I'm Going to have a Booth Again!

Well.  I knew I'd go back to having a booth again one day, but I didn't think it would be so soon. I didn't even make it a full year without one.

I have things to sell.  I have found a number of new pieces for my house this year, which leaves me with extra furniture. Plus I'm de-cluttering (even the good stuff!) and having dreams of becoming a minimalist.  (Like that will ever happen.)   I pondered a  number of different ways to sell things, but in the end, a booth seemed to be the way I like best.

I promote two different stores.  I like them both.  I like the people at both.  I was open to having a booth at either location.  There seemed to be roadblocks at one having to do with booth size and workdays.  Everything seemed to fall into place easily at the other.  I'm a firm believer that when you are on the right path things flow easily.  When you are on the wrong path, things block you over and over.  That goes totally against how some people believe - that you should work real hard to overcome obstacles.  I believe obstacles (especially when there are several obstacles) are signs from above telling you that maybe you need to reconsider.

So, I'll be at Collector's Corner this time around.

I had several locations to choose from.  The owner was willing to scoot things around to work me in.

The spot I chose is in an out of the way corner.  It's upstairs.  It's in a room that is a bit dark with dark paneling.  It has two windows to work around, one of which has a less than stellar view.  The ceiling is sloped and only 7 ft tall on one side.  The carpet has a couple of bad wrinkles.  The booth on one side has a bunch of clothes hanging very close to my booth - right on my money wall, no less!  The opposite wall is lattice.  Does any of that bother me?  Not really.

Many vendors would question my sanity for choosing that spot, but I THINK IT'S CHARMING and has wonderful potential. Seriously! And I know - if I set up a nice booth with things people want, customers will find my booth.  :-D  I tell y'all that all the time and now I'm going to practice what I preach.

Here are some of the BEFORE pictures of my booth -

I already know pretty much where I'll be putting everything and what I'll be doing to remedy things that need help.  I'll put down a rug.  I'd like one that fills most of the booth, but for now, I'll be using what I have.  I have a fun grain sack that will hang over the window with the bad view.  It won't cover the whole window.  It's light so it will be bright and cheerful.  The other window will be left open.  It looks out onto some trees.  I have no idea what I'll do about the neighbor's clothing.  One thing I will NOT do is complain to the owner or ask her to take them down.  It's her booth.  My booth is my own little world and that's all I can or should try to control.  I'll do what I can to create a visual border so that no one thinks those clothes are part of my booth.  It's a challenge and I don't have the answer to that one yet! It's a little complicated because I don't want to do anything that might block the view of my money wall :-D

I'm going to keep my booth life as simple as I can.  It's not going to have a theme.  I'm not restricting colors or styles.  It probably won't be a booth that people will swoon over, but hopefully, they'll walk in, browse and see things they like.

Stay tuned.  I should be moving in over the next week.  In fact, instead of working on this post, I should be pricing and getting things ready!!!

PS - In this post I talked a good bit about the faults of this booth.  I want to make it clear that most of this store is really pretty and the owner is incredibly talented.  The store is huge and she's been working her way around improving one spot after another.  I like that I'll (hopefully) be giving this sweet little spot a little TLC.  I don't know why exactly, but even the first time I saw the booth, I was attracted to it.  I didn't know it then, but this was meant to be.

Crazy is in the Air!

Crazy is in the air!  I thought maybe it was just in the air around the antique world in Georgia, but apparently, it's in the air all over.  The vintage business is hot and trendy.  Everybody and their brother thinks they need to open a shop, even if there are already 10 shops in the area, which is inconsiderate and just plain stupid. It's also asking for trouble.  With every new shop that opens, the competition gets a little harder, which is stressful.  The over-saturated market is bad enough, but what's worse is the witchy behavior.  I've come across some people lately who are racking up some major bad karma points with their ugly behavior.

My apologies to Veronica Lake, who played a very
nice witch in her 1942 movie, "I Married a Witch"

I've met loads of "fun-crazy" types since I've been in the business.  But 2014 seems to be the year of lunatic, watch-your-back, "OMG,-I-cannot-believe-they-did-that" kind of crazy.

I've seen a few crazy situations locally and have had quite a few Vintage Show Off fans message me privately for advice with truly insane situations. It's so sad.  We should all be having fun, right?

We all need to choose carefully who we associate with. We should all try to do what we love and surround ourselves with people who are supportive.

