Yogi Berra said it best…“It Ain’t Over ’til It’s Over”
Empty booth at last weekend’s show
This past weekend I attended the American Art Marketing – Wadsworth Museum Show in Connecticut. This was the first year for this craft show, so I expected the attendance to be low, and it was very light in attendance. Most of the exhibitors around me had light sales, and some of the exhibitors did not even make their booth fee and expenses! Luckily, I had made my booth fee and expenses, with a slight profit.
The show was over at 5 PM on Sunday, and so at 4 PM, since traffic was light, I started to put some of my pens away. Just as I was starting to pack up, 3 different customers came into the booth. Those three customers purchased nine of my higher priced pens and took my so-so weekend to a **WOW** weekend, just like that!
So, the moral of the story is never give up until the final second of a show – you never know who will show up and make your day!
BTW, we are taking orders for the lever action pens, (which did very well at the show – sold all of them that I had (6). Please call us, and we will take your name and order and when they come in we will ship them to you!
Barry’s Tip:
When I sell a higher priced pen at a show, I make sure that it has fresh ink in the pen. This has come to light because a customer called, and complained that his pens were running out of ink fast. When we researched this we found that they had purchased the pen kits over two years ago and they were putting the old ink into the pens and selling them. If I have a pen that has not sold in a while, I always put a fresh refill into the pen. In a pinch, if I am out of town at a show, I will go to Office Max, Staples or any other stationary store and get some fresh refills to put into my pens. This is the least expense part of the pen but if it does not write properly it will cost you a sale!
Good selling – Barry
Good selling – Barry
Bob Pegram liked this on Facebook.
Randy Hamilton liked this on Facebook.
Steve Haymon liked this on Facebook.
Michael Allen Kratzer liked this on Facebook.
Terry Ritchie liked this on Facebook.
Barry, I live 20 miles from the Wadsworth and never knew there was going to be a show. Not on TV, Radio or print that I was aware of. Not even on social media like facebook or any of the pen turning sites, including IAP.
Russ
Russ,
The show was at the XL Center – I was lucky those last three people purchased what they did!
I have found out that some of the best buyers come early (sometimes before the show officially opens) as well as late.
I agree!
Bradley McCalister liked this on Facebook.
Alex Efros liked this on Facebook.
Stephen Hollen liked this on Facebook.
Ray Vile liked this on Facebook.
Good point Barry. Similar situation. Outdoor show, lousy weather and my last same just before I packed up made the event. Gotta hang in there.
David Burrows liked this on Facebook.
Scott Franklin liked this on Facebook.
Joe Herrmann liked this on Facebook.
Jim Purcell liked this on Facebook.
Rick Raskin liked this on Facebook.
Drew Harbaugh liked this on Facebook.
Mark Crackel liked this on Facebook.
Lauren Rants liked this on Facebook.
Michele Martin Heritage liked this on Facebook.
Douglas Adkins liked this on Facebook.
William Gates liked this on Facebook.
Edward Cypher liked this on Facebook.
Stephen Kazanjian liked this on Facebook.
Michelle Slezak-Lyons liked this on Facebook.
Jake Guy liked this on Facebook.
Jose L. Nieves liked this on Facebook.
Michael Baumstark liked this on Facebook.