Here are a few tips to make your time at your local expo or farmer's market a success:
- Purchase the necessary supplies and setup your booth in advance to make sure you have everything. The great thing is that most of these supplies are probably tax deductible so check with your tax advisor. Typical items include: folding tables, large tent (shade!), folding chairs, rolling cooler (to keep your Vemma and drinks cold), glass jar or fishbowl for prize drawing, anti-bacterial wipes, paper towels, trays to hold samples, small plastic sample cups, duct tape, white plastic table cloth, plenty of brochures, banners, business cards, and name tags.
- Have plenty of order forms available on a clip board and be sure to fill out the order form for your new member; that way you can be sure that you have all necessary information (cc #, expiration date, etc.) and that you can READ their name, address, etc. Be sure to keep completed apps in a secure location and shred this info after you have entered them into the system.
- Prepare your supplies in advance and keep ready in a box or a bag so you can just grab the box and your supplies and go.
- Be sure to put labels on all your product brochures with your name, phone #, email, and website.
- Team up with at least 2-3 people so that you have enough coverage to talk to everyone that comes by and to allow people to take a break to eat, etc.
- Attend the event consistently as many people will see your booth the first few times and if you are always at the event (if it is a recurring event), it may pique their interest enough for them to stop by and ask about your product.
- Set a goal for how many people you want to sign up that day and be sure to have enough product on hand to exceed your goal AND provide samples (we typically go through 2-3 bottles of Vemma per event but when you figure on around 5-6 sign-ups per event, you will break even almost immediately and your investment will pay back over time).
- Keep your booth tidy and provide trash receptacles for sample cups, etc. Keeping your area clean helps you make that good first impression.
- Build relationships with the other vendors. In the morning, arrive early to setup and hand out samples and brochures to the other vendors the first time you meet them. You never know where your next business builder will come from and you know these people already have an entrepreneurial spirit.
- Have forms for people to fill out to "find out more information about mangosteen" or to "find out more information about a home based business" Be sure to include important information like Name, address, phone #, email, etc. THESE ARE GREAT LEADS. Have a glass bowl available with a sign that says "Enter to win a free 1-pack of Vemma!".
- Have your sales tools, brochures, magazines, etc. neatly displayed on your table. We like to put these in clear plastic brochure/business card holders. Be sure to duct tape the holders, etc. to your table so they don't blow away in the wind.
- Have a large inflatable Vemma bottle or one of the vertical banners displayed for visual impact and to draw people to your booth.
- If people bring their dogs to the event, have a bowl of water for their dogs and buy a box of Milk Bones and put in a bowl on your table. You will be surprised at how many people this draws to your booth. It is a great opportunity for you to introduce yourself while their dog is taking a drink of water or eating a treat (and this shows you are a fellow dog lover so you are already a step ahead in building a relationship!)
- Listen to what a person says. People will tell you what is important to them if you just listen and the way you go from good to great at closing is to learn how to effectively present your story in a way that will help the person get what they want (relief from health challenges, more freedom to spend time with their family/work from home, etc.)
- HAVE FUN! If you are excited and positive about your product, you WILL be successful. The law of attraction says that your thoughts bring more like thoughts and things to you so be positive! If someone isn't interested in your product, don't take it personally; there are people you can help out there and by being persistent you will find them!