If you are in a bad situation, but desperately need the money, be very active in looking for a better situation, even if it's not selling vintage wares.  If you desperately need the money, you probably should be doing something a little more reliable.  There's not a lot of money in running a booth.  You know that, right?  

If having a booth is more about having a hobby you love and/or earning a little extra pocket money, then get the heck away from lunatics and go to a mall that's happy and "normal", even if it has less traffic.   Once you get to the happy mall, do what you can to make it more successful.  Pitch in a little!   Help them market. Help promote them on Facebook, even if it's just by leaving comments and sharing posts.  Help decorate now and then.  Be a friend to your fellow vendors.  If your help is valuable and goes beyond pitching in a little, maybe the nice owner will appreciate it enough to compensate you with reduced rent.

Mean behavior shouldn't be tolerated.  I don't think we should just stand by and keep quiet.  Isn't that enabling the bad behavior?  If you stay where things are bad and/or keep quiet when you see wrong being done, then you are pretty much saying you are OK with it.

If it's the store owner or manager who is bad news, keep in mind that as they go down, your booth will go down, too. They may go down swiftly (like in a lawsuit) or they may just see a steady decline, which they will conveniently blame on everything but themselves.

Thankfully, all the owners and most of the vendors I work with directly are good, decent people who try to do the right thing.  If they weren't, I promise, I'd be gone so fast, you'd think my super-hero power was speed.

One more thing just to clarify.  We can't demand perfection.  Pretty much every person on earth has their faults. (If you think a person has no faults, you probably just don't know them well enough.) Even a person who tries really hard to be good will have a lapse in judgement from time to time.  Don't expect your mall owner or fellow vendors to always do what you think is the perfect thing.    The behavior I'm referring to in this post is mean-spirited.  Stay far away from that!

Tips on Choosing A Mall

Since posting my article, Promoting a Mall on Facebook,  I have had all sorts of comments and messages asking for more tips on choosing a  mall for your booth.  That's obviously a very important decision.  A fabulous booth in a so-so mall probably won't do that well.

Malls are popping up all over.  When someone is looking for a spot to set up a booth, it's very likely they'll have several choices.

1. Your Personal Favorites.  You should certainly visit each of the shops a number of times to browse. Think like a customer for a bit.  Which malls do you enjoy visiting?  If you were looking for a chest of drawers, where would you want to go first?   Whichever one comes to mind is probably a good contender for where your booth would fit for a number of reasons.

A person's booth usually reflects their style.  Your favorite shop likely appeals to your style.  The items you sell would probably fit well there.  It's likely this mall has other things going for it as well since you like going there.

2. Size.  The size of the mall is a consideration.  Customers don't always want to go all over looking for something.  Many like to see a good variety of choices in one place.   Not so big that it's overwhelming, but enough to make it worth stopping.  As a customer, my favorite local malls have somewhere around 50 booths, give or take.  I wish they were slightly larger. :-D   There are a number of smaller malls in the area, but I don't usually go to those unless I happen to be right there on some errand.  I'm lazy.  It seems a lot of trouble to drive to those places when I'll be able to be in and out in such a short time.  Smaller malls have less to offer obviously.  I have less chance of finding something I want, so why bother.

3. Location.  An out of the way mall where no one will stop by because they happen to be in the area, will usually have less traffic.  There are exceptions.  Some places are so fantastic that people make a point of going there often.  Another consideration for location is how convenient it is for you.    Time you spend traveling is not productive.  On the other hand, some malls are so good that it's worth traveling a little bit further.

4. Traffic.  Does the mall stay busy?  Visit any mall you are considering on a weekend.  Visit them during the week.  There are slow times at any mall, but if you see too many slow times, that could be a bit of a red flag.  However, some malls are very very slow during the week, but they make up for it on the weekend.

5. Online Promotion.  Do they have a great online presence?  I talked about that more in this post, where I said I probably wouldn't consider being in a mall that didn't have a good online presence.   This is the post I referenced at the beginning of this article.

Note: You should browse all the malls online sites before you talk to the owner.  First, you'll get a better feel for the store.  Also, it's possible that they have a page on their website for potential vendors - that could answer lots of questions.  Here's the vendor page for one of the stores I promote.

