Are We In Over Our Heads?

The next stop for the WingDipper is the National Restaurant Association trade show in Chicago this May. We reserved a booth and are going to try to both sell WingDippers and hopefully score a distributor and/or licenser.

This weekend, Aaron and I discussed our plans for a tradeshow booth. Our thinking is that we need something eye-catching and unique, all while sticking to the lowest budget possible. Being handy guys, we came up with a great idea. We headed to Loews, took a look at raw materials, and solidified our gameplan. If everything pans out, we'll end up with a professional looking booth for a few hundred dollars. We will be documenting the whole project with photos and blog posts, so keep an eye out.

This is, by far, the biggest project Aaron and I have ever attempted. And some people in our lives feel like we may be in over our heads. At times, it feels like we might be. But deep down, I know we'll make it happen. Maybe it's hubris, but I really don't think there is much out there I can't do. I think that comes from my father, a man who refused to bring his car to a mechanic or hire a painter/plumber/electrician while I was growing up. His thinking was that with a little research, you can do anything. I think I proved that lesson to myself a few years ago when I renovated an apartment. I installed a new toilet, laid down tile and linoleum floors, and replaced some of the lighting. None of it was hard, it was just a matter of researching how to do. One trip to the bookstore, a little reading, and boom, I'm an amateur contractor.

So in the next two weeks or so, I'll be putting my "Tradeshow Booth Designer" hat on and building the booth. Then it's "Food Photographer" and taking product shots. Next it's "Graphic Designer" to create all of our sales collateral. All ending with "Sales Representative" at the show.

I guess most small businesses work this way. I have realized that having computer design skills is probably one of the most valuable professional skillsets you can have. We have the ability to design basically everything we need, from the website to business cards, all on a micro budget. Having to pay for others to do all of this would have sunk the project from day one.

Anyway, we'll see how it all pans out. Either way, it'll be a great experience...