Vendor Fair Advice - PLEASE HELP!

[BusyBumbleBee]

Okay, so I need LOTS of advice on this one. I love doing craft shows, but they usually don't cost much to enter so it's not usually too hard to, at the very least, break even. So here's my situation...
I was invited to be vendor at a HUGE mall during Missouri's tax free weekend (back to school event). Well it's a 3 day event, you get 2- 8ft. tables, and it costs $300. The mall is expected get around 125,000 shoppers that weekend which is amazing. However, being a parent I have to wonder if people are going to be willing to spend extra money on hair bows and such when they are trying to pay for school supplies, clothes, and other back to school items.
What are you guy's thoughts??

[firedancer201]

I've never done anything like this before, BUT as a parent I buy stuff like that when I am back to school shopping. My friends (before I started making bows) always bought their daughter's hair bows when they went clothes shopping. They said it was easier to match because they had the clothes with them.

[Barbara Jean]

I would see buying bows as part of the "clothes shopping" for back to school and would spend the extra money (if I didn't make them myself, lol). I would go for plain bows/hair accessories that will do double-duty, so to speak, to get the most bang for my buck. I would go for it.

[BusyBumbleBee]

Thank you both for the input! I always try to see things from the shoppers point of view, and I think the solid basic bows are the right way to go too. I hope if nothing else I can at least give away lots of business cards. The show is in less then 3 weeks so I hope I can pull it off!!

[kidsm3]

I know the girls here love bows and want all the newest stuff when school starts to match their outfits. You gotta think from the point of a small school aged kid. They want evrything new. Mom and dad are thinkng as long as they dont cost too much hey why not!!

[BusyBumbleBee]

Thanks! I hope you are right! That's how I think, but not sure how everyone else thinks, lol!! I think I've made up my mind and am just going to go for it. Why not.

-Do you guys think it's too soon to display Halloween/fall bows at the show?? (August 8th, 9th, 10th):confused1:
I know the girls here love bows and want all the newest stuff when school starts to match their outfits. You gotta think from the point of a small school aged kid. They want evrything new. Mom and dad are thinkng as long as they dont cost too much hey why not!!

[kidsm3]

Thanks! I hope you are right! That's how I think, but not sure how everyone else thinks, lol!! I think I've made up my mind and am just going to go for it. Why not.

-Do you guys think it's too soon to display Halloween/fall bows at the show?? (August 8th, 9th, 10th):confused1:

Nope not too early. Just dont focust too much on them that way if they dont all sell you dont have too much over stock. make a little of this and that that way there will a good veriety to choose from. Oh and shop around at target and walmart to see what they are comming out with that way you will have ready made items that will match the stuff in the stores.

[jtgarrido]

Don't forget bows and headbands to match the local school colors. Those usually always do well.

[firedancer201]

Don't forget bows and headbands to match the local school colors. Those usually always do well.


Yep!! I always sell my local colors of bows, pony-o's, headbands, etc!

[alondra]

I think this will be a great opportunity to get known in your area. I personally, like to buy the accessories with the clothes. If I wait, it's more difficult to go back for it.

[BusyBumbleBee]

All great adive, thanks!! I've done shows in the past, just nothing this big. It also is about an hour from where I live (and a 3 day show!) - but it's an upscale mall and the crowd I've been trying to get my stuff in front of. I am going to research and see if I can't find out what the local school colors are. AND I'm going to pay more attention to the seasonal colors the stores clothing lines are coming out this right now (never thought of that!).
I just spent a lot of the day making solid colored bows in two different sizes and styles for those that don't want to spend too much and want the bows to match many different outfits.
I am sending in my contact and $$moolah$$ tomorrow! After that it's going to be bow making central at my house for the next two week - lol!!