Craft Fair

Chef Bobby

Last year I did a large 1 day fair of mostly Christmas shoppers and because of the cost it was split into 2 person shifts, 2 hours each. I didn't like it because one of the people that relieved me showed up 45 minutes early and sort of took over taking customers from my partner and I. I happened to be there when they asked for deposits for the next year so I paid it. My Director told me I could schedule it any way I wanted so this year I'll be working with one other person all day.

Bill Faber

Thanks everyone for the input. I apppreciate your input and can I say you all are the best and I dont know what I would do without you.

I have decided to go it alone. She is busy that day and I had decided to allow her to come. She has now said that I should ask someone else and I am not sure I want to move to that. I am not sure what hours I want to do and I think after reading what you all have to say that trying it this year on my own is the way to go. I will post again because I have another question to ask but will save that for another day. Thanks for the advice. You all have helped and I think it is going to be great. I need to get some more supplies more recipe cards and mini catalogs. I am going to get the Xmas ones.

Thanks Bill

Becca_in_MD

I recently organized a 3-day booth with 2-hour time slots. I made clear in my e-mail to everyone that they were not to start making contacts until their time started as other people had paid for their own 2 hours. I also made clear that they were not to step outside the booth area into the aisle to make contacts. I know from past experience how one of the team members is with her aggressiveness. And I told them not to solicit leads in the rest of the show area when they were checking out the other booths. You really cannot assume people will behave the way you will.

Chef Bobby

I never thought of talking to other vendors as wrong. Some never have time to get out of their booth to shop. I don't talk to shoppers if I'm shopping unless they approach me. I've gotten a lot of good orders from other vendors and even my last recruit. I've also traded products with other vendors to save money on Christmas shopping. I also share orders/sales and leads with others working with me.

Becca_in_MD

I didn't mean they couldn't talk to other vendors. There's one person on our team who is very "outgoing" and can easily cross the line as to what other people on the team consider appropriate. I had visions of her standing in the food court area soliciting people. I hadn't really thought about anyone going around to the other vendors. I certainly had a few vendors come up to me about their businesses, esp. since it was so slow, and wouldn't have minded someone going around to the other vendors during their booth time. But that's their booth time, not time when they're just visiting the rest of the show with their spouse, etc.

Ginger428

I also did a fair last year where the organizer let ALL the vendors "shop" before the customers came in, which I thought was pretty cool. We got to know one another & shared business cards & i mad some nice sales!!

Chef Bobby

They are supposed to let us shop with each other the day before it opens after we are set up. They suggested some sort of a vendor discount which I don't mind if it will get us new customers and leads. They also offered a vendor goodie bag. If we paid $25 they would put anything we wanted in a bag and each vendor will get one. I'm not going to do that. They also offered a first 1000 customer bag that we could do the same thing with for $50. I'm not doing that either.

Chef Bobby

I know what you meant and I've been guilty of that before. I worked a bridal fair that went by fast and furious with constant visitors. After it was over I asked if the other consultant wanted to share leads. She had 4 and I had about 25. I didn't even realize that I was being that aggressive. I will greet people walking by if they don't look our way. Sometimes people don't realize what they are passing up because the booths are on both sides.