How do I get more people to look at my cards at a show

SetBuildingGuy · 12-22-2022, 01:36 PM

I set up at a couple of shows the last month. I have 10 cent boxes filled with stars, inserts, and chrome cards. I have 25 cent boxes with more valuable stars etc. and i have dollar boxes. Everyone that looks at my cards were happy and said these were good deals. My question is how do i get more people to stop and look through the boxes? Any ideas? Is this a case of having to build up a customer base? I made 150-200 a show less the 40$ for the table which is ok. Just looking to increase sales.

hermanotarjeta · 12-22-2022, 01:38 PM

Dress up like Princess Leia!

txrngr34 · 12-22-2022, 01:55 PM

What attracts me is neat and organized. Also, clear labels for each section - especially by sport and, ideally, by era/years.

If your table looks messy I won't bother because I don't feel like wasting my time wading through unorganized stuff.

Sure, I'll miss out on deals. But you never miss a deal you don't see.

ThoseBackPages · 12-22-2022, 01:56 PM

sort by sport, then by team

quantity discounts.

SetBuildingGuy · 12-22-2022, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Dress up like Princess Leia!

I dont think this will help. I might be able to pull off jabba.

SetBuildingGuy · 12-22-2022, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txrngr34

What attracts me is neat and organized. Also, clear labels for each section - especially by sport and, ideally, by era/years.

If your table looks messy I won't bother because I don't feel like wasting my time wading through unorganized stuff.

Sure, I'll miss out on deals. But you never miss a deal you don't see.

Thanks. This is good advice. I could make some signs with prices players etc to put on the boxes and separators.

hermanotarjeta · 12-22-2022, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SetBuildingGuy

I dont think this will help. I might be able to pull off jabba.

LOL, yeah maybe a better choice.

Very competitive prices draws business, label cards at 80-90% comps and you will have dealers wanting to buy out your table. Word gets around quickly at a card show who has the lowest prices.

SetBuildingGuy · 12-22-2022, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

sort by sport, then by team

quantity discounts.

I do give quantity discounts. Ill make a sign advertising this. I never sorted by team or dhopped by team so im hesitant to do this but ill think about it. Most of my cards are sorted by sport then by brand.

pewe · 12-22-2022, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SetBuildingGuy

I dont think this will help. I might be able to pull off jabba.

Bring Leia with you???

Downside might be people distracted from the cards... hmmm...

cholodolo · 12-22-2022, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SetBuildingGuy

Thanks. This is good advice. I could make some signs with prices players etc to put on the boxes and separators.

Agree with this, it is also important to appear approachable and personable. Lots of smiles and hellos to those perusing. Even simple, polite questions can help warm people up "what sport do you collect, favorite team etc." can help drive them in the direction you want.

Also, make eye contact and stay off your phone unless necessary. I've left tables waiting to purchase items because the person running the booth/table was too busy watching NFL to look up.

Last show I was at made a point of greeting every seller/dealer there even if they had basketball or football (which I do not collect).

hermanotarjeta · 12-22-2022, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pewe

Bring Leia with you???

Downside might be people distracted from the cards... hmmm...

Now we’re talking!

No customer can resist passing by a table without checking out the goods.

eye4talent · 12-22-2022, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Dress up like Princess Leia!

Never mind that he’ll look more like Princess Vespa’s stunt double. Which, by the way…

There’s an action figure for that:

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

hermanotarjeta · 12-22-2022, 02:17 PM

Perhaps have some space on the table reserved for a “marine fowl storage unit area.” It will keep the other customers happy. At least the boomer ones, I hear.

BigL7370 · 12-22-2022, 02:17 PM

Make a set number of dollar boxes with a deeper run of material where you have diggers thinking they can consistently pull some $3-$5 cards - think about relative quality where you seed easter eggs, depending on what you are willing to let go as your loss leaders.

hermanotarjeta · 12-22-2022, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eye4talent

Never mind that he’ll look more like Princess Vespa’s stunt double. Which, by the way…

There’s an action figure for that:

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

LOL, that’s awesome!

Boo · 12-22-2022, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SetBuildingGuy

I do give quantity discounts. Ill make a sign advertising this. I never sorted by team or dhopped by team so im hesitant to do this but ill think about it. Most of my cards are sorted by sport then by brand.

If someone is looking for Ohtani cards and sees your boxes labeled 2021 Topps (or some other mass produced set), they will likely keep walking. If the boxes are sorted and labeled by team, they may stop to see what you have under the Angels (even if it is 2021 Topps) and may find something to buy.

yodastories · 12-22-2022, 02:39 PM

If you're stuffing your face with a greasy cheeseburger and fries, I'm walking right on by; I've seen that way too many times.

