Thread: Got invited to set up a booth, need your thoughts & opinions please

If your expectation is to try it out and just have fun you'll be fine. If things don't sell well you won't be overly disappointed and if they do it will be great.

If there is any way to find out who else will be there that would be helpful too. If there are a lot of vendors selling potholders or burp cloths for example you will have a lot of competition and have to price accordingly and if you are not in an ideal location buyers will have already purchased potholders etc. before they get to you. Having something unique or being the only one or one of few with like products will really help.

Knowing who will be there will help with your pricing as well. If you are going to be surrounded by a lot of high end products (hand turned wooden bowls, metal sculptures, fine art etc) you can price things higher than if you are surrounded by more crafty items.

Quantity discount pricing can also boost sales such as $2 each or 3 for $5.

How you display your items will be key to getting people's attention. If you have Christmas ornaments try to have them on a small tree, have things at different levels. Try not to just have things on a table.

Other suggestions given here are good to follow.

Originally Posted by citruscountyquilter

If your expectation is to try it out and just have fun you'll be fine. If things don't sell well you won't be overly disappointed and if they do it will be great.

If there is any way to find out who else will be there that would be helpful too. If there are a lot of vendors selling potholders or burp cloths for example you will have a lot of competition and have to price accordingly and if you are not in an ideal location buyers will have already purchased potholders etc. before they get to you. Having something unique or being the only one or one of few with like products will really help.

Knowing who will be there will help with your pricing as well. If you are going to be surrounded by a lot of high end products (hand turned wooden bowls, metal sculptures, fine art etc) you can price things higher than if you are surrounded by more crafty items.

Quantity discount pricing can also boost sales such as $2 each or 3 for $5.

How you display your items will be key to getting people's attention. If you have Christmas ornaments try to have them on a small tree, have things at different levels. Try not to just have things on a table.

Other suggestions given here are good to follow.

Appreciate all the great advice, the things that don't sell I will gift at Christmas or donate to a local charity fundraiser. a win win. You got some great ideas and advice that will be very helpful. Thank you.

I do have a hard time keeping inventory, between my friends and me we can always use a gift for someone's birthday or who is ill so into my stash we go. I do have several months notice on this, and since it is to be for fun, I am not overly concerned on stocking piling too much. My attitude is if it sells it sells if it dont it don't, if I run out I run out. I want a nice amount of items there yet I don't want to look like I am running a factory LOL. We shall see how it turns out.

Just an update. I did it. I had my first vendor fair. I made my booth rent back and plenty more. I met great people too. All and all, a good experience. Got lots of great tips from here and ideas on what to do and what not to do! I feel so lucky and blessed.

Wow, such amazing advice from everyone! Glad you had a brilliant day at the fair!

d

Originally Posted by Sandygirl

Congrats on a successful vending experience! I am glad to hear that you did this. Something tells me that you are also outgoing, friendly, approachable! Nothing worse than seeing someone hide behind their booth and never interact with the shoppers. It makes it easy for shoppers to just look and walk away.

Sandy

Sandy,thank you! yes, I do like engaging with people....I like seeing how the other vendors set up. I did notice some vendors were more outgoing than others. I got a whole year to prepare this time. I have a journal for notes and ideas too.

Originally Posted by SewExtremeSeams

I appreciated reading everyone's comments. I am about to do my first bazaar tomorrow. DH (wood turned bowls & little wooden boxes) and I will be sharing a booth. He is my best friend anyway, so we should have fun. It should give us a feel for deciding if we ever want to do it again.

I hope you do well, and have fun and enjoy the day. Please keep us informed as to how things went for you and yr dh.