Power Up Your Vendor Show: Tips for Promotions and Shipping Success

[welch628]

Hello friends! I'm doing a multi-day vendor show, and one evening they are doing a power hour thing and want all vendors to have some kind of promotion or special. I need help with some ideas, please. Also, how do you do shipping at vendor shows. I don't wnat to offer free shipping (and have to pay for everyone's myself) or have to deliver all the orders to everyone all over my big huge town. Thank you!!!! :chef:

 

[DawnH]

I am no help on the power hour thing...but at a vendor fair. I do direct shipping and I just say shipping is a little more than a party but it will be delivered directly to your door by Fedex. Personally, I have never had a problem charging direct shipping. Good luck and have fun.

 

[pchockeymom]

I would create a few "combo deals" where basically you bundle some products together, figure the shipping and tax, round it up and, if you want, mark off a discount (say 10%). You could do the bundle ideas they have in the center of the new catalogs, a "wedger" bundle, a "back to basics" bundle (classic batter bowl, mix n scraper, bar board, measure all cup, a knife, stainless whisk, and a rub), a "new products" bundle (chip maker, simple slicer, cooling rack, rub), etc. And, of course, include the guest special in the bundles that are 60 or more since they'd get them free anyway.

 

[darlinclem]

I always offer direct shipping for party shipping price at vendor events. Since I submit it as a show it gives me more orders and the more they order the better my commission. If their order is $19.99 or less I am only paying $2 out of pocket which is half my commission (rounded way down). It works for me and I don't have to worry about gas costs or people not ordering because they would rather have it cash and carry (like most vendors at those fairs).

 

[wadesgirl]

If the booth is in my area, I will have the products shipped to me at normal price and hand deliver to them. That way I get another time to be in front of them. If they are out of the area it gets shipped to them.

 

[esavvymom]

For that one hour- you could offer a discount off equal to your base commission is (ie- 20%). Yes, you won't make a profit most likely, BUT you'll get some contacts potentially, and it is only for one hour. Worst case, you get some customers/leads, and get enough sales to submit a show, etc. I wouldn't worry too much about people knocking down the doors on you....but that wouldn't be a bad thing, right?