Feature Article:

After the Show 
 

By: The Scrapbooking.com Magazine Staff

If you've ever happened across the Oxygen Network on cable TV, then you may have also seen the program "O! After the Show." "After the Show" is a unique program that takes you into the taping of one of Oprah Winfrey's television programs. The viewer sees the lighter side of celebrity interviews and hears more in-depth emotional stories from favorite show guests. Just like Oprah's "After the Show" offers viewers a unique perspective into the Oprah show, coming home from a trade show offers a unique perspective to the entire trade show process.

Newcomers to the scrapbooking industry might feel like all of the exhaustion of preparation and attendance are the only components to the trade show experience. But seasoned veterans can tell you that the excitement continues for weeks after returning from the show. Here are some tips to make the transition home from the trade show not only smooth, but beneficial to the operation of your store:

· Create a calendar that lists estimated arrival dates of product that you ordered. Share this calendar with your staff.

· If you haven't already, make sure that you have adequate space both in your inventory room, and on your sales floor for product that will be arriving in the weeks to come.

· Share new techniques with your teaching staff and sales staff for products that you already carry, or products that you plan to carry.

· Create a display board of new products you have ordered with estimated arrival dates. Use pictures from sales flyers and catalogs to give your customers a sneak peek at the product. Review the display with your staff before placing out for your customers.

· Showcase the make-n-takes you completed that feature products you've ordered.

· In the weeks and months ahead, make note of the products that your customers inquire about and that they like. This list will help you to prepare for your next trade show experience, as it will become an integral part of your next shopping list.

CHA was a wonderful show! Help your staff and customers to feel some of the excitement you felt by sharing with them the things you saw. Create a buzz about new products to see sales increase in the coming months.