doing? Radio, TV, newspaper?? Hav e you ever heard any of the ads?
It's been some 4 yrs since I've been involved but the $s seems a bit high to me. Maybe their costs have risen the same as ours (ingredients etc) so it might not be all that off.
Best thing is to get a list of previous vendors &/or those already signed up and talk to them.
A 4 ft table is VERY small If you go for it grab that corner booth for sure.

We have a bridal show coming up in 2 weeks and the lowest priced booth they have is $500, but that's for an 8 X 8 area. It also includes an ad in the magazine they put out and a one-time list of all brides who register. Hopefully I'll be able to swing this next year.

Thanks for the advice! I felt $365 was too much too...

They are doing publicity but also giving us some tickets to give out if we want. Also, they said they had 400 brides registered last year and claim to be the largest show around here....

Anyway, I think I will just wait out this year and maybe do it next year when I have a good portfolio in hand hopefully! Thanks so much for chipping in with tips!!

Thanks for the input! I was also considering that - I might get orders not just for weddings but other occasions too.

Just heard from a DJ that this show is great and you get to meet 1000 potential clients in one place. I am thinking I might just give it a shot to see how it goes!

Wish me luck!!

thank you! good luck to you too!!