Auntie Kate The Resale Expert

Have you ever been in a cafe or deli where they have a big clear fish bowl where you can

Drop Your Business Card for a Free Lunch!

You could do something similar…give away a free party!

They get an after-hours event and can invite up to 20 friends (or however many is reasonable given the size of your shop.)

You supply the refreshments, maybe a demo, make-up sessions or a fashion show. You could even have swag for them: maybe boas with gift-card tags saying something like Fine Feathers From FanTAB Consignment. Or have a pile of jewelry boxes tucked into tissue-plumped mini-gift bags (33 or 50 cents each at the dollar store) for the plucking: some with jewelry, a few with a shop gift certificate.

Make it festive. Keep it simple (one beverage, or two if you’re offering something alcoholic) 2-3 nibbles, balloons or garlands, and no discount.

What do YOU get out of these extra hours and expense?

• Twenty or so new fans, since the winner’s inviting her friends who may never have been in before
• And you know how women shop when they get together with friends
• Fabulous word-of-mouth
• Great photos of people having fun for your community bulletin board, web site, blog, online or hard-copy photo album…and what a press release!
• And, of course, you’re gaining those business cards (with email address, natch) to add to your mailing list. One more plus: Now that you know what your clients do, who knows…one of your customers could be your next banker, Realtor, or make-up demo lady. Shop Local!

You could have the party hostess choose her favorite charity, and donate a percentage of sales that evening to the charity (remember to do it with a visual flourish: crisp dollar bills directly from your till into the donation jar while the shopper’s still at your counter!)

Believe me, if you let the public see what a great idea this is: they’ll be begging you to do a party for them (which you will, of course, for a fee. Hey, this could be another profit generator!)