5 Things I've Learned From Doing Vendor Fairs

As most of you know, I'm a self-published author, and my books are on Amazon. They do well, but without ads, I probably wouldn't sell as much as I do. I'm terrible at making social media content, so organic reach really isn't my thing.

So, one of the ways I get myself out to the public is by doing craft fairs. I've been doing craft/vendor events in one way or another since 2016. Before I became an author, I sold MLM products called Damsel in Defense. Basically, they were self-protection items designed for women. I loved it, and I still believe in their mission, even though I stopped selling their products years ago. Aside from that, I also sell hand-drawn stickers. So, I've been doing this vending thing for a long time, with many different types of products.

I'm not a "pro" by any means, because I learn from every event I do. But I do know enough to feel comfortable sharing some things with you! There are way more than five things I could share, but I feel like these are the most important or most recent that could help others as well.

1. "Love this! I'll be back once I've made my way around the other booths." They are never coming back. It is a hard truth, but the truth. Many things can happen to cause this, including they were just being polite and were not going to buy anything, they spent all their money at other booths, or they just plain forgot. So, before they leave, make sure you get a business card in their hands. It's the best you can do at that point.

2. If they are standing at your table, they are interested. The longer someone stands at your booth, the longer you have their attention. Keep them interested. Talk about your products/books, and be polite. Feel like you've overshared about your product? Chat about the person. Ask what brought them to the fair. Ask if they've ever seen a product similar to yours, or if they are into the style of art or storytelling you do. They have brought themselves into your space. If they want to leave, they can leave.

3. Body language is 80% of communication. Okay, that isn't a factual number, and I have no data to back that up. But from my experience people will show how they are feeling before they say anything at all. Learn to read postures, head tilts, subtle movements, etc. This will tell you when to stop talking, when to keep talking, if someone has a question, or if they are just browsing. It is also true for you. Your posture can tell someone if you are interested in their sale, questions, or them as a person. Keep a friendly face. Be readily available to answer, demonstrate, or explain. You don't have to hover or encroach, but make sure your as open as your booth is.

4. Most people have already made up their minds before you say a word. It is not you, its them. You can have the best display, products, and prices, but people will already have preconceived notions within seconds. On top of being an author, I also have a water bottle sticker shop. So when I do vendor events, I sell both items at once. One table has my sticker display and the other has my books. But, my stickers are cozy and cutsie. My books are gritty space opera. I can't tell you how many times I've had someone tell me "stickers are for kids" or "I don't read." That isn't my problem nor my fault. Just smile and move on. They weren't the right customer anyway.

5. Your excitement builds excitement. Smile at eveyone. Say "hello." Make nice comments about their outfits, hair, the weather, etc. Make them notice you and bring them into your booth. Remember my last tip? You can change how people see your products. They may not understand what you're selling just by a passing glance. Even if you have "water bottle stickers" on a chalkboard sign 1ft from your display, people won't always read it. I have made so many sales from people who glanced at my booth and I noticed they had a chicken shirt or purse. "I love your bag! I have chickens, so thats so cute." Bam. Made a connection. They turn, say "thanks" and notice I have chicken stickers. We get to chatting about our chickens, and then they decide they need a sticker to go. Okay, this doesn't work 100% of the time, but it will fail 100% of the time if you don't try. It blows my mind how many people go to events with the idea they aren't going to buy anything. Be friendly, show them you are human and not an Amazon ad. You never know who you'll connect with by just being you.

Bonus: Have fun! Make friends with the vendors around you. Build relationships the best you can, and enjoy being at the event. I've made so many friends from just the people who are set up beside me. You're spending sometimes 6 hours beside these people. They are in the thick of it just like you are. Your fellow vendors can relate to you, give you tips, and just pass the time with you. And obviously this isn't the goal of making friends, but a lot of my vendor friends have "vendor discounts" on their products. I even have a few friends who share their baked goods with the other vendors for free when the event is over.

The more you do events, the better you'll get at them. Make a goal to learn at least one thing from every fair you do. Take notes on setup time, displays, your pitches, how you store your money, etc. Eventually you'll become an old pro and helping those just starting out. Doing craft fairs can be so much fun, even the ones that don't go so well. It is about how you approach them and what you take away.

If there is anything I want you to take away from this, it is to do the events. Put yourself out there, even if you're introverted. This is your time to talk about your passions with people who are willing and ready to listen. It gets easier with time, and I promise that if you let it, it will be one of the best things you do for your business.

Thanks for reading this far. If you liked this and want to read more of my ramblings, I'm most active on Threads as TheShortWriter!