Hi there,
it's Sue and thanks for joining me for Tips and Talk
Day. These are bite-sized topics that I pull from community questions
and things that I'm observing in the world of handmade small
business. If you'd like to submit a topic,
DM e over on Instagram at Gift Biz Unwrapped.
We've covered so many facets of a handmade product business over
the course of the years and today is no exception.
We've talked about how to start and grow your business stories
from many of you who have done just that.
How to choose and use social media sites,
build your website.
Oh my gosh,
there is just so much information here for you,
but not necessarily at your fingertips.
So I've made a tool for you that categorizes by topic
the episodes of this podcast,
but only the ones that stay relevant over time because yes,
let's face it,
there are past shows that just don't work anymore for us
today. The world is changing so fast,
right? You can use this tool to zero in on whatever
topic you need at the moment.
Do you wanna hear from others in your specific industry?
How about details on Pinterest or setting up an email strategy?
You can now easily find the right episodes and create your
priority listening roster.
Consider this your Gift Biz resource center at a glance.
It's a Google Sheet best viewable on your computer versus your
phone. Make sure to look on the bottom where there are
five separate sections for easy topic reference,
kind of like chapters of a book.
It makes finding the shows to help you with what you're
working on right now.
So much easier to access this free resource,
go to gift biz unwrapped.com/topics
Being likable.
Sometimes that's all you need to make a sale,
and if you describe yourself as an introvert,
this is a reason to push past this self-limiting label because
you have no chance of being likable if someone doesn't have
the ability to get to know you.
Being likable plays particularly well when you're out at in-person events.
Who do you think gets more sales?
The woman who sits in a chair staring at her phone
while people are looking at her items,
or the woman who's actively engaging in conversation,
laughing, questioning,
and sharing with booth guests.
Do you know that 95% of buying decisions are made based
on emotion?
Neuroscience confirms it.
Given this,
why do we focus so much on talking about all the
specifics of our products?
If we haven't even been asked,
why not just be friendly and welcoming when you meet someone
in your booth for the first time?
That takes a lot of the pressure off,
doesn't it?
Keep in mind that going to craft shows is a form
of entertainment for those attending.
Yes, they come to buy,
but they also come to enjoy an afternoon with a friend
or use an outside fair as a chance to get into
the community and walk with their dog,
meeting up with people along the way.
It's an entire experience and looking at all the booths with
all the interesting products is one part of it.
Of course,
as an exhibitor,
you're single focused on what you're doing there,
but it's not the same for those that you're hoping will
be interested and want to buy your products.
A while back,
I was at a county holiday fair with my friend Barb.
We were Searchie out gifts to complete our Christmas list,
but also it was just a fun way to spend a
Saturday together.
We had lots of time to talk in our hour car
ride each way.
We enjoyed lunch at the fair,
eating all sorts of yummy things,
definitely outside the healthy list,
and we enjoyed seeing all the crafts and making decisions together
about what we'd buy even after the event.
We'd referenced back to our time there and the products that
we got because a lot of them for gifts for ourselves
too. We often forget as vendors about the purpose of this
show from our visitor's perspective,
but here's where the likability factor can work in your favor.
I'll use this show I just told you about as an
example because it's at this show where I met Sheena,
Barbara and I were walking up and down the aisles enjoying
all that the show had to offer when we ran into
a bright,
colorful display with a vibrant,
smiling, good natured woman right in front,
energetically interacting with people as they walked by.
Not too overwhelming,
but just right.
Of course,
we had to stop.
Sheena was a joy to talk to,
which led to learning about her products and of course,
buying many bath bombs and now my favorite of hers sugar
scrubs. Mind you,
I didn't come to the show with the idea of buying
bath bombs even during the purchase.
I wasn't exactly sure who they'd before I bought because of
the emotion created at Sheena's booth.
You guessed it.
Sheena was likable and I was more than happy to support
her. It was clear she had a loyal following too,
as she said hi to current customers by name and welcomed
them into her area,
each one restocking their supply and enjoying their friendly banter back
and forth.
I can say I've joined the fan club.
I love Sheena and speak of her regularly and about her
products to others.
If you were to peek under my sink right now,
you'd find a stack of six or seven jars ready and
waiting because I can never be out of her sugar scrubs
ever. This doesn't mean that I don't use other's pampering products
as well.
I'm loyal to Cherita from DOA Naturals too.
Her body sprays and sugar scrubs are completely different from Sheena's
and they're a regular part of my lineup.
Sharita's in business with her sisters.
It's a family endeavor,
and going into their booth is like one big party.
I'm welcomed with smiles and hugs and gosh,
I'd love to hang out there with them all day.
Likability overload at its best.
All they're doing is being natural and themselves.
I told Cherita once that I'd like to get all of
us together and just hang out at someone's house sometime.
That's how fun they are.
It's the vibe and spirit behind the business that is taking
them far.
Now, you don't need to be a vibrant personality like Sheena
and Cherita are,
but be yourself.
Be likable,
be friendly,
be approachable,
and just let people in to get to know you.
The real you.
No need for acting or facades,
that's all it takes.
I say all like it's easy.
I know you know how much energy it takes to be
on all day at shows.
I personally love it.
Shows are my very favorite part of my business.
Being with you in person is the best way to bond
and develop relationships and friendships,
and that's how I feel about my clients and customers.
I know best we're friends.
Maybe that's a better way to put it,
because to be friends,
you have to like that person,
so think of it that way.
Interact with people,
not as customers or potential buyers,
but as someone you are developing a friendship with,
let your personality shine through because that's what turns on the
likability switch.
That's a wrap.
I'm a get to the point kind of girl,
and this is what you can expect from these quick midweek
sessions. Now it's your turn.
Go out and fulfill that dream of yours.
Share your handmade products with us.
We want them and they bring us both.
So much happiness.