Chris,
We host 2 TOH shows a year and I am working on my 14th show which will be in October as well. One of the first things I did was go crazy for home-party type businesses (plus the regular local retail type) and grew the vendor count from 21 the show before I joined the station to 50 the 3rd show I did. Since then my vendor count has fluctuated but holds to around 45. Below is a list I maintain of home-party type businesses. All but three have done at least one show through the years. I hope this list helps. Go to their websites and find local reps to contact. I usually go crazy digging for current contacts when it's slow around the holidays every year. I hope this helps.
-Paul S
31 Gifts
Arbonne International
At Home America
Avon
BeautiControl
Butterfly Boutique
Celebrating Home
Cookie Lee Jewelry
Creative Memories
Discover Toys
DWG International
Herbalife
Independent Chocolatier
Jewels by Parklane
Jockey Person to Person
Lia Sophia
Linen World
Longaberger Baskets
Market America
Mary Kay
Northern Lights at Home
Pampered Chef
Party Lite
Princess House
Scentsy
Shaklee
Signature Homestyles
Silpada Designs
Stampin' Up!
Shure Pets
Tastefully Simple
The Gourmet Cupboard
Tupperware
Uppercase Living
Vantel Pearls in the Oyster
Watkins Products
Wildtree
Young Living Essential Oils
Hello,
We tried a Fall Expo after having a very successful Spring Expo. For some reason we were never able to get more that 45 merchants at the fall. Our Spring Expo has about 95 businesses (125 booths), we do live remotes and have prize drawings through out the show. We charge each booth a $25 prize fee then we purchase or trade for some really good prizes. I wish we have more room in the Spring we could add boats and cars etc.
Most of the businesses that come to our show (roughly 60%) are not regular advertisers (window and door companies, candle companies, pillow sales, docks and boat lifts, cabinet shops etc.)
You might try a survey with the local merchants and see what they would support.
Good Luck!
Woody
