4 Things Local Vendors Should Make Sure They Do
There are several things I’ve noticed that some local vendors who are just starting out don’t always do well. This article will help you avoid those pitfalls!
- Find a niche. There are lots of people side hustling and making or baking all sorts of things. If you have a unique idea, that’s great! But even if you plan to make cupcakes, for example, you can still distinguish yourself from other vendors and bakers. Maybe you focus strictly on kids’ birthday parties. Or maybe you’re really into all the different holidays, and you want to make themed cupcakes for each one (and hey, “holiday” can be used loosely! “National Donut Day” is a holiday, right??). There are so many options out there — you just have to find what speaks to you.
- Label your products. A couple of months ago my daughter bought bath salts from an artisan vendor at a festival. The product looks wonderful — it’s packaged beautifully and the bath salts are colorful and vibrant. Where’s the but? Well, the vendor’s name is nowhere on the jar! (Here’s what I mean.) How are we supposed to find them again when we’re ready to buy more? We won’t be able to. (I’d love to say that if they were on localvendorlookup.com we’d be able find them again, but without a name even that might not be enough!)
- Have an online presence. Whether it’s Instagram or a website or (ideally) both, customers have to be able to find you. Now, localvendorlookup.com is a great way for shoppers to find local vendors, and some vendors may use it exclusively. Others may have multiple online profiles. But no matter what, customers have to be able to find you online. If they can’t, you’re leaving money on the table.
- Don’t give up. This applies to so many side hustles — not just small vendors. But it’s important enough to be on this list! You aren’t going to go viral, or get rich, or make it big, in a week, or a month… probably not even in a year. You have to be willing to persevere, and even more, to grind, even on those days when you’re not sure it’s worth it. As Rocky said in “Rocky Balboa”: “It’s not about how hard you can hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit — and keep moving forward. It’s about how much you can take, and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”
I hope this was helpful! If you have anything to add to the list, please share in the comments below!
