Trade show follow-up for home and garden shows

What to capture on your lead sheet

The best lead sheets are designed for speed at the booth and clarity later. If you only capture one extra thing, capture a single “next step” note so your follow-up feels personal.

• Name
• Email (primary) and phone (backup for scheduling)
• Address or neighborhood (helps you qualify service area)
• Project type (kitchen, bath, windows, flooring, landscaping, etc.)
• Timeline (ASAP / this month / next 90 days / later)
• Best times to reach them (weekday evenings, weekend, etc.)
• Decision maker (yes/no) and any other stakeholders
• Budget range (optional, but helpful for prioritization)
• Show special / offer they asked about
• One note that proves you listened (room, constraint, goal)
• Priority tag (Hot/Warm) so you follow up in the right order

A booth-owner workflow that doesn’t fall apart

1. Use one lead sheet format for everyone working the booth (consistency makes follow-up faster).
2. After each conversation, write one line: project type + timeline (it makes your email feel personal).
3. Star Hot leads (people asking for a measurement/estimate) so they get contacted first.
4. Before you leave the venue, take clear photos of each page (flat, bright, no shadows).
5. Upload the photos the same day so “typing time” doesn’t delay follow-up.
6. Send a short first email asking one qualifying question and offering a scheduling link.
7. For Hot leads, follow up again within 48 hours with two appointment windows (less back-and-forth).

Common booth-owner pain points

• You get a ton of leads in a short window.
• You need to schedule estimates quickly before competitors do.
• Your notes matter (rooms, budget, timeline), but they’re scribbled on paper.

Typical booth scenarios

• Estimate request sheets
• Show specials sign-ups
• Handwritten notes on flyers
• Multiple staff capturing leads
• Notes like “kitchen first / budget range”

Upload → review → send

1. Upload a photo/PDF of your lead sheet right after the rush.
2. Review and fix anything unclear (we flag low-confidence fields).
3. Send personal follow-ups while the show is still fresh in their mind.

Qualifying questions (fast + effective)

• What’s the project type (kitchen, bath, windows, etc.)?
• When do you want to start (this month / next 90 days / later)?
• What’s the address (so we can prep an estimate/visit)?

A simple follow-up cadence

You don’t need a 12-step sequence. You need a short, consistent cadence that gets replies and moves the right people to the next step.

• Same day / next morning: Confirm needs and keep momentum. Send a short message: project type + timeline + one clear next step (book an estimate/measurement).
• 48 hours later (Hot leads): Get on the calendar. Offer two appointment windows and ask for the address if you don’t have it yet.
• Day 3–4 (Warm leads): Provide value without overwhelming. Send a simple “what to expect” note or one helpful link and invite them to schedule.
• Day 7: Close the loop. Send a last bump: “Should I keep this on my radar, or is now not the right time?”

Start free and upload your lead sheet

Follow-up ideas

• Confirm what they wanted (project type + timeframe).
• Offer two appointment windows to reduce back-and-forth.
• Attach a simple “what to expect” for the estimate visit.
• Reference the show special they asked about (briefly) and include a deadline if you have one.
• Ask one clarifying question that helps you prep (address, room, material, etc.).
• For Warm leads, send one helpful resource and invite them to schedule (don’t overwhelm).
• If they’re out of area or not a fit, offer a clear “no” with a helpful alternative (referral, guidance).

Example follow-ups

Hi {{name}},

Thanks for visiting us at {{eventName}}. If you’d like to get an estimate scheduled, reply with your address + best times this week (or book here: {{schedulingLink}}).

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Hi {{name}},

Quick question after {{eventName}} — what’s the project (kitchen/bath/windows/etc.) and when are you hoping to start?

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Hi {{name}},

Following up after {{eventName}} — if you want to get this moving, I can do an estimate/measure on {{option1}} or {{option2}}. Which works better?

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Hi {{name}},

Quick reminder from {{eventName}} — you asked about our show special. If you want to use it, the next step is scheduling: {{schedulingLink}}

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Hi {{name}},

If helpful, here’s what we’ll do during the estimate: quick measurement + options + a clear price range. If you want to schedule, here’s the link: {{schedulingLink}}

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Hi {{name}},

Just checking in after {{eventName}}. If you still want an estimate, you can book here: {{schedulingLink}}. If not, no worries—just let me know.

{{signature}}

What kills replies after the show

The goal is to be helpful and fast, not perfect. Most missed opportunities happen because follow-up gets delayed or the first message is too long.

• Letting leads sit until Monday afternoon (you’ll be second or third).
• Sending a long brochure email instead of scheduling the next step.
• Not capturing address/service area early (wastes time on unqualified leads).
• Failing to write down project type and timeline (your follow-up becomes generic).
• Trying to follow up with everyone the same way (Hot and Warm need different urgency).
• Overloading the first message with too many links and paragraphs.
• Not offering two concrete appointment windows (back-and-forth kills bookings).
• Losing leads because multiple staff captured them in different formats.
• Not asking one simple qualifying question (you can’t prioritize).
• Forgetting to follow up a second time (most replies come after touch #2).

Does this work if my leads are on multiple sheets?

Yes—upload multiple photos/PDFs and review the combined list in one place.

What’s the best next step after a home show lead?

Get one thing scheduled (estimate, measurement, consult). A calendar invite beats a long email thread.

What should I include in the first follow-up?

Keep it short: reference the show, confirm the project type/timeline, and include one next step (reply with details or book a time).

How quickly should I follow up?

Same day or next morning is ideal. If you wait several days, many leads will already be talking to another vendor.

How many follow-ups should I send?

A simple cadence works: same day, 48 hours later, and a final bump within a week.

What if someone is outside my service area?

It’s better to qualify early. If they’re out of area, reply politely and (if you can) point them to a helpful alternative rather than ghosting.