1St Booth, New Consultant, No Cash and Carry!

[smartcookie]

I just started a couple months ago and have signed up to be part of one of the local Farmer's Markets this weekend. I'm a little flustered and frustrated trying to decide what to do. It seems everyone has several products on hand to sell. I, however, being new just have my start up kit and a few other items I've purchased with my PC dollars to add to my shows. How do you have a successful booth with a handful of products to display and nothing for the patrons to purchase? Any suggestions and words of advice would be appreciated!!

 

[Tracy99]

Do a give away. I never have cash and carry. I do a FREE cooking show or pizza party. Basically have a way for people to sign up for a FREE cooking show (Free just means you bring the food for the demo. all the other cooking show host stuff applies to them). Afterwards you call EVERYONE and tell them they won. You get a lot of leads and you hopefully book a few shows. If you take orders at the booth, do direct shipping.

 

[chefjeanine]

Is this a one time only event or will you be returning? If you know for sure when you'll be back, you can let people know that they will be able to come back then and pick up their products (say you'll do the event the first and third Saturday of the month -- or something like that). Even if you will not be there as a vendor at a later date, you can arrange a pick-up time ("at the market parking lot, two weeks from today from 9-11am"). Or, there is always direct ship. I don't do "cash & carry" at any event (occasionally I'll have retired Season's Best Cookbooks) -- a huge perk of Pampered Chef is not having inventory.

 

[smartcookie]

Great advice Ladies! Thank you both. The booth will be "manned" by at least one of the consultants from my cluster every Sunday, so I definitely can arrange to have my customers pick up their items at a later date. Fantastic idea Jeanine!
I agree. I thought not having to carry inventory is a perk as well!

 

[Jules711]

You may be surprised that some people may try to buy some of the items you have on display so decide ahead of time if you are willing. I sell for catalog price b/c I'd have to replace it. I was shocked when this happened to me at a booth. She bought quite a few things b/c she just simply doesn't like to order. Works for me!If you do have door prizes on hand, it doesn't hurt to have them either, but only if it's okay if you sell them...have time to reorder or keep enough aside.Good luck! Our town has a farmer's market, but it's very, very sad. I think it's a great thing to get in on.