Let’s be real—showing up isn’t enough.
A lot of vendors think all they have to do is get a table, set up their products, and sales will magically appear. Wrong.
Foot traffic doesn’t mean your booth is a money magnet.
A cute display doesn’t mean people will buy.
Having good products doesn’t mean you’ll leave with profit.
So why do some vendors sell out while others pack up the same inventory they brought? Let’s talk about it.
1) You Look Like a Vendor, Not a Brand
People don’t buy from random tables at an event. They buy from brands they connect with.
If your setup looks like a pop-up shop at the last minute, it’s already working against you.
Harsh Truth: If people can’t tell what you sell within 3 seconds, they’re walking past you.
How to Fix It:
✅ Your signage needs to WORK for you. It should answer: What do you sell? What makes it special? Why should I care?
✅ Make your booth look like a brand, not a side hustle. That means cohesive colors, clear pricing, and intentional layout.
✅ Sell ONE main thing. If your booth looks like a general store, you’re confusing customers. Pick a hero product.
Do this, and your booth stops being a table of “stuff” and becomes a brand people want to buy from.
2) You’re Just Standing There… And It’s Awkward
You’re sitting behind the table, scrolling on your phone.
A customer walks by. You make eye contact. They quickly look away. Now it’s weird.
Why would someone buy from you if you’re giving nothing?
Harsh Truth: If you act like you don’t care, people will keep walking.
How to Fix It:
✅ Greet EVERY person that walks by. “Hey, how’s your day going?” is enough to start a conversation.
✅ Give them a reason to stop. Hold a sample. Ask a question. Offer something interactive.
✅ Talk about what makes your product special. “Hey, have you ever tried [product]? People LOVE this because [benefit]…”
People don’t like pushy sales, but they do love confidence. If you KNOW your product is worth buying, show it.
3) Your Prices Make No Sense
Harsh Truth: If your pricing is too low, people assume your product is cheap. If it’s too high without clear value, they walk away.
How to Fix It:
✅ Stop rounding down. $10.00 instead of $9.99. $25 instead of $24.99. Make your pricing easy to process.
✅ Bundle your products. “Buy 2, Get 1 Free” is better than lowering your price.
✅ Make your pricing VISIBLE. If people have to ask, you’ve already lost them.
If you wouldn’t pay yourself that little for your time, why are you charging it?
Customers are ready to spend. Don’t give them reasons not to.
4) You Let Buyers Walk Away Without a Plan to Get Them Back
The biggest L vendors take? They focus too much on selling for the day and not for the long run.
Harsh Truth: A customer who buys from you ONCE and never hears from you again is a wasted opportunity.
How to Fix It:
✅ Get their info. QR codes, text sign-ups, email lists—make it easy.
✅ Give them a reason to come back. “Follow us on IG for a discount on your next order” keeps them engaged.
✅ Send them a follow-up message. “Hey [Name], it was great meeting you at Shop Black Fest! Here’s a 10% off code for your next order.”
The money isn’t just at the event—it’s in what happens AFTER the event.
5) This Isn’t Just About Today—It’s About Legacy
The real reason why all of this matters?
This isn’t just about making a few dollars at a pop-up event. This is about building Black wealth.
Harsh Truth: If your business isn’t growing, it’s not because of “lack of support.” It’s because not enough people KNOW about you, TRUST you, or REMEMBER you.
Every Black entrepreneur before us had to hustle, innovate, and build—sometimes with nothing but a vision. Today, we have access to resources, digital tools, and marketplaces that they could only dream of.
So the real question is: Are you maximizing your opportunity, or are you just showing up?
Final Thought: Your Booth is a Business, Not a Hobby
If you’re vending just to “see what happens,” you’re wasting time.
But if you approach your booth like a business, you’ll make real money.
📌 Which mistake are you fixing first? Drop a comment!
📌 If you’re serious about making more sales, apply for Shop Black Fest NOW.
Learn more about Shop Black Fest.