Need some advice

[wubbawurm63]

Do any of you do outdoor shows? And do you have any advice for me? I am getting ready to do a few different one's and I would like to know what might I do and not do to make it a good experience for myself as well as my visitors.

[kipbass]

http://www.caneycreekmolds.net/index.php?topic=3157.msg21807;topicseen#msg21807
Maybe BigHawg will give you some info.

[wubbawurm63]

Thanks Kb!

[Botanophilia]

Not outdoor specific, but I've been to plenty of trade shows for my industry and have vended at a few as well.  Don't be the guy sitting in a chair in the back of your booth.  Be on your feet and say hello to everyone that walks past, even if they aren't really slowing down to look.  You'll be tired and sore and it will make for a long day, even when  you're used to being on your feet all day.  But it can make all the difference in the world. 

[CrabbyBass]

I have done three outdoor shows and a craft show the craft show being the worst of the four. I hated guys that stopped to talk fishing and then walked away without buying anything. Most of our sales came from women buying gifts. Like botanophilia said, make sure you say hello to everyone that walks past your booth. I had so many sales from guys that were going to walk past had I not said anything to them. Also learn to deal with rejection. You will get a ton of it. Either they will say they don't fish plastics or they have too many. Our biggest customers were the younger crowd. It seemed the 15-30 year old guys were the ones buying the most from us. Anyway, good luck and let us know how you do.

Chuck

[Botanophilia]

I had so many sales from guys that were going to walk past had I not said anything to them.

Ditto.  People are looking more ahead than sideways.  Unless you have something amazing that catches their eye from a distance, people are done looking in your booth by the time they walk past.  Greeting them slows them down and gets them to take a look directly in the booth, THEN they see they should stop and take a look.  All it takes is a simple friendly Hello.  Good luck at your shows!  I've got an event coming up Thurs Fri and Sat.  Thurs will be a hell of a day, I'll be on my feet from 8am to 10pm.  But it's going to be fun, and hopefully profitable. 

[floridagrimp]

Shows in Florida are expensive, so u have to turn a buck or two. It's always good to put some VALID promo/sale items out front (i.e. I do 3, 3.5. 4 in. carrots for 3 bags for $5)...if u aren't an established vendor they come to.

[MO QWACK]

Lighting!!!! If they can't see how pretty the baits are they ain't going to buy em. Transparent and highlights look so much better with good light shinning though em. That's what I hate about bass pro I can't see a dang thing in there.

[Jerry V]

Lighting!!!! If they can't see how pretty the baits are they ain't going to buy em. Transparent and highlights look so much better with good light shinning though em. That's what I hate about bass pro I can't see a dang thing in there.

TRUTH... 

[wubbawurm63]

Thanks to all for your input! Looks like I have a lot of work ahead of me, but that's ok! No pain no gain right? I love making baits and sharing them with others, so I think it will be fun. Thanks again.

[Brent]

I have worked the shows here in Illinois, both for myself as well as for other companies.
*Location of your booth is huge, the closer to the middle the better, many times people will walk past the first rows to see if there is a better deal, but for some reason they never get all the way to the end, unless they are leaving.
*Get a girl.......biggest seller in your booth will be a decent looking female
*Give away to the kids, if your dealing plastics, they are cheap but giving a small sample to a kid often can be a game changer, I have seen it with the guys that make the Musky tubes on a broom handle, they give a kid one, and then Dad turns around and buys 1 or 2 more.
*Square Up and PayPal both now have virtual credit card terminals that work on a smart phone, both charge somewhere close to 2.75%
* Again as mentioned smile, shake hands, and kiss babies no sitting in a chair
* A small fish tank or something to show the action of the plastics
* Make sure you have biz cards, so many times I see guys at a show, they sell stuff but the customer has no idea how to get more if they like them. Even if you make a couple sample packets for the kids staple a biz card to it, that way when dad steals it and finds out how good it is, they can get more.
* got a website? Make sure it is the best it can be, during and after your show people will visit, make sure it is easy to navigate, keeps their attention

[ctom]

All good points here. I say that clutter is a no-no. Keep your booth clear of clutter and stay well organized. Keep YOURSELF well neat appearing: slacks [new blue jeans ok] with a good pair of shoes and a show shirt with your product logo, your name as owner. On the shirt, don't have it loaded up with Lund and Evinrude and Bass Pro Shops and all other sortd of logos....you want to emphasize your product and company name. If you are not selling something for someone else, don't have it on your shirt.

The part about having a sample jar handy is great, especially when it comes to kids. Kids and women are often over-looked at a "man's" show but they also have to be paid attention too. If a woman or a child asks a question be sure to answer it as clearly and concisely as you would a guy but in wording they'll understand. Men at shows with the little lady or the family will notice that interaction. When I did a lot of seminars and spoke, the firsst thing I did was to ackowledge the women and the children in the audience.

[Denny Welch]

If possible, have a buddy there with you who can tie up some jigs while you're selling product.  A fly tying vise, painted jig heads, rubber or silicone skirt material, wire  and a pair of scissors and you're good to go.  You would be amazed how many people will stop and watch that guy tie those jigs.  When done, give the jig to one of the kids and start on another one.  If the tyer can crack a couple jokes or talk people through the process you will be amazed at the number of people stopping by your booth and walking by the others.  Guaranteed!  (You could also put one of your plastic trailers on the jig and throw it into the fish tank.)

[wilks19]

If you have the room on your table, put out a display of "rigged" lures/plastics.  Make sure to put tape over the hooks so no one gets poked.  That was a key to a lot of our sales.  Also, the fish tank was a great hit with the kids.  The kids would come up and look at it.  We had 4 ice rods rigged up with different lures and a clasp on the line for easy swaps for people to see a particular lure they were interested in.  Good luck and let us know how you did.

[wubbawurm63]

Thanks for all of the great tips! You guys are awesome! I think I'm going to need a bigger booth! And I think I will have to recruit a few family members. Thank all of you so much for your help.