WAHM Forums

and no inventory!!

Hi everyone - I posted a similar message on my Yahoo Group's board, too, and got a couple of great responses. Now I'm down to two choices. Here's my
situation ...

A local hardware/home improvement store is having its seventh annual Ladies' Nite on December 6, just in time for holiday shopping! They market to business and professional women, but all are welcome. They provide a dinner, and then the ladies can shop the vendors that have set up booths in the store.

I've signed on to do this show ... the cool part is they only allow one of each kind of vendor, so I'll be the only candle person there! I'm psyched about it, but I have no inventory at all, other than my first (and soon second) COTM stuff. So I was thinking about ordering the Fast Start Pack. But I think I need more than 12 candles. And it was also suggested to me that I should have a couple of simmer pots and more melts, as many women can use these in their offices as opposed to candles. Only one pot comes with the FS pack.

So should I get the pack, or should I order stuff separately? I can't really tie up $500 in product with no guarantee that I'll sell it all. I know I can take orders at the show, too, and will do that. I also plan on having one of the new Entry Form boxes, along with Fundraiser info and business brochures.

It was also suggested that I put some gift baskets together, and take orders for those. I thought that was a good idea.

So, for those of you who've done shows, how much product did you have? I don't have a number of people who attended in the past, but we are pretty rural. This show, though, is put on by a long-running family business with a strong loyal customer base. So I imagine that they pull a decent number.

Arggh, I'm confused, can you tell?! ANY advice and suggestions would be so much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Debbie

How many hours is the event? http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley4.gif

It goes from 5 pm to 8 pm, so not very long ... and that includes the dinner.

Hi Debbie,
My advice...go for the Fast Start Pack. You will have everything that is in the product line to show. If you sell it all, that's great! You can always buy more! If you don't, well, then you're going to need itto build your business anyway.

Bring your COTM shipment too, and display it. It's a nice way to visually "show" someone the program.

Have fun!
Deb

I agree with Miss Clough. You'll actually have 14 jars, plus all the other great stuff. I love being able to show all of our products! Having a variety of product will appeal to everyone!

Good luck and let us know how it goes!Edited by: Candlemama

Hi Debbie!!

It really depends on what you want!

If you choose to invest in the Fast Start Pack, they will send you the top selling 12 jars in the case of jars.

But if you would like other jars, you can request them ifarrange that in advance with Mia Bella.

If that's what you would like, I would give Customer Service a call, tell them that you are going to be ordering the Fast Start Pack and would like to choose your own scents.

Let me know if I can help you in any way!



Lorihttp://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley20.gif

I had my first show this past weekend, and had my jars priced at $15/each, and only sold one jar the entire weekend. I had about 30 different scents in votives though, and managed to bring home almost $250 cash. (Votives were 2/$5). The jar I sold wasnt even a popular jar, it was a discontinued Ginseng Energizer!!

I sold several of the SOCP car fresheners as well ($3), but none of the bath & body stuff sold. I was very surprised!

Good luck!!

IMO the fast pack would be ideal. You would have a nice representation of most of our products to sell immediatelyplus you would have the sample bag for folks to experience all of our amazing scents and possibly place orders for even more product. I’m sure whatever you decide will be fine. Good luck! http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley1.gif



Cindy ~<?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for all your advice and suggestions. I have decided to go with the Fast Start Pack. And I think I'll order one or two extra bags of melts, too, and bag them up in pairs. I'll get more "mileage" out of them that way. I'll have 17 candles to take with me unless I sell some of what I've currently got between now and then. So with those plus all the other goodies, I think that'll be plenty. It is a short show, only a couple of hours. But what a cool problem that would be ... to run out of product!!

Now here's another question. If people do place orders, should I have them dropshipped, or deliver them? I see advantages to both, but also disadvantages. I'm especially thinking of my time (and gas money) if I deliver, since we're very rural. But if I dropship, I won't be able to include any of my info on the products.

I also am going to get my reseller's license before I order the FS pack, because that would be a BIG hit for taxes. I'm in New York, where it's 7.25%! So hopefully I can get that in plenty of time to order my supplies.

Thanks so much for all your helpful advice - you're all great!
Debbie

Hi Debbie,
I'm sure whatever you decide will be fine, too.

I just had my first show last Sat. I thought about ordering the Fast Pack but chose instead to order a 12 case of candles, 4 simmer pots, and 10 packages of Melts.

I sold 6 jars and I haven't counted the melts yet. Actually I have a show thing weekend so my car is still packed, lol.

Last year I did this same show but I only had 3 jars! I sold one, gave away one in a drawing, and had the other left over. So now I know I need product for that show.

I divided my melts and sold quite a few at 2 for $5 (2 melts in a pack). This weekend I'm going for $2 a pack after reading some of the posts.

Good luck in whatever you do! Iknow this Message Board has helped me immensely! Blessings, Jamie