Another one of my money making adventures took place many years ago at a yard sale. My family and my relatives were having a joint yard sale and I decided there had to be a way to make some money for myself from it.
Hmmmm. It’s hot and sunny. People are going to be thirsty, right? So yes, I decided on selling soda. Lemonade was already taken by my cousins.
When the day came to a close, I had sold a few cans, but, once again, only to family members. What did I do wrong? It was hot. People were thirsty. What’s the deal?
The best way to explain to you how to run a successful snack stand is to compare and contrast my efforts with those of my cousin’s.
Prime Real Estate
I set up shop smack dab in the middle of the whole yard sale. It may sound good, but I have to admit, I was kind of hidden.
My cousins were on the side right next to the road. People often passed right by on there way to the sale from their parked car. The only way they would pass my spot would be if they checked out the lot and maybe even searched a little.
When starting a stand yourself, yard sales are great, but you can also try out busy streets near shops or public parks. Ideally, you should pick a place that you can set up shop on a regular basis.
Another good idea is at school. Usually, you can’t sell candy in school, but maybe you could on the way to your bus? Once the bell rings, you’re guaranteed a rush of customers hungry for a candy bar. Of course, you’ll need to be a little discreet and will probably have to stay away form drinks. You’ll need something you can carry in a small bag such as candy bars, skittles, m&ms, etc. Buy in bulk and make even more money!
Catch their eye
Lemonade! Hotdogs! Iced tea! Hotdogs! Constant sales pitches and marching signs in front of customer’s faces may have seemed obnoxious and annoying to the conservative salesmen, but it worked. I merely sat next to my cooler with a small sign “Sodas 75 cents!” and hoped for the best.
My lack of marketing skills probably hurt my efforts the most. My cousins sold cup after cup of drinks and I sat tired and bored in the heat.
Personality
Had anyone decided they might try a can of soda, they would have found a polite smile and a thank you. On the other side, there were a couple of jolly kids loud and peppy, getting repeat sale after repeat sale.
It’s similar to waiting tables. I bet if you asked a quiet boring person how much they make in tips it will be nowhere near what the fun waitress with a huge personality makes. It’s just how it is.
I learned a lot from this situation, but there are also other things you need to know.
Make sure your snack stand is well equipped and that you have appropriate snacks. Don’t sell hot chocolate in the summer and ice cream in the winter. I’m sure you knew that already!
You’ll need an initial investment, but you should be able to pay it off after your first sale if you do well. Let’s say you borrow 20 dollars for candy to sell at school. By the end of the week you might have sold 50 dollars worth and are ready for more candy. Pay back your parents the 20 dollars and put 20 dollars towards next week. I
It’s a small 10 dollar profit this week, but will be more from now on and you won’t have to borrow anymore. You may even realize you need more candy because you ran out by Wednesday!
Make sure you keep your goods in the right condition. Don’t sell warm soda. Don’t carry your candy in a bag around with you all day. Your candy will get squashed and damaged and will lose all appeal. Besides, no one’s going to buy a snickers bar that followed you into the bathroom.
Make sure you charge a fair price for you and your customers. I once knew a kid that sold all these fancy baked treats at school and heard him say that he broke even. That’s not worth it.
Let’s say you’re selling candy bars and you buy a box of 20 for $8. That means you paid 40 cents per bar. If they are an average sized bar, you could probably get away with $1 each. It’s easier than charging 75 cents because you don’t have to deal with all the quarters.
Develop a customer following and you should have good business. If you sell snacks geared towards the summer, sell warm goodies in the winter. There’s no need to let Mother Nature sabotage your earnings.
Be careful when you are selling food. You may find your pants are getting a little tight and you’re profit is dwindling!