First Vendors table a flop...encouragement needed

Desiree · 10-17-2005, 08:10 PM

my first table wa a flop. 1500 were supposed to show and maybe 100 did and most of them were vendors and dancers. I am still learning how to display and where to get materials for a good one, so it was a good experience. I am a little discouraged, maybe my work wasnt so good? Have you had a table that flopped? To the more experienced is this something i shoul expect? Next time i am going to strp up my game. I did learn my family loved the experience and want to do it all the time. I needed that support. a little words please...
Thanx

**Ta'neeszahnii Techno** · 10-17-2005, 08:16 PM

Maybe you did have what you wanted to sell, but the buyers were looking for something else. That sounds funny, but maybe it had to do with only 100 people instead of 1,500. The experience is worth its weight in gold. Wait for the next one where you might get lucky and get all the business you need. Getting that first customer is the most difficult.

Desiree · 10-17-2005, 08:26 PM

thank you.
am sure the number of people attended played a big part but i still cant help feeling i could have sold more. I am very shy i think that might be it too. Thanx for your words

Blue Poet · 10-17-2005, 10:30 PM

Pow-wow committees (particularly for the non-national draws) are going to inflate numbers when marketing for vendors. I always made sure to hit the pow-wow once before selling there. And like someone else said, you may have a nice product, but if it isn't hot, isn't packaged appealingly it won't sell. Do you take plastic? Alot of vendors don't, and it hurts their business. Alot of us Skins are cash poor but, man oh man, take our plastic and we're there!

Desiree · 10-17-2005, 10:34 PM

no i didnt offer plastic, where could i get one of those machines for my table?

**WocusWoman** · 10-18-2005, 01:21 AM

You have to pay a bit to offer credit card as payment, that's why I don't do it. Yes, I've had a couple of flops in the past 10 years I've been vending on my own. You live and learn. Don't continue to do sales that stink... Checking out an event a year ahead is really good advice. I only sell or continue to sell, what sells. Sometimes I'll bead or make a new item, and end up having to mark down my price in order to get rid of it the next year. Most importantly concentrate you efforts on areas you are strongest at. My table is well known for having the best beaded hair barrettes; I have people who come back year after year to add to their collection, and it's a real compliment to have that following. Don't give up after just one sale. But don't bust the bank either. I always look it as being worth while if I've made my table fee back; earned minimum wage for my time and made at least 10% additional on sales.

**bahnisiain** · 10-18-2005, 10:57 AM

the first time i det my table to sell i think i made one sale the whole weekend. i was soo disappointed at that. there were not a lot of people at the event and where they had the vendors was no where near where the main event was. the following year i made money at the same event. its one of those events where they learn what not to do each time. i think had a lot of people come around my table, a potion of those bought items. almost everyone who did stop at my table made positive comments on my handiwork, which was enouraging.

one thing i would say is to have business cards out so people can take them, they made not need something now, but down the road they would and just may call you for an item. i did that and got several orders.

Desiree · 10-18-2005, 07:39 PM

Everyones words of encouragement have been great and so has your advice. With everything i have learned over the past few months i think my next table is going to be much much better than the first. i am just mostly excited that my family really wants to do this with me. I also found consignment at a shop in tiqua to help me out. Things are looking up and i am staying positive. Thanx again everyone!

creative soaper · 10-19-2005, 01:13 AM

I've been up and down the coast of california setting up and some venues were top notch others flopped! Just like any retail some days are good some not just depending what economy is like and if people are in the luck of having cash to dole out. but stick with it. gain a reputation for your work. I've been to the large crowd drawing powwows and the small time powwows but like someone mentioned not to many powwowing people buy its the visitors that are the buyers. Give them a smile when you see a potential buyer and make eye contact its easier to draw someone to your table. I do this on the side because carving and creating is my passion but if your in it for the money well don't expect to much every setup. good luck!

Desiree · 10-19-2005, 05:16 PM

I am a student and have a carrer goal but right now i could use the money. I know its not something to make big bucks, but i am hoping it will help with the light bill.

WhoMe · 10-19-2005, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desiree

I am very shy i think that might be it too. Thanx for your words

Desiree,

A shy salesman will not sell as much as a personable one. You don't have to be agressive or false just be personable. Customers appreciate friendliness and helpfulness. If they know the background of a product this can often sway a customer into buying.

Desiree · 10-19-2005, 06:27 PM

I am friendly when they get to the table but bringing them in has been hard. anyone beyond four feet from the table and i clam up...

WhoMe · 10-19-2005, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desiree

I am friendly when they get to the table but bringing them in has been hard. anyone beyond four feet from the table and i clam up...

Body posture and facial expression let people know if your approachable. This is true in sales, snagging and making friends!

A friendly "How you doin' today" is usually all it takes to get people to check out your booth.

