The competition can be fierce at flea markets and swap meets. Especially at the larger markets that have so many booths to look at, it can be hard to capture the attention of passersby. In order to stand out from the other vendors, you need more than just captivating displays and fun decorations.
Many consumers can stop by your booth, but sellers need to turn on the charm in order to turn a window shopper into a buyer. Small businesses have been perfecting the art of converting customers for years with their friendly smiles and delightful conversations, and with some of our helpful tips, vendors can boost their business in no time:
1. Everyone Loves a Bargain
It is a known fact that flea market and swap meet vendors are professionals at bargaining with shoppers, and it really works. It is smart to leave a little room for bargaining when pricing your products so you can make customers feel like they get a good deal. If they are looking at your products and start to walk away, that is the perfect moment to come in and give them a “special deal” and see if they bite. More times than not, this will work and you will get your sale.
2. Greet Shoppers Properly
As a business, your job is to make sure you set the proper tone and mood to garner good feelings with prospects. There is nothing worse than walking into a booth and not even being greeted, or seeing a sales person sitting on their phone and not looking up at you. The more vendors interact with potential customers, the more likely they are to purchase something at your booth. Give them a reason to shop at your flea market or swap meet rather than a big box retailer.
3. Ask What the Consumer Needs
Aside from the window shoppers just perusing through your products, you will also get customers looking for a specific item. When you greet them as they enter your booth, it is important to ask what they are looking for or how you can help them find what they need. They will tell you if they are just looking, but maybe they are on the hunt for a shirt in a specific size or a certain type of sneaker. If you do not have a size or certain style in stock, offer consumers special orders, or maybe direct them to your website where you have more product availability.
4. Encourage Shoppers to Take a Small Action
When potential customers walk into your booth, a great way to entice them and get them to know your merchandise better is by interacting with your products. This can be through samples, demonstrations, or even creative displays that get shoppers to stop and take a longer look at everything. One of the main reasons that customers shop in person is to touch and try the merchandise, so this is a great way to turn a simple peruse into a shopping spree.
The most important aspect of converting a window shopper into a buyer is through strategic conversation and personalized experiences. Make your customers feel heard and give them what they are looking for. Once you make that sale, be sure to keep in touch with consumers and have them follow any social media accounts, check out your website, or sign up for email or text promotions — this can help create loyal customers.