Impulse & Incentive Buys Can Increase Your Show Sales

I'm busy getting ready for theDallas Urban Street Bazaar this Saturday at Dallas Market Hall. I want to share a 2 of of my favorite tips great way to increase your show at sales....

1. I always have special incentives for customers to buy from me. Whether it is a BOGO (buy one get one at a discounted price) or just plainly clearly marked reduced price, this always works for me.
My most successful offer is on earrings. I will offer my dichroic glass silver earrings at $25 or 2 for $40. I always have a great assortment of these earrings on posts, french wires and leverbacks for customers to choose from.

At 2 for $40, the $20 price range is a great gift or small treat item!

Plus, I like to have a sign that mentions the gift that keeps giving...the Earring of the Month Club!

2. Shop my Sale Trunk
I always carry a little sale trunk with earrings, necklaces, bracelets, pendants ,etc...that start at just $10! All items are in little plastic baggies with the price clearly marked and they can save up to 75% off by "digging" through the trunk.

I also offer ALL customers who make a purchase to shop the sale trunk while I'm wrapping up their purchase. More times than not, people find a little something to add. These impulse buys often end up being 20-40% of the shows revenue.

Do you have a tip to share that has helped you increase your jewelry show sales? Please leave a comment so we all can profit! :)

Accept Credit Cards at Retail Shows

I recently did an event at Stonebriar Country Club ; 95% of my sales were paid with a credit card ( I had one cash and one check).

I accept all major credit cards and use a wireless device , Way System that includes a printer. My merchant account is through NABancard ;I've been very happy with the service from this credit card processing company.

I know many other vendors use ProPay and you pay only a "yearly fee" which may be more cost effective for the seasonal business. Rena Klingenberg has a short article on ProPay on her Home Jewelry Business Success Tips that may be of interest if you are in the research phase!

If you use another credit card processor/system, drop a comment and share!

Promote Events---Shameless Plugging Works

Phew, 2 big shows with one day in between......crazy but in a GREAT way!

I just did Shecky's Girls Night Out in Dallas and it was spectacular! I owe my success at the show to a few things ( I spoke to 2 other jewelry vendors...one made NO sales and another only sold 2 items):

1. I contacted everyone on my local contact list to let them know I was a vendor at this event and that the sample sale would be for up to 40% off at this event only! Guess what....I had several of my customers come because they didn't want to miss the 40% off !!

2. I blogged about the event and told potential customers about new designs that were going to be previewed at the event (which sold out BTW).

3. I was mentioned as one of the local designers (pre show) in the Dallas Morning News.

4. The height of my one table display ( literally I went up 3 1/2 to 4 feet) because we only got one 8 foot table!!!

5. I know you are thinking...it must have been location....NO! There were NO assigned spots and I was directly across from 2 jewelry vendors, had one on my left (one space over), had one on my right (one space over) and one right behind me!!!!

My sales were great for the night and I got valuable feedback from my target market. I tripled my mailing list in one show! Now, that is marketing success! I "plugged" my next big "public" show ....the Urban Street Bazaar...I got Dallas excited about the Indie Artist Holiday Shopping opportunity!! Woohoo.

Make sure you promote your events...verbally, online, press releases, mailing list, etc....it DOES and CAN make a huge difference to your sales at any show!

Use E-Cards This Holiday to Connect with Your Customers

If you have an e-commerce jewelry site, you will most likely have a "newsletter/updates" sign up where you can keep in front of your customers. I just found a great article on using E-cards during the Holiday Season to connect with your jewelry newsletter subscribers/list by Gail Goodman, the CEO of Constant Contact.

I use Constant Contact for my jewelry newsletter list because I can create 'newsletters' and choose to send at specific dates/times. This allows me to have my updates on autopilot and allows me to get busy in the studio creating jewelry!

What are you doing to put your jewelry business on autopilot when it comes to holiday marketing?

Shameless Self Promotion...Just Do It!

The biggest retail season is upon us and it's going to be a tough sell this year. All the major retailer's are doing their big Thanksgiving "sales" 3 weeks ahead of time. OUCH!

Hopefully, you have all your "holiday marketing done or on autopilot" by now.

Don't forget to wear your jewelry whenever you are out (think tasteful) and when you receive compliments make sure you whip out a business card to share...let them know what upcoming shows you have, if you hold private trunk shows (tell them), and of course if you have an e-commerce site or are carried in local shops (tell them too)......in other words, do a little shameless self promotion.

Now is the time to get out of your comfort zone to see $$$ in your bank account from selling your handcrafted jewelry !

What do you do to "shamelessly promote yourself?" Make a comment!