Boost Your Cottage Sales
Are you a cottage business owner who’s suffering from stagnant sales? Having a hard time moving product at vendor events? Well, you’ve come to the right place! I’m going to break down how you can make a name for yourself at vendor events and really move some product in the process.
#1 Personal presentation is important! There are a lot of visual factors that attract customers to your booth. How do you present yourself? Are you dressed appropriately? Is your clothing clean and wrinkle free? Is your hair clean and presentable? I know these seem like no-brainers; however, I’ve personally witnessed sellers who looked sloppy and unkempt, as if they rolled out of bed that morning and threw their booth stuff in the car and went. You’ve got to sell yourself, especially if you sell food products. If you’re not putting any effort into your physical appearance at these events, how much effort are you putting into your food products and their quality and safety? You don’t have to purchase a new wardrobe. Wear clean, wrinkle-free clothing that compliments your booth and brand. My logo is black and white and my brand is Black Sheep. Therefore, I always wear a black top to my events. If my husband and daughters help, they wear the same. Is your logo pink? Wear pink!
#2 Is your booth presentable and visually appealing? If you are putting out tables, adding a tablecloth, then just stacking your products onto the tables, you’re doing it wrong. I’ve seen countless booths where the baked goods or products were just placed flat and lined up. Will customers still buy your products like this? Yes. Some will. However, what if there is another vendor selling the same or similar items? How do you make yourself stand out? You’ve got to put some effort into your product presentation. It doesn’t require extra spending to add a little va va voom to your booth. Stack empty boxes under the tablecloth and place your products at different elevations to attract the eye. Add some color pops with inexpensive fabric or stuff you have lying around the house. Grab some baskets and use them to hold products. Bring plants from home to add some greenery. Get creative!! If you’re lacking ideas, create a Pinterest account and look for inspiration. You’ve got to put some effort in grabbing customers’ attention.
#3 Are you actively selling your products? Meaning, are you engaging with people as they pass or are you sitting behind your table and waiting for customers to come to you? If you are shy, I can imagine this is difficult for you. I’m a natural introvert, but I step outside my comfort zone to sell myself and my products. I don’t sit behind my table. I am constantly tidying my booth, asking people if they’d like to try free samples, engaging in friendly conversation, etc. And let me tell you, it makes a difference! This week I received a text from a couple almost 2 hours away who loved my baked goods and enjoyed visiting with me and my husband at an event. Not only did they place a large order but invited us to dinner as well. TALK TO YOUR CUSTOMERS!!!
#4 People love free stuff. If you are selling food items, offer free samples of some of your best sellers. Trust me on this! I sell out of my Spicy Jalapeno Cheddar Sourdough at every single event, and every sale is due to them loving the free sample. If you are confident in your product, offer a taste for free. If it’s as good as you think, it will sell!
#5 Constantly reevaluate your methods and their results. Are you really putting yourself out there and going above and beyond to attract sales and still falling flat? Time to reevaluate what you’re doing. Are your products priced appropriately? How do they look and taste? Is the market saturated with the same or similar products? Are your social media posts funny or engaging? Are the photos you post appealing and staged in a way that draws the eye? These are all part of selling yourself and your business. You’ve got to put in the work if you truly want your cottage business to take off.
#6 Be honest with yourself. I have a hard truth that most don’t want to hear. This cottage business you’re creating isn’t going to provide a full-time income anytime soon. It takes a long time to build up a business and attract customers that keep coming back. You may have amazing products, but nobody really knows this until they actually try them. You’ve got to start by attracting customers, then by keeping them. This is going to take time! If you only have a small amount of time to dedicate to your business each week, your growth will be slower. Creating a cottage business also takes money. Not a huge amount, but you will need packaging, labels, equipment to produce larger quantities, business cards, signage, a table and tablecloth for vendor events, etc. You can definitely find deals on these items, but they will cost you in the beginning. I’ll post another blog soon breaking down some starter items and their prices, and links to purchase to give you a better idea of startup costs.
At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself if you have the time, money, and motivation to really make your cottage business a success. The good news is that I am here to help! Reach out to me anytime at blacksheepbakingar@gmail.com with questions, concerns, or troubleshooting and I’d be happy to offer some feedback.