We’re sure many of you enjoyed the Realtor Builder Trade Show last month. But, can it be better? We asked readers to give input to the organizers and participants for next year with these questions:
What areas of the event that you enjoyed most?
What was your favorite booth? What was your favorite marketing item given away?
How did you like the venue? Any suggestions you have for those who put on a booth or to the organizers of the event?
“I enjoyed getting to talk to others in the industry, keeping current on what is available. So many of the booths would qualify for one reason or the other as a favorite! My favorite giveawaywas the house-shaped handy tape measure from L&N Realty, LLC. I loved the venue! Everything was so well planned!
— Dena Atkins, L&N Realty,LLC
“What a festive event! Lots of the booths used the Halloween theme, which was a lot of fun. I had several favorite booths and giveaways including Water’s Edge having us get our photos taken with our faces on the body of a bathing beauty was cute and we got the photos via email; Suddath had lots of scary things and a great stress-reliever squeeze moving van, Providence Homes gave away the most clever fan I’ve ever seen. What a memorable way to deliver a message, Wachovia was scary but had fun girls, ghouls and hand sanitizer. Morrison Homes gave away a great tool kit, Hines had a great delivery and a star-studded cast, Prudential was loaded with information about new condos and town homes, DR Horton gave away hand sanitizer and Cinotti’s Bakery cookie basket. Our beaches institution goes modern with cookie marketing.
“Only complaint was that the sun was pouring in and making it pretty uncomfortable for some of the costumed marketing people as well as many of the attendees. The lunch fare was excellent, but once the entertainment started, which was very good, it made it impossible to visit with tablemates.”
—Clare Berry,Berry & Co. Real Estate
“I enjoyed networking with all fellow Realtors, developers, builders, mortgage brokers and vendors. It is kind of like a family reunion or a Who’s Who in the home building industry and a great way to keep up with the new projects. I liked the Hines and Stephens Advertising booths. Both were very creative and professionally done and followed the theme! My favorite giveaway was the little basket with a cookie/business card and popcorn from Cinotti’s Bakery and the Ocean Bank chocolate coins and logo chocolate were very classy. It was a fun theme and the food was great too! Bottled water is a good giveaway. Logo water may be a suggestion for booths that do not have a creative giveaway. Thanks to all for the red carpet treatment. Those who did not attend really missed a really big show.”
—Mary Ann Beatty, Prudential Network Realty
“Everything was wonderful. I think the booths were a little on top of each other and maybe they could space them better. In addition it was really hot in there even though it was air conditioned. I loved all the giveaways. It was apparent everyone worked very hard on this and it is always the best event for all! I would like to add the food was especially good.”
-Jacqueline Parrillo, People’s First Community Bank.
“I was at a booth but did take time to go around and visit the other booths. It seems everyone had a wonderful time and many got into the spirit of the theme. Each year this event gets bigger and better. I would like to commend all the chairpersons including past, present and future for doing such a great job! Keep up the good work. I am looking forward to participating next year.”
—Carolyn Minor, Homes and Land-Northeast Florida
“The highlight was the ability to visit the booths during the time when they were slower and actually had the time to speak to an interested party. Can’t say I had a favorite booth. I think it’s wrong to rate them by the décor or giveaways. The important thing is that the representatives are knowledgeable and have appropriate materials to give the attendees. The chocolate that a couple of booths gave way was nice - however, it melted in the heat in the car and I would not recommend that for the future. There were too many bags - they just end up getting tossed out with the unwanted materials. I was impressed that I have heard from four of the exhibitors since the show via e-mail or direct mail. One exhibitor even sent a packet of materials via messenger the next day. Since I dropped a card at about 75 percent of the booths, I am wondering what the rest of them did with the cards. I assume (perhaps incorrectly) that you supply a list of attendees both before and after the show to all exhibitors for promotional purposes. Beforehand is great so they can do mailings with teasers to attract Realtors to their booth.
Maybe supply them on a disc or on labels for an additional fee if you are not already doing so. The venue was fine, though it was a little confusing at first.”
—George Caldwell, Prudential Network Realty