Articles

Tips for Festival Food Vendors to expand their businesses

October 2010
Tips for Expanding Your Business as a Festival and Fair Food Vendor

If you're a food vendor at festivals and fairs, you might be in luck right now. Although many arts and crafts sellers are feeling the effects of the economy, some food vendors have been able to expand during these tough times. People are still going to craft fairs to browse, but they're more likely to pick up a bite to eat than a luxury to take home with them. Wondering how you can crank up your business for festivals and fairs? Here are some tips to help you.

First, check out new opportunities for fairs and festivals you may not have been to before. If you don't have a lot of capital to get started, opt for cheaper shows that are closer to your hometown so that you don't have to pay as much to get in or to get to the show. Look around online to get the requirements for being a part of different shows so that you know what to expect and can make a list of prospective new shows.

While you're at all these new shows, attract as many customers as you possibly can. A simple way to do this is by having lights on your display. Your lights can help attract more customers, especially during darker evening and nighttime hours.

You can also attract and keep more customers in a few different ways. One option is to use smell to entice more customers to your booth. Find a way to waft the cooking smells of your food out into the open, or light a candle that matches up with the items you're selling. For instance, you could use a cinnamon scented candle in the fall when you've got some great breads and comfort foods to sell. Sometimes people will be drawn to food more through their noses than anything else.

Another option is to actually give out samples. This will certainly attract people to your booth. Offer the things that your food vending service is most famous for. Just a small Dixie cup full of a drink or a tiny piece of fudge or elephant ear can be a good way to entice people to try more of your foods and drinks. If they like what they get with a small sample, they'll be more likely to actually buy something from your booth.

Comments

Looking for the fall fastivals in PA would like to join as a food vendor. Help

By khalida on October 6, 2010

Looking for festivals needing food vendors in Nebraska in June 2011

By Papa Tom's BBQ on May 6, 2011

Our family is looking for festivals or fairs in Indiana from September 2011 through the 2012 year. Thanks for your help.

By DEB on August 2, 2011 on August 3, 2011

Hi, we are looking for the fall festivals, fairs or food markets needing food vendors in Los Angeles,CA

By: Nancy on September 14, 2011

By Nancy Salazar on September 14, 2011

Looking for festivals for summer/fall season 2012

By Mark & Brenda on November 20, 2011

Hello, we are Hungry Bear BBQ and we are looking/ booking for Festivals/Fairs/Shows for Spring/Summer/Fall 2012 Washington State

By Hungry Bear BBQ on December 12, 2011

We are looking for food vendors for our up coming State Fair Meadowlands 2012 in East Rutherford, NJ. Dates are June 22- July 8 check out our website njfair.com Please contact me if you are interested .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

By Stephanie DeFilippo on December 27, 2011

We are KJ’s Rainbow Snow - Shaved Ice - Home of the JUMBO we are looking / booking for 2014 Fairs/Festivals for Spring/Summer/Fall Kansas State - KJRS since “2005”. Email KJ today!

By KJ's Rainbow Snow - Shaved Ice on August 14, 2013

Looking for events for my rebuilt food trailer in southern Indiana and Illinois.
We sell pond raised grain feed catfish, Po Boy sandwitches and tea and lemon aid.

By James Brookhart on January 15, 2014

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