Things I've Learned From Doing a Booth/Table

[esavvymom]

Okay what is the best way to do a booth with another consultant.....doing a kid expo at the end of January just two of us from 10-6....

Have an agreed plan for starters....but typically, when working with another consultant, we alternated contacts. As people approached the booth, we took turns who initiated contact (ie- handing our recipe cards, or making conversation). If one consultant was busy working with and talking to a customer, the other consultant did the initial contacts- even if it meant making more than one in a row. As long as the other consultant was engaged, you just kept making contacts until that other consultant was finished, or until you were engaged with a customer.During breaks obviously, it would be all that one person while you are gone and vice versa.If you are doing a drawing:

• I suggest doing it together as one prize (or both of you could do the same prize maybe, giving you TWO prizes- and each of you draws 1 winner
• if you print your own drawing slips, have different colored paper for each of you during the day, if you do a drawing. Then you can divide the contacts by colored paper easily and each take YOUR contacts for the day.
• If you are using the PC drawing slips, then what I did was have the person hand the slip back to ME and I would put my initials in the corner and slip it into my apron pocket, or drawing box (if they are watching). If they walked away, I put it in my pocket, but I'd make notes about the person/conversation, to help me remember.

Even if you don't do a drawing, you can still do the contact slips and have them hand them to you directly and stick in your pocket. But a simple drawing- even if just a Season's Best Recipe book or two, is something people will want to win.I've done lots of booths with another consultant, and never had issues when doing it that way. Good luck!

 

[lisa morris]

[QUOT

Yes, customers can order their own replacement parts. They just have to include a card number on the form when they mail it in.Some tips I've figured out:If you're working an event that is likely to have children attending, fill a QSP with water and some glitter/foil confetti. Kids can play with it while their parents are filling out prize slips/order forms/etc.Make sure your info is on every single piece of paper that leaves your hands. That includes recipe cards.Mini catalogs are a perfectly acceptable handout. If people insist on getting a full-size catalog (and they haven't placed an order), give them an old one from last season, but make sure it's marked as an old version. I give current catalogs only to people who book a show or place an order. My PWS address is on everything, so everyone else can still see the product line. But 95% of the people who ask for a catalog will not order. So don't waste your current ones.If you do have cash and carry items, put price tags on ALL of it. Including individual copies of SBRCs. You can use removable labels (Avery makes them; available at most office supply stores). I use the 30 to a page labels, and use 1/2 label on most items, 1/6 of a label on SBRCs. Using those labels allows you to easily change the prices you have on things, too (if you want to sell them so you don't have to crate them home, for instance).Send a follow-up email to your new contacts within 48 hours. It doesn't have to be long, just a thank you for stopping by, welcome to my newsletter, and mention of the current specials.

="chefann, post: 634146, member: 3930"]Yes, customers can order their own replacement parts. They just have to include a card number on the form when they mail it in.Some tips I've figured out:If you're working an event that is likely to have children attending, fill a QSP with water and some glitter/foil confetti. Kids can play with it while their parents are filling out prize slips/order forms/etc.Make sure your info is on every single piece of paper that leaves your hands. That includes recipe cards.Mini catalogs are a perfectly acceptable handout. If people insist on getting a full-size catalog (and they haven't placed an order), give them an old one from last season, but make sure it's marked as an old version. I give current catalogs only to people who book a show or place an order. My PWS address is on everything, so everyone else can still see the product line. But 95% of the people who ask for a catalog will not order. So don't waste your current ones.If you do have cash and carry items, put price tags on ALL of it. Including individual copies of SBRCs. You can use removable labels (Avery makes them; available at most office supply stores). I use the 30 to a page labels, and use 1/2 label on most items, 1/6 of a label on SBRCs. Using those labels allows you to easily change the prices you have on things, too (if you want to sell them so you don't have to crate them home, for instance).Send a follow-up email to your new contacts within 48 hours. It doesn't have to be long, just a thank you for stopping by, welcome to my newsletter, and mention of the current specials.[/QUOTE]
What I

 

[lisa morris]

What is a qsp?

Most of my cash and carry things are stuff that I earned or got free using host credit on "consultant as host" shows. When I sell them C&C, I round the prices up to cover tax, shipping, etc.

 

[esavvymom]

What is a qsp?

Quick Stir Pitcher

 

[JLMouton85]

I have my first vendor booth set up for Feb 13-15 and I am a brand new consultant! I am very excited and nervous at the same time. I want to keep it simple, but I would also like to do a few demonstrations with the products. There will be electricity at my booth so I may do some cooking. What are some great booth recipes that would be good to demonstrate? I definitely want to show off the Manual Food Processor, so I think for that I will make some sort of homemade salsa. What are some things you guys demonstrated at a booth that was easy?

 

[raebates]

I don't actually demonstrate food for consumption at booths. The laws governing food offered to the public vary from state to state.

 

[esavvymom]

I wouldn't either, because then people want to eat it. It consumes more of your time than you are probably really going to benefit from.However, perhaps if you demonstrated a product or two and use something as unappetizing as a potato...that might be doable in small doses. (Search files for Potato Show).
maybe you could do a short 5-minute simple demo at the top of every hour (and have a sign saying that). Then the rest of the time you can talk to folks, pass out your card/recipe card, etc.Personally, I wouldn't. especially if you are working the booth alone. Managing the demo and trying to talk to people might get tricky. It's tough enough without having to do a demo.