6. Turnover.   A store needs to impress first time customers AND repeat customers!  Before I became a dealer, I shopped in a certain mall in the area that always seemed to look the same.  I used to stop by there every few months.  After a few stops, I realized that I was seeing the exact same furniture and arrangements as I saw on my last visit.  They were stale.  I wasn't going to see anything different so why bother coming back?  I made a decision right then to not go there anymore.  Once I became a dealer, I thought about that quite a bit.  A mall needs to give the impression that things are in a constant state of change.  Things sell and are replaced with something new.  Customers learn that it's best to go often to see what new treasures have been brought in.

7. Price Point.  This one is a little tricky.  There are malls where most things are priced low.  Things sell fast, but the vendors make less per sale.  There are malls that are pricey.  They generally have amazing things, but they take a little longer to sell.  When they do, the vendor will make more off the sale.   You need to know your comfort zone, your personality, and you need to think smart about the financial aspects of how you plan to price.

I know vendors who panic if a big item doesn't sell in a month and they start slashing prices.  They work their fannies off finding things to sell, painting it as fast as possible, and watching it sell quickly at a bargain price.  I know vendors at the other end of the spectrum who are a bit more thoughtful with their purchases, don't mind spending a little longer on a makeover when necessary.  They decorate the item very well in their booth so it looks amazing. They don't mind putting in more time creating a vignette because they know it may be in their booth for several months. They are willing to wait a little longer for the item to sell at a higher price.

When I first had a booth, I was all about selling fast, but I definitely changed my thoughts on that.  I don't have a booth right now, but it's entirely possible that once my husband retires, we may open a booth together.  When we do, we will be more about selling fewer items at prices that are more in line with our time - slowly selling great items at prices that make it worth our while, yet still a decent deal for a customer.

My personality is suited to slow and thoughtful.  I have good friends who are happiest when they are going at a fast pace.  Think about your personality as you consider price points.  Then, look at the financial aspects.

You should probably read my scary article, too.  

8. Duplication.   Make sure what you plan to offer in your booth is not too much like things already in the store.  If your specialty is barn wood farm tables and there are already barn wood farm table similar to yours in the store, maybe you need to look elsewhere.

9. The Owner   Most owners have things they do well and things that are a challenge.  Some owners are nutcases.  Seriously.   Unfortunately, you may not figure that out until you are in the door.  :-P  If you know other vendors in your area, talk to them about what they like and don't like about their mall.  No mall is perfect, but you'll likely fit with some malls better than others.  When you browse in a mall, if you see a vendors working in their booths, stop and chat with them.  It's not likely that they'll tell you much, but you may get a feel for their opinions.  Keep in mind that not every dealer in a mall is good.  If you chat with a lousy dealer, you'll likely get a lousy feeling from them.

Talk to the owner.  Do this on a day when you are in a good mood and feeling sharp and looking stylish.   Don't show photos on this first visit.  Just find out some basic info and get your impressions of the owner.  Keep in mind the owner will be getting first impressions about you, too.  If your first impression is not good, you could get put on a waiting list permanently!

10. Money Arrangements.   This is usually the first thing dealers ask. It's an obvious point.  How much is the rent?  Do you have to work at the mall as part of the arrangement?  If so, consider that as part of your rent.  What is the commission rate?  What other deductions are made?  Most malls are fairly competitive.  If the mall rent is too cheap, it may not be a bargain.  If the mall is begging for dealers, that might be a red flag.

Once you decide on a mall... 

Prepare to sell yourself.  Just because you want the mall, it doesn't necessarily follow that the mall will want YOU.  This needs to be a mutually beneficial relationship. You'll need to convince the owner to accept you.  Have photos of what you'd like to sell.  A picture is worth a thousand words.  Don't show a piece of furniture in a garage with a nasty floor and debris all around it.  You may need to take the photo in the garage, but you can still make it look nice.  Shove the debris out of sight. Put down a rug. Move the furniture against a nice wall or background.  Create a great vignette - just in the area that will show in the photo.  Is the wall ugly?  Paint it or prop vintage doors artfully to create a great background.  Show what you can do!  If you're going to be a vendor, you've got to learn how to make your stuff look appealing.  If you can't do that in the photo you show the owner, then why would they want you in their store? 

Prepare for a Waiting List.   Often, the best malls are full.   Don't choose your mall based on what's available immediately.  If you have to wait a few months to get a space, that just gives you more time to build an inventory and plan.  On the other hand, if you present yourself well enough and there is a space available, some owners will put you at the top of the waiting list.  Owners usually don't choose dealers based only on who has been waiting the longest.  They are more likely looking at who will be the best for the store.

