Show prep/Deli cups

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Originally Posted by flameethrower

how would you go about heating the deli cups. With displays you can have heating pads running underheath but not sure with the deli cups.

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You could buy chemical heat packs if necessary. Not 40 hour ones but cheap hand warmers at a sporting goods store.

I see you are from Jersey try going to Costco's if you have a membership they might have something. There is also a restaurant/food store in Hackensack, but then again I do not know what part of Jersey you are from. Try a deli they might sell them to you. Even if you had to hit up a few of them. If I had any left I would give them to you but I am waiting for my order to come in.

I am always at that show but I will not be at this one. I will be on vacation so hope you do well and make lots of money...:rofl::rofl: Who am I kidding? Whatever profit you do make will be going right back out towards something else. But seriously good luck and watch your table!

Thanks all! I appreciate all the input. I actually went to my local supermarket and the deli manager was more than happy to give me all the deli cups w/ lids that I would need. I am all set I think :)

heat pads usually are not necessary at all. they usually keep the room at a reasonable temperature. bring something to put them in at the hotel to keep them at a good temperature.

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

7.) ALWAYS have a bottle of hand sanitizer on your table. Before they touch your animals, make them use it.

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I'm not a vendor, but I've been to White Plains and other shows and I think this is a really good point. Think of a customer who has been walking around the show handling tons of animals, then comes to your table. Most show-goers won't mind quickly sanitizing their hands, and it could protect your animals from contracting some kind of illness or mites from the others at the show. :snake:

I see you got your deli cups already, but I get white plastic containers with crystal clear lids from the place I order Thai from for $0.25 each, and they deliver them within 30 minutes as long as I order some food.:gj: They have two sizes, 6" dia x 2" h and 8.5" dia x 2.5" h. They are perfect for leos and baby balls. I'm planning to make a display that will hold a bunch of each size for when I start doing shows. Like you found, local sources are usually there, and are usually cheap or free.

Mike Cavanaugh already gave some stellar advice, but I'll just reiterate a couple that I think are especially important.

Definitely have a care sheet you can pass out! Many will be looking to buy their first snake, so give them information, as well as putting sites like this one as a resource is a good idea.

Also giving out a business card or something similar with your contact info is good. I've gotten several repeat customers that way, as well as they'll give your info to people they know looking to buy, so you can get customers that way, too. It'll really do a lot for you.

And hand sanitizer is a must IMO!!!!! People will be handling lots of animals and you want to minimize risk of contamination.

Also bring lots of change (ones, fives especially). At shows I've ended up not buying something from vendors because they couldn't provide me change. Most recently at a show I was going to buy a corn snake and we had agreed on a price of $65 - I gave him $80. He didn't have the $15 in change, I didn't have anything but $20's, and he didn't want to go to $60. So I walked away. At that point wasn't worth the effort of me running around trying to break a $20.

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Originally Posted by PythonWallace

I see you got your deli cups already, but I get white plastic containers with crystal clear lids from the place I order Thai from for $0.25 each, and they deliver them within 30 minutes as long as I order some food.:gj: They have two sizes, 6" dia x 2" h and 8.5" dia x 2.5" h. They are perfect for leos and baby balls. I'm planning to make a display that will hold a bunch of each size for when I start doing shows. Like you found, local sources are usually there, and are usually cheap or free.

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That is awesome! I was thinking of getting the deli cup display from AC Reptiles but if I can find someone local to make one for me (don't have the tools I don't think) then I might get one made.