How to Stand Out at Vendor Events

Vendor events/expos/opportunities are a fantastic way for you to share your product with TONS of New People.

What is a Vendor Event? A Vendor Event is usually comprised of different direct sales people that come together in one location to display their products and company information. Each person pays a small fee to the coordinator and then is given a space in the room. Each vendor invites customers and friends and the coordinator also advertises the event too.

The advantages of a vendor event is that you have access to new potential clients, new team members and you have the ability to book parties, grow your list, etc. The key to vendor events is standing out during the entire time and talking to as many people as you can.

Here are some tips for you to remember so that if you choose to display your Origami Owl products at an event you will have a successful outcome. When it comes to vendor events, I never worry about how much I sell. I solely focus on booking parties and sharing the business opportunity. I try to build connections, make friends and share with people why Origami Owl is amazing.

Complete the Event Notification From and submit it to the Nest at eventcare@origamiowl.com

Selecting a show:

Bigger is not always better

Demographic is important

Finding Shows

Booth Specifics

Know BEFORE you commit

• Exclusives

• Other vendors

• Number of similar companies

• Last year’s traffic

• Show incentives and promos

• Advertising methods

• Venue

• Draped

• Premium Location pricing

• Additional costs (electricity, wi-fi...)

• Negotiate!

Booth Presentation

13% of “guests” stop at a particular booth because of the presentation!

You NEVER get a second chance to make a 1st impression

Let’s explore the aspects of presentation!

Plan/To-do/Bring

Have clean and sparkly jewelry

Arrive Early to set-up

What should I have for the event: Base the amount of inventory you have on the size, length of the event and the expected crowd

If you have 4 or more order over $125, set yourself up as a Hostess and enter them as a party order to receive the Hostess rewards. 

Have plenty of business cards, rack cards, order forms and catalogs

(Don't hand out catalogs to everyone, leave them under the table for those that seem truly interested).

Great Idea: Put post it notes on everyone's catalog and have them give you their info before they 

get a catalog.

Take several Business Opportunity Packets and Hostess Packets.

Take a money bag with you to collect checks and cash. Make sure you take plenty of cash with you to make change (bills and coins) if you are selling product there for Make and Takes.

Make sure to follow up on any and all leads! Don’t let them sit for fear of contacting them. 

Send out a follow-up email.

Start off small and find a few events in your area. These events will help you to get comfortable with speaking to customers and discussing the product.

Bring your points of difference and any other helpful documents. Don't feel scared to pull these out if you need to answer a question that you do not know. 

Consider Make & Take for larger events and consider taking orders at smaller local events. If you can't, plan on booking parties, sharing the opportunity and take any orders that you can. 

Be Creative: Booking Tree, Special, Giveaway, 

Booth Design

1. O2 Concept

– Who are we?

• Energetic

• Modern

• Fashionable

• Fresh

• Trendy

• FUN!

Booth Design

2. Color Scheme

– Origami Owl Colors

• Aqua

• White

• Linen Accents

• Pops of Coral and Pink

– Be a Brand Ambassador

• Aqua

• White

• Aprons

Booth Design

3. Visual interest

• Shapes and heights

• Mix it up

• Odd numbers... 3, 5, 7...

• Less is more

• Pops of Color

Booth Design

4. Visual Rhythm

This is the quality that causes the eye to move across the display and not get “stuck”

• Clean and uncluttered

• Use diagonal lines

• Use color to draw the eye

• Hide the mess (bags etc)

• Create a main focal point

• Use “satellite” focal points

Booth Design

5. Booth Flow

• Make it easy to move around

• Stay in front of the booth

• Open it up, push the table back

• Create an “L” shape

• Corner Booth if possible

• Get guests out of the “doorway”

• Beautiful branded pieces from your back office

Booth Design

6. Branding

• Additional items

– Banner- graphic in back office

– Signage-back office

– White dishes

– Linen busts

Booth Promotion

• You need to ENGAGE them

– 38% of people visit because they were asked

• Prize Wheel

• Food

• Drawing

Your Objective is to:

Book

Sell

Mentor

Working the booth

Put the Welcome mat out!

• Don’t sit in your booth!

• Keep your body language OPEN.

• NEVER eat in your booth.

• Do offer them a treat.

• Offer seating if possible for guests.

• Don’t “overstaff”

• Work with a partner

What to say

• First, get used to “NO”...

– You are going to hear it. Probably 75% of the people you talk to will decline.

• Ask the right questions

• Usually you want to avoid Yes or No questions but there are ways to use them to your advantage

– Have you seen O2? If they so no then you say GREAT! Let me give you some!

– Come spin our prize wheel?

– Would you like a chocolate?

– Did you hear about our drawing?

