How to Sell Your Products Without Competition

Selling your products at shows can be difficult when you have a lot of competition. Although some show organizers are careful to have a good mix of vendors, it's not uncommon for other shows to have 20% or more of the booths filled with vendors in the same niche - which is a buyer's market and a seller's disappointing show.

Before signing up for any show, ask the promoter how many other vendors in your niche will have booths. And if possible, find out what kinds of these items will be represented at the show. Even if you have to dig a little for this information, it's worthwhile to find out in advance whether the show is likely to be profitable for you.

For example, my medium is jewelry, which is usually the most competitive field at any show. And because of the overcrowding in this niche, many jewelry artists price the jewelry in their booth so low that it's hard for them (or any of the other jewelers at that show) to make any sales at a worthwhile profit. No one benefits from that kind of venue.

But I've found out how I can easily get my fair share of the jewelry market by finding less competitive shows for selling my work. Here are some suggestions for shows where you can find eager buyers for your products and likely no other competing vendors:

Local Expos and Events

Many organized events in your area involve wholesale or retail vendors selling their products in booths. These events are usually well promoted and attended, and may be unlikely to have other vendors in your niche. Examples of this type of event include a women's career expo, a home improvement show, a health fair, a business expo, and virtually any trade show.

Other unusual events that can be great prospects for selling your products without competition include historic re-enactments, car club shows, gun and knife shows, garden shows, spring or fall fashion shows, motorcycle rallies (motorcyclists are among the best and biggest-spending jewelry customers you'll find!), and music competitions (like a battle of the bands or a bluegrass festival).

Club or other organization meetings are also a possibility if your product is interesting - you will likely be welcomed to give a talk about your goods and then sell them afterward. Examples of organizations include a Rotary club chapter, a garden club, an alumni association, or a local newcomers' club.

To find out about events like these well in advance, or to locate clubs or groups that would welcome an interesting product presentation and show, call your local tourism commission and chamber of commerce. Ask for their recommendations, and most importantly, request to be put on their mailing lists of upcoming events. When you receive the listings, carefully consider each event for its potential as a show for selling your goods without competition.

Your Own Shows

With a little more work, you can organize your own shows where you can be certain you'll be the only vendor in your niche. Examples of these are home parties, open studio sales at your studio or home, and fundraiser shows where you donate a portion of the proceeds to a designated charity. You can also cooperate with other vendors to set up bigger shows, and profit from each other's customer lists.

You might do very well at an event with a ready-made huge crowd, such as a high school football game. Secure permission ahead of time to set up a booth presenting your product, and donate a percentage of sales to the school.

The key to success when doing your own shows is to be sure the event is well publicized if it's open to the public, or that you personally phone and remind each invitee if it's a private sale or party. The higher the attendance, the higher your sales.

So you see there's no need to sell your products in overly competitive venues. Instead, consider your targeted customers and think creatively about opportunities to present your products to them.

About The Author

Rena Klingenberg is a jewelry artist with expertise in displaying and marketing products creatively on a small budget. She publishes two websites, http://www.home-jewelry-business-success-tips.com and http://www.trade-show-booth-display.com, to assist other entrepreneurs in marketing their work successfully.

---

Business Lessons Learned At The Mall

Normally in this column I dispense highly-intelligent small business advice... Read More

Who Takes Your Money

Your business is making profits, but where is the cash?... Read More

Why Are Customers So Indecisive?

Do you know why your customer won't buy? You've given... Read More

An Introduction to B2B Lead Generation

It is important that organizations find other companies to do... Read More

Chicken Little And The Disintermediation Myth

If Chicken Little were alive today he wouldn't be running... Read More

Customer Loyalty in the Technology Industry

For technology companies, service after the sale has emerged on... Read More

How To Dramatically Improve Sales Closing Ratios

A closing question asks for a final decision. A trial-closing... Read More

Lead Companies, Eight Features To Consider

So now the time has come to invest in Lead... Read More

Handshake Intimidation

In some situations, attempting to intimidate the other person will... Read More

Marketing Conversations, And Conversation Stoppers

Where many marketing conversations get off-track are the ones you... Read More

Why Cold Calling Is Dead

Our world of selling is closed off from other areas... Read More

Secrets to Buying Without Being Sold

Have you ever asked yourself, now how did I let... Read More

Three Ways to Get More Referrals

When you are in the business of sales, among the... Read More

Voice Mail That Sells

As a business owner, I receive my share of sales... Read More

3 Ways To Sell and Have Fun Doing It

There are many ways to sell and have fun doing... Read More

5 Tips to Choosing a Direct Sales Business

With hundreds of direct sales companies out there, how do... Read More

Winning Sales Proposals

Your proposal is selling for you when you're not there,... Read More

Incentive Dilemma:

Manufacturers and distributors are rolling out more sales incentive programs... Read More

Health Insurance Lead and Health Insurance Leads

Health insurance lead generation systems provide a stead stream of... Read More

To Buy or Not to Buy? Motivating Your Customers to Take Action!

All customers have a choice to make. Sometimes that choice... Read More

Warming Up To Cold Calls

Will you do just about anything, including sending out hundreds... Read More

Tapping The Potential Of Your Customers

Business owners of long standing know the cardinal rule "take... Read More

Why Write a Sales Letter for Each Product?

Authors/publishers are great at getting their books written. Entrepreneurs know... Read More

101 Ways to Improve Your Direct Mail Response

1. Mail to your customers more often. If you are... Read More

Successfully Selling Your Professional Services

As a professional service provider you face special challenges promoting... Read More

The Prejudging Predicament

There's a direct correlation between sales experience and prejudging. The... Read More

The Doors Of Opportunity

Alexander Graham Bell once said, "When one door closes another... Read More

Count Down To An Advert

There are hundreds of books available to teach you how... Read More

The Email Blow-Off

This week's article is my response to a question by... Read More

The Power of Thank-You

When was the last time you thanked your customers?This often... Read More

The Biggest Mistake In Selling!

Some trainers and sales managers teach that there are prospects... Read More

Create A Killer Product by Writing Your Sales Letter First!

You may not realize this, but when if you are... Read More

In Sales Service Means Business

Some businesses flourish while others slowly fade away. There's usually... Read More