When you’re in network marketing there’s a whole bunch of different  ways to generate leads. One of them is to go to vendor events. I’ve always dreaded attending them along with buying a tent with tables and all the other stuff you need to have to be successful. They are a lot of work and you have to have your stuff together. You can’t just go and sit in a chair behind your table while looking down at your phone. You have to get out there and talk with people.

My first vendor event was very small. I paid $40 and it helped a good cause, Dyslexia. However, it was in the middle of nowhere and I think maybe 100 people came through. And 100 people, my friends, is a generous number. I also only had one table, my products, which weren’t many and business cards. Looking back at that, and thinking about how my booth looked from a customer’s point of view…. I wouldn’t have chatted with me. My tent was pathetic. I mean, the product that I had was all my own personal product. I really had nothing to sell. Needless to say that after that one, I was a bit discouraged. I got 8 leads, followed up with all of them and nothing came from all that crappy effort.

Although I was frustrated, I decided to try another one. This one was suppose to be huge. It costs a whopping $150 bucks to attend. It’s touted to have foot traffic of 100,000 people over two days. Keep in mind that there may be a good 500 other vendors there. Seemed like it could be a good deal because it’s so huge! With that many people walking through, I figured I had some pretty good odds.

I put my deposit down and decided that there must be a better way to do this. I knew I needed to step up my game and have things to sell along with things to attract people to my booth. I made a logo for my business, created a banner, got some table cloths and borrowed three tables from my mom. I ordered some 2 and 4 ounce glass jars to make some simple items for people to purchase. I ended up making bath salts with essential oils, some honey scrub with frankincense oil, lip balms and kitty litter refreshing powder. All of the products have various Young Living oils in them so people who have no idea about essential oils could smell them to spark a conversation. I also created this sign so people would inquire about the free deal and fill out their information for me to contact them

I also learned from Madra Jones (a millionaire with IT Works Company) that you should network with other vendors before the event starts. So, I did just that and got 30 new leads to reach out to. Also, in just the first day I sold enough of the products I created to make back my entire vendor fee. Plus I got two nice sized orders to go directly to Young Living as new customers in my group. I also have 7 people seriously interested in hosting a class without the incentive of free stuff. Keep in mind folks that this was all from just ONE day of the vendor event. Stay tuned for the results of day 2.

So, to answer the question is a vendor fair event worth it? Yes, it is. It’s sooo worth it.  You have to get yourself out there when you go though. You can’t make the mistake like I did at the first vendor event. You have to be appealing to customers for them to want to talk to you. You need to network and make as many contacts as possible for it to be worth it.

For those of you embarking on doing a vendor event, good luck and if you need any guidance go to the contact me section of this blog and ask any question you have. I’ll help however I can.