Have some quick snacks ready if you can't get away for several hours.

Saraste · 12-22-2022, 03:26 PM

Ten cent and quarter boxes seem too narrow of a gap price-wise. It implies there won't be many good deals in the ten cent box. They would be in the quarter box instead. I have different price points (dime, quarter and 50 cent boxes) that I rotate at my shows. I can bring my dime and 50 cent boxes to the same show but not the quarter boxes with one of the other two. I have enough product that I can do so. I also have things sorted by sport, though not by team or player. If you have 50 or 100 of a few players, you could separate those out but it is not necessary.

Remember that there are a whole bunch of people at shows that are going to be only looking for slabs, $20 and up cards, sport(s) you don't carry, etc. You will not satisfy everyone so don't try. You may end up in the looney bin if you do.

If you are setting up regularly at a show, try to have at least some fresh inventory every show. There are too many people who have the same setups with the same cards every time.

As has been pointed out, signage is a must. If you have 3-dollar boxes where you do 12/$10. Make note of it. If you are willing to give bigger discounts for bigger quantities, state that they are available. The fewer questions customers have to ask, the better. Even if you have the signage, point the pricing out to the customers.

There are so many things that can be done. Just remember that what works at a show may not work at the next one. Don't get down about it (which is easy to do and I have done myself). All it takes is the right person or couple of people to make your show a big success.

SetBuildingGuy · 12-22-2022, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yodastories

If you're stuffing your face with a greasy cheeseburger and fries, I'm walking right on by; I've seen that way too many times.

Have some quick snacks ready if you can't get away for several hours.

I do not do this. HAHA

hammertime · 12-22-2022, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Dress up like Princess Leia!

It's a surefire way to get out of jury duty...

HRderby22 · 12-22-2022, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SetBuildingGuy

I set up at a couple of shows the last month. I have 10 cent boxes filled with stars, inserts, and chrome cards. I have 25 cent boxes with more valuable stars etc. and i have dollar boxes. Everyone that looks at my cards were happy and said these were good deals. My question is how do i get more people to stop and look through the boxes? Any ideas? Is this a case of having to build up a customer base? I made 150-200 a show less the 40$ for the table which is ok. Just looking to increase sales.

Clear signs and sorting by teams is my recommendation, but none of it matters if people anchor down to dig for 20+ minutes. They block all of the signage and make it impossible for others to look; especially if you also have a showcase of higher priced cards being blocked.

I'm amazed at how many dealers allow their showcases to be blocked by these folks and those trying to sell cards to the dealer. The best is the guy in a chair digging through the 25 cent box while his annoyed wife stands in front of the rest of the table.

Raleigh504 · 12-22-2022, 03:53 PM

As the others above have said, signage is the best and what works at one show may not work at the next (or even the same show at a later date). I used to carry $.25 cards and had people look through them to find cards. Then the last show no one looked through the boxes and even the same people who would normally look through the quarter box ignored it. Now I mainly carry $1 cards, then over $1 and then my 2 cases are the eye catchers (hot players, unique to the area, rookies, slabs, autos/relics). It isn't necessarily the most expensive stuff but to get people to stop at the table.

tdbaseballcards · 12-22-2022, 03:57 PM

I do bright colored signs and each price is a different color. People see the signs and then look. I sort by sport. I tried by team but it got mixed up constantly and people would complain so I gave up on that. But the biggest thing is building relationships. I have tons of repeat customers that have gotten good deals and know it's worth the dig.

Archangel1775 · 12-22-2022, 04:05 PM

Signage

it's 2022 so gotta be PC

theshowandme · 12-22-2022, 04:15 PM

Quickest way to get me to stop at your table is eye contact and posing a single question:

“Anything I can help you find today?”

12-22-2022, 01:36 PM	#1
SetBuildingGuy Member Join Date: Nov 2022 Posts: 31	How do I get more people to look at my cards at a show I set up at a couple of shows the last month. I have 10 cent boxes filled with stars, inserts, and chrome cards. I have 25 cent boxes with more valuable stars etc. and i have dollar boxes. Everyone that looks at my cards were happy and said these were good deals. My question is how do i get more people to stop and look through the boxes? Any ideas? Is this a case of having to build up a customer base? I made 150-200 a show less the 40$ for the table which is ok. Just looking to increase sales.

