Hi this is my second year would love propanels. I have mesh panels now I was wondering does or has anyone noticed an increase in sales when they switched to panels. Many reasons to switch professional look, indoors shows like them or require not canopy inside. I did one show last year inside they allowed me to set up the frame but a big pain in the you know what. Was in a museum between showcases that were about 10 foot 6 inches apart. Doing this for me would involve a trailer purchase too. Asking more too because my wife is going to lose her job in August. Could go on more about my thoughts but really need some of your guys. Thank you in advance.
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Pauline thanks for the info. I hear you on continue to improve. I also look at my booth and think of things I want to chance. Even just little things like keeping the signage straight on the mesh panels. Hoping that this year I get into some bigger and better shows.
Jim that is the hard thing in that so many variables even for the same show its hard to measure. Retail flow still trying to figure out what works. Did not like the flip bins as a center aisle. I am also torn with my subject matter. I have 90% nature based with a focus on macro. I am a painter by training but love photography. Took a macro workshop and that really did it for me. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Jim here is a shot I took with my phone at the indoor show I did. I am on my phone so had to go with a pic I had on here. Normally you can see through the French wall but for here I used the front wall to block from seeing through. So for the shows I have done this is it. One or two shows I could have used one or both outsides of the mesh panels but I can't stand see through them and seeing everything. I think it is very distracting. It's hard to know where to stand. I have noticed to about weather and other things going on. Rained a couple shows for part of the time. Also had a home Buffalo Bills game and the show was about 5 miles away.
Propanels can make it hotter in your booth in the summer months. It helps to have the roof vents open, if you have that option, and to have a front and back entrance.
Retail flow is what you are after. Things that get your buyers in the booth, and examining the work. Once they have it in hand, it's easier to close the sale. When designing a new retail flow, keep in mind that you need a comfortable place to stand, where you are not in the way, but are available when a potential buyer starts looking. That may have more of an impact than whether or not you have ProPanels.
Make sure that you don't trap people in your booth. Two visible entrances/exits, or a simple u-shaped pattern. Try to avoid blind corners or "closets" where a customer can get stuck in a cul-de-sac if others enter the booth.
Ask yourself: will ProPanels allow me to improve my retail flow?
We have seen an increase in our sales in the nearly 2 years since we got our panels, but we have also gotten into some better shows and continue to improve at our craft so hard to determine which of these (or if all) have contributed to higher sales....but we are very happy we made the switch.
Jim Parker > Pauline Haas-VaughnMarch 29, 2013 at 8:13am
A better booth shot + better work + better shows = better sales. Not all the better shows will produce better sales since weather, the local economy, other events on a given weekend all will have an impact on sales. The more you do this, the better you get at predicting success.
If you are truly after better measurability, only change one thing at a time. Since no two shows are the same, and no two days are the same at any given event, consistency and measurability is rather difficult. ;-)
Thanks Jim I was figuring that you really could not say. I am right now stuck with the same setup I do have the French wall but it still gives little options. I have always kept my sides down for that reason of seeing through them and having the background be distracting.
Work that people want to buy increases sales. Sometimes better merchandising will help. It's hard to say whether ProPanels alone will lead to better sales, as the switch is usually accompanied by other changes to your merchandising strategy as well.
They will allow you do oddball floor plans, instead of locking you into a straight u-shaped design. You can fly panels off the middle of a wall, create a triangle island, put a door in the back of the booth. Many more options.
The color and opacity provides a better backdrop to offset your work, especially for 2-D artists. Mesh can be distracting, as can gridwall.
You can use KD panels, which will knock down and fit into a smaller vehicle if you have the space. They take longer to set up but are easier to transport.
But as far as hard data showing that they increase sales -- that's difficult to prove.
Replies
Jim that is the hard thing in that so many variables even for the same show its hard to measure. Retail flow still trying to figure out what works. Did not like the flip bins as a center aisle. I am also torn with my subject matter. I have 90% nature based with a focus on macro. I am a painter by training but love photography. Took a macro workshop and that really did it for me. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
image.jpg
Propanels can make it hotter in your booth in the summer months. It helps to have the roof vents open, if you have that option, and to have a front and back entrance.
Retail flow is what you are after. Things that get your buyers in the booth, and examining the work. Once they have it in hand, it's easier to close the sale. When designing a new retail flow, keep in mind that you need a comfortable place to stand, where you are not in the way, but are available when a potential buyer starts looking. That may have more of an impact than whether or not you have ProPanels.
Make sure that you don't trap people in your booth. Two visible entrances/exits, or a simple u-shaped pattern. Try to avoid blind corners or "closets" where a customer can get stuck in a cul-de-sac if others enter the booth.
Ask yourself: will ProPanels allow me to improve my retail flow?
We have seen an increase in our sales in the nearly 2 years since we got our panels, but we have also gotten into some better shows and continue to improve at our craft so hard to determine which of these (or if all) have contributed to higher sales....but we are very happy we made the switch.
A better booth shot + better work + better shows = better sales. Not all the better shows will produce better sales since weather, the local economy, other events on a given weekend all will have an impact on sales. The more you do this, the better you get at predicting success.
If you are truly after better measurability, only change one thing at a time. Since no two shows are the same, and no two days are the same at any given event, consistency and measurability is rather difficult. ;-)
Work that people want to buy increases sales. Sometimes better merchandising will help. It's hard to say whether ProPanels alone will lead to better sales, as the switch is usually accompanied by other changes to your merchandising strategy as well.
They will allow you do oddball floor plans, instead of locking you into a straight u-shaped design. You can fly panels off the middle of a wall, create a triangle island, put a door in the back of the booth. Many more options.
The color and opacity provides a better backdrop to offset your work, especially for 2-D artists. Mesh can be distracting, as can gridwall.
You can use KD panels, which will knock down and fit into a smaller vehicle if you have the space. They take longer to set up but are easier to transport.
But as far as hard data showing that they increase sales -- that's difficult to prove.