How To: sell at fairs (Part II)

Howdy!  

Here are the next five of Bean Up The Nose Art's "10 Tips for Selling At Fairs."  

(Scroll on down to the next post after you're done to see the first five.  And don't forget to come visit Bean Up The Nose Art out at the Far West Fest in Pt. Reyes, CA tomorrow!)  

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6.  Give "Take-Aways"

People who enjoy your art like being able to remember it -- so they can think about buying later, look you up on-line, follow your blog.  Prepare "take-aways" to make this easy for them.  For example, make a flyer with your images, contact information, and a list of upcoming events.  Have copies on hand.  Postcards of your images work well, too.  So do your business cards.

7.  Keep track of what sells.

As you make sales, keep a list.  You need this information to adjust your inventory numbers, to record as income, and to provide you hard evidence of what sells.  You might think you will remember what went and what didn't.  But chances are, after a long day of set-up, interfacing with customers, and take-down, we usually don't.  So, keep the list as you go.

8.  Talk to everyone who visits.

It matters that people look at your art.  It's kind and interesting and provides you great feedback.  Let people know you appreciate it, and ask them about their own arts and other likes.  Be interested in their answers.  Build relationships.  You never know where you are going to meet your new best friend, business partner, source for materials, sales lead.  You never know what information you are going to learn that is going to help you.  Or what kind of fun you're going to end up having.

9.  Talk to the other artists.

Chat up your fellow sellers -- to make friends and allies, and to gain information (for instance, about other shows, which vendors they like to use for supplies, leads into brick & mortars . . . .) Share your own information.  There is no reason to play things close to the vest.  There is more than enough goodness to go around.  And who knows what ways you'll find to collaborate.  

10.  Build your mailing list.

Each time you're out with your art, you have the opportunity to add people to your mailing list:  regular mail; e-mail; Constant Contact list . . . whichever, or all, that you prefer to work with.  Have a way for people to join your mailing list -- anything from a pad of paper, to something more cool -- and invite them to do so when they're at your booth at the fair.

Good luck to you!  We'd love to hear from you -- about your frustrations and triumphs, your favorite fairs to attend, anything!!!  And hoping to see you at a fair soon!!!