(This is part 2 of a 3-part series that outlines some strategies that may give your business an advantage at competitive bazaars. Click here to read part 1.)
So you’ve done your homework and prepped yourself for weeks. The big day is finally here! You wake up early, grab a healthy breakfast (or nasi lemak tambah lauk) and arrive at your spot nice and early. What do you do next? Read on to find out.
At the bazaar
Put effort into your display
You can’t deny the draw of a pretty stall like this
Stack, hang, and think beyond the space on your table
Show them the prices and they’ll show you the money (hopefully!)
Although your setup is temporary, it is your chance to make a lasting impression on potential customers. Here are some things you should consider when planning how to display your products:
- Light up your stall, especially if it’s a night market. Clever use of lighting will enhance the appeal of your products and draw customers to your stall.
- Use vertical space to your advantage. Instead of having all your products flat on the table, arrange them in tiers. Tiered displays create more interest and dimension, and will give you more space to put more products!
- Display prices clearly. Don’t give customers the chance to think your products are priced out of their budget. Some customers may even feel it is impolite to ask and walk away without buying.
Have a bazaar-only special
Special deals create a sense of urgency to buy!
Give customers a taste of what to expect
Having testers will encourage customers to interact with you. Photo credit: Earth Care Soaps
Encourage customers to buy your wares at the bazaar with limited edition items or by offering a promotional price on certain items. Push out these promotions on social media before and during the bazaar to entice customers to buy!
Be interesting
A live demo shows how much effort goes into making your products
Good salesmanship is a bit like a theatre performance. Make it a point to greet customers and share interesting facts about you, your brand, or your products. If talking isn’t your thing, a live demo of how you make your products would also draw customers to your stall. You could also rearrange your products from time to time so your stall looks “refreshed” every few hours.
Make it easy for customers to buy
Make it easy for customers to pay
Issue a receipt immediately with Pocketbook
It sounds like we are stating the obvious but think about it… how many times have you said “Sorry, do you have small change?” Or “Oh no, we don’t accept cards”. Ensure that you have enough change on hand or use an app like Shoppertise Pocketbook to accept online debit or card payments on-the-go, and issue digital receipts instantly.
Take every opportunity to advertise yourself and your brand
Write a personal thank you note together with your contact details on a business card so your customer knows where to buy from you again. Photo credit: Claire Organics
Brand your paper bags and products with your company’s contact details, web address or social media links. At the very least, leave some business cards on the table for people to take with them. You could also include a tag with a short message like “Thank you for appreciating my work”, and attach it to a little pack of snacks to give out to passers-by. Make every contact count! You could also give out little incentives for people who become your social media fans/followers to grow your online presence!
Network with your neighbours
Get to know your neighbours
Bazaars are not just great places to gain new customers, they are also fantastic platforms to meet potential business partners. Identify stall holders who are targeting the same market segment as you or those whose products complement yours, and make the effort to get to know them. For example, if you sell healthy snacks for breastfeeding moms, it could be worthwhile to work with someone who sells organic nursing wear. As they say, two heads are better than one, and your new bazaar buddy could go on to be your future business partner!
Lastly…
Pat yourself on the back for putting yourself out there
Treat yourself after a long day! Photo credit: Be Good
Remember that every bazaar you join pushes you to be better and learn faster. And for that reason alone, you are already improving! You are now more knowledgeable than you were the day before the bazaar. Before you even evaluate the outcome of the bazaar, reward yourself with a mega chocolate cake or an extra 5 minutes in the bubble bath. You certainly deserve it.
Once you’ve recovered from the excitement of the bazaar, it’s time to crunch the numbers and revisit your bazaar objectives. All that will be covered in the final part of this series so sign up for our newsletter or follow us on social media to stay in the loop!
