TRADE SHOWS PART NINE - OUR RETAIL BOOTH

I handle all of our retail activities, and our retail booth gets used frequently. I participate in the Fremont Sunday Market (a weekly flea/entrepreneurial market in Seattle), a few street fairs, and occasional specialty events such as pet fundraisers. I got married a couple of years ago, and my loving husband got me a good, used Toyota pickup in lieu of a ring! I am the kind of woman who appreciates this kind of thing. He followed it up with a canopy for my birthday. I can haul everything I need, including stock, in my truck now.

As you can see, the the booth can be set up either indoors or out. I discussed signs in the previous posting. The table and chairs are mom's cardtable hand-me-downs. The shelving is plastic, two four-tier units, one for each side of the booth, and I put two-tiered sections end to end. Each four-tier unit cost $20 at Lowe's. This shelving goes together and comes apart easily. The signs for our "strip" products are hanging on gridwall, two pieces of 2x6' gridwall each side of the booth. I got the gridwall for about $8 per piece off of craigslist. It is also available at any fixture supply store. We also have hooks and shelves for the gridwall, which were surprisingly inexpensive. Be sure to check out craigslist for used supplies.

I like to think really cheap for this type of booth, and I love seeing what solutions others come up with. Think old folding tables, kiddie tables, stacks of cardboard boxes, and plastic bins covered in tablecloths or fabric remnants for display surfaces. Old suitcases or trunk look great as display pieces, and you can transport your stuff in them.

I mentioned briefly fire retardant materials. Be aware that for indoor shows, you will need fire reisistant display items in your booth. You can use fire retardant fabrics, or treat flammable display items with fire retardant spray (anything wood, bamboo, or straw, especially) The spray is about $20 per quart spray bottle or about $45 per gallon. You can get the spray at a costume and display store or a theatrical supply store. The paperwork you receive makes the fire thing sound ominous and fraught with danger, but we have yet to encounter a problem. Regardless, it is good to be aware of the regulations and follow them as closely as possible.

You will need a 10x10 canopy if you do outdoor events, If you spend money anywhere, spend it on the canopy and sidewalls, essential where rain showers or blazing sun are an issue. My favorite canopy company is KD Kanopy. John provides gold-plated customer service, and their products are quality through and through. They are also rather pricey. You can use a backyard canopy, even, if you have one. Once again, be sure to check out craigslist for used canopies. I own a pedestrian Quikshade and sidewalls. My canopy cost me about $140 new at a local sporting goods store and the sidewalls I bought online, $130 total for three.

You will need weights for your canopy (20 lbs per leg), which can be made of just about anything--buckets of sand, cylinders of sand or cement, barbell weights, anything else you can find that is cheap or free, and sufficient bungee cords to tie them to the legs or frame. You can also buy weights that are made for the canopy.

I don't think I have anything more to add at this point. Again, keep the comments coming!