• Try a non-business question

– Are you enjoying the show?

– Where are you from?

– What brings you to the show today?

• When you get a NO, move on to the next yes!

Working the Show

• YAY they stopped!

• Oh NO! Now what?

• Be ready

1. Build desire for the products and your Jewelry Bar experience

2. Show them the value for booking

3. Create urgency with a special

4. ASK

FOLLOW UP Tips:

Booking Do’s

• Capture their information

• EXPECT a yes

• Be ENERGETIC!

• Look busy but not too busy to help them

• Network with the other vendors

• Wear your most comfortable shoes

• Wear a Name Tag.

• Pretend that the people coming towards you are old friends

• Take a break. It will help keep your energy up!

Booking Don’ts

• Be desperate

• Sit behind the table

• Lean on the display

• Huddle up talking to your co-workers

• Sit, drink, or eat while at the booth

• Talk on the phone

• Complain

• Allow someone to monopolize your time.

• Do a mass drawing

• Hand out literature

New Designer ~ Getting Started Tips to SOAR!!

Here are few more tips for Designers who are just getting started with Origami Owl.  

Create the Buzz 

Social Media is a huge tool that can be used to help you grow your Origami Owl business.  Do you know how to Tweet or what hashtags are?  Do you understand the main differences between Instagram and Pinterest and which one should be used for which purpose?  

Start researching the various options for you to use and learn how to use them well.  There are important guidelines you’ll need to follow with regards to Social Media and how and what you name your pages and sites and you’ll learn them by reading the Origami Owl Policies and Procedures. That being said, you can start working on your site content now by collecting pictures you’ll want to post in a folder on your desktop.  See a locket on the Origami Owl Instagram or Origami Owl Facebook you like? Save it.  See a great O2 related fashion ensemble or quote on the Facebook page?  Save it.  

Find my Origami Owl Facebook page and start borrowing pictures I post.  There’s a large quantity of Origami Owl related pictures throughout Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.  One quick word of caution (OK, several):  Always make sure you have permission to use someone’s picture regardless if it’s watermarked or not.  The only exceptions would be those taken directly from the Origami Owl official sites.  If a picture does have a watermark and you are given permission to use it, DO NOT crop out the watermark.   There are many Designers out there who are super talented with photography and artistic design who are also very sharing but please don’t take advantage of them or their work by removing their watermarks.  Now you are ready to take over the web with your Origami Owl presence and provide lots of great content to all your new fans and followers!

Create the Business

“Hobbies cost you money.  Businesses make you money.”  This was an important tip I learned early on in my Origami Owl career and it’s so true.  Treating your Origami Owl business AS A business is very important assuming you’re doing this to make extra money and provide an income for you and your family.  If that’s the case, you’ll want to look into business based options including creating a separate bank account for your O2 income (will be important come tax time).  You may also want to apply for/or designate one credit card to be used for your O2 business.  I use the Capital One Venture Credit card and I look forward to future free flights or travel throughout this year and next.  Please note, we DO NOT suggest you incur debt to start your O2 business.  My credit card balances are paid off in full monthly (I pay on the card multiple times throughout the month) but they are a nice way to earn the extra perks of airline tickets.  

You’ll also want to talk to a tax professional about your new business and see what he/she suggests you do as far as the tax aspect of your job is concerned.  Because O2 does not take income tax out of your commission and override checks, it’ll be important you discuss how that will impact your return with a tax professional.  Deductions are also an important item to discuss with said tax professional.  Getting organized early and keeping track of your expenses and income via a spreadsheet or other manner that makes you comfortable will help you in the long run.  Remember, this is a business!

Create a Team

As a Designer, you have the ability to sign up other Designers who want to join you on your Origami Owl journey and start one of their own.  I currently have 11 girls that have joined in the journey with me and 2 more signing up. 9 on my level 1 (personally sponsored under me) and 2 on my level 2 (girls under my level 1). 

Origami Owl is generous with their product commissions and they are also generous with their overrides.  By building, coaching, teaching and training a team of other Independent Designers, you can receive additional income to help you reach your financial goals.  Never be afraid to share the business with anyone!  Remember, if you are not ready to mentor I can help you and I have no problem providing guidance to YOUR Downline Designers. That is what your upline is here for! Most mentors have a Facebook group (TEAM HOOTYLICIOUS & CHARMING STARS) where Designers can begin to learn the business through posts by other Independent Designers, etc.  Immediately become friends with your new Designer on your Personal Facebook PAGES (If they have one) so that you can be able to add your Designers to the Closed Groups. All new members have to be Approved by the Administrators on the closed Facebook groups with the Designers ID Number. You have the option if you choose to remove your designers from your personal Facebook page after they have been added if you prefer to keep business and personal pages separate. I find it easier to have them as friends so that we can keep in touch. 

