Which do you find gives you better sales at Shows??

[AdrisMommy]

So-- I have a festival coming up. It is supposed to be ranked as the #2 festival in the United States for traffic flow ()... I have only done 2 shows before, but I feel that they were both very successful...

I was wondering... Do you find that you sell more if you set up your booth to where people have to walk into it to see your inventory (with a table on each side and one in the back forming and open U) or where they can just walk by and browse (tables forming a closed U)??

At my last show, the first day I had it open and only ended up making like $80 in sales, so the next morning I moved the tables to make the booth closed (with the 3rd table in teh front) and I felt people would stop and look cause they didn't feel more pressured to buy if they did. I ended up making $1600 at this 3 day show (after the first day of sucky sales!)

I know that when I am at a fair or festival, if I have to walk in the booth, it better really have somehting I HAVE to have, cause if I walk in and out empty handed, I feel bad, so I just won't walk in and look. WHat do you guys think??

I think I am gonna make this a pole......

Thanks ladies!!!!

[QTKakes]

I have yet to be on the selling side of the table but I do also like to be able to browse with out any pressure of being watched or inside a store. I don't even like to go into empty stores but I am a very outgoing person. I really like my space and freedom when I am shopping Also I would think that if this is a high traffic festiva it would be better to have it a walk around/closed u since if it gets crowded in the small opening people will be more likely to just walk by and not want to hassel with waiting to even get in. I hope that helps at all. And good luck!

[AdrisMommy]

Thank everyone for your comments so far!! Everyone else, please keep commenting!!

I am contemplating this so early cause I am debating on set up supplies to buy. If I was gonna do the open booth, I was gonna hang the plastic pegboard along the back wall. If I do the closed booth (I will probably lean this way), the booth is 12 x 12 so I will have 2 6' tables on the side, and a 8' table in the front, I wanted to get two free standing grid walls for each side, kinda jutting out into the walkway to catch people attention who are just looking up the aisle to see if they wanna walk it. Any suggestions, or stores suggestions to purchase from are greatly appreciated!!!!

[creativesidebows]

I always, always, always have it so people have to walk in. Most shows you simply can't have your display set up as an "outside" U because you have people on both sides of you and that would only leave you with a table at the front of your booth to display with. I put my chair at the back corner of my booth so people don't have to walk by me to get in. I always say some form of "hi" and leave it at that so they don't feel pressured. If they leave without buying I always say "have a great day" or something like that. Good luck with your show Lots of people = lots of sales!!!

[creativesidebows]

oh, and I meant to add that if you have an "inside" U and people have to walk in than you have more room for more people to browse. And that equals more sales

[kaneohegirl]

I think it also really depends on where you are situated...

if you are smack in the middle of a row of 10x10 tents you are EXTREMLY limiting your sales space cause now you are only using one 8ft or 6 ft table because they dont allow for room for ppl to go between them...

even a corner can limits your sales cause you only use 2 sides

if you are by yourself and you have 4 tables then lock yourself in and do the perimeter sales BUT dont be alone or you'll have more 5 finger
discounts.

my ideal is a corner where ppl can look on the on side and decide if they wanna come around the corner and look around more...

Im thinkin of getting a lawn sign made that says "many more items inside most under $10.00" as a lure to draw more ppl inside

[mom2girls]

i agree that it is better to have it to where you dont need to go in to look, but that would be only if you can.
The show i did, i couldn't do that, i HAD to have it to where they had to come in because there was another booth on each side of me and in back of me so i had to form an open U, i too like to just walk by and browse i don't like to have to go in a booth, but it just depends on how much space you have i guess

[specialhome]

I like the corner booths because I KNOW how to set those up. For middle booths I do the open u but I always have trouble deciding how to set up my products so that it attracts more people.

[lisaaggie12]

A tip someone once told me... take the tape off the floor (if they use tape to indicate booth space) it is like a boundry people dont like to cross b/c they feel like they are 'commiting' to shopping your booth.

I would rather them browse, stop and touch and then realize they 'just have to have something'.... and not realize they have entered the booth area.

I have done it ever since and I think that visible mark frees up the stuffiness you feel in a small booth space.

HTH,
Lisa