Doing My First Festival....can Use Any and All Ideas Please!

[klbern]

I am doing my first festival this weekend. I have a 10x20 booth and not sure how to set it up, what products to bring, ect. Any help would be great! Thanks!

 

[chefheidi2003]

Don't put money into Cash and Carry..but if you have some extra items on hand that you want to get rid of take them and try to sell them there. Don't go there with the idea that you are going to get a ton of sales..most people get more contacts than sales.

I will let you know as I think of more.

 

[sherri lynn]

I am also doing my first fair this weekend with a 10x10 booth. I went to the search at the top of the page and put in booths, and there is some wonderful info in there. Good luck and hope you make a lot of contacts and sales!!

 

[sherri lynn]

I am taking stainless steel bowl mixing bowls for height, also the collapsible bowls stacked for height. And like Sheila said, women love "pretty things" so try to make it look as "pretty" as possible and have your 30 second commercial down pat for those that are interested. I have recipe cards to give to those who show interest, or at least make contact. I am really hoping for more show bookings and maybe a recruit or two. As I said earlier, good luck and please post afterwards and let me know what worked for you and what didn't. Thanks.

 

[NooraK]

Listen to "Booths Build Business" in the Online Training Center!

 

[sherri lynn]

Thanks Noora, I didn't know about this, I will certainly listen to it!!

 

[wadesgirl]

Don't make it too crowded!! And like mentioned above, height does add some good looks. I always put the DCB on top of the stackable cooling rack.

 

[chefheidi2003]

Thank you Noora..I didn't do that one either..I will have to do that.

 

[Chef Bobby]

If you collect contact info, be sure you can read it before they leave. Don't have catalogs in plain view. Everyone will take them. I've gotten more orders from business cards than catalogs.

 

[carlajanes]

the booths build business training is an MP3 file under resources in the online training section
~carla

 

[Lauracooks4u]

In regards with festival and the DCB. Make a cake and offer samples out. I just had an event and that is what I used to bring people to the table was offering them to try my cake, then I talked about the baker. You can let then know it is a host special for Oct. Have your contact cards ready for people to fill out. Make sure you note maybe on back of card or list, if you choose to do a list baker so you know that's what they wan. Have fun at your festival

 

[esavvymom]

In regards with festival and the DCB. Make a cake and offer samples out. I just had an event and that is what I used to bring people to the table was offering them to try my cake, then I talked about the baker. You can let then know it is a host special for Oct. Have your contact cards ready for people to fill out. Make sure you note maybe on back of card or list, if you choose to do a list baker so you know that's what they wan. Have fun at your festival

Rules vary from event to event. Not everyone is allowed to do this. So check with your event rules first. Personally, I don't like to mess with food. People can be gross.

 

[klbern]

I can have food at my booth so that people can try the products, I just can't allow them to eat it, so that is fine with me.
Thanks for all the advice.

 

[esavvymom]

I can have food at my booth so that people can try the products, I just can't allow them to eat it, so that is fine with me.
Thanks for all the advice.

so use potatoes....you can use a variety of products. BUT they are usually the sharp ones, and I am very careful having sharp products at my booth (i usually DON'T)- between unattended kids who may come in and start playing and you may not see them if you are with someone else (or their mom), and also adults who are klutzy....it was always a risk I didn't want to take.

You can "Air Demo" anything.

I know I always reference this thread, but so many people have contributed GREAT INFO that I have to at least point it out, in case you didn't see it. (I really need to make this a request for it to be a "sticky" so it always stays at the top). It's been updated recently, so you may have already seen it: http://www.chefsuccess.com/f52/things-ive-learned-doing-booth-table-51121/