Hey guys, Just curious if any of the more experienced collectors, club members, or dealers had any insight on how to attract not only more dealers to our club sponsored show, but also how to increase attendance of the public. I joined my club about 8 months ago and they are having trouble sponsoring the show in our area and attracting dealers down to us. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to generate more folks on either end? I've even thought of having my own table and using inventory from a local dealer I know to help bolster the shows dealer appearance and to help him move more inventory of course. It's a pretty small show with only about 12-15 dealers and our club has a general max capacity of about 20-25 members. I want to grow that club number and generate some more interest in the area so that our show will grow and we can get more inventory and dealers down to it. Oh and just in case anyone here was interested in attending. It's located at the Morehead City convention center at the beach in eastern NC. Very nice coastal area to visit if I can entice any of you folks down.
All clubs are tough today because of internet competition. It's not just coins - we tried to start a camera club here and it failed. Our computer club is only alive because we do free troubleshooting - without that, nobody would ever show up.
I know, but I've still got to at least try to help this continue. I enjoy a moderately sized show nearby and would dearly miss this show. I want to do what I can to keep it going but it seems as if interest in coins in this area is lacking in general.
Here's a thought. Advertise a ' $$$ Learn what to look for in your change $$$' event. Show some errors and varieties that could be found in change today and maybe you'll spark some interest.
Would love to attend more shows. I live in NC also, but that's a little too far for me. I try to attend the shows in Raleigh.
I gotcha. I want to attend the big state show in Greensboro I think it is. Won't be able to this year as I'm getting married, but next year I wanna go to some larger shows.
I went to the big show in Greensboro last year. Didnt know it was there again this year. That's only a 30 minute drive for me!
I don't that it is there again, I thought it was an annual show. I haven't been to the Raleigh show yet either. I hear the Roanoke Virginia show is a big one that is fairly close by. Might look into that one too. After that I would be looking for something in DC or Baltimore I would imagine for a truly large show.
The NCANA show was there last October. Year before was in Hickory. It moves around. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
It's simple.... You have to attract the walk in crowd. Spend the money for advertising... If the dealers have a GREAT show... They will be back and tell their friends.
Keep me posted on schedule also think about scheduling it date wise the weekend before a major show in the south so dealers might do it on their way to pick up a bit of expense money. It happens in the antique show world. I'm hoping to start doing shows sometime soon primarily in the winter. I been buying coins thinking of resale as I'm to the point I really can't afford to collect what I really want and the merchant in me is rearing its head!!
We have been strong armed into settling on a time that isn't necessarily working for us. We either can't get our location which is one of the few in the area large enough to host a show. Or we have shows within weeks on either end of us. There's a major dealer in NC hosting small shows all over the state and it's pulling away from the club shows. Plus that big show in Roanoke is killing us too. We are just in a bad spot and with a small club it's a bit difficult trying to keep hosting a show. At any rate it's the last weekend in September and we are always looking for new dealers. I was thinking making the club a Facebook page to help generate members and interest but I haven't done it yet.
Maybe an advertising swap would help. You tell local merchants if they will put your poster in their business for 2 weeks prior to the show, you will highlight their business with a poster they provide, all during the show. Best to have only one restaurant, one grocery, one dry cleaners, etc., or you get unwanted competition between displays at the coin show, maybe a little hair-pulling and ear-biting. Don't forget to invite the police and military to stop by, free admission if in uniform, also media (radio, TV, newspaper, etc.) Do you have plenty of free parking?
