Business owners large and small know that one of the surest ways to get a shop or a brand noticed, and to lift sales quickly, is to take a stall at an event — choosing events that suit what the brand sells. The catch is that you end up alongside hundreds of competitors doing exactly the same thing, which means you need to make your stall look good and feel interesting enough that your target customers walk towards yours rather than someone else's.
If you want a stall that stands out, sticks in people's minds and grows your sales, don't miss the seven techniques we have put together. So which ones are worth your time? Let's find out.
1. Pick a good pitch, at a size that suits your business
The first thing to get right is choosing a pitch with plenty of footfall, so visitors get a clear look at your stall and your brand. It is no different from choosing where to open a shop: the more people who walk past, the better your chances of closing a sale. And don't forget to pick a space that suits your business and the amount of stock you are bringing — not so small that the stall feels cramped, and not so large that it looks empty.
2. Put your products and your logo where they can be seen
Since the point of taking a stall is to make people remember your products and your brand, the next thing is to lay out your products and your logo where they are clearly visible, so passers-by can see what you are called and what you sell. Blend that with a creative design that matches what the brand is about. An organic brand, for example, should use natural materials, perhaps with browns and greens, to signal that it is environmentally friendly; an innovative technology brand might choose silver or black to convey something more cutting-edge.
3. Spell out the key information about your business
At a trade fair, the stalls around you are usually selling the same thing or something close to it. What will set your stall apart is presenting the brand's strengths, which may mean stating the key information clearly: prices, promotions, how to get in touch, how to order. Make it visible and it will stick.
4. Be friendly, and ready to help
As well as making the stall look good, don't forget that most important trademark of all: a smile. It shows a service mind and a genuine friendliness, and it makes people want to stop and get to know the brand and ask questions. Even if it doesn't close a sale on the spot, it means they remember you, and they may become customers later on.
5. Rehearse what you are going to say
If you are new to selling and feel you are not much of a talker, how do you get people interested? Write yourself a script and practise it until it comes naturally — introducing yourself, introducing the product and the brand, answering the questions you get asked most. We would suggest practising your tone, your words, your eye contact and your body language, so you come across as friendly and professional at once. Speak sincerely and you will win people over, and they will end up buying from your stall.
6. Give visitors something to take part in
Another way to make a stall interesting is to run an activity people can join in with — checking in at the stall to enter a prize draw, say, or taking a photo and sharing it on social media for a discount. Something to take part in draws interest and makes people want to come over, join in and buy from you. It also gets your brand known on social media, and for very little money.
7. Look more professional with a good POS system
Finish by making a good impression on customers and giving the stall a professional look, through a capable shop management or POS system. It makes life easier for customers by offering several ways to pay, and it lets you handle membership and customer relations in one place. If you are not standing at the stall yourself, a POS system tells you how sales are going and what is selling, at any moment. You can then take that sales data and build a marketing plan around it that genuinely fits the customers you are after.
If you are planning to take a stall, try the seven ideas we have gathered here in your own business. And if you are looking for a shop management system and a capable POS till, we would suggest Qashier — an all-in-one shop management system for businesses of every size. It is easy to carry, which makes it well suited to events, and there is a range of software to suit every kind of shop, with a team on hand to advise you. It makes both taking a stall and running a business that much simpler. For more information, contact LINE Official: @qashier.th or call 02-544-0267