HGO VENDOR INFORMATION
Thank you for being part of the 40th Home, Garden and Outdoor (HGO) Expo. We are excited to have you join us and appreciate your participation.The milestone marks four decades of excellence, innovation, and community connection. The HGO Expo Committee is excited to celebrate this milestone with our attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors. This landmark event, the three (3) day regional consumer event showing local and area businesses, home and garden products, and outdoor innovations in one comprehensive setting.
Organizer: Norfolk Area Home Builders Association (NAHB) manages and hosts the annual HGO Expo, drawing local and regional businesses and specialists under one roof for a focused shopping and information-gathering experience.
Location: Northeast Community College Chuck Pohlman Agriculture College found at the intersection of Hwy 35 and East Benjamin Avenue, Norfolk NE. Physical address for navigation purposes: 2301 East Benjamin Avenue, Norfolk NE.
We look forward to celebrating this special edition with special exhibits, engaging demonstrations, and opportunities to explore the latest in home, garden, and outdoor products and services. Stay tuned for exciting updates and highlights as we prepare for this unforgettable 40th HGO Expo.
Cancellation Policy: No refund for cancellations within 5 days of the show.
Social Media & Marketing
The HGO Expo is listed as a page of the Norfolk Area Home Builders Website and includes the list of vendors and map. If you would like your logo attached to your booth on the map, please email in jpg format and if you would like your website linked to the vendor list – please email the website to norfolkeo@norfolkareahomebuilders.com as well.
Information regarding the show can be found here:
HGO Expo Website - 2026 HGO Expo Info
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/norfolkareahomebuilders/posts/
Please look for emails with information in the next couple of weeks about the HGO Expo. As the home show committee members meet and complete details – emails will be sent to the vendor contact that was on the registration.
SETUP/TEAR DOWN
The Northeast Community College Constructon Class students will be available to assist vendors with moving in and moving out as part of the booth fees. Please be sure to utilize the students’ help, carts and equipment. Ryan Hobza will be the NECC Student contact and will be knowledable about the vendors setup. Setup will begin on Wednesday for the larger booths and booths with approved vehicle size will be moved in first. These booths will be contacted by an HGO Committee Member with move-in times and what door to access. Once the larger booths are moved in, the remaining booths will be allowed to move in. HGO Committee members will have a table that includes the map and be able to answer questions. Vendor contact will receive a vendor survey regarding setup, booth information and booth requirements.
Setup times are below:
Wednesday, March 18th beginning at 1PM until 5PM
Thursday, March 19th 8am – 6:00PM
Friday, March 20th 8am – 3PM
Tear down and cleanup will begin after 4:00 PM (not before) on Sunday.
The building has one large overhead on the north that will be closed to vendors after 3PM on Thursday, pending weather. Two side doors and front doors can be used on Thursday to unload along with the west overhead door on the north end and the south overhead door on the east side of the building. The front doors will be locked on Friday until show time at 4pm.
TABLES & CHAIRS
Table and chairs can be rented from the college. This is outside of the booth costs. You may furnish your own tables and chairs. If you wish to rent tables from the College - Rental prices for tables are $10 and comes with 2 chairs. All tables must be draped. An email will be sent out to vendors regarding tables and need for electricity to gather that information for each booth. Electricity is not an added cost and can be dropped into any booth. Please wait until the booth survey is sent via email from the event portal to gather this information in the coming weeks.
PIPE DRAPE & CURTAINS
Norfolk Area Home Builders will furnish pipes and draped booths. Sides will be 36” in height. Back drape 8’ high. The signage above drapes needs to be one sided. All exposed parts of display partitions must be finished or covered at the exhibitor’s expense, so they do not present an unsightly appearance when viewed from adjoining booths or aisles. The space rented is to be returned to its original condition.
BOOTH GIVEAWAYS
Sorry, no food, drink or noise making items may be given away during the show without prior permission from the Home Show Committee. Individual wrapped candy is acceptable. Please - NO Popcorn giveaway in the booths. Popcorn makes a huge mess on the carpet and takes hours to clean up each night. Please respond to this email if you need someone to contact you. Each booth is encouraged to have door prizes available for attendees. HGO Committee will have the mic for the show and will be announcing winners for door prizes.
Exhibitor Tips : How to have a great show
Before the Show ideas
>Be sure to hold a sales meeting 2-4 months prior to the Show Informing them about the Show dates and have them begin using the show in there dialogue as conversation about creating excitement about attending the Show.
