Trade shows and local events, without throwing money away
Events are great for relationships and terrible for direct ROI. Show up with the right expectation.
Pick events where the buyers actually are
A homeowner event matters for residential shops. A builder mixer matters for sub-trades. Mismatched events cost the same and produce nothing.
Goal isn't the sale, it's the second meeting
Nobody buys at a booth. They book a call, a site visit, or a meeting. Design the booth and the conversation around the next step.
Follow up within 48 hours, by name
Half of event ROI lives in the follow-up. A personal email or text within two days, referencing the conversation, closes loops that business cards never will.
Take your version of this question further
This is one operator-tested angle on the question. Your shop, your size, your trade, and your team change the answer. Ask your specific version inside Ask a Shop Owner to get a response grounded in how owners like you actually handled it.