With summer fast approaching, music festivals provide a unique opportunity for savvy business owners to make extra cash with mobile stalls and vans. At a festival, you really do have a captive audience, and as long as you tailor your approach correctly, you stand to make a significant profit.
Careful Planning
If you’re already a small business owner and want to branch out into festivals, it’s important to do your research. Consider each festival separately and think about the kind of people who will be attending, and what their needs and preferences will be. It’s essential that you’re selling something that people will be drawn to at a festival, as you need to make enough money to cover the inevitable cost of pitching your sales tent. Look at the entry fee and the driving time to each festival, and estimate your overhead costs before you make any financial commitments.
Positive Vibes
Just as with traditional shops, cafes and restaurants, customers will be more likely to come back if they enjoy the atmosphere. Your stall should have a positive feel in order to attract clients, and staff should be friendly and willing to talk. Acknowledge those who stop by, and offer your customers useful freebies like bottles of water. If you don’t relish the idea of going to a festival, then consider hiring temporary staff or sending employees who are excited about the prospect of a weekend of free music.
Your Marquee
It’s very important to have a high quality tent from which to sell your stock. Flimsy tents will not withstand wind and rain, and you will run the risk of damaging your stock and losing money. The marquee is your infrastructure for the festival weekend, and sturdy, professional-looking tents tend to attract more customers. The sides of the tent should be waterproof, preferable PVC coated and have Velcro seals at the corners and top. Consider using shade cloth instead of tarpaulin for the floor of your marquee, as it can be swept and allows spilled beers and rainwater to flow through. You will need a good source of lighting for your tend that doesn’t get too hot or use a great deal of power, as everyone at the festival will be on a generator. A mobile card machine is a must-have, even at a festival, so make sure you don’t forget to rent or buy one from a specialist firm like Card Cutters.
Commitment is Key
At a festival, it’s essential that you put in the hours. However tempting it may be to shut up shop and go to see your favourite bands, you won’t be making any sales when your marquee is closed for business. It’s a good idea to stay open late at festivals, and have one member of staff responsible for manning the tent in the late hours and another waking up early to catch festival goers in the mornings. Being close to thoroughfares is a good way to guarantee that your stall will get plenty of attention, but be wary of pitching your marquee too near to stages and rave tents. Remember that you need to be able to get enough sleep to ensure that you’re able to sell to the best of your ability, each day of the festival.
