Tips for vending your first show.

As the title says I am 99% positive I am going to be vending the 20th at the cold blooded expo..I'm working on getting everything I need in the last minute...I wont have much just 10 snakes and some frogs but its a start and there is not much of a local market were I am. I planned on just using deli containers this time because I don't have the time to get a display built buy Sunday. Any tips as far what I should have and shouldn't have....thanks you very much for any advice. My business cards will be Wednesday...
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My advice would be to bring along a friend or family member to help out. Always is best to have another set of hands and eyes available. You will be surprised about how swamped you can get, and you don't want to lose track of your animals. Also, if you are going to allow people to handle your animals, don't pull out too many at once. It can get very confusing and stressful with similar looking animals being passed around.

Bring lots of cash, especially small bills, so you can make change easily - or in case you catch an end-of-show deal. I would also have a fanny pack or cash box to keep it in.

Bring a friend to help with setup & takedown, and so you can step away for bathroom breaks, to check out other tables, grab a bite to eat, etc.

Bring snacks and drinks, you may not have time to go buy lunch.

Bring a way to heat your snakes in case the venue is cold. One of my first expos was in a fire hall - in February. While the heat was on for the day it was normally unheated and uninsulated space, so the most it ever got inside was 65*F at the end of the day. From experience I knew it would be cold so I covered the table with a heated massage table pad and then put a tablecloth on that.

Bring a tablecloth.

Bring hand sanitizer.

Since you don't have a lot of animals look around for any extra equipment you aren't using and want to get rid of, if you have any. Mark it at half retail and it will move.

Thanks guys...my roommate and fiance will be with to help out and. Do you think heat will be as big of a deal if your in a well heated ballroom at a hotel...I will probably bring something just in case. would you bring a light to for heat or should I wire up some 3 inch heat tape and bring my tstat for my incubator

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I don't think that a tstat or heat tape is really necessary. The rooms we vended in were always pretty warm, and with display lights the temps were acceptable for the show.

Lights should be adequate in a space that's normally kept at room temperature. The only reason I brought up having a separate heat source is I'd attended that particular expo in the past and knew the facilities weren't optimal. Since then it's been moved to a better venue.

With three people working the table, I would suggest just one handles the money.

Also, just one animal out for a customer at a time - no exceptions. Arrange the merchandise on the table so you can tell at a glance if something that hasn't been sold, was taken.

Assume a certain small percentage of people coming to this venue are there to steal. Be esp. wary of anyone who seems to be making a confusion/distraction. Also be extra wary if someone is trying to make you feel rushed.

Cash payment and change are counted slowly and deliberately in front of the customer.
CC's and checks? - insist on ID.

Sounds harsh, but that's sales.
Good luck.

Favorited this for excellent advice!

Also good luck with your first venue. At least you had some time to prepare even though not much!

I like the business cards.

Thanks guys for all your input...had a heck of a time finding deli cups anywhere around me and I wasn't going to pay to have them shipped overnight....got lucky and talked to a catering company and got black bottom with clearish lids...not the most ideal containers but they will work for my first show.. this has been a dream of mine for about 5 years and it finally happening..to see my name at the bottom of the vendor list makes it seam so real now. happening...http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09...b50b4ad8c9.jpg thanks again and wish me luck emptying my table...

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Good luck.

I've vended there before, the room is pretty warm.

is this for the minnesota expo next weekend? I'll be there! :) first convention I get to attend!

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Originally Posted by Kittencaboodles

is this for the minnesota expo next weekend? I'll be there! :) first convention I get to attend!

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Yes it is. stop by and say hi..its nice to put a face to the name.

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Good suggestions by everyone. I second just about all of them.

Hand sanitizer - and in my case I actually don't let anyone handle my snakes unless they've already expressed a very focused interest in buying. A lot of germs in there and people who are handling for the sake of it are probably handling some cool rare reptiles (read: wild caught) that you don't want anything to do with.

In terms of selling ENGAGE THE CROWD. I see a lot of people that just sit there silently the whole time. This is not going to sell animals. Ask questions, talk to them about anything and everything. Be reputable and trustworthy and people are more likely to pick you instead of the other 80% of people selling the same thing. I also find having fewer animals like you will have tends to help my sell-through. People who are overwhelmed with options take a glance and keep moving.

Good luck!

Tips??

Speak when people walk up to your table. "If theres anything you want to see just let me know" and leave it at that.

Wear comfortable shoes. you should be standing behind your table 99% of the time.

