PREPARING FOR TRADE FAIRS
PLAN AHEAD, GET ORGANISED AND SAVE LOTS OF MONEY!
written by Janet Renouf-Miller
Andrea came up with the idea of writing something with tips about preparing for trade fairs in my new role of encouraging trading and helping new members to get going.
A few months ago we had a (ahem) huge thistle deficit. We decided to reduce it as we were slowing down because of it.
It has got us really trading a lot again and we have therefore saved a lot of money by buying and selling in thistles. Nothing unique here and I hope others will chip in with ideas too....
Here is what we did.
- decided to keep buying as well as selling so we did not grind to a halt.
- It does not actually matter if you are in debt. You just don't want to be a lot in debt OR credit because you tend to stop trading - thistles have to be kept circulating in the system to have any value.
- Focused more on what we could sell, especially at trade fairs.
- set up a LETS e mail group on the computer (went through LETS directory to get addresses) so we could easily communicate with other members. NB THIS HAS REALLY WORKED AND WAS WELL WORTH THE SHORT TIME IT TOOK TO SET UP.
- Kept a list on the kitchen pin board headed 'next LETS trade fair' and added to it each time we thought of something we could do for the next trade fair.
- Kept a box in the garage accumulating things to take to the trade fair.
- thought about services we could offer at trade fairs as well as selling stuff. (eg facials, children's play, tool sharpening, fresh juice bar - using LETS traded apples of course.)
- bought bargains and sold them for thistles. Is a win - win situation. Got this idea from a LETSLINK Scotland workshop Andrea organised.
- E-mailed people ahead of trade fairs to tell them what we were bringing. this works - we have often sold quite a bit of stuff before we even got there.
- Offered a % of certain trades to be donated to the admin account. People like that and it makes me feel good which is all in the spirit of the thing. (Admin a/c needs thistles to pay us to do jobs for it.)
- Had a LETS curry night. Actually we've had two now. Am hoping more members will do this or similar as it makes a good cheap night out. Great idea of Kester and Suzanne's to have a Halloween party. Look out for Gina's social in January...
- Tried to buy something from every trader at each trade fair. Promotes trading and Thistles are not money - can be free-er with them. (thanks for Christine Clarke for this one - a great idea.)
- Went through LETS directory and looked at everything we might want to buy. Then set about earning some thistles.
- thought if there is something we could collect or deliver at the trade fair for someone else. You earn thistles and they get to trade.
- We are not the top traders in the system but we do trade a lot - am hoping I will get some tips back from the Clarkes who are top traders and Andrea and Nick who also seem to be prolific traders.
- If someone has something for sale ask if they will take part or all thistles. For instance we sold a car to the Clarkes a few years ago for part thistles and part cash.
- If you are meeting a LETS member socially think what you can both trade.
- Ask yourself if you can get it for thistles before you go shopping.
Here are some useful tit bits to illustrate how well LETS can work.
- Before the last trade fair I sent an e mail asking if anyone had a book called 'square foot gardening'. Thought it was worth a try before I bought it on Amazon. ANDREA HAD A COPY AND I BOUGHT IT FOR THISTLES.
- I sent an e mail this week saying we had a microwave and a mop and bucket set for sale. (forgot to take them to the last trade fair.) Both are now sold.
- I have a standing arrangement to buy eggs from Geoff and Jane. Saves us money every week and it is just nicer to trade with friends than to give the cash to Tesco.
- I have sent e mails with titles of books I had for sale and sold them ALL before the trade fair. When I just took them along on spec people did not buy them.
