Parenting Expo?

Karley · 03-23-2010, 12:28 PM

Hi ladies! I am considering renting a table at a local parenting expo in May, but I'm not really sure what I would do for it? Has anyone ever done this? How did you decorate the table? I was thinking of just getting a large poster board or something... and did you give anything out? Did you do any presentations?? Any help would be much appreciated!

ms_quoted · 03-31-2010, 09:24 AM

I wish I could help but I am attending my very first expo next month and am still trying to figure things out as well. Just wanted to say good luck and have fun!

KathyMarie · 04-07-2010, 12:32 PM

I just co-organized a birth/wellness expo at the end of March, and I saw a variety of different things at the tables. I'll preface this by saying we had all kinds of providers including lactation consultants, ICAN, natural food stores, massage therapists, photographers (specializing in baby pix), acupuncturists, midwives, a childbirth educator, and three doulas (we shared a table).

At the doula table we kept it low-key; one brought cookies to give away (very popular), one had some photos from a recent birth, and I set out some of my tools like tennis balls, massagers, and a model of cervical dilation and effacement. All of us had handouts along the lines of brochures and business cards.

I saw banners hung in front of tables, tall posterboard with informational bits, handouts, a laptop playing a slideshow of nursing images (at the lactation consultant's table), a dress form with a Moby wrap and dollbaby, sign up sheets, and lots more.

Personally, I think having tall posterboard is a mistake because (a) it gets in your way if you are sitting behind the table, and (b) if space is cramped (which happened at our expo), it will get knocked over. Of course, if you do have lots of space for your setup and for the public to pause and read all the information, posterboard may be ideal for you! So many options.

In my experience, people really liked being able to pick things up (my massage tools and the cervical model) and it acted kind of like an ice breaker. "What is this ... oh my god, that's what a cervix does?! You're a doula, does this really happen?" Having something that clearly welcomes them to touch or pick up or examine really brings people in.

The brochures were great for me. I was able to put together a few key points about doulas, including my own philosophy, and cover it with my contact information - it's better than a business card because it answers a few questions and introduces you to the reader.

At our expo we didn't have any presentations. It was only 4 hours long, and we did have all the vendors/service providers donate something as a door prize; we did two drawings for door prizes throughout the day.

Good luck at your expo!

ms_quoted · 04-08-2010, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KathyMarie

I just co-organized a birth/wellness expo at the end of March, and I saw a variety of different things at the tables. I'll preface this by saying we had all kinds of providers including lactation consultants, ICAN, natural food stores, massage therapists, photographers (specializing in baby pix), acupuncturists, midwives, a childbirth educator, and three doulas (we shared a table).

At the doula table we kept it low-key; one brought cookies to give away (very popular), one had some photos from a recent birth, and I set out some of my tools like tennis balls, massagers, and a model of cervical dilation and effacement. All of us had handouts along the lines of brochures and business cards.

I saw banners hung in front of tables, tall posterboard with informational bits, handouts, a laptop playing a slideshow of nursing images (at the lactation consultant's table), a dress form with a Moby wrap and dollbaby, sign up sheets, and lots more.

Personally, I think having tall posterboard is a mistake because (a) it gets in your way if you are sitting behind the table, and (b) if space is cramped (which happened at our expo), it will get knocked over. Of course, if you do have lots of space for your setup and for the public to pause and read all the information, posterboard may be ideal for you! So many options.

In my experience, people really liked being able to pick things up (my massage tools and the cervical model) and it acted kind of like an ice breaker. "What is this ... oh my god, that's what a cervix does?! You're a doula, does this really happen?" Having something that clearly welcomes them to touch or pick up or examine really brings people in.

The brochures were great for me. I was able to put together a few key points about doulas, including my own philosophy, and cover it with my contact information - it's better than a business card because it answers a few questions and introduces you to the reader.

At our expo we didn't have any presentations. It was only 4 hours long, and we did have all the vendors/service providers donate something as a door prize; we did two drawings for door prizes throughout the day.

Good luck at your expo!

Hey- I have lots of family in DeKalb / Sycamore and my mom and dad actually graduated from Sycamore high school! You wouldn't happen to have any pictures of your table would you? The expo I am going to is actually Saturday so my doula partner and I already have it mostly figured out but it would be nice to be able to see what someone else did. TIA!

DoulaMegz · 04-08-2010, 11:45 AM

A poster, with what you do, basic bullet points and photos if you have 'em. I did a tri-fold display board from office max, used spray glue to put felt on it, and attached everything there. Looked goooood. We also had out a breast pump (we provide pumps through insurance) and a car seat (another that we supply through insurance). We put out some preggie pops and butt paste as freebies, and brought our brochures (one for the general program we have, one for our prenatal classes, and one for yoga classes). We always had a few doulas there talking to moms strolling by, gave them info, told them about our space, etc. It was a hit!

KathyMarie · 04-09-2010, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ms_quoted

Hey- I have lots of family in DeKalb / Sycamore and my mom and dad actually graduated from Sycamore high school! You wouldn't happen to have any pictures of your table would you? The expo I am going to is actually Saturday so my doula partner and I already have it mostly figured out but it would be nice to be able to see what someone else did. TIA!

Unfortunately I only took two pictures that whole day, and neither of them feature the doula table! I'll remember to take some at the next expo. Good luck with yours!

ms_quoted · 04-14-2010, 12:25 PM

We just went to our expo on Saturday and it went very well :o) We updated our blog with pics if anyone wants to check them out. http://doulasetc.wordpress.com/2010/04/13/ils-sustainable-living-wellness-expo/

ms_quoted · 04-14-2010, 01:00 PM

I'll just upload some of the pics here (except for the picture she is in, all of the pictures were taken by my doula partner, Malory)

Our business cards and informational flyers

We did a "what's in the bag" and had stuff that we take with us to birth out for people to see, touch, ask questions, etc.

We did a giveaway for a ErgoBaby carrier with infant insert and, keeping with our "bird" theme, had the entry forms put into this little bird cage.

Something that isn't in any of the pictures is that we also had a birth ball with us out front. At first it got people to stop by and ask questions but then it just started getting rolled down the aisle by children so it went back with us- but it was nice to sit on during the long day

MaryWolfe · 04-27-2010, 06:00 PM

Great pictures! Thanks so much for the ideas. I'm working on getting stuff together for a local fair. I'll definately be using some of these ideas.

MaryWolfe · 04-27-2010, 06:06 PM

Oops. I forgot to ask... what is the pile of stuff in the middle of the table? Looks like brochures but could be something even more interesting. lol

ms_quoted · 04-27-2010, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaryWolfe

Oops. I forgot to ask... what is the pile of stuff in the middle of the table? Looks like brochures but could be something even more interesting. lol

Oh, those were free samples of Teecino

MaryWolfe · 04-27-2010, 08:58 PM

Looks yummy but too expensive to give away like that.

ms_quoted · 04-27-2010, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaryWolfe

Looks yummy but too expensive to give away like that.

Teecino provided the samples.

ms_quoted · 04-28-2010, 12:00 AM

Oh- and I wanted to mention that I really wish we had brought a longer table cloth to go under the striped one to hide the stuff that was under the table (the extra chairs, storage boxes, etc.) Something to think about

MaryWolfe · 04-28-2010, 07:25 AM

Jessica, I saw that Teecino sold samples on their website. Did you just write/call and ask for some?