Trade Show Seller's FAQ

I'm hopeful that I can elicit some specific QnA - the intention is to have a thread that newbies can check out to learn a bit more about the issues to be aware of if you will be seilling herps at a show. Obviously, there are many issues that are specific to certain shows, or shows in certain staes, etc. and that info is just as helpful as the more generic info, I'd think. To get the ball rolling, here are a few newbie questions:

1. Do you need a business or any other type of license or certificate?

2. Do you need any specific paperwork?

3. Do you deal in cash only? Take checks? Credit?

4. Do you need your own chairs and tables?

5. Do you bring promotional info or care sheets? Sell anything that's not alive?

6. Do you have your own assistant? Are there any show coordinators that facilitate local assistants to help sellers?

7. Every book on herp husbandry states something to the effect of, "before you buy your herp: watch it feed, hold it, do this, do that... do that watussie..." so do you actually let scores or hundreds of people with unclean hands handle your herps? I know you aren't feeding them - how do you deal with people like this?

8. Do you have displays that can be closed or even locked? or do you have stacks of deli cups? If the latter, do you get a headache trying to watch for the light-fingered patrons?

I'm sure I could think of more questions, but 9 seems like a good start! Thanks in advance to the experienced sellers for providing input! (If you are a novice,  feel free to post your own questions or experiences too&#33<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

We're doing our first show next month. Here's a couple things that I've found out so far.

1.) In California the shows require that you have a seller's permit.

2.) They provide the tables and chairs (with a charge for extras). Most of this is spelled out in the contract for the show.

3.) I feel that care sheets are a must.

We're doing a smaller show first to see first hand any issues we have to deal with before doing bigger shows.

I only accept cash.
I normally bring my own chairs. Tables r provided
. Do you need a business or any other type of license or certificate? Not in Ill.
6 no i bring my own personally my family
7. I let them look and if they r definitley looking to buy them then i let them hold and handle them i also feed 4 days b4 shows so they r digested.
8. i have locking cages.
thats why u bring 2 -4 people with u.
I ve only done a couple shows Lee's, Tinley park, and the one in peroia (Not been there in a while tho..)

I'm giving this a bump since Daytona is over.. maybe some of the vendors will have a chance to reply now...

^Curtis

1. Do you need a business or any other type of license or certificate? In Virginia it depends on the city the show is located in.  I'm doing the Fredericksburg show with a friend this Saturday and we had to purchase a license for that city.

2. Do you need any specific paperwork? In this instance, no, but once again it would depend on the show and the location.

3. Do you deal in cash only? Take checks? Credit?  I imagine my friend will deal in cash only or may consider a check, no credit cards are accepted (don't plan to get set up for them since neither of us are full-time or even most-of-the-time breeders).

4. Do you need your own chairs and tables?  Depends on the show.  I think this show provides them, but I've seen other shows that don't.

5. Do you bring promotional info or care sheets? Sell anything that's not alive?  We may sell non-living items (snake bags), I haven't decided yet.  If I can put together a care sheet between now and Saturday, we'll probably have that on the table as well.

6. Do you have your own assistant? Are there any show coordinators that facilitate local assistants to help sellers?  These are my friend's snakes that are being sold (my snake didn't produce this year) but I and my other half are assisting her in running the table.  To the best of my knowledge, the show doesn't provide anyone for anything.

7. Every book on herp husbandry states something to the effect of, "before you buy your herp: watch it feed, hold it, do this, do that... do that watussie..." so do you actually let scores or hundreds of people with unclean hands handle your herps? I know you aren't feeding them - how do you deal with people like this? We have an anticeptic hand cleaner (Purell type stuff) that we are providing on our table.  Anyone handling her snakes will be required to use it or they will not handle the snakes - period.  We also plan to bring a table cover that has been treated with Provent-A-Mite to head off any creepy crawlees that may want to hitch a ride back home.

8. Do you have displays that can be closed or even locked? or do you have stacks of deli cups? If the latter, do you get a headache trying to watch for the light-fingered patrons? I built a homemade display case out of melamine.  Her snakes will be kept together in this and then the prospective customer can pick out of the main container.  We felt it would be easier to prevent theft by having them in one container that only we open as well as making it more comfortable on the snakes.

This is a great idea to get together a number of ideas for shows.  I do craft shows (similar setup to these) and have learned a few things by doing such but the live animal market is a new deal for me.  This is a learning experience for us and will most likely help determine whether we will do this type of thing in the future with future litters.

We do quite a few local shows here in Florida and are about to start vendoring at some larger ones as well.  All states have different requirements so for my answers you must consider we are located in Florida.

1.  We are licensed to do business by our City, County, and the Florida Wildlife Commision.  We also have our business name registered as a fictitious name so we have a Tax ID number for purchasing with wholesalers.

2.  At all shows we are required to show our Florida Wildlife Commision license to sell or exhibit wildlife.  Wildlife officers are not always present at shows to check these but you dont want to get caught selling with out one.

3. At shows we deal in Cash only and accept checks from repeat customers but with valid ID and copy the DR L#.  We accept all major credit cards through Pay Pal services but that really doens't help at a show.  I really have found that we have not lost that many sales at all by not accepting cards at shows and just politely direct customers with cards to the ATM machine.

4.  At every show we have been apart of tables and chairs are provided for you.  When signing up for shows promoters really charge by the number of tables you decide to rent.  A table cloth is usually something you bring yourself.

5.  We deal in mainly Leopard geckos so we keep caresheets on hand with our company letterhead and hand those out to ALL interested parties wether making a purchase or just browsing.  Its amazing how much business is generated after the shows by handing these out and letting the customer know your availible for any and all questions.  We sell books as well with most of the livestock we keep and also sell or give away our t-shirts to customers for more advertisment.

6.  As for help Erica and myself are it.  We have had help at a show we did in Orlando and did very much appreciate it.  Unfortunatly there are people looking to rob you blind if you arn't on your toes and help allows you to have breaks and look around the show for yourself.

7.  With many of our herps we provide feed and shed charts with each individual animal which is only as good as your reputation.  Anyone can write up a fake chart but when you buy from a reputable dealer you know its the real deal.  We let people handle herps that are docile and not going to tear anyone up.  We also have hand sanitizer for people to use before and after handling any of our animals.  We of course NEVER let children handle our herps even with there parents present.

8.  at the time we have stacks of deli cups as if we have them all under lock and key we couldn't fit them all on our tables.  YES, I do get a headache watching for lowlife thieves as there are plenty to go around and they WILL actively try to distract you as one of their loser friends rips you off while your looking the other way. We now label all our cups with a specail label just for that show and we hand out reciepts so If I see someone stealing and they say " I got that Ball Python from so and so" I can look underneath and say "LIAR!!!" lol, and ask for the reciept if they don't have one they deserve what they get.

 Hope any of this helps answer some of your questions.....Mike