12-22-2022, 01:55 PM	#3
txrngr34 Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,195 txrngr34	What attracts me is neat and organized. Also, clear labels for each section - especially by sport and, ideally, by era/years. If your table looks messy I won't bother because I don't feel like wasting my time wading through unorganized stuff. Sure, I'll miss out on deals. But you never miss a deal you don't see. __________________ Any offers I make are only good for 24 hours unless otherwise stated.

12-22-2022, 01:56 PM	#4
ThoseBackPages Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 90,556 ThoseBackPages	sort by sport, then by team quantity discounts. __________________ Pumpers Paradise #YouCryIBuy Four things that we cannot change each others minds about: Politics, Religion, Third Party Grading, and 2021 Bowman's Best Rookie Cards

12-22-2022, 03:26 PM	#18
Saraste Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Sound Asleep Posts: 19,673 kesscards	Ten cent and quarter boxes seem too narrow of a gap price-wise. It implies there won't be many good deals in the ten cent box. They would be in the quarter box instead. I have different price points (dime, quarter and 50 cent boxes) that I rotate at my shows. I can bring my dime and 50 cent boxes to the same show but not the quarter boxes with one of the other two. I have enough product that I can do so. I also have things sorted by sport, though not by team or player. If you have 50 or 100 of a few players, you could separate those out but it is not necessary. Remember that there are a whole bunch of people at shows that are going to be only looking for slabs, $20 and up cards, sport(s) you don't carry, etc. You will not satisfy everyone so don't try. You may end up in the looney bin if you do. If you are setting up regularly at a show, try to have at least some fresh inventory every show. There are too many people who have the same setups with the same cards every time. As has been pointed out, signage is a must. If you have 3-dollar boxes where you do 12/$10. Make note of it. If you are willing to give bigger discounts for bigger quantities, state that they are available. The fewer questions customers have to ask, the better. Even if you have the signage, point the pricing out to the customers. There are so many things that can be done. Just remember that what works at a show may not work at the next one. Don't get down about it (which is easy to do and I have done myself). All it takes is the right person or couple of people to make your show a big success. __________________ The strange looks I get from customers at shows when they are selling and I ask for NASCAR! Which is the most accurate voice to read posts in: Saraste as a corpse - oldgoldy97 12/19/23

12-22-2022, 03:53 PM	#22
Raleigh504 Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: NC Posts: 2,677 ig_bljhsports	As the others above have said, signage is the best and what works at one show may not work at the next (or even the same show at a later date). I used to carry $.25 cards and had people look through them to find cards. Then the last show no one looked through the boxes and even the same people who would normally look through the quarter box ignored it. Now I mainly carry $1 cards, then over $1 and then my 2 cases are the eye catchers (hot players, unique to the area, rookies, slabs, autos/relics). It isn't necessarily the most expensive stuff but to get people to stop at the table. __________________ https://myslabs.to/brasm_sports5 https://www.ebay.com/str/jrbuddysportsandmore

12-22-2022, 01:38 PM	#2
hermanotarjeta Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 22,643	Dress up like Princess Leia!

12-22-2022, 02:17 PM	#13
hermanotarjeta Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 22,643	Perhaps have some space on the table reserved for a “marine fowl storage unit area.” It will keep the other customers happy. At least the boomer ones, I hear.

12-22-2022, 02:17 PM	#14
BigL7370 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,062	Make a set number of dollar boxes with a deeper run of material where you have diggers thinking they can consistently pull some $3-$5 cards - think about relative quality where you seed easter eggs, depending on what you are willing to let go as your loss leaders.

12-22-2022, 02:39 PM	#17
yodastories Member Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: 704 Posts: 309	If you're stuffing your face with a greasy cheeseburger and fries, I'm walking right on by; I've seen that way too many times. Have some quick snacks ready if you can't get away for several hours.

12-22-2022, 03:57 PM	#23
tdbaseballcards Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: MA Posts: 1,879 tdbaseballcards tdbaseballcards	I do bright colored signs and each price is a different color. People see the signs and then look. I sort by sport. I tried by team but it got mixed up constantly and people would complain so I gave up on that. But the biggest thing is building relationships. I have tons of repeat customers that have gotten good deals and know it's worth the dig. __________________ Check out my lowend COMC port - https://www.comc.com/Users/cheapcardsforyou

12-22-2022, 04:05 PM	#24
Archangel1775 Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Cali baby! Posts: 21,959	Signage it's 2022 so gotta be PC __________________ *There are the intangibles that set someone apart from the pack.So the blur isn't your inability to see his greatness, it's merely the inability to measure it.*

12-22-2022, 04:15 PM	#25
theshowandme Member Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 5,104 theshowandme nova_cards	Quickest way to get me to stop at your table is eye contact and posing a single question: “Anything I can help you find today?”