Looking
to reach hundreds or thousands of potential new customers?
Selling
your confections at outdoor events could be the answer. Even on the busiest
days, it would be difficult for most candy shops to compete with the
opportunity to reach hundreds or thousands of people in attendance at even a
single outdoor market or festival. These events provide an opportunity to
introduce your products and brand to a new audience, potentially converting
them into loyal patrons. Moreover, participation in events can foster valuable
relationships with fellow vendors, opening doors to collaborations, supply
partnerships and wholesale opportunities.
While
selling at farmers markets and festivals certainly have their benefits, they
can be overlooked for the myriad of challenges that seemingly outweigh the
potential rewards. Keep reading to arm yourself with 5 secret weapons for
selling chocolate at outdoor events.
Secret
Weapon #1: A Cooler
Even
in 90-degree weather, it’s possible to sell chocolate at outdoor events with a
cooler and frozen gel packs. Additionally, the use of thermal bubble wrap will
help extend the life of the ice packs and provide a barrier between chocolate
and ice packs to prevent sugar bloom. Additionally, on hot days consider offering
to store chocolate purchases in a cooler until customers are ready to leave the
event.
Secret
Weapon #2: Chocolate Menu
Display
a menu of chocolate confections for sale so shoppers know what’s available even
if it’s not on display. Consider offering a limited number of products on
rotation at events. This not only simplifies the purchasing process for
customers, but it can also drive foot traffic to your retail shop.
Secret
Weapon #3: Heat-Resistant Treats
With
chocolate items safely stored in a cooler, you will need items for display. Consider
treats that will withstand warmer weather such as brittle, crispy rice bars,
hard candy, pâte de fruits and marshmallows.
Secret
Weapon #4: Table Risers
Elevate
your table to counter height by adding four 12-inch pieces of PVC pipe to the
table legs. Table legs must be angled for this to work, but even if you need to
purchase a new table it may be worth the investment. Adding risers will bring
your table to a more comfortable height, saving your back from bending over. Elevating
your table also brings everything closer to shoppers’ eyes and makes it more
difficult for unruly dogs to jump on the table.
Secret
Weapon #5: Facebook Live
Leveraging
live streaming platforms such as Facebook Live allows for real-time interaction
with followers, effectively driving attendance to events.
We
hope these tools help you navigate the challenges that come with selling your
products at outdoor events with confidence. By embracing opportunities to sell
your products at outdoor events, your business can maximize its presence and
profitability in this lucrative market segment.
Want more insight like this? Attend RCI’s 2024 Annual
Convention & Industry Expo to meet industry suppliers and candy makers! Register now and join us in Buffalo, New York June 17-21, 2024!
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