**walela49** · 11-01-2005, 01:19 PM

my first booth was a flop too! LOL...it had a lot to do with the timing of the powwow...first week of school...alllll the vendors were complaining that nobody was spending money!

i had shawls, bags, beadwork, botanicals (sage and stuff) etc...then I also had a little candy and some pokemon cards! LOL oh man...Graham Primeaux Jr loved those cards...thanks to him I made almost $10 the whole weekend! ROFLMAO

10-17-2005, 08:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
Desiree Apache Pride Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Mexico Posts: 394	First Vendors table a flop...encouragement needed my first table wa a flop. 1500 were supposed to show and maybe 100 did and most of them were vendors and dancers. I am still learning how to display and where to get materials for a good one, so it was a good experience. I am a little discouraged, maybe my work wasnt so good? Have you had a table that flopped? To the more experienced is this something i shoul expect? Next time i am going to strp up my game. I did learn my family loved the experience and want to do it all the time. I needed that support. a little words please... Thanx

10-18-2005, 10:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
bahnisiain Eastern Blanket Dancer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: CT Posts: 1,800 Blog Entries: 2	the first time i det my table to sell i think i made one sale the whole weekend. i was soo disappointed at that. there were not a lot of people at the event and where they had the vendors was no where near where the main event was. the following year i made money at the same event. its one of those events where they learn what not to do each time. i think had a lot of people come around my table, a potion of those bought items. almost everyone who did stop at my table made positive comments on my handiwork, which was enouraging. one thing i would say is to have business cards out so people can take them, they made not need something now, but down the road they would and just may call you for an item. i did that and got several orders. __________________ Bahnisiain www.myspace.com/bahnisiain

10-18-2005, 07:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
Desiree Apache Pride Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Mexico Posts: 394	Thanx Everyones words of encouragement have been great and so has your advice. With everything i have learned over the past few months i think my next table is going to be much much better than the first. i am just mostly excited that my family really wants to do this with me. I also found consignment at a shop in tiqua to help me out. Things are looking up and i am staying positive. Thanx again everyone!

10-19-2005, 01:13 AM	#9 (permalink)
creative soaper Tiny Tot Dancer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Round Valley RezzR/California Posts: 30	reputation I've been up and down the coast of california setting up and some venues were top notch others flopped! Just like any retail some days are good some not just depending what economy is like and if people are in the luck of having cash to dole out. but stick with it. gain a reputation for your work. I've been to the large crowd drawing powwows and the small time powwows but like someone mentioned not to many powwowing people buy its the visitors that are the buyers. Give them a smile when you see a potential buyer and make eye contact its easier to draw someone to your table. I do this on the side because carving and creating is my passion but if your in it for the money well don't expect to much every setup. good luck! __________________ Without a job, a man is hard lucked; without money, a man is poor; without a family, a man is nothing

11-01-2005, 01:19 PM	#14 (permalink)
walela49 the legal plumes lady! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: www.walela49.com Posts: 1,160	my first booth was a flop too! LOL...it had a lot to do with the timing of the powwow...first week of school...alllll the vendors were complaining that nobody was spending money! i had shawls, bags, beadwork, botanicals (sage and stuff) etc...then I also had a little candy and some pokemon cards! LOL oh man...Graham Primeaux Jr loved those cards...thanks to him I made almost $10 the whole weekend! ROFLMAO __________________ See my trading post ads See my photo gallery See walela49's myspace page

10-17-2005, 08:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ta'neeszahnii Techno PowWows.com Addicts Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Tsézhintah, AZ Posts: 7,453	Maybe you did have what you wanted to sell, but the buyers were looking for something else. That sounds funny, but maybe it had to do with only 100 people instead of 1,500. The experience is worth its weight in gold. Wait for the next one where you might get lucky and get all the business you need. Getting that first customer is the most difficult.

10-17-2005, 08:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
Desiree Apache Pride Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Mexico Posts: 394	thank you. am sure the number of people attended played a big part but i still cant help feeling i could have sold more. I am very shy i think that might be it too. Thanx for your words

10-17-2005, 10:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
Blue Poet Junior Dancer Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 146	Pow-wow committees (particularly for the non-national draws) are going to inflate numbers when marketing for vendors. I always made sure to hit the pow-wow once before selling there. And like someone else said, you may have a nice product, but if it isn't hot, isn't packaged appealingly it won't sell. Do you take plastic? Alot of vendors don't, and it hurts their business. Alot of us Skins are cash poor but, man oh man, take our plastic and we're there!

10-17-2005, 10:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
Desiree Apache Pride Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Mexico Posts: 394	no i didnt offer plastic, where could i get one of those machines for my table?

10-18-2005, 01:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
WocusWoman N8tiffUmatillaMAMA Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Interior Alaska Posts: 2,740	You have to pay a bit to offer credit card as payment, that's why I don't do it. Yes, I've had a couple of flops in the past 10 years I've been vending on my own. You live and learn. Don't continue to do sales that stink... Checking out an event a year ahead is really good advice. I only sell or continue to sell, what sells. Sometimes I'll bead or make a new item, and end up having to mark down my price in order to get rid of it the next year. Most importantly concentrate you efforts on areas you are strongest at. My table is well known for having the best beaded hair barrettes; I have people who come back year after year to add to their collection, and it's a real compliment to have that following. Don't give up after just one sale. But don't bust the bank either. I always look it as being worth while if I've made my table fee back; earned minimum wage for my time and made at least 10% additional on sales.

10-19-2005, 05:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
Desiree Apache Pride Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Mexico Posts: 394	I am a student and have a carrer goal but right now i could use the money. I know its not something to make big bucks, but i am hoping it will help with the light bill.

10-19-2005, 06:27 PM	#12 (permalink)
Desiree Apache Pride Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Mexico Posts: 394	I am friendly when they get to the table but bringing them in has been hard. anyone beyond four feet from the table and i clam up...