I have one sampler of lotion in a scent and one plain, which I usually have in hand, and I use it to call people over as I offer them some. Then for scents, I have spritzers open for testing, in every scent that I offer in lotions. People always want to open and smell, so having the sprays or something available is important, but having a lot of lotion samplers, in my experience, is just a waste of space and money. I have also found that it tens to congest my space, especially as people stand around, putting their packages on my table and the floor in front, as they try to decide which one they want to try. By my offering the lotion to them, I have time to talk about my product(s) and I take away the confusion of which to try. I do keep samples of everything, but I do not leave them all out. I open some only when there is an interest in that particular product, or when I think that one will work for them. Again, I feel that too many out just congest my space, and adds to too many lookie loos too.
Some people think that having the people at the booth, playing with samples is worth the congestion, but I have been doing shows for about 35 yrs, and for me, I would rather have 2 people that are seriously looking, than 25 who are playing with samples. I have stream-lined my space a bit, based on my experiences. You should try a few different ways and get the feel for what works for you. We all are different in our sales techniques, and the types of shows you go to make a difference too. I set up very differently for a local craft show than I do for a festival or for a trade show. When I do a trade show, I set up for samples of everything, but I still only do 2 lotions, one scent free and 1 scented.
_________________ Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.
Tammy
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