November 2020
So you decided to turn that woodworking hobby into a full time side job. Maybe, you love collectible dolls and would like to have a business buying and selling them. Or you’re a current vendor at Canton First Monday Trade Days just looking for some useful information. Whatever the case may be, here are some tips to help increase business during those 4 precious days a month in Canton, TX.
Price Things to Move
Most people that frequent flea markets, bazaars, and Canton First Monday Trade Days are looking for great deals. Keep this in mind when pricing your wares. Pay attention to how similar items are priced at other vendors. Unless your items have definite value advantages that justify higher prices, there’s the real possibility that they might remain in your booth if they are priced out of the market.
Know what your costs are, however, and price things so that you cover those with some left over. The whole point of being there selling stuff is to go home with money in the bank.
Make sure that your items are clearly priced. Clear pricing encourages shoppers to come in and take a look. If shoppers see no pricing, they could keep going out of fear of having to tell you no thanks when you give them the price.
Location, Location, Location
Yes, it really is that important. If you are serious about making money, before you rent a booth or space, scout it out. Find out where your competition is and is not. Do you want/need a covered space if they are available? Look at traffic patterns. Observe the shoppers in areas that interest you. Are they engaging with other vendors? Do you see a lot of sales taking place? What types of items are they buying? Are they similar to what you are selling?
If possible, get a booth or space at an entrance where shoppers would see you immediately. If you do rent a location and decide that it might not be a good fit for you after a weekend or two, don’t hesitate about asking to move. The property managers want you to make money because that means you are renting space from them. Depending on your venue, they will more than likely be amenable to addressing your location concerns if you ask.
Have a Nice Presentation
Product placement and arrangement in your selling space, whether you have a permanent booth or a tent in the fields, is important and speaks to your target shopper. Depending on your venue and products, you might need to decide between a curated display and the bargain basement exhibition. Both have their places. The curated display will appeal to the impulse buyer that sees a scene and then wants to purchase the items to duplicate the style. The bargain basement, where things are just sort packed in, invites shoppers to enjoy the thrill of the hunt.
Either way you go, make sure it appears neat and orderly and is inviting to your intended customer. Use tablecloths on your tables to prevent a dirty table from distracting from your products. Add shelves to highlight, distribute, and organize items. Have good lighting, as far as possible. A well lit booth is bright and inviting. You can even use light to highlight and draw attention to products and pieces to get shoppers to stop and look.
If you have a permanent booth, another tip is to ensure that you redistribute your items between shows so your booth doesn’t become stale looking to repeat shoppers.
Have Plenty of Inventory
Ensure that your space is well stocked. Of course this does depend on your products, but generally speaking, a “full” space, one with more inventory, seems to draw in more shoppers than one that is less full. This is why supermarkets and retail shops keep their shelves fully stocked. Shoppers tend to feel more at home and at ease in a space that has lots of stuff. It gives them time to “browse” and sort of get acquainted with your offerings. Always bring more inventory than you intend on selling so that you can restock through the day or weekend as necessary.
That said, there is of course a fine line between TOO much and not enough. Don’t have your space so packed full that shoppers can’t move around or actually browse through your offerings.
Interact with Shoppers
Sales is all about people. Literally. Be friendly and inviting to the people passing by and the ones that stop to look at what you have for sale. Say hi to folks as they walk by. Don’t stalk shoppers as they browse your booth. Give them some space to look around and be curious on their own. But, do listen to what they actually say and body language that indicates that they want to chat or might have a question.
Don’t get upset when shoppers want to haggle. For a lot of people, that’s what a flea market is about. If you have a “low as I can go” price already, politely inform them that you really have no wiggle room and the price marked is the firm price.
Don’t try to push random stuff on shoppers when they have not really expressed any interest in it. It has the potential to turn them off and possibly prevent them from finding something that they might want.
Other Aspects of the Business
Think about setting up an account to accept credit cards if you only accept cash. These days it is easier than ever as there are multiple different ways to do it with smart phones. Yes, you’ll have to pay the 3% to 5% in fees, but a lot of people these days just don’t carry cash and the ATM surcharges can be a major obstacle to people getting cash. A small fee is a small price for more sales. You can always adjust your pricing over time if necessary.
Don’t rely on just organic traffic to drive shoppers and sales to your booth. Think about marketing. Social networking is sort of a bad word these days, but you can use it to help increase your business. Set up a Facebook, Instagram, website, and/or Pinterest page for your business and booth. Pick the ones that you enjoy using and keep them updated and active with news and products. Also, make sure to describe exactly where you are located so that potential shoppers can easily find you.
Be sure to make Canton Shopping Guide part of your marketing strategy. It’s the premier shopping guide focused on Canton First Monday Trade Days.