 

[Deborah Helser]

great tips, i have my booth this weekend and am stressing out on how much to take. I think i have almost everything i own but will scale back once i get the booth set up. thank goodness i have 2 hours in the morning to do this. and get packets ready now that i know what you went thru.. thanks much
traci

I AWAYS take TOO much! I was convinced by an attendee that I should have some "Cash'n Carry" on hand. Sometimes it draws people in some times it doesn't. I always hand out recipes as my "Business cards" but I put them in a small plastic coupon/file folder for them to choose their favorite, then I ask which one they chose and make conversation on the recipe...which leads to other topics like how to make it easier with a specific tool.

 

[Deborah Helser]

Ann, you're brilliant.

LOVE this I have a Health Fair at school tomorrow...so going to use this!

 

[CrescentChefCA]

I have been working on this idea for a while now - I hope that I can explain it okThis is not for a couple of hour’s setup but for a couple of day’s setupI have a set of cabinets - about 4ft I think – I would put a piece of counter top on it with a insert into it for a small tabletop burner (so this would look like a stove top – I would be able to display the cookware as if it was on a stove – I might even be able to do a small demonstration if I have electric ) Someone gave me a small sink (one that they call a bar sink) I would then have a half round circle attached to the back of it with a hinge (for easy travel - down for transport and up for display) and on top of this I would put my SA dinnerware. I would also think about taking 2 bar stools with me to set around the table.
(This cabinet would have industrial wheels on it and a toe kick to hide the wheels for easy moving it.)Just some added notes. I would place this cabinet in and up front as possible. I would also take a piece of linoleum (8x10 the size of the booth at least that is what my usually is) With the cabinet on top of this it would look like a kitchen. I would still have a 5 – 6ft table with products of it in the back of the booth. I have 2 small tables (1 ½ X 2 ½ ft) one for Recruiting and one for signing up for door prizes.I know this sounds like a lot but I have my totes set up in a way that I knew what goes where and so does whoever helps me. My recruiting stuff is in one tote and I labels my totes 1 -2 -3 -4 and that is how they go up on the table. Some totes are very small. I have a tote for my door prize drawing table also.I will also pack some things in the cabinet now. Before the cabinet thingy – I was able to set up less than 15 minutes – now it might take me about 30 minutes.I want my booth to stand out from everyone else’s. So a little extra work for people to say “LOOK AT THAT” I will go a little furtherPlease feel free to say that I am crazy for doing this because I have have already heard it many of timesOne added note - I started with this idea because at our home show in my hometown as I walked around, I noticed how other companies (nothing to do with direct sales) was setting theirs booths up - to look like their own business so I thought (I know I shouldn't do that but any way) why shouldn't I do that, to make it look like a kitchen with dining. So that is how the idea got started.:chef:

 

[CrescentChefCA]

Any Pictures of your lovely idea?
Kitchen set up sounds great!

 

[mspibb]

I take the MFP and some graham crackers to give people a chance to try it out. I take a plastic baggie and save the crumbs for recipes later, at least that is my intention!

 

[Paula Miller-Knipple]

Ok. So it seems we are getting into a season of Craft and Vendor fairs again. I've learned tons from reading different threads in here, but thought I'd start a thread where maybe we could share a few things we've learned when we've done booths.I am finishing up a week-long consignment sale, so I've learned a few things this week1) Don't overdo the display! Too much product seems to scare people off. Most people didn't even look at what I did have out. A few new products, if you have them, and a few key products from your kit or in my case, I used Kid-Friendly products because it was a kid's sale.(2) If you do a drawing, keep it simple.
I did a Grocery Bag w/2 season's best (Fall/Spring). I offered it to people who seemed more interested in PC or who stopped to look at my booth. I didn't offer it to everyone who walked by. I did offer Recipe cards though to most everyone who walked by. (most people took them) (3) Have the prize slips in an open container so you can slip them back OUT and make notes about the person you spoke to....
(ie.- kids? Products you discussed? Did you hand her certain items- like a recruiting info packet? Did she express interest in certain items or things about PC? etc. )(4) This one I learned/realized today- my 'AHA! moment. When you can, try to get the prize drawing slip handed to you directly, and take a look at it! Do it to see what their name is and Thank the person by their first name. I found this allowed me a couple of KEY THINGS: One- I could verify that I could read their name and that I got a phone or email contact, and TWO- I could glance and see if they showed interest in the business opportunity or hosting a show, and could then proceed from there!*At my booth this week, I wish I had done #4 sooner. I had 8 recruit leads so far (30% of my entries!) and 12 Hosting leads (almost 50%)!!! Had I been looking at the slips, I could have passed out my recruiting information packets on the spot, and then followed up. Now I have to make phone calls to get them the packets and then the 2nd follow up. Would have been so much better.And (5) - this ties with #4- HAVE YOUR 30-second Commercial READY! Know what you will say to a Recruit Lead or a Host lead! I did #4 and saw one lady wanted to host a show and was a "maybe" as a recruit lead...I fumbled on my words something terrible! I did give her a packet for information (recruiting), and said I'd call her this weekend to follow up. But how terrible I must have looked/sounded. So have what you are going to say ready and know it!Ok- so anyone else want to share what you have learned from doing booths?

What type of recipe cards did you offer?