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Realtor "Showcase" Follow Up

By
Home Stager with Ready 2 Stage

Hi Everyone! 


     We just did our first Realtor "Showcase".  This was a 2 hour event in which you have an opportunity to get your message out to prospective client Realtors.  Participants included:  banks, title companies, sign companies, computer sales and service, insurance companies, novelty suppliers and the list goes on.  We were the only Staging company represented, so we are hoping to get some great contact results.  My earlier blog:  "Realtor Showcase Ideas" produced some very valuable advice and suggestions for our booth and I promised to do a follow-up and let everyone know how it went.  

    We set up our booth on Tuesday afternoon, and to my surprise everything went smoothly.  We went in cold not knowing what the space would be like....only being told that we had a 6 ft. table and 2 chairs. (used the table, but sure didn't have time to sit!)  We were allowed to bring a few extra pieces and everything fit beautifully.  We were blessed to get a corner spot beside the entrance door and another door that was the entryway to the food and beverage area.  We had lots of traffic here and I'm pretty sure we shook every hand and gave our pitch to anyone who would listen.  The show began on Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m. so we provided French Vanilla Cappuccinos in a cup with a Ready 2 Stage logo on the side.  We also gave out lollipops with a label that read "make your listing "pop" with Ready 2 Stage" (I saw that idea on AR somewhere...thanks to the clever person who provided it!).  We had the iMac on continuous Before & After picture show with our logo displayed every 10 photos.  That drew quite a bit of interest.  We also had a beautiful glass jar for business cards and will be doing a drawing for a FREE consultation.  In our little "RELAX" area, we displayed 2 black wicker chairs (from my kitchen!) with black & white damask pillows and a matching damask ottoman (from my living room!) with an emotional connection point tray.  A little sign on the tray read:  "Relax and let us do the work  Ready 2 Stage"  along with some pretty napkins and matching mug. We had a huge easel and frame with some of our before and after photos and logo.  Of course we had our cards and brochures on each table and any area available, for easy pick-up.  Our notebook portfolio was also placed on the table and absolutely no one even opened it.  Oh well, it looked good.  Overall, everything went very smoothly.  There were only a couple of problems:  the cappuccino pot was slightly too full in the beginning and oozed a bit!  and we werent' able to get our balloons blown up in time.  I'm sure we were the only ones who knew and even noticed.

     Now comes the waiting game.  I am expecting to hear from several contacts that I've made.  Today is for sending follow-up emails and reminding them who I am and getting my foot in their door!

 I would like to thank everyone who commented and made suggestions on my "Showcase Ideas" blog.  You are an invaluable asset, and it is great to know that I can have any question answered when I come to Active Rain.  Hope you enjoy the photos!

 

Lori Donegan

Ready 2 StageRealtor Showcase TableRealtor Showcase Booth SpaceRealtor Showcase DrawingRealtor Showcase Booth

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Home Staging Resource

 

 

Ready 2 Stage Home Staging & Redesign serves all of Southeast Tennessee

Lori Donegan--Founder & Owner

Crystal Clarey--Staging Assistant

Check out our website:   www.ready2stage.com   

  LogoOr call (423)506-3718 for your in-home consultation

Lori & Crystal

Vickie Nagy
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate - Palm Springs, CA
Vickie Jean the Palm Springs Condo Queen

Thanks for this look behind the scenes regarding show set-up and preparation. I hope you reap much business from these efforts.

Mar 13, 2009 04:18 AM
Omega Omega
Omega - Glendale, CA

Hi Lori - came across your post.  What a great looking and professional looking display!!!!!  Congrats.

I am sure your efforts will pay off so keep us posted.  In the meantime, have a productive Friday and a great weekend!!!