Have your bottom price on animals so there's no calculations there is just a quick yes or no when haggling. Example if you have a Pied male for $350.00 and you know you wont take less than $290.00 when someone offers you $300.00 bag that bad boy up.

Dress semi professional, most soccer moms don't wont their kids buying a snake to start with but you're not helping your sale if you look like one of the Rocky Horror picture show cast.

Take animals to sell and ones you're willing to trade. You'd be surprise how much before and after trading goes on between breeders.

Remember peoples faces and what they were interested in. It makes and impression when someone comes back for a second look if you can sell them on a specific snake that they have been mulling over.

Mark prices on the animals clearly.

Do not badmouth other people, other animals or the venue. Period.

Don't brag that you have "the cheapest animals".

Be proud of the animals you have and don't hesitate to show how much you love the hobby. Take time to answer questions for a person buying a $10 normal just like you would someone looking at your $5000 snake. You never know when that person buying a $10 pet might end up a reliable customer or a link to more.

Hydrate. Take breaks and make CERTAIN that your assisting people also take breaks. If you have friends volunteering time to help you out, appreciate them and do something nice for them as thanks.

Keep the animals clean. Everyone knows that snakes poo but few people want to buy a poo-covered snake.

Best of luck!

Dave

good luck. take pix.

i hope u don't buy more than u sell. ;)

With everything everyone suggested, I agree but I know the brighter your lighting the more people will look at your table. Bring extra lamps if you can and a power strip cord. Usually the person next to you will have one but just in case. If you have any used or inexpensive extra items as giveaways to your buying customers as free gifts that goes a long way. Try to have a colorful tablecloth to cover your table too. It helps attract customers to your table.

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Originally Posted by frostysBP

As the title says I am 99% positive I am going to be vending the 20th at the cold blooded expo..I'm working on getting everything I need in the last minute...I wont have much just 10 snakes and some frogs but its a start and there is not much of a local market were I am. I planned on just using deli containers this time because I don't have the time to get a display built buy Sunday. Any tips as far what I should have and shouldn't have....thanks you very much for any advice. My business cards will be Wednesday...
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09...df624e0635.jpg

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Not sure if this was mentioned, but let people haggle with you a little. I've gone to reptile expos and made really reasonable offers on items and got a dirty look at a straight up "NO". Dude, then bring it home with you, sit on it for a year, and watch the price drop to a tenth of what you were asking!

There is a shop here in NH, not NERD, but another that sells for retail at the expos, and promotes that he does on his site. I doubt he moves much stuff because he charges $150 for a normal western hognose hatchling... Come on dude, move your stuff and make room for new projects and have some funds to support them. Or carry everything home with you and keep it forever. Just my 2 cents. Also order buttons from me for your business to pass out to your customers or window shoppers ;) :gj:

Thanks so much for all the advice...whats your opinion since I will have open room on the table I was thinking of bringing my burm and one of my 4 foot enclosures that I make as an attention grabber and possibly marketing cage builds?

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A good idea but make sure it goes into quarantine with everything else you bring home from the show.

Goodluck friend! The first expo I ever went to was a Cold Blooded expo, I really enjoy them. I haggled a pretty little corn down to $12. And my brother bought a breeder flame crestie for $75 (which later became mine) the prices are usually greatly reduced at the end of the the day, so if you also came to expand your collection make sure you check for good deals if you can!

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Quarantine is my middle name

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Originally Posted by frostysBP

Quarantine is my middle name

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Frosty Quarantine BP... I like it

Well the shows all done and it went great..sold/traded all but 3 snakes and had an absolute blast...talked to some people from the forum. ..pictures of the new pick ups to come when I get home and organized but I got 4 new snakes and a bunch of leopard geckos http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09...f5f278be60.jpg

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oh hey i talked to you! thanks for letting my friend and I pet your snake :)

Glad to hear it was a success. :)

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Originally Posted by Kittencaboodles

oh hey i talked to you! thanks for letting my friend and I pet your snake :)

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No problem at all hope you guys had fun.


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Frosty did well. As a matter of fact, I would say he had one of the more crowded tables in the room. We've met and talked before, and it was good to see him again.

Here is a little tip that folks might not think about.

Bring a snake that makes people want to stop and stare. It doesn't have to be "FOR SALE", just impressive.

Frosty has a really nice albino Burmese and people were lining up to look, touch and hold that snake.

I'm looking forward to his future retic pairing.

Good job mate!

