The following tips are recommended for a small retail shop participating in an arts & crafts holiday fair or a Christmas bazaar.
Up to 6 weeks in advance:
1. Make a list and check it twice; more often if a tendency to misplace lists exists.
2. Brand your booth with the following items: (These can be purchased "free" at www.vistaprint.com for only the cost of shipping) banners, business cards, calendar magnets, rack cards, etc.
3. Invite friends and recruit plenty of help for the actual sale day.
4. Inventory your products (something old, something new): ordering too late could cost a sale so make sure to have plenty of that "most popular"' and "brand new" item on hand for the big day.
5. Print out a readable price list, stickers and tags get lost in the shuffle: whole dollar amounts (round $4.95 to $5) will make it much easier to make change at the actual event.
6. Get in the spirit of the event with tablecloths, decorations, centerpieces, etc. that reflect the holiday theme.
At the event:
7. Provide a sample to all interested traffic (if you are selling perfume, spray a business card "to go", free recipe cards for a food booth, etc.).
8. A sale isn't a sale unless there is a discount: offer 20% or more off the regular price and be sure to bring a calculator.
9. Feed the impulse buyer: the 'five and dime' has acquired dollar signs so be sure to have at least one $5-$10 item for the impulse buyers, perhaps no higher than $30 unless you are prepared to take checks or credit cards.
10. Stage your products: the most expensive jewelry looks better on a hand, the most beautiful scarf around a neck, an exquisite 'wine charm' dressing a crystal goblet, the idea is to show off the goods (baskets, boxes, bags)!
11. Have an appropriate cash drawer, money bag, or register, with plenty of change (makes both dollars and sense).
12. Remember the true meaning of the event: Christmas is a celebration of the Christ child's birth. Arrive early, have fun, be of good cheer, suggest appropriate gifts, and be thankful for all blessings from Above.
Author: Victoria Otto from Victorian Laurels @ www.victorianlaurels.com
Contributors: Linda from Charmed Victorian @ www.charmedvictorian.com
Debbie from Cozy Cottage @ www.cozycottage.com
All of the above shops can be found in one place: Victorian Heart Shoppe mall @ www.victorianheartshoppe.com
Victoria Otto is the owner and CEO of the retail website, Victorian Laurels, and the membership mall, Victorian Heart Shoppe. Her newest venture is as the Editor of an online magazine called Victorian Etc. She has a BS in Mathematics and is a retired school teacher of twenty-five years. Victoria lives in New Mexico with her husband, Jeff, and their dogs, Duke & Roscoe.
