Making Sales at Vendor Fairs/Quarter Auctions

[JennyJennJen]

I have done a few events and haven't made many sales. I have a Quarter Auction tonight and Wednesday and one party on Friday, I REALLY want the April Apron so I need the 2 Auctions to make sales.

I sold a couple things at my last auction. I make chips ahead of time and lay those out with the set and rub so I have sold a couple of those. And I do a $10 gift certificate drawing at the end of the auction and I sold to the 2 ladies that won at the last 2 auctions...but they only purchased things under $15. I also saw a tip somewhere here about putting sets up to display with their prices. I have 5 sets I put together for my table.

My question is...how do you close the deal??? I am a terrible closer. My first auction I had 5 people wavering back and forth about the chip maker, I sold one. What do you all do to make the sale at these types of events. My main goal is still to get bookings (I am pregnant and was too exhausted during my 1st trimester to work my business and now I am seeing a blank calendar ahead) but I really want to make enough sales to get my apron.

Thanks everyone

 

[3girls]

The most important thing when trying to "make the sale" is to ask for their order....example: "Would you like me to add your name for one of these packages?" Can I put you down for an order? anything along those lines would work.....Don't be afraid to ask everyone!, often and always asking for the sale is important....I wish you luck!

 

[Malinda Klein]

I have done events with cash n carry and without. I find that when i do events Without cash and carry, i tend to book shows (but take no orders). When I do events with cash and carry, I tend to sell product (but not book shows).

 

[scottcooks]

Have your starter kit setup with a DCB and sampling of both kinds of cookware. Have literature (OLD catalogs) and new minis or new recipes for anyone who will give you their NAPEF (name, address, phone, email, fax)

 

[JennyJennJen]

The Quarter Auction on Friday was a MAJOR BUST!!! In Jan. this one had 70+guests, I made a couple sales and got a couple possible bookings and had LOTS of interest in my potato chips/maker set. So I thought I would go back and get these people to fall in love again and get sales/parties. Not so much!!! There were only 17 people there and I had 3 people come to my booth, and kept telling me, I am really thinking about that chip maker, or I was telling my husband about it. They just came by to eat my chips, none had the intention to purchase, saying it was too expensive! Hell0 5 bags of chips costs the same, I did mention that they would have it paid off after only 5-6 bags of greasy chips, but they all said no. And to make it worse there was smoking in the bar area we were in becasue it was a private club, so no sales, no contacts, and I reaked of smoke, and so did all my products.

I have another auction with another company tomorrow, and am feeling much more positively about this one. Sorry about the rant, but I was really bummed after I left, I was really excited that I only had to auction 2 items and I chose low cost ones for that event so I was only in the hole $12 after it was all said and done