Thursday, February 12, 2009

Manning Booths at a Fair

By Geoffrey Higgins

Manning a booth at craft show is not a simple task. Sure, you can decide to end at setting up your booth, and just hope that the presentation is enough to bait customers like fish with worms. But, I must say, that attitude is similar to that of some hired, disinterested salesperson.

Obviously, that's not what you do when you set up at a craft show. This is real work, and you'll need to be on your feet for this. Selling your crafts is not the same as fishing; it's rather akin to slowly enticing a pet to trust you. Get their attention first via bait, and build up their trust by ensuring going after that bait will be to their benefit.

What am I talking about? That's simple. Be on the lookout for potential customers, and when they do show interest by lingering in your booth, that is your cue to act. Approach them, give them a warm smile, and talk about your product.

This is why it's always best if you showcase your work yourself. If it's something you've made yourself, chances are you'll have a special bond with it, and you will find you'll be able to take about it with enthusiasm. Let the customers see how special your craft is. This will really help in convincing would-be buyers to purchase your items in the end.

It is only fair to warn you against overdoing this sort of thing. So, what should you refrain from doing when talking to your customers, then?

*Firstly, don't drown them in technical terms. They want to appreciate your art, not mimic it, so they don't have to be bothered with that.

*Don't make the conversation all about you. Craftsmen are usually admired because of the quality of their work, not by how awesome the craftsman is. And lastly,

*You're having a conversation, not giving a speech. Ask them questions, listen to their concerns, and have them ask questions, too. Have a dynamic conversation with them and be friendly, which may eventually lead to them purchasing your product.

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