Maku'u Market Observations

[Guest]

Removed by me

Edited by - akoniv on 10/16/2007 19:01:10

[Robin C]

Just a thought...

You may also want to observe what kind of both-to-both synergies there are. You may capture people's attention by being next to a complentary product.

For example, people interested in cards might also be interested in jewlry. Positioning yourself near a complementary booth might provide a draw and benefit both you and the other booth.

Best of luck tomorrow.

Robin

[Howard]

If you are selling craft items that you made yourself, and not just something that you bought wholesale to resell, it is important to make passers-by aware of that fact. I'm not sure why it matters so much to consumers (after all, whatever they buy is the same object regardless of who actually made it), but it does seem to encourage sales when they know that they are talking to the artist/craftsman directly. If you have a banner over your table, "Crafts by Anthony" will draw more attention than "Crafts for Sale".

As for location, you want to maximize visibility to your potential market. If you find that most of the people who buy from you are buying other craft products and/or items from the flea market, you may do well to be located near them. If you do that, however, people like me might never know you are there. A location near a food stand where people have to wait in line could be good also, since they will be in a position to see you while they wait.

We went to Makuu almost every Sunday while we were in Puna, and the only time we bought any craft item, it was from an artist who had a table right at the beginning of a row of food stands.

Howard

[Carolann R]

I think you should give away free giant chocolate chip cookies and hot Kona coffee to lure people in ROFLOL!!!

I think you did great considering it's a Saturday. A vendor was telling us they are having a hard time getting Saturdays hopping like it does on Sundays. Said people are kinda stuck on Sundays for market. Did you find it to be that way, Tony?

Have you considered the Farmers Market in Hilo too? We didn't get a chance to check it out, but I gather there are many more tourists there as well since it is the hub of the Hilo area.

Mahalo for the info - you can bet I will be keeping my eye on this thread. I do have some ideas for some things my mom and I do that we would like to sell there at Makuu.

I so wish I were there now, you guys.

Aloha!

Oh yeah - Hehehehe LOL on your new quote! I LOVE that stupid movie!

Carrie

http://www.cafepress.com/dreamhawaii
http://www.hellophoenix.com/art

Edited by - Carolann R on 07/08/2006 14:22:02

[pslamont]

As a consumer at the Maku'u market, I can make a couple of observations.

1. I find it much MUCH more pleasant to browse and shop if prices are clearly marked.

2. It is much more fun to bring home an item and be able to tell visitors to my home "I met the artist at...." instead of "I found it in the discount section at Walmart..." Most art is a conversation piece, after all.

3. When the sellers are unclean and unkempt, busy talking to one another instead of making eye contact and a brief smile, I am turned off. I may not want to talk with them just yet but it is pleasant to have them acknowledge my presence in a low key way.

4. Although what I purchase is usually a smaller item, a large, exotic, attention getting item prominently displayedf is what gets my attention and me over to the booth in the first place. I am most attracted if I see the item over the heads of the people in front of me... I don't like to struggle through a crowd to find out if you have anything to attract my attention.

Many of us go the market as entertainment and buy on whim. Keep up the efforts.... and I wish you success!

Pam

Just another day in P A R A D I S E !!

[Lee DeJongh]

HI
Marj and I have been selling our jewelry successfully for about 3 or 4 years. We take in $400-$950 each weekend and our profit margin is about 80% or greater.

1. have a clean uncluttered booth.
2.make eye contact, greet the customer, be low key if that's your style or flamboyant, just be true to yourself.
3.DO NOT eat or read. very important.
4.encourage touching. If they don't touch, they don't buy.
5.if you make the product yourself, say so every chance you get. It makes it special.
6.if you sell crafts or food or produce stay AWAY from the junk sellers. Completely different crowd.
7.Crafts and food mix.
8. If produce, get with other produce. Give people a choice.
9. If crafts, don't be too afraid to compete openly, as long as your product is different in some way.
10. Know your costs and your margin. You cannot sell for less than a 100% markup without eventually going broke. Yu must count your time.
11. Have a sweetener if possible, a gimme. Mine costs me $1.04 and I toss it in if I neeed to to cinch a deal as long as the deal is greater than $15. "I'll give you this for free" works every single time. I don't use it unless I have to.
12. Personal contact. If appropriate touch your customer. this is very tricky. You must read people properly. If done correctly it will seal a deal.
13. if you sell crafts, like cards you sell, if possible display the original artwork (not for sale) At this last weeks art fair the booth across from us sold prints of watercolors. The originals were there and were very well done. They were priced at $10,000. The prints were $35 -75. guess what sold like hotcakes. At the end when everyone else was packing up, he still had a line of customers.

[lluberesm]

Hi Tony,

My contribution to you is the following:
I think since you are starting out the most important thing is to watch out who you set up next to. If you have food, plants, produce and things of that nature around you it might not do you too much good to set up next to those vendors. The visual impression of a t-shirt booth next to food, or anything like that might turn people off. Lots of times when people visit markets they are looking for a good buy. On the other hand lots tourist are strategically looking for something unique and price might not have an effect on their decision. That in and of itself is an advantage you already have. You are the artist and your work is unique. So there is already a need for your work. In any marketing sales situation most of the time you need to find a need or create one in order to sell. You already have that by virtue of being an artist. For these reasons you might do well by setting up as close to similar but not the same merchandise. This will help you stand out more easily and somewhat effortlessly. If for instance you set up near other people selling t-shirts you might get lost in all the merchandise. When it comes to your booth you should set it up to look as artistic as you can (photographically speaking). If possible invest in blowing up one of your most beautiful and enticing photos at Kinkos or some place like that and make a poster out of it. You can place it so that passersby’s can see it and it will attract them. Once you have them sell yourself with conversation, pleasantness and lots of info, make them feel as if you are giving them an inside view from an artist perspective (who they feel knows the island beauty more in depth than others) to island life and they are getting that as a bonus along with what they are buying.


Lenny

[Kapohocat]

get a booth near Da Banana Boys! (okay my favorite vendor and hanai brother!!)

-Cat

[punafish]

Just wanted to say great topic, Tony. Thanks for posting. Very informative thread so far. Looks like we've got some real marketing talent here!

I'm taking notes...

Tim

[Carolann R]

I know you were there, but we were there the Sunday before...from June 20-26.

Our closing date is set for August 23rd...won't be too long after that!

Much Light,



Carrie

http://www.cafepress.com/dreamhawaii
http://www.hellophoenix.com/art