Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2018 3:30:06 GMT -5
People who have had tables in previous years: what are your tips for displaying the items you're selling? What sorts of things do you suggest sellers should have at their tables? Any other hints you'd like to share are also welcome.
Personally, I'm going to be looking into some sort of wire shelving for showing off smaller items, and I've recently purchased a cheap price gun to make tags so that people don't have to constantly ask what something costs.
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RoseTech
Gotta post them all!
Attending since 2009. Specialties: Japan Imports, Figures, Yuri
Posts: 71
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Post by RoseTech on Mar 30, 2018 13:25:57 GMT -5
price gun to make tags so that people don't have to constantly ask what something costs. Don't need a price gun for that. I've been using small post-it notes for the longest time. Actually, I find that's what most sellers do. Price guns are only convenient if you have many of the exact same item because adjusting the price on the gun takes about the same amount of time to just write a new post-it. And even then, you would only actually need just 1 label/post-it for a group of items that are the same price (e.g. "DVDs $4 ea."). |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2018 13:38:33 GMT -5
price gun to make tags so that people don't have to constantly ask what something costs. Don't need a price gun for that. I've been using small post-it notes for the longest time. Actually, I find that's what most sellers do. Price guns are only convenient if you have many of the exact same item because adjusting the price on the gun takes about the same amount of time to just write a new post-it. And even then, you would only actually need just 1 label/post-it for a group of items that are the same price (e.g. "DVDs $4 ea."). It's easier for me to manipulate a price gun than a pen/marker due to a disability, but I get what you're saying. My other concern is that post-its get knocked off pretty easily (had an issue with that during a yard sale), so I was looking for a more strongly affixed solution. |
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Post by leafari on Mar 31, 2018 20:13:06 GMT -5
People who have had tables in previous years: what are your tips for displaying the items you're selling? What sorts of things do you suggest sellers should have at their tables? Any other hints you'd like to share are also welcome. This seems like common knowledge, but placing your more valuable items closer to you when setting up your table. There was a whole thread last year about people noticing missing items in their stock due to customers lifting goods in the chaos of the crowd. A sad thing, really.  |
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Post by pomelo on Apr 1, 2018 14:38:43 GMT -5
I've noticed a lot of people use wire shelving- whereabouts do people buy those?
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Post by darkinsanity13 on Apr 1, 2018 15:31:06 GMT -5
I've noticed a lot of people use wire shelving- whereabouts do people buy those? I've been looking into buying some of these, and you can get them at several different places; Amazon, Canadian Tire, Walmart, Home Depot, Bed Bath and Beyond, etc. Prices vary depending on how many cubes you get and the place, but they seem to range from $20-$60. I'm holding off on buying any until I know I've secured a table though, because I'm not sure where else I'd use them at the moment. Anyway, as for tips regarding selling, have something that makes your table stand out if you plan on allowing reservations. If you do get the wire cubes, you can put your table number on a piece of cardboard and stick it in the top connectors so it's at least easier to see in a crowd instead of a tablecloth that may be blocked by other people looking at your table. In the past I've used post-it notes as price stickers, but I understand you having difficulty with that so I think the price gun is a smart idea. This year I'll be trying something new myself and using colour-coded stickers with prices and codes so it's easier for me to keep track of what I've sold and less likely to fall off from people handling my merch. As stated in another topic, if you're planning on selling any sort of clothing, be it cosplay, J-fashion or even just t-shirts, make note of every relevant measurement potential buyers might like to know. Have a couple measuring tapes on hand too, as not everyone will know their measurements off by heart. Other tips...maybe group like items together? Like figures on one end, smaller things like keychains on the other. You could also group by origin if you've got a lot of things for several different fandoms, but personally I think it makes most sense to group by what type of item and then sort by origin within those groups. If you've got a bunch of small items like keychains, charms, etc, it's probably best to put them in a small box or basket rather than trying to spread them out. Also if you think you're gonna get asked a question a lot make a sign answering said question because that'll likely reduce the number of people asking (I say reduce, not completely get rid of, because several years of working fast food taught me that people will miss perfectly obvious and readable signs). |
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Post by xshedevilx on Apr 2, 2018 9:17:34 GMT -5
Prices - I find a lot of people will shy away from a table if they have to ask for a price.