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Originally Posted by Gio

Frosty did well. As a matter of fact, I would say he had one of the more crowded tables in the room. We've met and talked before, and it was good to see him again.

Here is a little tip that folks might not think about.

Bring a snake that makes people want to stop and stare. It doesn't have to be "FOR SALE", just impressive.

Frosty has a really nice albino Burmese and people were lining up to look, touch and hold that snake.

I'm looking forward to his future retic pairing.

Good job mate!

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Thanks gio...wish I had a little more time to chat with you today...

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Originally Posted by frostysBP

Thanks gio...wish I had a little more time to chat with you today...

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Yeah, I do too.

I saw you right away but your table was really busy. I think the Burm was a hit and I can only imagine what it would have been like if you brought the big coastal and retics.

I had to head out early to get my son to wrestling practice or I'd have stayed longer.

Well here is all the pickupshttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09...ee66d90100.jpgmale albino green het granitehttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09...3cad424636.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09...7d3e36cd7d.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09...51646a099b.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09...15ed000d40.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09...682c7401d2.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09...54a555d777.jpg going to get back into leos had one about 12 years ago.http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09...101515af2a.jpgfirst bloodhttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09...612c5b4acb.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09...40c332b33b.jpgfinally added the first to snakes from garrick...it was a pleasure to talk with him and purchase a female albino and a female champagne...all in all it was a great day and im very happy that I chose to vend..thanks to everyone for your tips and for all that stopped by and said hi. Only pic I got a chance to take todayhttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09...4cc2c32381.jpg

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Originally Posted by frostysBP

Well here is all the pickupshttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09...101515af2a.jpgfirst blood

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Who'd you get the blood from? Was it at a table also selling a lot of Taurantuls?

If so, I probably know her. She's a good friend of mine.

Nice pickups, I wish I could have been there.

Yup I got it from april...I had the privilege to vend next to her..me and my wife had a blast chating with her..I couldnt look at the blood anymore without taking it home

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Well, congratulations. She's got some really sweet looking bloods. Nice dispositions too.

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Originally Posted by MarkS

Well, congratulations. She's got some really sweet looking bloods. Nice dispositions too.

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Yea she dose I couldn't be happier with the purchase... it is really calm hasn't hissed or struck at all...

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Originally Posted by frostysBP

Yea she dose I couldn't be happier with the purchase... it is really calm hasn't hissed or struck at all...

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Aw, man... I keep seeing the blood pythons everywhere... My want is increasing, that's one pretty baby!! Congrats on your show and all your pickups! :)


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Originally Posted by ratchet

Aw, man... I keep seeing the blood pythons everywhere... My want is increasing, that's one pretty baby!! Congrats on your show and all your pickups! :)


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I hear you! I keep telling myself no, but one of these days I'm sure I'll end up with one! Also, congrats to frosty!


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I stopped and chatted with you while I got to pet Sunshine. I wish I had known you were a forum member! Glad you had a successful show. It was my first, and I had a blast! Can't wait to do it again. I was in snake HEAVEN!!

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Originally Posted by Megg

I hear you! I keep telling myself no, but one of these days I'm sure I'll end up with one! Also, congrats to frosty!


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I already told my husband I wanted one...

H: "Why?"
Me: "Because they are amazing."
H: "Oh yeah."
Me: (Insert me telling him how cool they look and how big they get and how awesome they are... and about their bowel movements...)
H: "Oh lovely."
Me: "Yeah, if only!"
H: "Maybe one day, you never know."

I'm in.


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Originally Posted by ratchet

I already told my husband I wanted one...

H: "Why?"
Me: "Because they are amazing."
H: "Oh yeah."
Me: (Insert me telling him how cool they look and how big they get and how awesome they are... and about their bowel movements...)
H: "Oh lovely."
Me: "Yeah, if only!"
H: "Maybe one day, you never know."

I'm in.


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Lol, good for you! I'm hoping to get a boa from TSK in the next few weeks, so hopefully a blood will come in the next year!


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Glad you had a good time at your first show...it was a decent turnout...i tend to like smaller venues like this...bigger ones get overwhelming quick...

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I know this is after the fact but for next time I recommend geting a square reader or paypal reader so you don't miss out on a sale. If you don't already.

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I'm just seeing this today.... Congrats on your first, and highly successful, show [emoji256]


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Pamela and GINGER, my wonderful BP

1 dog, 3 cats, 1 macaw, 1 husband, 1 daughter, and GINGER [emoji216]


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