Intrepid_Chef
Silver Member
- 5,161
I am posting this in "Increasing Sales" because that was my objective when I went to this flea market ... and I think there are things I learned there that all of us can apply to our business in some way.
I and two of my cluster-mates worked a booth at a flea market over Memorial Day weekend. I just had my hours cut at my FT job, Clustermate 1 just had a baby and was looking to make money again, and Clustermate 2 was forced into early retirement. Did we make a profit? Absolutely not! Was it profitable? Absolutely!
Lesson 1: Know your market!
Clustermate 1 went with me on Friday, while Clustermate 2 went with me on Saturday. Now what we didn't know was that business is typically slow on Fridays, because that particular market was not open until Fridays until this year. We hardly had anyone walk by our table on Friday, and felt like we were pulling teeth! We did have a few people express interest, but not many. Saturday, it was wall to wall people! Also ... it is an early morning market ... Clustermate 1 arrived by about 9:30 or 10 ... Clustermate 2 arrived about an hour later on Saturday ... and it was so crazy busy I barely had a chance to greet her!
Lesson 2: "Free Cooking Show" drawings don't work!
Now, why didn't I remember that in my "pre-PC" days, I walked right past those drawings? In a previous booth we ran, we did drawings for baskets and got lots of interest ... but not all people who entered were interested in PC in the least! This time, we both decided that it was a pain to get baskets to the winner, so we opted for a "free show" drawing.
It was pretty easy to see that people won't enter those drawings because they feel obligated to hold a show. I found that Clustermate 2's idea (If you just fill out this slip we'll give you a free recipe card) worked so much better.
Lesson 3: Find a happy medium!
Clustermate 1 (who recruited me) has a personality that more closely matches mine. There is not a "pushy" bone in her body. She greets the person, tries to assess their level of interest, and waits for THEM to bring up the idea of a show.
Clustermate 2, meanwhile, is the Energizer Bunny who sometimes can't find the "off" button. The second someone comes up to the booth, she starts talking up theme shows, catalog shows and the like .... and doesn't quite get the hint when the person clearly is not interested in any kind of show.
On the advice of my director, the next time I work a booth, I will be friendly, outgoing, greet people and ask if they are familiar with Pampered Chef and when the last time was they went to a show, and go from there.
Lesson 4: Bring plenty of mini-catalogs!
I had tons of them before the flea market, now I have like 2 to my name! Also, be stingy with the big catalogs ... Clustermate 2 (who had only spring catalogs, so I had to put out the same) seemed a little eager to give the new catalogs away ... so now I have like 4 of them left!
Lesson 5: Apply Sunscreen!
Even on your lips (Avon lip balm with SPF 15) and ears! 'Nuff said!
I and two of my cluster-mates worked a booth at a flea market over Memorial Day weekend. I just had my hours cut at my FT job, Clustermate 1 just had a baby and was looking to make money again, and Clustermate 2 was forced into early retirement. Did we make a profit? Absolutely not! Was it profitable? Absolutely!
Lesson 1: Know your market!
Clustermate 1 went with me on Friday, while Clustermate 2 went with me on Saturday. Now what we didn't know was that business is typically slow on Fridays, because that particular market was not open until Fridays until this year. We hardly had anyone walk by our table on Friday, and felt like we were pulling teeth! We did have a few people express interest, but not many. Saturday, it was wall to wall people! Also ... it is an early morning market ... Clustermate 1 arrived by about 9:30 or 10 ... Clustermate 2 arrived about an hour later on Saturday ... and it was so crazy busy I barely had a chance to greet her!
Lesson 2: "Free Cooking Show" drawings don't work!
Now, why didn't I remember that in my "pre-PC" days, I walked right past those drawings? In a previous booth we ran, we did drawings for baskets and got lots of interest ... but not all people who entered were interested in PC in the least! This time, we both decided that it was a pain to get baskets to the winner, so we opted for a "free show" drawing.
It was pretty easy to see that people won't enter those drawings because they feel obligated to hold a show. I found that Clustermate 2's idea (If you just fill out this slip we'll give you a free recipe card) worked so much better.
Lesson 3: Find a happy medium!
Clustermate 1 (who recruited me) has a personality that more closely matches mine. There is not a "pushy" bone in her body. She greets the person, tries to assess their level of interest, and waits for THEM to bring up the idea of a show.
Clustermate 2, meanwhile, is the Energizer Bunny who sometimes can't find the "off" button. The second someone comes up to the booth, she starts talking up theme shows, catalog shows and the like .... and doesn't quite get the hint when the person clearly is not interested in any kind of show.
On the advice of my director, the next time I work a booth, I will be friendly, outgoing, greet people and ask if they are familiar with Pampered Chef and when the last time was they went to a show, and go from there.
Lesson 4: Bring plenty of mini-catalogs!
I had tons of them before the flea market, now I have like 2 to my name! Also, be stingy with the big catalogs ... Clustermate 2 (who had only spring catalogs, so I had to put out the same) seemed a little eager to give the new catalogs away ... so now I have like 4 of them left!
Lesson 5: Apply Sunscreen!
Even on your lips (Avon lip balm with SPF 15) and ears! 'Nuff said!