I don't sell my soaps, and this is something I've been wondering about. I've noticed in a few threads that people seem dismayed when they aren't the only soap vendor, or when more soap vendors move in.
Now, I understand that when a consumer goes to a craft fair, its very likely that they have a budget, and may plan on only spending, say $10 on soap, and if there are more soap vendors, well then they might not spend that $10 at your booth. But more customers looking for soap means a better chance that the next one might be at your booth, right?
I know that many many vendors of all sorts of things have realized that conglomerating similar wares together tend to draw in people who are looking for such wares, so all the sellers benefit. We see this all the time with car lots, shopping malls, shoe shops, craft fairs and even farmers markets for fruit and veggies.
I sell 2D and 3D items in a virtual world, and have discovered this to be true as well. In fact my friends and I all sell similar things (but in very different styles) and we tend to run in pack. We have noticed an uptick in sales when we group all of our stuff together in the same place. A customer may come to my shop and want something that I don't make, but I can recommend my friends stuff that is right nearby. Next time my friend recommends my stuff. It all works out.
So I had assumed that having more soap vendors at a craft fair or farmers market (within a reasonable limit) would mean that more customers looking to buy soap or b&b products would come to the market and everyone benefits. Is that not true?
Now, I understand that when a consumer goes to a craft fair, its very likely that they have a budget, and may plan on only spending, say $10 on soap, and if there are more soap vendors, well then they might not spend that $10 at your booth. But more customers looking for soap means a better chance that the next one might be at your booth, right?
I know that many many vendors of all sorts of things have realized that conglomerating similar wares together tend to draw in people who are looking for such wares, so all the sellers benefit. We see this all the time with car lots, shopping malls, shoe shops, craft fairs and even farmers markets for fruit and veggies.
I sell 2D and 3D items in a virtual world, and have discovered this to be true as well. In fact my friends and I all sell similar things (but in very different styles) and we tend to run in pack. We have noticed an uptick in sales when we group all of our stuff together in the same place. A customer may come to my shop and want something that I don't make, but I can recommend my friends stuff that is right nearby. Next time my friend recommends my stuff. It all works out.
So I had assumed that having more soap vendors at a craft fair or farmers market (within a reasonable limit) would mean that more customers looking to buy soap or b&b products would come to the market and everyone benefits. Is that not true?