Cheers

Mar 13, 2009 05:00 AM
Sheila Kennedy
J29 Project - Rochester, NY

Lori - I am so excited for you!  The pictures look fabulous - very professional and very stylish!  What a great place to be located too - maximum visibility.  I love the lollipop idea too!  I really like doing things like that.  I am sure you are going to have the phone ring soon.  Keep on them - send them a newsletter (by email - minimize cost) or your next before and after photos next after the follow up note.  Both of you look so great - It won't be long before you are turning away jobs!  Great job!

Mar 13, 2009 07:39 AM
Lori Donegan
Ready 2 Stage - Cleveland, TN

Vickie--Thanks for your comments and well wishes

 

Omega--Thanks for your compliments; it was lots of fun.

 

Sheila--I am so ready to be turning away jobs!  I already had a realtor at the showcase that wanted me to hire her when we got really busy!  I told her, as the old saying goes,  if she would scratch my back, I would scratch hers.  I hope to be busy soon.  Thanks for your comments and encouragement.

Mar 13, 2009 08:13 AM
Leslie Olson
Leslie Olson Interiors - Austin, TX
Interior Design and Redesign - Moved to Austin!

Congratulations, Lori! It's clear that you did a lot of research, used your own creativity and had an eye for detail. Your hard work shows -- nice job. Best of luck keeping up with the new opportunities!

Mar 13, 2009 10:27 AM
Lori Donegan
Ready 2 Stage - Cleveland, TN

Thanks Leslie.  It was really easy to incorporate everyone's suggestions and advice into a great presentation.  Thanks for your encouragement!

Mar 13, 2009 10:40 AM
April Greenwood
Greenwood Creatives Home Staging & Redesign - Lakewood, CO

Lori, what a great set-up and presentation! :) I'm sure you will get lots of great leads and business from this wonderful event. You used wonderful colors. I am not surprised that no one looked at your portfolio notebook...they were much more attracted by your dynamic slideshow on the iMac...I've had the same results before myself.

Mar 13, 2009 03:32 PM
Debra Valentine
Designing Details ~ Staging & Design, LLC - Bountiful, UT
Utah Home Staging for, Bountiful, Salt Lake & Surrounding Areas

Great job Lori!  It's obvious that you took the time and creativity to make your booth stand out. And how COOL that you were the ONLY staging company there. It sounds like with a bit of follow-up and patience you will reap the benefits of this event.

Thanks for letting us know how it went and keep us posted as you move forward. www.debrasdesigningdetails.com

Mar 16, 2009 05:52 AM
Lori Donegan
Ready 2 Stage - Cleveland, TN

April--Thanks for your compliments.  I love black & white damask--as you can probably tell--so I thought why not use it for my business, with just a pop of hot pink for a contrasting color.  I must say the iMac is amazing.

 

Debra--I did quite a bit of research before the event to find out what others have done.  I was a little stressed thinking that maybe I wasn't being creative enough, but since we were the only stagers represented, we really didn't have much competition.  Thanks for your comments.

Mar 16, 2009 06:54 AM
Holly Gray
Rising Moon Interiors - Kalispell, MT
Professional Home Stager - Bigfork, Kalispell, Whitefish Montana

Excellent display Lori, you are so together! We expected no less from you! I am sure you will get some leads from your hard work!! Persistance seems to be the key...

P.S- Thanks for the email on adding color to your blog!

Holly

Mar 19, 2009 05:26 PM
Karen Nardella
The Emporium Your Home for Elegant Resale - Conway, NH

You did a wonderful job.  Good efforts always produce good results.  It is a win, win and I wish you an Abundance for your efforts. 

Apr 06, 2009 01:19 AM
Rhonda Hay Rawlins
Glastonbury Home Staging - Glastonbury, CT

Lori - Great presentation, love the black and white. I am preparing for a Seller's Seminar hosted by the local Coldwell Banker office. I may have to use some of your ideas. Thanks for sharing.

Apr 07, 2009 07:47 AM
Lori Donegan
Ready 2 Stage - Cleveland, TN

Thanks to all of you for commenting on "Realtor Showcase Follow-Up."  I appreciate all of your encouragement.

Apr 10, 2009 01:33 PM