Public displays

[JandC_Reptiles]

Anybody do public reptile displays here?

I am looking at purchasing the public display units off the Herptrader site, but am wondering how I would go about getting business? (flyers,business cards, yellow pages etc). I would target mainly shopping centres & schools but will also like to exapand the current set-up (and therefore hopefully clientelle) by adding an educational speach & handling of non venomous species as well as a photo sesion for the viewers etc. I have my forms for a public display license ready to apply. What would be the chances of getting enough business though?
I mean with the right marketing would there be enough interest to keep an incoming wage each week?

Any thoughts or opinions wanted

[Serpant_Lady]

I would think that advertising on here would get a huge amount of business! But yes also YEllow pages etc. Try to think where you would search if you were a parent/manager trying to find a reptile show. Flyers handed out are also a brilliant way, particularly if you possibly offered an opening rate. Perhaps ring some centres in your area and offer to do a discount one. You will gain heaps of exposure and there is nothing better than telling them you do bithdays and seeing the little kids leave going "Mummy PLEASE!!!!" If you need an assistant... (THis is me getting really desperate for some hands on experiance!)

[JandC_Reptiles]

I have contacted the seller and asked them a few questions, just waiting for a reply.
Hopefully they can share some light on a few things for me and we can get the ball rolling

[NRE-808]

there is one going round here at the moment and they do 3-4 shows a day, charge $8 per photo and easilly get more than 10 people wanting photos each session... thats not a bad wage i dont know how much the travel side of things would cost though... that might be the killer...

[Simon_Archibald]

J_C,
I'm pretty sure from the look of those enclosures that they are Bob Withey's display units. Bob would be one of the busiest exhibitors in the state. What I would ask him for as part of the deal would be a list of the clientele that are "regulars", some suggestions on how to approach new businesses, etc. I'm sure he'd be happy to provide you with some of that.

Remember along with your exhibition licence (itself hundreds just to APPLY), you will have to have insurance. The application from DEC (National Parks and Wildlife) stipulates at least $1 million public liability insurance policy must be effective BEFORE the application can go in. Bob informed me a while back that you will in fact need a $10 million public liability insurance policy to make a good go of this, because most shopping centres will not allow you to use their premises with a smaller policy.

You'll need an ABN that is relevant to this field of work, no great drama in that. A cheap(ish) way of transporting the enclosures and animals. Then you've got to own all the animals to fill them (which you may already).

These would be a quality setup from one of the most well known exhibitors around, but as for income, I would suggest you'll be spending money for a little while yet on the overall setup of the business, before you start recouping your spendings.

[Simon_Archibald]

Apologies,
I can't remember if the application is made to DEC or not...I think not...it's been a while since I received the forms for my application.

[JandC_Reptiles]

Department of Agriculture.

[Simon_Archibald]

Thats them :-)

[Simon_Archibald]

J_C I'll also add that the NSW Dept. of Education requires your presentations to be educational (of course they will be anyway) and often times based on some curricula. They also require you to do what is essentially an "audition" in front of a panel of people to determine if you will be on the list of businesses who fit the requirements to exhibit in schools. Some shopping centres may require a similar process.

Reading back over everything, don't think I'm trying to deter you. I'd love to be able to run an exhibiting business. All the things you need to do are not difficult or impossible, it's just a matter of fact that they need to be done.

[herptrader]

Why don't you get in contact with the advertiser and ask hime these questions.

I know that the advertiser always had plenty of gigs and did very well out of it.

Originally Posted by JandC_Reptiles

Anybody do public reptile displays here?

I am looking at purchasing the public display units off the Herptrader site, but am wondering how I would go about getting business? (flyers,business cards, yellow pages etc). I would target mainly shopping centres & schools but will also like to exapand the current set-up (and therefore hopefully clientelle) by adding an educational speach & handling of non venomous species as well as a photo sesion for the viewers etc. I have my forms for a public display license ready to apply. What would be the chances of getting enough business though?
I mean with the right marketing would there be enough interest to keep an incoming wage each week?

Any thoughts or opinions wanted

[trader]

Hi herptrader...J and C inquired on the advert yesterday (Thursday) morning. :-) I would quote his message, but the quote button thingy is not working atm.
This is part of his message "I have contacted the seller and asked them a few questions, just waiting for a reply."

Cheers, your wife

[herptrader]

Originally Posted by trader

Hi herptrader...J and C inquired on the advert yesterday (Thursday) morning. :-) I would quote his message, but the quote button thingy is not working atm.
This is part of his message "I have contacted the seller and asked them a few questions, just waiting for a reply."

Cheers, your wife

Doh!! I am glad one of us is on the ball.

[bubba]

lol good on ya

[tan]

Good luck with all this J & C I hope it all works out and becomes a fruitful business for you!

[TrueBlue]

I used to do shows years ago at schools, shopping centres etc, for the bloke i managed a reptile display for. When i left, QPWS kept offering me an exhibitors licence to keep doing it, but i declinded on many occasions, as i just wouldnt subject my animals to that level of stress.
IMO you can make far better money out of breeding herps than displaying them and with far less stress on them.

If you do go thru with it i would recomend going to schools, shopping centres etc in person rather than ringing them as i found when drumming up business you will get heaps more jobs if they see you first.