SPRING 2014 Education and Trade Show
Exhibit Pre-Show Information
Sheraton Framingham Hotel
508-879-7200
March 28-31
IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO ALREADY, PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN THE FORMS BELOW:
General Information
A show folder will be waiting for you at our show registration desk beginning March 28. Your folder will have your class information, show booth placement, and other general information. We ask that you please wear your name badge at all times while at the event.
For your convenience we will have a Vendor Storage Room available during the weekend. All boxes that you send prior to the show will be waiting for you in this room. Please note: this room will be shared with all attending manufacturers so please have your boxes clearly marked.
Save boxes and shipping tags for UPS call tag after the show (you will need to call for a pick-up). Boxes must be ready for pick up by Monday, March 31.
HELP US HELP YOU! Let's put social media to work for YOU!
For those of you who have Twitter/Facebook/Blog we suggest you let stores know that you will be attending the SPRING event.
Let them know if you are teaching a class and why they should take it!!
Will you have something for them if they stop by your table? Let them know!
Will you be offering something special during your class? LET THEM KNOW!
Vendors who have promoted themselves at past shows using e-newsletter and social media have seen the results!
Below is the link to share with stores including full show details and down-loadable registration form:
Classes & Workshops
This show is heavily EDUCATION DRIVEN! Stores are coming from all over to take top-notch classes that will be used to help them succeed as retailers. It is important that stores leave this show re-energized and focused on nurturing their business. Classes play an integral role in achieving this.
- Room assignments available at show check-in.
- Class lists available at registration.
- Please let us know in advance if you need a screen or additional AV equipment. Please contact Tim BEFORE the show with your AV needs.
- Classroom set-up is 2-4 round tables. Each table will have 7 chairs. There will be two 6’ tables at the head of the room for your supplies.
- Please have a finish sample placed in the middle of each table for stores to use as a guide for completing the project.
- Classes are 1.5 hours long (workshops are 2.5 hrs). Please plan your class accordingly. If your class ends with time to spare, we suggest to use that extra time to talk about your line, new product, show specials, etc. However, classes must end on time. We will give you a 5 minute warning toward the end to let you wrap things up.
- To help keep to the scheduled, we suggest you pre-cut and paste certain parts of your project. Stores prefer to spend class time learning your project, not prepping the materials for it.
- Students were told to bring their “Class Kit”. You are responsible for additional materials. Please note: Stores can share materials so you don’t need to bring enough for each student. Place shared materials in the middle of each table during set-up.
- DO NOT sell or give away leftover class kits. Class kits should only be given to stores who pay to attend your class. If you have class kits left over, please bring them to the office and we will distribute them to the reps.
- Please let us know if you need assistance in your classroom. Our reps will be on hand at the show but you need to let us know.
- Bring catalogs and order forms to your class to encourage order placement.
- Stores have overwhelmingly expressed their preference for classes that teach new techniques. This can be with new merchandise or a new idea that helps sell older merchandise. In addition to teaching techniques, you should teach what is special about your particular line and let the stores know the “tips and tricks” of maximizing sales with your products.
- The maximum amount of participants in each class is 28 (workshops allow for 50). As we get closer to the show, to help you prepare for your class, you may want to check in with us to see how many students have registered. We suggest contacting us after March 15. Please contact Jenni at jenni.thecollinsgroup@gmail.com to get a class count.
CLASS GOAL: The goal of each class is to provide store owners with the education and training to re-teach the same classes at home so that they can make back the cost of the class and more!
CLASS REQUIREMENTS
1) Classes should be geared toward sophisticated artists.
2) Stores want to leave the classroom with the finished product.
3) Classes must begin & end on time. There are only 15 min. in between classes for you to break-down & have the next teacher set-up.
4) Make sure each table has one (two is even better) finished samples for stores to follow as they go.
5) Give each student a written list of directions for them to follow and use to teach the class at their store.
6) Give students a list of all the products (with items numbers) used in your class. Stores appreciate pre-made order forms with a product listing of what was used in class. Make ordering EASY!
The Product Lightning Round
- This event is Friday, March 28th from 8:00am-9:20am.
- Each vendor is given a little over a minute to highlight a product or collection.
- Vendor's can make their own presentation OR have Tim Collins present for you. If you will be presenting yourself, please meet at the registration room Friday morning at 7:30am.
- If you would like Tim Collins to present for your, please send Robyn your blurb by March 7
- Make sure to label any boxes your send us for this event with your name and PRODUCT LIGHTNING ROUND clearly listed.
IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO ALREADY, PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN THE FOLLOWING FORM:
Sample Making Frenzy
- The Frenzy will take place on Saturday, March 29th from 7:00-9:30PM, located in the hotel ballroom.
- Plan your project to be a 5-10 minute make n take. Be sure to have everything they need to complete the project. Stores will NOT have their Class Kit with them.
- Tables will be chosen on a first come basis. You choose your own table.
. You will have a round table that seats 6.
- We encourage you to distribute catalogs at this event.
- Make sure your company name is on the make-n-take.
- Have a list of all products used on your MITI for easy ordering.
Trade Show
- The trade show will take place in the hotel ballroom on the first floor.
- Showroom set-up begins Sunday morning, March 30 at 7:00a.m.
- The showroom is open 9:30am-12:30PM, and 1:30-5:00PM Sunday, March 30th.
- The showroom floor closes for lunch.
- No display may be attached to wall.
- 6’ skirted table(s), 4 chairs per table, with tablecloth.
- Vendor provides products for demonstration and display
- If you require electricity PLEASE bring extention cords with you. You will be responsible for the charges if you request an extension cord from the hotel.
- Stores will be placing orders with you at your table. While you may not have a total for us by the end of the day, please provide us with a list of stores who purchase from you. Totals must be sent to us by Friday, April 4 (fax: 217-787-7741 or email: gilmanrobyn@yahoo.com). If stores do not give you a specific PO number, please provide us with your own PO number.
- Reps will be on hand if you need assistance at your table. However, we don’t have enough reps to man every booth or take all of the orders. Please let someone know if you need help.
- To maximize show sales, we suggest extending your show special until Friday following the event to stores who attend the show. Not all stores may get to your table during the day on Sunday but still want to take advantage of your special. Please let us know if you do not plan to extend your show special.
- We suggest demoing at your table during the show if time allows.
Catalog Room
We will have a place in the registration room for catalogs on Friday and Saturday. If you would like to give stores the opportunity to pick up your catalog, please drop them off at the registration desk OR mail them to the hotel before the start of the show. If you leave catalogs in the registration room, we STRONGLY suggest you also have order forms available. This will encourage order writing.
Send to the Sheraton Framingham Hotel
All show materials, including catalogs, Welcome Package Gifts and Door Prizes (see Vendor Query Form for more details) must arrive 3-5 days prior to the start of the show! All shipping and handling charges are your responsibility. Print information clearly on all boxes and send to:
Sheraton Framingham Hotel
Hold for The Collins Group Show
Date of Event = 3/28/14
YOUR COMPANY NAME
1657 Worcester Road
Framingham, MA 01701
(Box 1 of 1, box 2 of 3, etc.)
If you are sending product for us to open, please write “Attention Robyn Gilman” on the box. Also, please clearly mark what the contents in the box should be used for: Product Lightning Round, Welcome Gifts, Door Prizes, Catalog Room.
Hotel Info: A block of rooms is set aside for The Collins Group show. To be eligible for the special rate of $114 per night, you must call the Sheraton Framingham Hotel and reserve your room by March 1, 2014. Hotel space is limited so make your reservation early. The reservation phone number is 508-879-7200.
Nearby Airports:
Boston, MA (Logan)
Hartford, CT
Providence, RI
Worcester, MA
Transportation:
Knight Airport Limousine Service - Offers door to door service to the Sheraton Hotel from all nearby airports. Knight's Airport Limousine offers the convenience of a 24-hour reservation center. Just call 1-800-822-5456.
Logan Express Shuttle – The Logan Express Shuttle leaves Logan every 30 minutes.. Passengers at Logan must meet the shuttle van outside the terminal. You do not need to pre-book your ride. Logan Express Shuttle will take you to the Framingham Depot. It will not, however, take you directly to the hotel. You will need to take a Taxi or call the Sheraton Hotel to arrrage transportation to the hotel from here.
•JFK Taxi – 508-653-4500
JFK Taxi – 508-653-4500•Tommy’s Taxi - 508-872-3500
Tommy’s Taxi - 508-872-3500Sheraton Framingham Hotel - Offers a free shuttle service to and from the Logan Framingham Express depot. We suggest you call the hotel 2 or 3 days prior to your arrival to arrage this service. Call 508-879-7200 to make arragements.
We strongly believe that the independent store owners are the cornerstone of our industry and we need to help them succeed! We want stores to leave our show more savvy and prepared for the next few months (and as a retailer in general)! We all succeed when the stores succeed!!
Show Contacts:
Robyn Gilman: 217-787-7740
Tim Collins: 719-260-6261
Jenni Sprinz: 719-528-1391
