Can Luck Really Change Your Business?

[chefann]

I've been a little quiet around here the past couple of days, and it's because I've been working a festival. It was Noon to 10pm Thursday, 10 to 10 today and tomorrow, and 10 to 7 on Sunday. I ended up with shifts (a group of us split the cost and the time) all days except Sunday - when I have a show.

The festival is at a local church. And for once is quite close to my house. Most of the festivals/fairs I've worked through PC have been with clustermates, and have been 20 miles or more (one way) from home. This one's 5 miles.

Yesterday, almost as soon as we opened, a woman came rushing over to the booth. "My consultant won't return my calls and I have a show booked. Are you free on Aug. 15?" Sure am! And now you're on my calendar!

Today, I was chit-chatting with the woman in the next booth before the festival opened. She mentioned that she wanted cookware, so I booked her for September. I had her fill out a drawing slip so that I would have her info. She circled "yes" to more info about the opportunity. So I gave her the YLYW brochure. As we chatted some more, she threw up some big red flags. I gave her a little info verbally, then handed her a Come Join Us brochure and a DVD. And told her I'd call her Monday night (just can't do it tomorrow or Sunday with my schedule). She's planning to come to my cluster meeting on Aug. 12, too.

Then another woman asked us about having a table at a court reporter event. It's in August, so my booth-mate (sure, I'm using that as a real word) passed it to me, because she's in the middle of planning her daughter's wedding, which is in August. Unfortunately, that woman didn't give us her info, so I have to wait for a call or email from her.

AND - I got several orders. Probably enough to put together as a catalog show. I almost never get orders at these things, just "Oh, I'll call you."

So now I'm bouncing off the walls.

 

[jesusluvsu2005]

Way to go!! Wish I could run into something like that here! I will have to keep my eye out!
Congrats!
God bless,
Amanda

 

[laurichef]

How very cool!!
I'm bouncing with you!!

 

[rennea]

Great to hear Ann and good luck for the rest of the weekend

 

[Kitchen Diva]

News like this is sooo exciting! It gives you a renewed energy and love for your biz! Way to go, Ann!!!

 

[thebowman]

Good for you!!! Sounds like you are attracting them.

 

[christinaspc]

Awesome job ann !!!! Glad you had wonderful success.

 

[heat123]

Whoohooo, Great Job working your booth Ann!

 

[pampchefrhondab]

Fantastic - so happy for you.

Booths can be great leads. The show I just did Thursday was from a bridal shower I got from a booth I did last Aug. Now I won the 10" SS skillet, had a $600 show and got 4 bookings from the show Thursday. It's so cool to track where they lead to!

 

[pampermejolene]

Great job Ann! What kind of festival/booth was it? Sounds like you had a good crowd of people there!

 

[chefann]

It's a church festival, for an Antiochan Orthodox church. So most of the crowd is of middle-eastern descent, but Catholic. As usual with these types of festivals, the food is great (made by parishoners - I had a beef shawarma sandwich yesterday that was out of this world). Although I've been running into a little bit of a cultural wall - there has been less interest in stopping at the booth and filling out info. Of course, that may just be people waiting until the last day to do so (so the group that works on Sunday will hopefully have a banner day).I did notice that the people who stop in are more likely to bargain on the Cash and Carry items than groups at other events I've worked, but those who have placed orders haven't balked at catalog prices. There was one woman who asked about making a product exchange, returning 2 items that she bought a couple of years ago (one was a bread tube, so I knew they hadn't been purchased within the last year).

 

[chefmeg]

what great news!

 

[pampered.chris]

That is GREAT news!! It feels so good to get good responses when working the booths at events!! Congrats!!!!

 

[etteluap70PC]

Awesome Ann.... Love when Events pay off!

 

[stacywhitlow]

Keep reeling them in!

 

[janetupnorth]

Awesome job Ann - booth can be decent. I had one at a craft fair the end of May. I'm doing a show at 2 today that was from that. Hopefully it will be a good one!

 

[Flamingo]

Yea !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lacychef]

Congrats!

 

[chefshawna]

Congrats on all the good luck, may it carry on!!!

 

[ljeffries]

So now I'm bouncing off the walls.

Ann, bouncing off the walls??? But you are usually so subdued........

 

[legacypc46]

thrilled for you ann!!!

 

[pamperedval]

WAHOO!

Way to go!

 

[twinchefs]

Good job Ann!!

 

[chefann]

OK- had a sorta recruiting interview today with ANOTHER woman from the booth next to me. When she signs (not IF) and the woman from yesterday signs, that'll be 2 more on my team for a total of 4 active! And today's gal, Roz, wants to do a fundraiser for a mentoring group she's in. That could easily be an over $1000 first show for her!Plus... several more almost bookings (need to call people after they check calendars). Monday's going to be a busy phone day.

 

[cathyskitchen]

Way to go, Ann, that's awesome! GL with the recruits, too!

 

[pcchefjane]

Glad to hear it, Ann! Gives me an incentive to work some booths around here locally!

 

[DessertDivaFL]

Congratulations! You have inspired me to search out a booth at a local event.

 

[pamperedlinda]

Wahoo Ann! I'm so happy for you.

 

[KellyTheChef]

Yeah Ann! That is SUPER NEWS!!

 

[vwpamperedchef]

That's so exciting, I love when booths actually ARE profitable! I just use it as a way of getting my name out there! Anything else is a bonus for me!