Career Plan~ Making Leading Designer

It only takes $250 in Personal Volume, $500 in Group Volume and one Active Designer($99 in Personal Volume) on your team to earn your first promotion and first opportunity to earn overrides.  Having a large, active and engaged team can be a great opportunity to supplement the income you’re earning from your shows and Jewelry Bars.  But don’t wait, start now!!  Share, share, share the opportunity and you’ll be amazed by how many of your friends and family members who will share in your excitement and will want to join your Team! Don't forget, I am hear to help in anyway that I can!

Build your Jewelry Bar Display Table

 

Purchase display items at Nilecorp.com and Consider purchasing the following items from there that work well for other designers: (Optional)
SKU# 1-1P (W)_White - 2 of these white stackable trays
SKU# 93-1 (LN)_Linen - 1  or 2
SKU#171-1 (LN)_Linen 2 of these are best
SKU#189-7 (LN)_Linen 2 of these are best
SKU# 83-2 (50)_Black - Prefer the black because the white turns yellow over time and 1 is fine that way you have one of these and a pad to place in your 2 trays.

Tablecloth at linentablecloth.com. White with an overlay would be suggested, to fit a 6 foot table. Completely up to you on what you decide but you want to stick with Origami Owls colors of aqua, white and coral. Let the focus be on the Jewelry and not the owls. Consider only having one white owl for your display. Also, check at your local Marshalls, Home Goods, Hobby Lobby or TJ Maxx for additional items (great place for the white glass plates and bowls. 

These are just a few more ideas to help you New Designers get started with the business.  Check out Part 3!

New Designer~More Getting Started Tips to SOAR!

Have you just joined Origami Owl? If so you’re well on your way to starting a successful Origami Owl business as an Independent Designer. Here are just a few tips shared by another amazing Director to help you spread those wings wide and fly high only moments after receiving that life changing email from Origami Owl.

Create Your Look

The first major portion of your Origami Owl journey will be hosting a launch party and several Jewelry Bars for hostesses that are your friends and family members. To do so, you’ll need to create your Origami Owl ”look”. This should include décor that focuses on three main colors: aqua, white and coral. You’ll need only a few basic items to host your first event including: a tablecloth, a small bust or two to display lockets and chains on, a few clipboards/lapboards for your guests to use to take orders with and possibly a decorative owl or two. A few reminders here: at your events, you’ll want to be discussing the opportunity to join your Team with possible new Designers. If a possible new designer sees you take eight trips back and forth to your car to set up your display, they’re going to think one of two things (if not both): “I can’t afford all that stuff right now.” or “I sure as heck don’t want to be the one carting all that stuff around.” Either way, you’ll have a hard time landing them as a new designer if they think Jewelry Bars are going to be difficult to execute. If I can’t get it into my hostesses house in one trip, I’m not bringing it to a Jewelry Bar. Simple and easy wins every time. Also remember this, not all owls are cute owls. Also, just b/c it’s owl related does not mean you need to buy it (White owl is recommended). DO NOT go on spending sprees purchasing items you won’t need to make your business successful RIGHT NOW. Start small and build from there. Create a look you love but do it in a way that will allow you to earn a profit from your very first party!

Check out this small & simple yet cute Jewelry Bar Set-Up:

Create Your Knowledge Base

The Origami Owl website and related Social Media sites are great resources to start learning about the company and how it was founded and what it stands for. Always refer back to the Points of Difference information sheet. Start learning about the products your selling and practice answering questions about the items used in the creation of the products, how the company was started and more. Develop a smooth (but short) presentation on Origami Owl for use at your Jewelry Bars so that you can quickly convey what Origami Owl is all about to your guests (and no, we’re not folding paper animals). The more polished you are at answering questions correctly and confidently, the more you’ll sell to your guests.

Create Your “Why”

Your Origami Owl business will not always be easy. You will deal with occasional product issues. You’ll stress over parties or party hosts who are stressing about parties. You’ll have parties where not enough people show up or where way more people than expected show up. It won’t always be easy. When those tough times come about, it’ll be important to know your “Why”. Why are you doing this business? Why are you putting yourself through the occasional tough times? I've created a vision board that is on my laptop's background as a reminder of my "Why." These are all things I look forward to enjoying one day and when the going gets rough, I see my vision board and envision myself in that dream house. Knowing YOUR why will help you escape at times and realizing it will make this company and all you’ve done to develop it so worthwhile!

Thomas A. Edison once said:

“Unfortunately, there seems to be far more opportunity out there than ability…. We should remember that good fortune often happens when opportunity meets with preparation.”