>Create a letter to send out to all your customers to invite them to the Show, be sure to mention to them your booth and if your are taking advantage of utilizing a seminar time slot include this as well.
>Take advantage of sponsoring some portion of the event. Again at the rate you are being charged the exposure to your targeted customer is immeasurable.N
Be sure to include in Advertising to come to the show and take advantage of show specials.
>Put together a Show Special or Package Deal, remember the people attending these shows are interested in a value and want something they can justify their purchase at this time and look forward to next years show. (i.e. free delivery, free color upgrade etc.)
At the Show ideas
>Get the most out of your booth space
>Make a display that attracts your prospect’s attention from 30–40 feet away.
>Design a booth that projects who and what your company will be like in the future. Be bigger and grander than you are now. Customers like progressive businesses.
>Think outside the box! You want your booth to be a “visual speed bump” for attendees passing by.
>Keep your signage simple and bold. Have brochures ready at your booth with more detailed information about your company.
>Place your table inside your booth, not at the front of it. You want your prospects to come inside and look around
>Send out literature before the show. Make your booth seem familiar to the consumers who come to the sho
>Color Coordinate!
>If possible, lay nice carpet in your booth. Attendees will get tired of walking—you can invite them to stand on your comfortable carpet.
>Stand to the side of the display, not in front of it.
>If possible, put on a demonstration.
>Stand alert instead of sitting bored.
25 tips for your sales people
>Get the most out of your booth space
>SMILE!
>Set a goal for the amount of leads needed.
>Make sure your staff is positive and well-trained. 85% of your success at a trade show depends upon your staff.
>Be prepared with lots of sign-up sheets.
>Don’t sit or lay down in your booth. Be ready to be effective.
>Make eye-contact and greet with a smile—every person who stops by is a prospect for making you money.
>Don’t eat or drink in your booth—it is unprofessional. It may cost you money for lost leads.
>Network with other vendors.
>Be flexible—if the consumers aren’t stopping at your table, adjust your pitch to bring them in.
>Dress Sharp. The exhibitor should dress one step above the audience.
>Be prepared 1-2-3 weeks ahead of time. Each lead is worth money either to you or your competition.
>If possible, host a seminar.
>Offer a rebate or coupon
>Offer monetary or product giveaways.
>Be Bold.
>Shake hands with or tap your prospect on the shoulder.
>Let the client do the talking.
>Have lead cards ready so you can keep track of your prospects. Categorize them according to interest level.
>FOLLOW-UP with the leads you pick up at the show. 79% of all leads generated at a trade show are not followed-up.
>Focus on the visitor, not on your product or service.
>Do not over socialize with other vendors. If your booth looks too busy or you are talking, prospects won’t stop.
>When addressing the prospect, ask open-ended questions, not questions that can be answered with a yes or no.
>Pay attention to what your competitors are doing.
>Realize that working your booth properly is comparable to spending $1,200 to $15,000 in advertising on the radio or TV.
Do’s
>Educate booth staffers. It is vital that staffers know thoroughly the products or services highlighted. An unanswered question is a sales killer.
>Look professional, be professional. Potential sales leads make split-second decisions about a company based on booth appearance and staff professionalism
>Set goals. Give staff members something to work toward. For example, set a number of leads to collect as a goal. Clearly defined goals focus staffers on productivity.
>Use handouts conservatively. Brochures and other materials are expensive. Also, staffers uncomfortable with strangers will use handouts as an out. Plus, many brochures get dumped quickly.
>It’s wise to send multiple representatives, yet use some to check out the competition and to sell to other exhibitors.
>Develop strict staffing times and rules, and enforce them.
>Make your booth inviting and comfortable to incoming consumers.
>Devise a lead generating system possibly utilizing a giveaway or contest.
>Clearly have your name identified on your booth and contact information on all your hand out materials.
>Smile and watch your sales increase.
Don’ts
>Sit, read, scanning your phone or ipad, eat in the booth.
>Ignore prospects by forming a cozy cluster and chatting with colleagues.
>Use a cell phone while visitors are around.
>Leave the booth unattended or leave without informing colleagues.
>Be late for booth duty.
>Close off conversation by crossing your arms.
>Stand with your back to the aisle
>Say “Can I help you.”
>Lean on booth furniture
>Drink eat garlicky or spicy foods during the day.
>Use inappropriate language, complain about the show or about being at the show.
>Wear new shoes or high heels.
>Badmouth your competitors.
>Let the booth get cluttered, untidy, and unorganized.
>Be unprofessional.
>Don’t forget to follow up on the leads you gained at the show.