scooter

BDR

Trade Show Advice: Candy

What's crackin Savages,

I need some advice from my trade show vets on how to lure prospects to my booth without looking like a greasy suit salesman hawking flyers at people. My idea is to do this with candy.

For those without context, I am that exact 22 year-old BDR from Corp's videos; this is my first trade show. I'm one of four guys at our booth, and my whole objective is to get leads.

My dad, a guy who's been running fortune 100 trade shows for three decades, advised that I bring a Costco-sized pack of candy bars to the show, drop it on the table, and ask what's bringing people to the show as a qualifying question. Is that the move?

Bear in mind, my company has tried schwag before, but overspent on sh*t like aluminum water bottles and baseball caps. I figured something like a Coffee Crisp or Reese's would keep this under a dollar a unit but keep it attractive enough that people want to pull up and grab one.

Am I on the right track with this thinking? If I'm right, feel free to let me know what kind of candy works best (dry boomer crowd, hence Coffee Crisp); any good spots in DT Toronto to get that too would be appreciated.

If you think I'm wrong, let me know too. I'm agnostic to feedback angle here.

-Scooter

🔎 Prospecting

💺 Outside Sales

23

39 comments

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CuriousFox

WR Officer

13

🦊

Go old school butterscotch discs. My old ass approves this message.

TennisandSales

Politicker

3

Head Of Sales

hahahah!! my millennial ass does NOT get excited about the butterscotch......not a baby bottle pop? pop rocks? fun dip????? LETS GOOOO!

CuriousFox

WR Officer

3

🦊

I live for a pixie stick or Wonka candy in general, but slap some Werthers out there and get back to me. You'll see. #illuminati 🧿

jefe

Arsonist

2

🍁

Pop rocks and fun dip float my boat

scooter

Opinionated

3

BDR

Honestly we're looking at 48 hours of straight up blue-rinse crowd and millennials with a poor sense of humor. Werther's Originals were what I was thinking tbh.

My boss and I actually like the fun dip idea from @Tennis though, might even throw some into the mix just in case we get some other people who grew up with 3G.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

6

🦊

Don't forget these too

scooter

Opinionated

1

BDR

I have no idea what you call these.

I'm allergic to food coloring (can you tell I'm Gen-Z?), so I grew up giving these to my little sister.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

3

🦊

Any local dollar store will have the strawberry candy. It's next to the butterscotch.

scooter

Opinionated

1

BDR

Ok there's a bulk barn around the corner from my place. I'll rip there with the company card tn. Thanks Fox!

Coffeesforclosers

Notable Contributor

1

Director Sales and Market Development

Hit em with that werthers original too

The_Sales_Badger

Notorious Answer

1

Account Executive

Mmmm Butterscotch

GDO

Politicker

0

BDM

haha, This says a lot about age :D

TennisandSales

Politicker

5

Head Of Sales

I.....have never thought of this. and idk why.

Its so simple.

What house gets the most traffic on Halloween?......the one with the fucking king size candy bars!

And what is a trade show but an adult trick or treat!

scooter

Opinionated

1

BDR

Yes, my dad may be an old fat marketing bastard, but there's a reason they keep paying him as much as they do.

Glad to hear I'm on the right track too, because the 'trick-or-treat' was exactly what I'm thinking. Plus it buys you fifteen seconds to ask, "what brings you to the show?"

TennisandSales

Politicker

1

Head Of Sales

hahah yep! Might as well lean into it a bit and have a sign that says trick or treat or something. im liking this.

scooter

Opinionated

1

BDR

I can't share what I came up with without throwing my company name out there, but you're on the right track Tennis.

I'll make a follow-up post on Friday to let y'all know how this goes.

ThatsWhatSheSaid

Valued Contributor

4

Intergalactic Sales Director

You need Reese's--thats the best trade show candy to drive leads, from my scientific research.
Hersheys Kisses work almost as well.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

1

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Does scientific research involve sampling?

scooter

Opinionated

0

BDR

Tbh, Reeses are my favorite and I totally agree that they'd draw more people than any other candy.

The lineup I wanted was a whack of Werthers, some fun dip, and a pile of full-size Reeses. However, I can't take up that much real-estate in the booth, and this is Canada where people are soft so somebody will complain about peanut allergies.

I'm going to Bulk Barn and a couple other spots this afternoon to pick this sh*t up, so there's a variable outcome here based on availability.

paddy

WR Officer

3

Director of Business Development

Yes this is a good idea.

scooter

Opinionated

0

BDR

Thank you Paddy! I kinda feel validated now tbh

1nbatopshotfan

Politicker

3

Sales

Gum/mints are good too. Lots of talking, want that breath on point.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

2

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Candy works. More premium swag can be given if the discussion is good - kinda seal that deal.

scooter

Opinionated

1

BDR

We have some water bottles on hand, as well as a few straggling t-shirts, polos, and baseball caps.

I wanted to keep those on reserve and staple my business card to 'em so I can get both to the prospect quickly in case it's going well.

Maybe I'll hide them under the table or something, I've got an AM that can throw them to me on the fly.

jefe

Arsonist

2

🍁

I support this message.

Also, while not DT the Leaside Costco is probably the closest location to you. It's pretty new, and pretty nice

SaaSam

Politicker

2

Account Executive

Works for my van, that or a sign that says "free puppies"

JohnnyDamone

Opinionated

2

AE Inside Sales

Condoms and lots of them.

scooter

Opinionated

1

BDR

Condoms, and only play Pitbull's greatest hits in the booth.

FoodForSales

Politicker

2

AE

Have some mints out there.
Have some "good stuff" under the table ready for good prospects or current clients.

0PercentCloseRate

Politicker

1

Oh boy

Gartner Symposium in Orlando, huh?

desperado

Politicker

1

Head of Sales

special brownies

scooter

Opinionated

0

BDR

Trippy trades

redrabbit

Opinionated

0

Account Executive

100% everyone loves candy at the conferences. You can even pick up the bowl and offer a candy to passerbys to lure them in. #cheaperthanapettingzoo

BluecollarRep

Good Citizen

0

BDR (Business Development Rep)

Can you not do Nips of liquor?

Justatitle

Big Shot

0

Account Executive

Hear me out… Buffalo wing station

OldSchoolEightiesStyle

Good Citizen

0

Global Vice President

Trade Shows? I don't know if you have a 10X10 or a full blown two-story exhibit but trade shows are a waste of any sales persons time. Once a productive way to accumulate leads and get on the spot orders but so yesterday. They are like a "Fax Machine", no one needs them but you keep them around just in case. You want to bring people into your booth, do what they do in Vegas. Beer, wine and babes.

The_Sales_Badger

Notorious Answer

0

Account Executive

Cornhole board - Shoot for a chance to win some candy or swag.

WholesomeGuy95

Good Citizen

0

Area Sales Manager

I like a big bowl of star burst and an ipad giveaway (people can signup to get the ipad etc)...good luck! Also bring an hdmi and put a game up on the tv

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

0

Sales Rep

people love candy!!!

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