I am primarily a painter but have also been doing functional pottery for the last 2 years. I am at an art show right now where a customer came into my booth looking for a soap dispenser which I don't make. I pointed over to the potter located a few booths away from me and told her that I had seen some in his booth. I suppose I could have offered to make her one but she appreciated my generosity in trying to help her find what she wanted. I couldn't believe it when I watched the other potter AND his wife completely ignore the woman while she was in the booth. She was arranging pots and he was sitting in a chair gazing so the woman left empty handed. This is the same guy that complained that sales were low when I asked him how his show was going. He blamed it on pricing. I had also watched both of them leave the booth unmanned to get food and saw customers leaving. I did direct them into my booth when they came by. Selling tip # 1 be in your booth #2 engage your customers!
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I never leave my booth unattended. EVER. EVERY customer gets greeted with a smile a comment on the weather, their outfit....simple chit chat to break the ice....then I let them browse until they by whatever signal...a glance, touching a piece, whatever the signal may be and there are many and varied, let me know they want or need my input and attention. I never ignore or not pay attention to, a customer in my booth. THAT is how sales are made or lost.... I create yes, but Chris is right, fifty percent of what we do IS customer service. Every exhibiting Artist, Craftsman, and exhibitor needs to learn the basics in RETAIL CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Indeed. He was a very established potter, with lots of shelves of nice pottery and a sign that said "so and so" Pottery since 1976. So it's not like he's new at it. I think he seemed a bit arrogant. Maybe he expected the things to jump off the shelves and sell themselves. Another shame...
Chris Hoyt > karen O'Lone-HahnAugust 19, 2013 at 9:58am
Back in the 80s and 90s it probably did. I know it did for me. But that was then and now is now. In this economy we are competing with the mall down the road for those same dollars, and we're selling something nobody needs.
Even though I am a vendor, I like to have my hubby watch my booth while I walk around to see other vendors and then we reverse. Because of that, my time away form my own booth is limited. At one event, I went a booth on two separate occasions because I really wanted to make a purchase. They were not there either time and the neighboring vendor said they had been gone for some time. They lost my sale and probably others. Their set up was beautiful, their work was beautiful. But there was no one to handle a sale. Very sad. They probably thought it was a bad show, too.
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I never leave my booth unattended. EVER. EVERY customer gets greeted with a smile a comment on the weather, their outfit....simple chit chat to break the ice....then I let them browse until they by whatever signal...a glance, touching a piece, whatever the signal may be and there are many and varied, let me know they want or need my input and attention. I never ignore or not pay attention to, a customer in my booth. THAT is how sales are made or lost.... I create yes, but Chris is right, fifty percent of what we do IS customer service. Every exhibiting Artist, Craftsman, and exhibitor needs to learn the basics in RETAIL CUSTOMER SERVICE.
The other exhibitor may do good work, but they are ignoring the fact that selling the work is 50% of the business.
You are describing someone who doesn't know how to sell their work. And that's a shame.
Indeed. He was a very established potter, with lots of shelves of nice pottery and a sign that said "so and so" Pottery since 1976. So it's not like he's new at it. I think he seemed a bit arrogant. Maybe he expected the things to jump off the shelves and sell themselves. Another shame...
Back in the 80s and 90s it probably did. I know it did for me. But that was then and now is now. In this economy we are competing with the mall down the road for those same dollars, and we're selling something nobody needs.
Even though I am a vendor, I like to have my hubby watch my booth while I walk around to see other vendors and then we reverse. Because of that, my time away form my own booth is limited. At one event, I went a booth on two separate occasions because I really wanted to make a purchase. They were not there either time and the neighboring vendor said they had been gone for some time. They lost my sale and probably others. Their set up was beautiful, their work was beautiful. But there was no one to handle a sale. Very sad. They probably thought it was a bad show, too.