Prepare to not have a booth in a great spot.  You are the new dealer.  You'll need to prove yourself before you are given a great spot (unless you have an established reputation from other malls.   If the mall you chose is great, be happy to get your foot in the door and know that a really great dealer can thrive most anywhere in the store.

Remember... you are NOT stuck.   You generally need to sign a 6 month contract.  That's plenty of time to see how you fit in.  If you realize you don't fit well after just a few months, DO NOT STOP TRYING!  Make your booth fabulous as a selling point for the next mall you hope to move into.

One more idea ... instead of renting one big space in one mall, consider renting two smaller space in different malls. You'll see which place you like best by the time the contracts are up.  You may even decide you like being in more than one location.  There are MANY benenfits to being in more than one store.  That's a post for another day!   :-D

Prime Booth Location

When you first get a booth at a mall, your booth location isn't usually up to you.  You have to take whatever spot is open.  Once you are in the door, as vendors leave, you may have an opportunity to move to a better spot.  Some mall owners will let all the vendors know when a space is coming open in case anyone wants to move.  Some mall owners will rent the open spot to the next potential vendor on her list. Vendors already in the store are shocked and some may wish they'd had a chance at moving.  Either way, you should pick out the booths you would love to have and tell the owner if any of them ever come available to please consider you.  And then, to make sure you are a good candidate, you need to prove yourself worthy of a better spot by making  the absolute most of your current location.  If you have a lousy looking booth and/or poor sales, why would the owner want to put you in a prime location?  And stay on the owner's good side, for Heaven's sake!

All malls vary, but here are some general thoughts to help you figure out which are the best booths in your mall -

The right side of the aisle is usually better than the left.  Most people tend to look to the right a little more often.

Source

A wide booth is better than a narrow booth.  Wide booths give you more options for arranging and a better opportunity for creating eye catching displays.

If you sell lots of things than hang, then look for booths with plenty of wall space.

Lighting is important.  Some malls don't want you to turn on lamps and lights in your booth during the hot summer months.  If you have good lighting that's no big deal.  If you are in a dark spot, it's bad, especially if you are selling dark furntiure.

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One more caution about lighting.  Some malls have ceiling fans.  A ceiling fan situated just so - in the path of a ceiling light - can produce a very annoying strobe effect.  Standing in a booth with the strobe effect is very irritating and customers generally don't linger in booths with that issue.

Source

A corner booth can be good, but not all corner booths are equal.  It depends of the traffic flow.  Corners that face oncoming traffic are the best.  If the corner is usually to the customer's back, then it's not a prime corner.  In fact, it causes you to lose your money wall.  See more about traffic flow and the money wall in this post.

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Booths that can be seen from different spots in the store are good.  Booths that can be seen from several booths away, like a booth at the end of an aisle, can be really good.

Being in the main path of traffic is important.  You don't want a booth in an off-the-main-path area that some customers forget to walk to.  You also don't want a booth in a spot that is too congested or too crowded.  A customer standing in the aisle looking into the booth might feel hurried along as other people walk past.  You want a spot where folks can happily loiter.

I could argue either way for being near the entrance or near the exit.  Some customers spend more time in the first few booths.  But will they make purchases.  They might be reluctant to pick something up, thinking they have so much more to see.  They tell themselves they'll come back after they've gone through the store.  But they don't always go back.

Towards the end, some impulse shoppers really want to go home with some little something.  If they haven't seen anything they want and they find themselves with only a few booths to go, they might look closer at those last booths.  For that matter, they might also take another quick look at any booths near the register.  Other customers might be on overload by the time they get to the end.  They might rush through the last booths.

 Lots of vendors love those first and last booths.  I never cared one way or the other.

Personal Photo taken at Queen of Hearts in Marietta, GA

If you know you aren't happy with your current booth, avoid putting in semi-permanent structures. Make your decor very mobile.  With luck, you may get to move to a better location quickly.  In fact you may "move up" several times before you get a booth you love.  I moved 4 times within 2 years before I found the perfect booth for me.

One last booth location thought - know your potential booth neighbors.  There may be some neighbors that, for whatever reason, you'd rather not be beside. Moving next to them could make your vendor life a lot more complicated and who needs that?  Just sayin'!

If your location and your booth shape isn't the best, don't worry too much.  I have seen awesome vendors in bad locations with poorly shaped booths and bad lighting who did GREAT.  If you have great stuff to sell, customers will flock to your booth!!!  Still, it's nice to be where you feel happy.