Don't wait for things to happen. Make them happen!

I will be the first to admit, I have, in the past sat and waited for opportunities to come and present themselves to me. Expecting them to come right up to me and say "Hi there, I am a great opportunity!" and I have come to realise, that waiting around for something that probably won't happen is just plain boring!

I decided to book a some stalls for Arbonne at a few local events, mainly for exposure. I had my very first stall and I had done a few mock ups at home so I knew how to set up, I had a plan in place and was ready! I got to the event, excited and ready to go. As we walked through, it was a large hall, I was being taken to my allocated space and we were guided further and further towards the back... to a tiny room in the back of the hall! 

Planned outfit for the day.

Planned stall layout

 

All packed up and ready to go!

It was not the best location and the other few stall holders in the room were not best pleased at all, and it was visible. We set up and I was still excited, the doors opened and I was stood in front my stall, remembering all my days on the sales floor 'Acknowledge, smile and be accessible' everyone else at their stalls were sat behind massive displays, barely visible, moaning and groaning with miserable faces!

Ta'dah!

 

It was a very slow start, in fact so slow I wondered if there was even anyone here, so I popped my head through to the main hall, which was bursting with people. No one really came through to the back, literally a hand full of people who didn't even really look at anything. The other stall holders were getting more and more fed up, just sitting there. I decided it was time for action!

My original table collapsed in the middle, so had to get two other tables which were too long for the table cloth - Cue creative stall set up to try and hid it a bit!

If the people were not coming to my stall, then I would go to them! I had a small box full of little samples and a batch of my business cards. I went in to large hall and mingled with the crowds, I struck up conversations, spoke to people about their skin, gave them a sample to suit their needs along with my business card and told them my stall was in the back room.

After about 10 minutes, I headed back to the little room, which was now packed and the majority were people I had spoken to! There was 8 stalls in there including mine, there was a lovely lady next to me, selling gorgeous jewellery and she was very engaging and sold a few items the other 6 stall holders stayed hidden, plonked behind their displays... I didn't see them engage with anyone!

I stood in front of my stall, with my box of samples and spoke to people. I had products open on my table so people could smell all the gorgeous, fresh smells. People tried products on their hands and took samples, business cards and brochures away. I even had one lady say how lovely I was, and how nice it was for me to take time to talk to her and that most people who hold stalls just look bored! It was such a huge confidence boost for me, especially as this was my first one.

My gorgeous Consultant Maria - AKA wifey!

 

All in all, it was a fantastic day. Did I take any orders? Nope! Did I book any events? Nope! Did I get anyone's details? Nope! Did I learn a great deal and was it worth while? Heck YES! I could have sat back, and waited for people to waft through and have my energy sucked out of me. But I didn't, I did not wait for an opportunity to talk to people... I made the opportunities happen. I was pro-active and didn't let a teeny little thing like a poxy back room stop me from my main focus of exposure and conversations!

I also came away with ideas on how to get details, and promote a bit more about events people can host. I am excited for my next stall, I can put my new ideas in place, amend some of the things that didn't work and do more of the things that did.