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Creative Displays - continued By Michelle Sholund - a CraftLister.com Craft Expert about page personal website  based on 199 ratings Viewed 2108 times Printed 6 times
Not too long ago I wrote on this topic and focused a lot on color and so on, but did you know there are other ways to attract customers to your booth?
Think about this... you are at a show, you look at a fellow crafts person across from you and beside you... What do you notice? Are these people sitting - maybe reading a book or falling asleep? Are their displays flat - having no dimension and in turn you notice customers don't give the person across from you the time of day. Now look at yourself - and be honest - How do you compare yourself to what you see?
THE best way to attract people to your booth is to make it lively, fun and energetic! Think about the person behind a fast food counter - and he/she says the same expressionless (from one customer to the next) saying "may I take your order". If someone a little more energetic says the same thing aren't you more likely to want to talk to that lively person over the one who appears to be "forced" to take your order? The same goes for your shows and you must be busy doing simple things - straightening up, dusting, going over your receipts, taking pictures of your items, re-arranging your overstock that is under your display, getting gift bags ready, double checking to see if prices are clearly marked.... If you sit there, ignoring what is going on around you it tells customers you are bored, your items are boring and you can't be bothered. Just because someone thinks you things are cute and yet may be likely to walk to the next booth this should tell you, hey - this person likes what I - ME - I am selling - I should tell them a little more about my pieces... And you should. Most people want to be left alone to browse but once they open their mouth to ask you a question - however rediculous the question - this is them saying I am not a browser but a buyer... These people - in their mind - are thinking, this could look nice here, or I like it but don't know what to do with it - a bit of time educating your customers about your items, is what selling is all about! The worst thing you can do is just be a bump on a log - how else will you get people to want your products if there is no action or excitement... Try this next time your booth is in a slow period... the next potential customer who walks by ask him/her if they think xyz looks better on one side vs. the other or "Can I get your opinion on something? I was thinking of doing some different colors to my selections, what do you think would be nice to add?" - getting a conversation like that going with anyone will get people wondering what is going on in your booth, have others who over hear come and give their opinions and then before you know it you have people not just browsing but buying too...
Another thing is dimension - raise your tables - think about it, you normally sit at tables but shop and look at things on counters or shelving systems. Tables are great but using something as simple as pieces of pvc pipe making the legs higher will bring your tables more to eye level. Also using some sort of crates, clear plastic cubes, or anything else imaginative to create different levels you will get noticed. Think of a place you shop at - is everything all on the same level - I bet you it isn't. If you sell knit scarves, try hanging them as if on a clothes line, photographs - hang them on walls - don't let them be flat on your display - same for wreaths too and many other items as well. Just imagine if two people came into your booth and blocked some of your items from view from the aisles, but you have some items just above their height and others can see this - this will encourage others to be curious enough to wonder what is going on in that booth...
I also want to add, having some sort of lighting in your booth will help too. It doesn't have to be super expensive either - and don't get wrapped up in the - its too expensive to pay for electricity/lighting. Think this, people - like insects - are attracted to lights. Lights show off jewelry (makes them sparkle), see details in paintings/photos, and in general brighten a dark area in the facility where your shows take place. If you pay say $25 for electricity and no one else uses lighting in your area, guess what - people will flock to your booth because they can see what you are selling and not what others are selling. This will lead to at least a $100-300 increase in your sales (depending on the price of the items you sell - some more than that maybe a little less than $100). But earning an extra $75 (once you take the $25 electricity fee out of the profit) - isn't that worth the investment??? Try Christmas lights, desk lamps, even candles and lanterns to first before you get into the heavy duty lamps you see at fine art and craft shows, Major Expos and wholesale/gift shows.
Lastly, make your booth an experience! Add some light sounds - birds chirping if you sell bird houses or ocean waves if your booth has an ocean theme. Scents add a nice atmosphere to booths as well - something as simple as spraying Fabreeze on your table cloths/linens works well or say if you sell candles burn one or two or use candle warmers if there are fire restrictions at some facilities... - even if you don't sell candles, you can still burn very soft scented candles to convey a sense of warmth or energy in your booth. Promote people to touch your items, feel how heavy a piece of jewelry is or how smooth the grain is on a wooden product - chances are if they touch it they are more likely to buy it. And taste, if you make foods, offering free samples should be high on your list of things to attract customers or maybe even offering people a treat/mint from a candy dish helps too. This works well especially if someone has a coughing fit and just needs something to suck on - in that sense you'll be a life-savor and chances are they will reward you back with a sale.
I encourage you to try just one of these things and comment back here on your own findings. I bet you, that you will find that trying just one of these suggestions will help boost your sales - I dare you! - Grammy
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