I increased profits the second month, but I want to take sales and branding to the next level. These are my plans for April:
1. Create Custom Displays for both Spaces
I've got creative ideas for making amazing displays for both booths, time to get busy!
2. Brand! Stand-Out! Color, Color, Color!
I want to stand out in the antique mall and work harder on communicating quirky, pop-culture message.
3. Big Bang Sell? Get Rid of Some Unwanted Bits.
I want to clear out and sell many bits for $1.00. Who wants bits for a dollar? Everyone, that's who!
4. Better Schedule and Staging
I'm still trying to balance between stuffing the booth to the brim with merch and keeping it clear and organized. I also want a set schedule for switching out and adding merch to the inside and outside of the store.
5. More Dinosaurs and Robots. Always.
I usually keep my robots and dinosaurs for myself! But I added a robot to the booth and it sold quickly; I must provide the masses with the toy and pop culture fix and stop selfishly hoarding it for myself ;)
It looks like I'm going to work, work, work through the weekend on so many different projects! I'm excited to take hundreds of pictures, organize, pack, research, and get busy.
How are your reselling efforts going? Business or thrifting plans for the weekend?
Your booth makes me coo coo for cocoa puffs hahhaha- I love it all and am trying do more selling than buying. I love it all and wish I could find a place where I could resell without them charging me $200 or more a month, plus commission. If anyone knows of a place in Chicago area- please let me know. Anyways... The second shelf from the bottom has that upside down owl (I think it reads who's there)...is that a planter? If it is how much?
ReplyDeleteHi There! Thank you so much for the kind words- especially with the booth being so messy right now!
DeleteThat is an owl coin bank. I'm selling it for $7.00. I'll have to scoop it up from the shop and e-mail you a close-up for consideration. :)
Good luck finding a booth, we're lucky, there's so many antique malls here that I'm renting two spaces for about $92 total.
Thanks for quick response- that's a great price, but I am actually looking for an owl planter...so no need to send me xtra photos. 92 bucks total... sooo awesome. Adding paper or fabric to add color to your shelves is a cute idea- good luck:)
DeleteGreat news on increasing your profits this month!! I hope you did the same at Southern Crossing. If you know me, and I think you do....I always stuff my booth full...I take 100% advantage of every inch of my "expensive" square footage, and you never know what that buyer is looking for. I have seen strange buying habits like my juggling ball set, which I assumed no one would ever see and sure enough it was swiped up in a second....and I placed it at the very bottom of my booth...on the floor of all places. It was the last thing I had room for. I say GO FOR IT!!
ReplyDeleteYou are SO good at using every last square inch of space! You got skillzzz, Carla, you booth looks amazing. Isn't it crazy how odd items stuffed in the back corner will sell? I'm going to work at stuffing the booths full today and see what happens :)
DeleteThanks Van... I have really loved every single second of buying, stocking and selling! This was my best month ever...counting two sales to friends and my booth I earned four digits...I couldn't believe it!
DeleteWoooooah!! That's incredible, Carla. Definitely gonna have to chat with you about that, and perhaps write about your booth too? :) Let me know!
DeleteReally?? That would be really fun!! My friends and hubby are encouraging me to open a site or FB page for my booth but I haven't pursued it yet. I've also had several people chat with me while I'm stocking who tell me they are "followers" or I guess you would call them "frequent buyers" and they visit my space twice a week to see what I bring in. Have you ever experienced such a thing? I was quite tickled to have the conversations with them. Whenever you want to chat...I can meet you down there somewhere or by phone...it would be fun!! I don't know if I have any answers but I can try.
DeleteWe must meet and discuss soon! I'll send you and e-mail and we can discuss the best time to meet and such.
Deleteyou have tons of cool stuff
ReplyDeleteI would sugest painting your laminale book shelve pretty retro colors to show off the goods, aqua on the outside to draw them in, a soft shell pink to light up the contents
good luck
Thanks for the recommendations. They're not my shelves so I can't paint them, but I was going to add colors with paper and/or fabric. :)
DeleteHi Carla,
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty cool stuff. I agree with some of the other commenters ideas to paint. But if that's a non-no, contact paper might work. Or taking foam core and covering it with fabric and then stuffing it in the back. I had to change my entire theme of my booth from pop culture to shabby chic. Folks here in the sticks don't really go for the cool stuff. They love bonified antiques, primatives and rust. You should seriously take a road trip through here in a U-haul and pick up your cool stuff for pennies. I wrote you an e-mail because I just figured out how to comment.(duh) But here is my adress for my new blog that shows off my new look. http://theglitterdragonfly.blogspot.com/
If you come here I'll show you where to pick.
Sincerly, Cynthia
I remembered your booth looking really amazing! Sorry you had to rebrand. I use to just tape paper or fabric to the inside of the booths, easy fix. After clicking the link, wow! I'm stunned by your re-branding. You made shabby chic look goooood!
DeleteThank you so much for sharing, now I really need to get to work on my space and figure out how much I can get away with to brand myself in both store with just my little bookshelves :)
Oooops I got your name wrong. I'm a dork. I apologize to you Vannesa.
ReplyDeleteSincerely, Cynthia
No prob ;) You got it wrong again 'cause it's "Vanessa" but I'll let you live...for now! :D
DeleteSeriously though, thank you for sharing the link I'm drinking in the photos and feeling inspired.
Hi Van - just wanted to say..once again... Im so glad I found your blog! my husband and I have moved to a bigger space in the group shop we are in...but we are definitely "newbies" so it is super helpful to read your posts! Some months are better than other and we are hoepful that the summer brings better sales. We try hard to find unusual things and really love mid-century, danish, industrial or just odd ball stuff. Sometimes I wonder if the crowd here in Maine is into this stuff or not? As Cynthia mentioned seems knowing the audience is key. I know if we took our stuff to Boston or NYC we would do well. But we havent even been at this a year so we will keep trying different ideas. I'm making some terrariums in old vintage glass containers to put in the shop next. Some day would love to be blogging and selling full time..thanks for the posts and inspiration...I'm always impressed with your energy and creativity. Have a good weekend!
ReplyDeleteGlad to help Victoria! You definitely have to know the audience, try new things, and switch merchandise out constantly. It's hard work, but it's work we're passionate about!
DeleteI love your shelf!! It is adorable :)
ReplyDeleteLisa @ happy Girl Collectibles
http://happygirlsebayadventures.blogspot.com/
Thank you! I can't wait to make it better!
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