Re: Let's talk about booth and goodies

On Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 5:12 PM, Jean-Paul Argudo
<jean-paul(at)postgresqlfr(dot)org> wrote:
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> Dear members,
>
>
> So I've settled the context. Now my own toughts.
>
> Once again, this is my own toughts and comments. It has nothing to do
> with the PostgreSQL Europe Board, wich I am a member of since the
> beggining.
>
>> As today's revenues of PostgreSQL Europe mostly comes from
>> sponsorship, specialy from the PostgreSQL Europe Conference.
>
> That's the first argument I want you to consider. Sponsorship brings
> us much more money than anything else.
>
> Let's take the SILVER sponsorship level offered at pg.eu conf 2012
> Praga: it's 2000 euros to have it.
>
> If you compare to a 5 euro mug sold on booths... And we don't have the
> mug for free, we have to buy it too.
>
> So yes, any of us would have to sell some kilograms of mugs to reach
> 2000 euros "benefit" :)

It is true that sponsorship brings in most of the money to PGEU, but
that money (along with the attendance fees) just barely covers the
cost of our annual conference, now that we don't have the platinum
sponsor paying for the hotel. I don't consider making money as
anything like the primary reason we sell items at conferences, but I
do think we need to keep in mind that to do things outside of
PGConf.EU, we do need to get additional money from somewhere.

>> I was just wondering if we could do that different about goodies
>> on booths, because, IMHO, selling goodies on booths have advantages
>> but also disadvantages.
>
> Also, bringing goodies to booths is most often an hard and costly
> task. If you ever organised a PostgreSQL booth, you know what is all
> about: boxes, boxes, some heavy boxes, some roll'ups, some heavy boxes
> again for flyers, because paper is heavy, etc...

That is something we've never had a shortage of volunteers to help
with. I believe it's a non-problem.

> So, my proposal is quite simple here, and resides in 3 complemetary
> things to do:
>
> 1/ we'd just drop the selling activity of our booth for, let's say
> "superior goodies" (those generaly sold more than 2 or 3 euro each)
>
> 2/ we'd send the visitors that want absolutely a mug or a tshirt to
> buy it on our online store at http://postgresqleu.spreadshirt.net/

I disagree strongly with that idea. Selling t-shirts at conferences
like FOSDEM has a number of advantages, even putting the money aspect
aside:

- It gives people a reason to stop at the booth, and start
conversations with us about PostgreSQL. That may happen with just a
few pens and stickers on the table, but larger items also attract many
people.

- People that purchase mugs and shirts will wear/use them. Things that
get given away often end up in the trash. If they wear our shirts and
use our mugs, their friends and colleagues will see them and become
familiar with our brand. They may talk about PostgreSQL as a result of
seeing an interesting mug design, which can lead to more people trying
out PostgreSQL. Word of mouth is a very powerful form of advertising.

- We're far more likely to sell larger items in-person than online.
You capture all the impulse buyers that way - people who may well be
fans or users of PostgreSQL, but won't necessarily go out of their way
to seek out and order a t-shirt online.

> 3/ we'd replace the selling activity with a GIVE AWAY for small
> goodies. That's something you may already do (as I do), like giving
> away stickers, pens, pins... Those are SMALL and LIGHT. Everyone can
> bring some hundreds really easilly. The way goodies are given and
> spread is booth's volunteers' choice, off course.

We should do that as well - but only where it makes sense to do so.
Giving most items away for free will likely be a waste as they'll just
end up in the bin. Volunteers should be giving things away to people
who show some kind of interest in PostgreSQL - for example, an enamel
pin to people that discuss a their use of PostgreSQL, or a pen to
people that ask a technical question. We probably should continue to
give away stickers to anyone however.

> This would have a lot of advantages, like:
>
> * no more dealing with cash on a PostgreSQL booth
> * not having someone going with lots of cash in the pocket at the
> end of the exhibit

I've never seen that as a major issue, and if you don't like doing it,
I'm happy to.

In a nutshell, I think we should review what we sell and what we give
away (types of items, designs etc), but I certainly do not think we
should stop selling more expensive items at conferences.

--
Dave Page
Blog: http://pgsnake.blogspot.com
Twitter: @pgsnake

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