Who's sold at flea markets/craft fairs, etc.?

[MandyT]

I am definitely going to go for setting up a booth at my city's AWESOME flea market... at a total space cost of $40 for Sunday (the busiest day) I think it would be well worth it!

Any tips for what I need to do to be successful? I feel like the "ideal" would be to have a GC table runner, banner, samplers, demo candles burning, catalogs/order forms, business cards, mints, plenty of opportunity tealights/contact cards, and a decent inventory on hand to boot. Can't afford that much stuff immediately... anyone with experience with this type of event that can help me with the "must haves"? I'm most worried about the inventory on hand part... if I even book 2-3 parties it would be well worth the space, but I'd like to make some sales as well. Since I can only do it twice a year without getting a resale permit, I want to make the most of it. In your experience, is a lot of inventory necessary, or will people be willing to order?

[CandleClaire]

This sounds like a great way to get your name out in your community, Mandy!!
I have some suggestions based on what I've done in the past and also what others have told me.
Display: A thrift store table cloth works as well as an official GC runner. A banner is nice, but again, printed signs inside of thrift store frames look just as professonal and Gold Canyon offers us free use of great images and promotional flyers in Essentials Online.
You may find that the venue does not allow open flame. In that case you want to have Suddenly Scented items on hand to scent your space.....room spray, linen scent, auto freshener, a diffuser, or if there is electricity...a pod warmer and scent pod.

Inventory.....my best sellers at venues that do not know me well and are not holiday time are tealights and individual auto fresheners. Most people who will buy from you will buy after 5-12 exposures to your product. I would have one or two large candles on hand in a very popular scent such as Clean Sheets or Ginger Lime. But, as far as the rest of the inventory.....I would focus more on getting CONTACTS at the flea market, rather than sales. The sales will come later. You want them to remember you and remember your product...and the key to this is Tealight Samples.

At one large event last year I made gift basket featuring a Homeology Cleaner, Papaya Passion Citronella Candle, and barbecue items. Of course a catalog in there, as well!! I took completed contact cards as entries to the drawing. I entered all of those contacts into my customer database, and they started getting my monthly e-newsletter each month. The following week, I started calling these people to ask them how they liked the Tealight Sample I gave them and this gave a great start to my business branching out from those I already knew!!!!! You can even add additional prizes to the drawing such as "50% off one item" or any of the other credits/coupons that you can get off the 26 oz Strike It Gold Candles. Then when you call people, just tell them they have won 50% off any price item at their party!! This might drum up some bookings!!

In addition, I would focus on FUNDRAISER and DEMONSTRATOR OPPORTUNITY information at your booth.

Number one important thing is....spend your money on tealight samples, and get follow up contact info. That is where your Gold from a vendor event will come from. And dont forget to make friends with the other vendors!! They may prove your best customers out of the deal!!

I hope this helps you in your adventure to get started with the flea market!!!

[CandleClaire]

Oh....dont forget your scent samples and coffee beans!!!!

[skcandles]

Definitely focus on the contacts!

My experience has been that at flea markets, people are looking for deals. Which can make it harder. I agree with claire, tealights and the suddenly scented items are a great way to go

[MandyT]

WOW, thanks again Claire for all the fabulous ideas!!! For me, the hardest part of this business is the WAITING to do something that requires advance planning! LOL... I am ready to hit the flea market NOW! How many Opportunity Tealights should I stock up on, in your experience??

Yes, I totally agree on the looking for deals thing... after reading a detailed document on the yahoo group about street fair type events, I've decided to forgo inventory for now and just focus on getting attention. An ASK ME FOR A FREE CANDLE (AND HOW TO GET EVEN MORE)! sign should get the deal-seekers!!! LOL Also, hopefully the prospect of getting free products for having a party will appeal to the flea market crowd. I have a new friend who just moved to the area who has her own accessory business, and we were just talking today about sharing a booth at the flea market to keep that cost down even more!

[CandleClaire]

how many Tealight samples to distribute....well, depends on how many new customers you want to have on your list to follow up with...........

For a three day festival i went through 200 lol but that was asking EVERY SINGLE PERSON if they like candles and if they would like to enter my drawing.

[skcandles]

Maybe 3 boxes, just so you have some of each scent? And there are lots of uses for them if you don't hand them all out at the flea market.

[golden_embers]

If you are going to have any inventory at a booth, the formula is the power of 3. Example: 3 5 oz Ginger Lime jars, 3 packages of same scent votives, etc. Do not clutter your table, but have a nice display. Have a small door prize available and ask people to sign up to win. Use the contact cards or make up your own by using the tearable plain white business cards. My contact cards have a box to check if they would like to get a monthly newsletter from me. I never add anyone without their permission. Definitely have your calendar with your hot dates ready to go to book people on the spot if they say they are interested in a party. Have some fundraising brochures for people to take. At these events, I focus on selling and booking. Ocassionally, you will have someone interested in starting the business; make sure you have information on hand in case that happens. I prefer vendor blenders and home party events/craft fairs over flea markets because as stated a lot of people are looking for stuff cheap.

[MandyT]

Thanks for the tips Vicki. If I share a booth with my friend, I hope it will be worth the $20 space fee even among a crowd of deal seekers. After all, there's not a much better deal than getting free stuff for having a party! I will be scoping it out tomorrow though to be sure it is an ideal place for me to set up and to get an idea of how large one space is.

There is no point in advertising fundraisers yet, is there? I'm only a Senior Demonstrator, can't do that until Gold, right?

[skcandles]

Advertise the fundraisers!!!! Your upline can help you do them if you land one!