Whether you're an experienced vendor or setting up your first booth at a craft fair, running a successful tumbler business requires a great plan, a dash of creativity, and a simple way to distribute your product to eager customers.
At HOGG Outfitters, we love empowering our community with the right insights and practical knowledge that significantly enhances their business experiences — and that's precisely what we aim to do with this article.
Running a successful tumbler business is immensely satisfying, especially when you see your customized creations in the hands of satisfied customers. But achieving success at vendor events takes more than just showing up with your products. It involves thoughtful preparation, eye-catching booth setups, and a smooth payment process — all of which may seem overwhelming at first.
Keep reading for seven practical tips that will guide you through the entire process — from prepping for the event to tracking your transactions. If you're ready to elevate your tumbler vendor event experience and turn it into a resounding success, keep reading — we've got you covered.
The Best Ways to Prepare for Upcoming Vendor Events
As the saying goes, "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." This is especially true when it comes to preparing for a tumbler vendor event.
Proper preparation is the all-important foundation you lay before the event that paves the way for a successful day of selling. These two planning and inventory management tips will get you ready to hit the ground running on the day of the event.
Tip #1: Research Your Event and Plan Accordingly
A well-thought-out plan is your roadmap to a successful vendor event. It's not just about knowing the time and place of the event (even though those things are obviously essential). It's also about understanding the demographic of the event and tailoring your offerings accordingly.
Before the event, take some time to research who’s going to be there — this research could look like a bit of social media sleuthing, or maybe all it takes is looking at the event website to see the crowd it attracts.
Is your potential audience young and trendy, or are they middle-aged dog moms looking to get the perfect iced coffee tumbler? By understanding the tastes and preferences of your potential customers, you can customize your inventory to cater to their preferences, which increases your chances of making a sale.
Tip #2: Be Sure to Bring Enough Inventory
While it's important not to overcrowd your booth (we’ll have more on that later), you also don't want to run out of items to sell. Ensuring you have enough inventory is a balancing act that requires careful planning.
Before the event, estimate the amount of traffic you expect at your booth, taking into consideration the size and popularity of the event. Remember, it's better to have a little too much inventory than not enough.
In addition to quantity, variety is also key. Showcase a diverse range of designs, sizes, and colors in your tumblers. This not only helps you build a booth that pops but also caters to the varied tastes of customers. A good rule of thumb is to bring a variety of options without making people feel overwhelmed by your tumbler selection.
By taking the time to plan and prepare your inventory, you set the stage for a smooth and profitable vendor event. With a clear understanding of your audience and a well-stocked inventory, you'll be well-positioned to maximize your sales and customer satisfaction.
Vendor Booth Display Ideas for Your Next Event
Once you’ve prepared for your tumbler vendor event, the next crucial step is setting up a successful booth.
Think of your booth as a reflection of your brand and your products. It's the first thing potential customers see, and it can either draw them in or push them away. Keep reading for tips on designing your booth setup, creating engaging displays, transporting your tumblers safely, and showcasing your products.
Tip #3: Don’t Overcrowd Your Booth
You’ve dedicated hours to creating stunning, functional works of art, and your booth needs to proudly display that effort.
While it might be tempting to fill every inch of your booth with tumblers, remember: less is often more. Avoid overcrowding your booth. Too many products in a small space can make your booth look cluttered and unorganized, which can keep customers from coming in. Instead, create a clean, simple layout that highlights your products and makes them easy to browse.
Tip #4: Create an Engaging Display
Creating an engaging display is all about how you present your products. Think about how you can showcase your tumblers in a way that highlights their unique features and draws people in.
First, be sure your pricing and product information is clear and easily accessible. This helps customers make quick decisions and shows that you value transparency in your business. You can use price tags, signs, or even digital displays, depending on your booth setup. Whatever method you choose, make sure it's clear, easily visible, and consistent across all your products.
Second, consider using elevated platforms or creative lighting to highlight your top-selling or most unique tumblers. Our rotating displays are also a great way to catch the eye of passers-by and draw them into your booth!
Tip #5: Prioritize Safe Transportation of Your Tumblers
While this might seem like a minor detail, the safe transportation of your precious tumblers plays a huge role in the success of your vendor event. You've spent tons of time creating your beautiful, customized tumblers — the last thing you want is for them to be damaged on your way to the event.
Invest in sturdy containers with padding, bubble wrap, or cardboard dividers to protect your product during transit. Additionally, take the time to pack and unpack your tumblers carefully. A few extra minutes spent here can save you from potential disappointment and missed sales later.
Tip #6: Show off Your Products
One of the best ways to sell your products is to show them in action. Consider doing live demonstrations of how well your stainless tumblers keep things cold by filling a cup with ice water at the beginning of the day and leaving it out for customers to see.
If you've used the HOGG Heat Press for sublimation, you might showcase how durable the sublimated designs are, or turn up the volume on your custom Bluetooth speaker tumblers.
Demonstrations draw potential customers into your booth and give them a firsthand experience of the quality and value of your products. This simple tactic will set you apart from other vendors and can significantly boost your sales.
Setting up a successful booth is an art, but with these tips in mind, you're on the path to mastering it. Remember, the goal is to create a space that represents your brand, showcases your products effectively, and creates an engaging experience for your customers.
Set Up Cashless Payment Solutions to Make Sales Easy
You've done the preparation, and your booth is set up flawlessly. Now comes one of the most important parts of running a successful tumbler vendor event: accepting payments. In today's increasingly digital world, having a seamless and secure payment system is convenient not only for you but also for your customers.
Tip #7: Use a Portable Card Reader or Digital Payment Service
When was the last time you carried cash? We can’t remember either. People are used to the convenience of cashless transactions, and as a vendor, it's essential to meet that expectation.
Portable card readers are essential tools at craft fairs and markets. These handy devices connect directly to your smartphone and allow you to accept credit and debit card payments with ease. You can also go beyond using card readers and set up a CashApp or Venmo account to take payments directly from your customers’ phones.
But it's not just about convenience. Using a card reader can also increase your sales. Customers are more likely to make impulse purchases when they can use their cards instead of cash, and the ability to take a card or digital payments also means you never have to turn away a customer because they don't have enough cash on hand.
You also need to keep in mind that some people will want to pay with cash! Always bring plenty of small bills to make change when someone walks up with the money to spend. By focusing on everyone’s convenience, you can maximize your selling potential and set yourself up for success during your next tumbler vendor event!
Join the HOGG Outfitters Facebook Group for More Vendor Tips and Tricks
From the early stages of planning and inventory management to the final process of accepting payments, setting up a successful vendor event takes a lot of work. But you’ve got this!
By including these seven simple tips in your next event, you’ll get more people into your booth and boost your sales in no time. And the more sales you make, the more potential money you have to grow your business and create more show-stopping tumblers for your loyal customers.
If you loved these tips and want more advice for running a successful booth, join our Facebook Group today. Our community of over 80,000 members is there to help give you advice on the best ways to build a stunning booth at your next craft fair or vendor event!
Have you run successful events in the past and want to share more tips than we covered in this article? Leave a comment with your best vendor advice below!
A special Thank You to our community for the amazing booths in this article!
- Colleen Carothers
- Cuppin' It Up
- Wendy Bull
