Requesting Thoughts and Input of Booth Layout

[Iguanadon]

I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday weekend.

I'd like to ask for thoughts and input from my fellow scrollers as it pertains to my booth setup.  I made a layout change recently and I'm beginning to question my decision.  This is a bit of a sociology and human nature experiment.

Early on, I set my tables up as a "U" shape, but along the front and sides of my booth/tent that folks would step up to, but recently changed to a "U" shape coming inside the tent so as to have people "step inside" and I think it's reducing the number of close-up views I'm getting.  Some folks simply don't like coming in and look from afar, but are more willing to step up the tent/tables around the perimeter.  See attached pictures of my old setup from last November, versus the one I used during my past 4 events (snapshot from yesterday).

Some big events you are literally given exactly 10', the size of your tent and your neighbors are right up against you and I'd be forced to use my internal "U" shaped setup to maximize display space and accessibility by customers.

Going back to my old setup would pertain to my weekly event at the Farmers Market and any events that I have extra elbow room and have plenty of space and I'm going to test the old setup next Saturday.  

I'd appreciate any thoughts and input from those that do events as well as those that attend events and think about if you're more or less willing to step "inside" a tent versus just stepping "up to" a tent.

Thank you friends,

Iggy

 

Edited May 28, 2017 by Iguanadon

[Jim Finn]

I agree with your conclusions.  I have tried both ways and find that when set up in a "U" shape under my tent all it takes is two people in there to block the whole display to other shoppers, who just walk by.  This "U" shape will work well if you have twenty feet to use (two spaces)   One trick I use to get more display space is:  I extend my display out front of my ten foot square display a bit.  Where this is allowed.

      Still, being inside  of my display gives me access to all my product and a place to stand and talk to folks and take their payment.  In the past, I have made vertical displays, but the winds, here in west Texas, blow them over too often.

[woodknots]

I used to set up using the U lay out, I found that it didn't have enough room for people to come in and look. So i started playing around with different setups and looking at other vendors setups. I finally landed on my current layout. 

[rjweb]

As a customer (my wife) I see that when there is a u shape display it does get blocked by 2 or 3 people and others stand outside to just take a quick look and never buy. Maybe you can try a v shape, slight so to have more room for your paying customers, RJ

[JOE_M]

As a buyer, I don't often go into the u-shaped booths. Usually I just look at the items at either end right up by the street and decide based on those few items if it's worth a second look. When it's turned around so I, the customer, am outside the booth then there is a whole table of things to look at as I walk buy and I'll at least slow down and scan that entire table.

[WayneMahler]

I have done it both ways. Seems the outline to the front of my tent works better at some shows, depends on how much room between vendors. I have found out or learned that the more welcoming you make your set up the better traffic flows inside. Both my wife and I stay at the front especially when doing the U inside. Greeting people and saying hello goes a long way. Another thing I have found to help is to have some of the displays up higher so people are not always looking down. I use things that will catch a person's eye and hopefully get them to walk into the display. As was stated above about the center getting jammed up with people this is true. And when a buyer chooses something it also makes it more difficult to tend to them or answers questions. On a side note with that, people attract other people and as their curiosity piques  you have potential customers waiting to get in to see. Just a few thoughts and observations from my experience.

[Iguanadon]

Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and pictures as vendors and as customers.  I'm glad it didn't take me a full season to figure out that I may have hurt my potential sales with my setup change.   I'll switch back when I have the space on either side of me.  When I'm stuck in a strict 10' space, I'll improvise.

Anyone else, feel free to chime in.

[Iguanadon]

On 5/28/2017 at 9:40 AM, woodknots said:

I used to set up using the U lay out, I found that it didn't have enough room for people to come in and look. So i started playing around with different setups and looking at other vendors setups. I finally landed on my current layout. 

Very nice setup you have there Jeff.  I like how open it is.

We have friends visiting for the weekend and I was talking with them about this topic and the husband had an interesting idea of hanging some puzzles from the front edge of the tent, swaying in the wind to catch peoples eye.  I would simply glue the pieces together and hang each animal with a string.  Sacrifice a few puzzles as decoration.  I'm going to consider it.  I don't want to get too weird or tacky looking.  I think putting my main table out front again will make a difference.  I'll report back after the next couple of Saturdays.

Edited May 30, 2017 by Iguanadon

[Iguanadon]

6 hours ago, Jim Finn said:

I agree with your conclusions.  I have tried both ways and find that when set up in a "U" shape under my tent all it takes is two people in there to block the whole display to other shoppers, who just walk by.  This "U" shape will work well if you have twenty feet to use (two spaces)   One trick I use to get more display space is:  I extend my display out front of my ten foot square display a bit.  Where this is allowed.

      Still, being inside  of my display gives me access to all my product and a place to stand and talk to folks and take their payment.  In the past, I have made vertical displays, but the winds, here in west Texas, blow them over too often.

