Attending Baby Fairs, Expos & ShowsConversation surrounding the details of organizing your own table to host at an event.
No event listings please - see our Calendar for details on adding a function.
I am thinking of taking my brochure and business cards...maybe having some pens or magnents to hand out as well, an informational sheet that details a doula a little more...
I've never done an event like this but I would take business cards, brochures (and any other advertising knick knacks like magnets or keychains) and maybe some of my freebies. People LOVE free stuff...maybe Luna bars of Preggie Pops...
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A table cloth or something to make the table look nice. Your displays; variety is the key. Use different levels of stuff (all flat on the table does not attract as much attention) and use odd ball stuff. I have a bunch of funnels on the table and when people get curious I get to explain. Cards, brochures, and pens/pencils are also good. You can take something to let them write down tha tthey would like you to contact them (some people are happy to have you contact them rather then having to remember to do it themselves). A bowl of candy is a must! It stops the kids that walk by and that means that the parents stop too.
Tamara had some GREAT ideas! I second the table cloth. I have a black sheet that I take and then I put some small shoe boxes and such under it to stack things up and make levels. A flat table is definately not eye catching. I have a big board that has pictures of doulas doing stuff with clients (at births and at home) and I take business cards and brochures. I also bring a bowl of dum dums and do a raffle. Sometimes I raffle off $100 off doula services or a BINSI skirt. I also bring some freebies and baby rattles and such. It's ALOT of fun. The one thing I DON'T do is act like a salesman. I don't stand in front of my table (usually). I let people walk by and when they stop I ask them if they have any questions. I don't feel comfortable pouncing on every pregnant woman that walks by. That's just me though. My doula partner LOVES to do that and she is REALLY good at it. Must be her personality. I have found that more people pick up brochures and such if I just stand back and watch instead of handing them out. Again, that's just me. You might have the personality that works well with it.
GOOD LUCK! Bottom line, HAVE FUN!
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I have a bunch of funnels on the table and when people get curious I get to explain.
Ok, do explain..... what are the funnels for?
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Ashley Motzenbecker, CD (CBI), RP, PED
Certified Labor Doula, Certified Perinatal Educator, Level II Reiki Certified
Regional Coordinator and Volunteer Doula for Operation Special Delivery www.wiregrassdoulaservices.com
Really great ideas. I hadn't thought of bringing free items like bumper stickers or magnets. Is there anywhere to get personalized freebies for a low to no cost?
"Creating an atmosphere for a new mother that encourages her make positive life choices for herself and her baby, so that we may breed a world of tolerance, peace, and love."
so w/another baby fair coming up in March locally, I'm trying to get my plans down a few weeks early instead of waiting until the night before...
I am planning on taking my finishedbellycast [umm,nope it's not done yet.] with handouts/info about bellycasting. Perhaps some of my jewelry or maybe just wearing one myself. I haven't picked up a single client from the previous two I've done, so I think that I need to promote the birth art aspect more. Maybe that will appeal to the broader spectrum of women here. The very first one I held a drawing for a nice relaxation gift box. Last time I handed out very nice gift bags full of goodiesto everyone, to no avail. This time I think I'll just do a belly cast or something along those lines.
Doulas are rather new to the area, but each time I have more and more women tell me that they know what a doula is now. Unfortunately they are usually older women, past childbearing themselves. I just tell them to pass along my name!
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B'earth Angel the absentee doula "He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetuate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it."
Hello everyone, I have to baby fairs coming up. these are great ideas some I have thought about and some I had not . I'm finishing up my belly casting. I'm going to be bringing that. In hope that it gains some attention. Most of the doulas in this area, are well equiped with great ideas. So, I have to stay on top of things... Thanks for the great info and good luck to everyone..
This prompted me to call and find out the date for the next babyfair here. Gotta get my cast done too!!
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B'earth Angel the absentee doula "He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetuate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it."
Tamara had some GREAT ideas! I second the table cloth. I have a black sheet that I take and then I put some small shoe boxes and such under it to stack things up and make levels. A flat table is definately not eye catching. I have a big board that has pictures of doulas doing stuff with clients (at births and at home) and I take business cards and brochures. I also bring a bowl of dum dums and do a raffle. Sometimes I raffle off $100 off doula services or a BINSI skirt. I also bring some freebies and baby rattles and such. It's ALOT of fun. The one thing I DON'T do is act like a salesman. I don't stand in front of my table (usually). I let people walk by and when they stop I ask them if they have any questions. I don't feel comfortable pouncing on every pregnant woman that walks by. That's just me though. My doula partner LOVES to do that and she is REALLY good at it. Must be her personality. I have found that more people pick up brochures and such if I just stand back and watch instead of handing them out. Again, that's just me. You might have the personality that works well with it.!
I just went to WM and purchased a couple yards of "baby" print fabric to use to catch the eye with a plain table cloth. I second or third the concept of raising things so that things aren't just on a flat table.
Want to add:
balloons! I found an adorable mylar balloon shaped like a baby with a really big head and that catches the eye from across a big room. We filled it with helium and attached it to something on the table and then released the air out when it was over and I've saved it to refill again.
I like to have the Luna Bars out for moms, but also have a "kiddie mix" of candy for the children.
I put out a sign on my display board that said, "pregnant or nursing moms ask about a special gift". For the pregnant moms that asked, I would give them a short hand massage while they sit on the birth ball I had there and then give them some lotion/baby oil samples or something similar (it has varied over the different occasions I've done this, based on what I have at the time) The nice thing is, while they are sitting there in front of you having a hand massage, you have each other's undivided attention to answer "what exactly is a doula?" questions and to tell them of the benefits of a doula & benefits of a birth ball, etc. For the nursing moms I gave them a little paperback children's book about baby animals that nurse, LLL meeting information, and Lansinoh samples.
For drawings I would offer a certificate for doula services or an amt off on doula services and ask that only pregnant moms sign up--then I had a ready made contact list.
Oh, and I also would light a baby powder scented candle--people loved that.
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JoLyn, DIP CBEd(CBI), CD(CBI), CBE
Wife to my soulmate since 1995
Love bein' MOMY to 4 beautiful princesses and "Aunt Jo" to my 2 nephews:
Miss Reader E -- 1998
Miss Singer M -- 2000
Princess SmilesALot A -- 2002
Nephew Chann--2002
Princess SmartyPants N -- 2004
Nephew Coley--2005
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I have a baby powered scented candle through Gold Canyon (its their candles for kids campaign and my goodness it smells like baby powder Its a great scent
__________________ My name is Bobbi Fargo. I am a CLD through CBI. I have a 20 year old son named Joshua and a 18 year old daughter named Desiree Doulas of CNY www.doulasofcny.com
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so w/another baby fair coming up in March locally, I'm trying to get my plans down a few weeks early instead of waiting until the night before...
Gotta get my cast done too!! 
Wife to my soulmate since 1995 
MOMY to 4 beautiful princesses and "Aunt Jo" to my 2 nephews:
