I am going to be selling my book and lures at Escanaba this year and would like some suggestions about what would make for a good booth. I have sold at some "pop up" situations before but never a two day event. I have a ton of product, decent prices and a good sign. Love to hear what you like or don't like.

Good product at good prices sell. Selling rindstone handbags at a trapping convention may not get you the sales you want. Trapping folks are generally all around sportsmen and women.

Best thing about a selling booth is have something to attract the eye of people from further away-think flagging a cat set.
That and setting up at traffic-again same as trapping-set on the travel route.

Clean and organized. Easy to look through stuff. Hang an old CD or something above it, people will spot it from far and a nice organized table will seal the deal. The big conventions have so much stuff, I skip past cluttered tables thinking I’ll find whatever they got at the next table quicker.

Don’t overcrowd your table.

I have sold at one convention. It went very well. I had something for everyone. Even for the non trapping spouses or trapping friends. I went with idea that I wanted to get a little out of the traps and equipment I had but didn't ask big money for the stuff I had.

Have actual reasonable prices clearly labeled and visible also it would definitely help if you had some way to take card pay means and have a visible sign that said so. Even something like cash app pay pal ect would be a big boost.

Also slight side note if you could get some bank lures and get them hydro dipped or what ever in a MAGA them im pretty sure youd sell out in short order

For my ADC business at Home & Garden Shows my booths were something that caught the eye. Also had interactive stuff for potential customers.

If you have pics or videos set them up to run on a loop.

Some good advice above.

Boco and 080808 especailly.

Here is a show I did many years ago. Very specific subject- the yearly Draft Horse show. I brought my 1923 Hamley Form Fitter saddle and set it on my wooden stand at the booths entrance. Everyone could see it easily. I know how sought after those collectable saddles are, I figured it to be an attention getter. Boy was it ever. You can just see it on the far left of the pic. Cowboys and collectors would make a bee line across the room to my booth to see that saddle and visit, and many ended up with a print.

Point being, have an attractant that people love. An antique trap , or furs, nice ones , gets attention.

Make the booth easy to see, priced well, and above all, smile and be welcoming.

Do you have a photo of your set up at a pop up ? What are you trying to show us by posting this photo above ?

Easy to see prices, if I can't walk right up and know what something costs I'll walk away

I've done a lot of that sort of thing and I think the above suggestions are all good. I would also say it is extremely important to greet everyone coming while using good eye contact and a smile. Be prepared and able to strike up a conversation with anyone, no matter what strata of society they may be from.

Moosetrot

Also, an elevated wire or something strung at the back edge of your table with some lures hanging off of it might be a good attention getter and conversation starter.

Moosetrot

The first photo is my table with Lure Hunter Banner



This is a photo of my table top display.


My wife sporting our logo.


My Eye attractor. It is on a pole which extends to 10'. Several hundred dollars in musky baits.

Your "lure hunter" sign would be enough to grab my attention. Very nice.

Depending on the type of convention, especially ones that are family friendly, I like to have something for the folks that aren’t the main attendees.

Say a trapping convention - something for the younger kids that arent into trapping yet - a trapping or animal themed coloring book or puzzle book or some inexpensive tanned tails. And for the ladies - beads or craft supplies or some outdoor related cookbooks.

Now - before you jump all over me for being “sexiest” - I know lots of ladies that trap and put up fur, etc. - and some really young kids are into getting a #0 trap - but not all of them are. Give the non-trappers something to shop for.

If this is a family friendly event, I try to have something for every family member that might be there. Just about every vendor will have traps I mean DUH it is a trapping convention after all. But it doesn’t hurt to have a few things that are different.

And go as vertical as possible - a booth that is all ground level gets “lost in the crowd”.

Neat and organized. Quality products. Price IMO doesn’t matter. Main thing is be in line with other sellers of the same product.
Yes definitely have something for everyone. Also know your customers, area, etc..

Looks like you are on the right track. Your booth and display are nice.

Also never let your table look empty. And greet everyone with a smile. Be helpful. And thank them for stopping.
Thank them if they buy something. And let them know you appreciate there business.

I have been selling for over 20 years. Wish you the best!!!!!!!!

your sign needs to be up behind your booth- they make stands for this here is an example

https://www.amazon.com/Backdrop-Adjustable-Background-Crossbars-Decoration/dp/B0CG1L4Q3H/ref=sr_1_3?crid=XE6HP7082ZPS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aDexIkxkyxpjy1jd39PfTSUenur_ULomzOcT6h90qPJEbpKfRIYzKzuaUJMA0tgZm31Tek6wL5xV6mtHrqIGZYnz1b4C3KbIXb6c-zorkeAl0NkXHuO3oAo6eX7bSag50ZRnclAEVuj9U1utCZ-3EHbPY2NwLoqVgOt0tXi_1lgO5HFyikqdZpfba9jRfIEUgchnKsNmNm0lCOfEhTwp8tmIT0kLaz1cNQYtStT8JDA.creNqySTrn3QNI2RA46IPD1MpfzbhPDIK8ETP-HTdTk&dib_tag=se&keywords=display%2Bstand%2Bfor%2Bhanging%2Bsign%2Bbackdrop&qid=1720391999&sprefix=display%2Bstand%2Bfor%2Bhanging%2Bsign%2Bbackdrop%2Caps%2C196&sr=8-3&th=1

show girls

Put a nice table cover that matches or close to your background over your table and put a sample of the lures you are selling with them priced on the table

Have business cards available. Not everyone at a conversion makes an immediate purchase, many come back later ... keeps your name in front of them longer.

We'll see you there!

Don’t put the table at the front blocking you or your product from the crowd. Get the table to the back. Let the customers inside the booth. Be out front of the booth engaged with potential customers and you have to be a hustler…… If you are behind your table, on your phone, not engaged,I’m walking right by…… If you have an open booth, out front, engaged, hustling,then I’m coming in.

Smile and be friendly. I've seen so many vendors that are grumpy, on their phones, disconnected from what's going on etc.
Act like you enjoy what you are doing, not just waiting 'till it's over so you can pack up and go home.

^This is good advise. ^

She Traps out of Earlham, Iowa had an attractive booth@ the FTA in Harrisonburg.

Sarah at the FTA. Shows part of her display and part of Jeff's.

If you have the ability to accept a charge card you will increase immediate sales. especially on more expensive items or large purchases. Apparently it's much easier today, there's an app for that, lol

That said you'll pay a commission on each cc sale.

Thanks for all the great ideas. I appreciate it. Your ideas will help me shorten my learning curve.

A mounted fish with one of your lures in its mouth would attract my attention.

Free fish shaped candy for the kids, swedish fish or fish shaped lollipops. In bulk they are cheap
And a free giveaway. Getting them to stop at your booth is the first step

Good post Miss Nancy.....
I will add be Friendly and interact with each visitor without being "pushy".....
"We have a special today" is a good line....after you find out their interest.....

If you want to see a great outdoor display, see the effort that Muskrat puts out. Awesome display, with vertical and horizontal displays, products and prices clearly visible.
Zookeeper.

DO NOT PUT DUMP ANY STINKING BAITS/LURES ON THE TABLE TO FOUL UP THE AIR!!!!!

Take advantage of every square foot you have. You'd be surprised what you can pack into a 10'X0' space.



Another thing you need to take into consideration is the possibility of theft. Both during the show and before/after the show. During the show it's up to you and what you can manage. Before/after the show it's a crap shoot, depending on the event and how "secure" the facility is. I found this old World War II German parachute at a garage sale years ago. Fellas used it for a duck blind. Now I too use it as a boat cover but it also drapes over the booth and what's left to view is difficult to get at. You want something quick and easy to drape over your booth and then pack it in the next morning. Again, depending on the show.

Escanaba shouldn't be an issue with theft, but you'll sleep better at night with things tucked away or well covered.





One more thing while I'm thinking about it . . . it's been mentioned above a couple of times. You want to draw potential customers to your booth. "Packaging" your booth to make things look appealing to draw 'em up close is half the battle.

My buddy Todd Strupp sells antlered mugs he makes. He's been very successful and has had good help along the way. Those of you who know Hannibal and what the showman he can be will be tickled to know he's coached Todd along the way, including his booth display. Note the display. You can't miss it from across a large room. And it's simple to set up and easy to take down. Easy to pack. But it looks huge from a distance. And it's "different" enough it draws folks. And when people see other people hanging at a booth they've got to know what they're missing, so they'll at least walk over and see what's up. Anyway, for what it's worth.

Mike - that space looks to be 10x10x20!!

I hope you aren’t giving show event planners any ideas about how to charge for booth space!! LOL

Been to several NTA conventions when I was new with my squeaker units, best thing I had ever done was bring give away's for the kids, they are magnet's for finding booths with free stuff, they love stickers with a theme of the convention or area or your product, don't be stingy with them, they will drag the parents or watcher over them back soon enough. Don't think adults won't want them either LOL, have your contact info printed on them as well, they are a cheap thing to buy or have done, other things are fly swatters at one convention in a giant barn stall area, every one had one of them, pens with your logo is another cheap thing that I used, I also had fur hanging around it is amazing what a grabber fur is that is not from the area you are selling in !

Second thing was always have material to handle, might be a different thing for you with fish lures but hands on is a great seller

Third is I always had a unit working, drove every one around me crazy, but had many people just follow the sound to my table.
I now have a volume control on the units which would placate the neighbor booths LOL !!

I don't agree with having access to inside perimeter of your area, especially if you have boxed inventory, you cannot watch it as well as talk to people like you should and it only takes a second to have something lifted, if people are inside, people don't like to stand and wait either, they wish to move along if some one is telling a book about how they work with stuff, you got to be able to turn the conversation off, from that sort of thing, politely of course ! Don't tell me things don't get lifted either, it does !!

Pictures of your product in action is a nice addition, people like to see the product in use, I once set up with a computer screen and a disc running back in the early days of computers, crowd grabber for my units it was a hit !!

Be patient with questions, dress nicely, don't be a slob, like some people walking around showing up, it's a real downer for customers to see a boother look like they got dragged in by a farm truck, don't need slacks or a suit, dress like the crowd, not above them.

Have a way to sell to people that will buy but don't want to carry around, card readers are great now days, they can order and you can ship to them. I tried holding stuff the first time, was a waste of my effort, the only time people came back was if they paid for a large amount. Only hold if paid and you have an address to ship if they forget or can't get back in when the gates close !

A couple of ideas came to my mind right away…

First is you could involve the crowd…or kids specifically…with a casting contest. Participants get their name in a drawing for a free book or lure. Brings people to your stand and keeps them there for a bit. Gives you a chance to give your spiel to dad while kids are occupied.

Another idea would be to give a demo. Not that what you have is trapping related…but demos sell product! You get a lot of like minded people in one spot and you have their attention.

The booths I see that do the best for business have young ladies in Daisy Dukes and boots and they have eaten steroid induced chicken their entire lives.

That’s who I was referring to.

or at least half way back

some times people want to just get out of the crowded isle and then you have them in your booth with no barrier so you can talk not over a table with them standing in the isle holding up traffic.

a couple folding chairs are not bad either , they might be tired on their feet or their spouse might and if they can sit you can talk loner , longer contact might drive a sale.

have an easy to take a picture of as in not shiny so that in the lights they can snap a picture , business cards are a good thing but still get dropped to the bottom of the bag , a picture is saved on the phone and has all your info and they can pull it up later , it doesn't weigh anything and nothing spills on it in the bag.

Good idea to have the treble hooks or any hooks removed from the demo lures. Kids and fishing hooks would not be a good combination.

Bryce