That's not fair, you guys sell great looking stuff.  I sell silly little puzzles.  ;-)

Very nice.

[bandaideman]

I had an experience of a friend dropped by and all 6 foot 4 of him blocked my u shape talking to me. He was a helper at the show so it happened more than once . I had to be rude and send him away. I will set up the other way from now on. It did not help that he missed all the hints and did I mention I am the same size as him

 

 

[crupiea]

I dont sell stuff so I can tell you from a shoppers perspective that I do not like going into a booth.  feels like too much pressure.  Sort of like going into a store where its just you and the salesman.  i would rather just not go if that is going to be the case.

I would stop and browse if it was just straight though like the first picture. 

I think the would be the straight table with tiers like a mini stadium. 

Edited May 30, 2017 by crupiea

[Jennifer Moon-Child]

At my latest show on Saturday I did a u-shaped layout, and I was on a corner. Most people were afraid to enter the U, and about 2/3 of what I sold was on the table that was on the outside edge. Probably won't do it like that again.

[amazingkevin]

nice set ups

[JimErn]

Iggy, I never thought about taking a pic or two of my layout at a show, I have one coming up this Sat so I will do that.  But I measured off a 10x10 square and put my naked tables out for the pic posted here - hope it stirs some ideas.

The red leather card table in the center is my parents, earliest I remember it is when I was in 1957.  Kind of neat the top lifts just enough for each leaf to slide out, kind of a cantilevered track on each side.  The card table is centered on the folding tables making a kind of inset area.

This set up leaves me 18" on one side to side step in an out of the booth if I am crowded on both sides

Jim

[poupster2]

4 hours ago, JimErn said:

Iggy, I never thought about taking a pic or two of my layout at a show, I have one coming up this Sat so I will do that.  But I measured off a 10x10 square and put my naked tables out for the pic posted here - hope it stirs some ideas.

The red leather card table in the center is my parents, earliest I remember it is when I was in 1957.  Kind of neat the top lifts just enough for each leaf to slide out, kind of a cantilevered track on each side.  The card table is centered on the folding tables making a kind of inset area.

This set up leaves me 18" on one side to side step in an out of the booth if I am crowded on both sides

Jim

I really like the idea.  so the white tables are 6'X3' tables correct? that makes the red table with the extension 4' That is perfect!

[poupster2]

On 5/28/2017 at 9:40 AM, woodknots said:

I used to set up using the U lay out, I found that it didn't have enough room for people to come in and look. So i started playing around with different setups and looking at other vendors setups. I finally landed on my current layout. 

Wow, that is an impressive display!

[JimErn]

14 hours ago, poupster2 said:

I really like the idea.  so the white tables are 6'X3' tables correct? that makes the red table with the extension 4' That is perfect!

5ft x 30" (I think)  I know they are 5ft long cause two will span the 10ft vendor space

[Jim Finn]

Yesterday was my fifteenth sale this year and usually my best.  I did OK but not as well as I did there  last year.  My wife  also offered her stuff at this event.

     My wife sells her crocheted items and insists on making a "U" shaped area to sell her stuff.  She feels she needs to get up close to her shoppers.  I , on the other hand, like to stand behind my display.  This also allows me to use a cash box that I keep inside my rectangle of tables.  Keeps it out of reach of shoppers.

      We had two spaces at this event and each space was 15' x15' so a total of 30' x 15'.  Open to shoppers on three sides of this space.  She set her space up in the "U" shape facing me and I set up in a rectangle of tables, with me in the center.  We had enough room, between us, for people to come into our spaces .  About ten feet.  It worked well for a few reasons.  It was a shortcut for the shoppers to get from one side of the row of vendors to the other.  Also we set up three canopies in the 30' and folks were looking for shade in the West Texas 90° heat yesterday. 

     My head was on a swivel all day because I had shoppers on all four sides of my set up.  I am always surprised that none of my toys get stolen, but they don't.  Lots of kids there.

     My sales were four times what my wife sold yesterday even though she had more table space than I had. Part of the difference is the product offered, and part, the display layout. (In my opinion). 

      Sorry no photos. 

     

[edward]

like the display  a lot, and very nicely placed on the items.  edward

[orangeman]

On 5/28/2017 at 9:40 AM, woodknots said:

I used to set up using the U lay out, I found that it didn't have enough room for people to come in and look. So i started playing around with different setups and looking at other vendors setups. I finally landed on my current layout. 

Jeff,

Can't remember if I ever thanked you but I am now. THANKS. I used your concept for the first time at Cary's Lazy Daze show in August. The 4" grid system isn't that expensive and is easy to set up. It allows more folks to enter the booth and look around. Also, I can display more puzzles vs my previous layout. And I also included a 30" shelf system at the front of the booth in front of a table. This allows the shy and intimidated folks to see puzzles without entering the booth and being accosted by the puzzleman.

bb