Christmas Cash and Carry Ideas for Your Upcoming Vendor Fair

[cookingabcs]

Hey everyone!!

I need a little advice. I'm doing my first vendor fair in a few weeks (Dec 10th actually) and would like some ideas on good cash and carry items, espeically so close to Christmas. If people want something secific for a gift, they will be able to order it and have it delievered in time for Christmas but I would like to have some stuff on hand.

Any suggestions would be great!
Happy Thanksgiving!!

 

[DebbieJ]

Mini Serving Spatulas.

I really wouldn't go nuts ordering C&C. You never know what people are going to want and then you'll be stuck with it if you didn't order the right things.

 

[Firegirl]

I like to layer cookie mix in a small batter bowl put the lid on and tie a ribbon with a cookie cutter and recipe on the handle. this has been great for me especially at Fairs close to the holidays. People like buying a ready made gift. I usually only make about 5 or 6 of them. Sell for a bit more and of course they save the shipping.
HTH

 

[dianevill]

I agree with Deb - you never know what people want so don't go crazy, but at my last few fairs a lot of people wanted the mini-serving spatulas and scrapers (mostly small mix 'n scrapers). For the cookie mix in the batter bowl idea, I bring one along to show, but I don't sell them pre-made. I'm afraid that someone would come back and say they got food poisoning or something of the sort.

Good luck,
Diane

 

[jenniferknapp]

I would bring some small items (mini serving spatula a def) ..but things that you can use as door prizes if you don't sell them... bamboo tongs, etc. and advertise them as "great stocking stuffers under $5" in the SA Large bowl in the woven selections. So that it doens't look like you are cheap by not carrying a lot of them or a huge variety.

 

[nikked]

Love this idea!

I would bring some small items (mini serving spatula a def) ..but things that you can use as door prizes if you don't sell them... bamboo tongs, etc. and advertise them as "great stocking stuffers under $5" in the SA Large bowl in the woven selections. So that it doens't look like you are cheap by not carrying a lot of them or a huge variety.

I love this idea! I just had someone at my last booth by 19 of the Bamboo Tongs for their "people" at work. I will definitely be using this!!!

The only things I bring C&C is what I have on hand. Tack ons from shows, etc. I watch my AD each year have too much and then have to deal with it. I don't want that headache. I like this business precisely because we don't have to guess what the customer will want...just order what they do!

 

[rennea]

I'm afraid that someone would come back and say they got food poisoning or something of the sort.

I'm not saying that I disagree, but all our Christmas bizzars/fairs in this area are mostly homemade goodies. Mostly homebased businesses etc. People go to them to get the "homemade" gifts. Last year a lady was set up with jars filled with soup,cookies etc. mixes she sold out and she had boxes and boxes filled with these jars. I think a batter bowl would be an excellent idea.
Rennea

 

[jenniferknapp]

I suggest searching the batter bowl idea for another thread when this was discussed. I think that it was decided that you cannot charge more for an item...but it was suggested to charge for regular amount for the batter bowl, and then seperately...charge for a reimbursement of the ingredients...

 

[cookingabcs]

thought of that

I'm not saying that I disagree, but all our Christmas bizzars/fairs in this area are mostly homemade goodies. Mostly homebased businesses etc. People go to them to get the "homemade" gifts. Last year a lady was set up with jars filled with soup,cookies etc. mixes she sold out and she had boxes and boxes filled with these jars. I think a batter bowl would be an excellent idea.
Rennea

I had thought about that but if they don't sell I certainly don't want to be stuck with 10 used batter bowls.

 

[sarahmarie]

I sold 6 batter bowls at $20 at a fair i just did. I would never do cash and carry becasue if someone wanted a mini serving spatula they would order it and order soemthing else to make shipping worth their while. If you have cash and carry they will ONLY buy the spatula. (altough one lady asked if she could buy my sued one that i had at the fair! but she ended up buying one)
I bought 15 batter bowls and made them up this year. I took them to every show and my fair and fundraiser. they were hit and miss. out of about 10 shows i had 2 shows that bought about 4 a piece. and my fair finished them off. I sold out early but it was ok with me!

 

[letscook04]

I never do cash and carry. What I do is when someone orders something, I only charge $4 S/H and pay the difference when shippomg to their house and they love it!!