4 Steps to Successful Offline Event Booths

A great way to gain more local sales is to rent a booth at a fair or bizaar. These can be a fun way to spend the day, and if done correctly a profitable one at that. The following are steps you can take to ensure you receive the most sales within the hours or days of the event.

Step 1 - Locating Events

Of course if you don't know where any are, the rest of the steps are useless! Finding the events are actually the easy part. You can contact local malls, chamber of commerce, or special interests groups related to your business (this is also a great way to do some networking if you choose to be a memeber of some of these groups).

Step 2 - Getting Ready

After you have found the event you will be attending, the next important step is getting ready for the show. There is more involved than just showing up. You will want to have everything ready several weeks befor hand. Here are a few suggested items you may need in for your booth:

- Table cloth for table
- Lots of cash and carry items
- Plenty of catalogs, coupons, and free samples
- Change ($5s, $1s, etc - this is a must!)
- Pens, perferably with your logo on them
- Posters, flyers, etc
- Boxes, bags, etc for sold items
- Business cards
- Box to hold a drawing

Step 3 - Attending the Event

Now you are ready to attend your event! Make sure you table is neat, and if possible tidy up in between customers. You want those looking to pick up items and look them over, but they do tend to set things back out of place. Just a few more tips while at the bizaar:

- Welcome everyone that comes to your table...don't forget to smile!
- Stand, don't sit, if possible
- Set out a unique item (even if you don't think it will sell it will catch your visitor's attention!)
- Offer everyone that walks by a catalog, sample, coupon, business card, and entry to your drawing

Step 4 - Follow Ups

After the show comes the real hard work. Now that you have all the contacts from the drawing, you can start following up with them a few weeks later. If you offered samples, ask them what they thought of them and if they have had a chance to look at the catalog. Remember that following up is the most important part!

About the author: Kara Kelso is a work at home mom of two, and the co-owner of Direct Sales Helpers, which is dedicated to helping mothers succeed in direct sales. For more information, visit: http://www.DirectSalesHelpers.com

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