Table number - Cardboard, posterboard, flashing neon sign, whatever can be displayed especially if you have reserves. It can be hard to find a table when it's busy, but if most tables have a label then customers can generally determine where N62 is even with the crowds.
Valuables - If you have boxes of the item, put them out, and keep the item itself hidden (if they were previously unboxed) if not, try printing out a picture and throwing them in a book/album for people to look through for interest. Include pricing!
LIST - make sure to list what you're selling, your preferred price, and your sale price. Not everyone is willing to part with their enormous Charizard plush for $5, but it helps to know what you're willing to part with for very little vs. what you're willing to take home if you don't get your asking price. This way you keep track of your goods, what's sold, (potentially missing), and what is coming home.
FLOAT - keep small bills and change on you at ALL times. I know for some it's common knowledge (I was a Waitress for YEARS) but some people only carry their own pocket change and that can get out of hand especially if you're sharing a table with someone else.
Table Sharing - Make sure you and your table partner know each other's lists, or can access them, and are willing to look out/negotiate for one another. Everyone has to pee/get food/get a drink so it's always wise to keep notes so you/your partner can make a sale regardless of who is there or not. Hey, maybe they'll even give you some commission for making the sale for them!
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Post by rainbows on Apr 3, 2018 21:30:41 GMT -5
Table Number - I tape mine to the front of my table, I know it's generally out of sight behind customers, but I didn't run into any major issues. For us, we figured that after the "reservation time frame" was over, no one would really be looking for our specific table number. On my forum post last year, I write down what cosplay I will be wearing, that I'll have a Halloween tablecloth at my table, and in my photo album of items for sale, I uploaded a photo with my table area circled.
Listings - if you have a lot of posters, I'd recommend taking photos of them beforehand and placing them on the table near the posters. We had ours rolled up with elastics, but since we didn't have any photos, they kept getting opened throughout the night. None of them were damaged, but we learned from that.
Item Placements - place like things together (DVD's, manga's, etc.) so it's easier for people to find what they might be looking for (especially with the section idea they're doing this year). Also, keep anything you deem valuable or expensive near the back of the table so you can keep an eye on it. Last year, my mom came to help me with the table and since she only knows one anime, chose the items she deemed expensive and put them near her since I was going to be doing most of the talking at the table.
List - Keep a list of all the items you're bringing and at the event, write down the items you sold, so that when you get back home you can doublecheck to make sure nothing was taken from your table, misplaced, etc. I heard that it happened to a few tables in previous years.
If you have some bulky/big items, perhaps bring some bags, in the rare case that someone forgot their reusable bags. Definitely bring a float of toonies and loonies to start off with.
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Post by kriztee on Apr 8, 2018 19:07:43 GMT -5
I've noticed a lot of people use wire shelving- whereabouts do people buy those? I'm not sure about now but I bought a bunch at Dollarama about 5 years ago. They were 3$ back then and i think it was enough for 2 cubes. Try looking there cuz they might still sell them near their shoe racks. |
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mikan
Oro?
Fukurou ga suki!
Posts: 205
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Post by mikan on Apr 8, 2018 20:01:51 GMT -5
Last year I had a whole bunch of DVDs to sell. I put one box (full of DVDs) on top of the other, but also included a list (in a frame) of the DVDs for sale. This turned out to be really useful.
For this year I have figures and plastic models so I am going to use the wire shelving. I got mine at Amazon when it was on sale for a good price.
For larger items or items in boxes, I printed out what they looked like and pasted them on the boxes so you don't have to leave them open. I did the same for postcard/poster sets.
I also had a smaller somewhat flat box of small and cheaper items for sale.
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