I found the guy I buy most of my reptiles from now because of the first show I met him at. He was incredibly friendly, would strike a conversation with anyone, and on some of his lower end stuff he would haggle with people who were new to reptiles or didn't have a ton of money. Most of the guys at the expo's in my area are just staring at their phones most of the time, but this guy is always engaging and always friendly. I would easily spend 100 dollars more on an animal from him then someone else.
Hell yeah, I've seen a lot of people sitting there nose in the phone. There was a frog vendor (not Josh's!) at one and I was trying to talk to the guy to find out what I all needed to get started on bioactive and stuff. Guy seemed not at all interested in talking to me so I kept walking. I've sold at shows and I freakin love it! I love talking to the people and engaging them in conversation. Also too don't talk over people's head. There was a couple across from me at one show, she was going on and on about genetics and pundit squares and I could see peoples eyes glazing over. She later commented that they had hardly sold a thing and they have these nice x gene animals and all..it was a small show, I told her the majority of people coming here are looking for pets. You start throwing all the genetic stuff in there without them asking for it it's going to scare them away. It's not hard to tell the difference people people just looking for a really cool looking snake and those who question you about the genes because they might be looking for certain ones for breeding.
Thanks for the tips. It is so true I have paid more somewhere else because they rubbed me the wrong way or worst treated me like a "girl" or like I couldn't afford their high end animals. Best of luck to everyone out there!
I was at a show and really wanted a ball python. Went to one table. He was too busy talking to one person and didn't say anything to me. Not even an "oh excuse me, sir, ill be with you in one second" but he was just laughing and chatting with someone. No idea if they were a customer or a friend. But I felt like I was standing there looking stupid. Went to another table and the guy came out and greeted me immediately. even with a full table. bought one from him because he was nice and giving away free shit to my kids like candy and stuff. His table was packed. but yet he was still interacting with the WHOLE table.
You have to remember most people form their first impressions in 7 seconds. I took thick bath mats to stand on when I sold at shows. Don't slip, give you some cushion, and easy to transport.
Hey Matt I have been to a handful of shows but I always go to the table that is moving and talking. Love the business series and your channel cant wait to get back stateside and get my business going.
Great Video Like Always👌🏻 💯, And I Luv The Fact You Are Always Straight Up With Things Never Holding Things Back ,Thank You For The Vid Guy’s Very Helpful.
I'm glad I found your business series. I have been wanting to get into breeding ball pythons and start my own small business and this series has helped me kinda focus on what I need to get my shit together. I was going to start this year however my wife and I are having our first born this year. Gives me more time to plan a lot better.
Matt, damn son you hit the nail on the head with this video! Everything that you said about interaction with the people at the shows talking to them explaining things to them all of that is vitally important if there are any non-believers out there I can tell you from experience that this is absolutely the truth! And you are the only one on RU-vid that has ever try to explain that to newcomers. They all owe you a debt of gratitude whether they know it or not!
I dont sell reptiles and have never been to a reptile expo for that matter. But I have been to art and comic conventions, and these tips are really good for any sort of vending event (to an extent, not every event will involve handling animals of course). Solid advice, and a good rundown of a list of basic essentials for your booth
We went to our first show 2 months ago. We were there looking for a ball python (first time snake owners). We had done a year of research and felt we knew as much as we could without actually owning one. The very first table we came too had a ball we liked but the guys were sitting on their phones and didn't give us the time of day. My exact thought was that I felt they didnt take us seriously or thought we didnt have money to buy one. And so I moved on. We bought a snake that day and spent a few hundred dollars on her and the guy we bought her from was the one that engaged us as soon as we walked up to his table. He talked to us, let us ask questions, had us hold her, ect. He even helped us to buy frozen mice from a different vender for her. The experience from him and the first vender we encountered was only different in how the vender themselves acted. They both had great set ups, fancy signs and displays. But one talked to us and engaged us and one didn't. So one got our business and one didn't.
I can't wait to do my first reptile expo I've already got the banners the tablecloths everything ready to go. I used to sell my compost tea for plants at fairs and I seen hundreds of people do exactly what you say just sit there and they don't sell some of these fans are 120 hours in one week but still after all that you have to be energetic and still wanting to be there because that person that shows up at the end is now seeing you for the first time just because you've been there 120 hours doesn't mean that person has great video love the content you have helped me out tons
Just curious,,, where did you get your logo made? I’m not on my actual account,, #safehavencareandquality but I’ve been having difficulty figuring out how to make the logo ide want/like
I've never been to a reptile show, but I go to gun shows all the time. You see the type that sits on their ass and plays with their phone. Usually when I come by their booth and they do that look up at me and go back to what they're doing, I move a long. I'm not even going to ask anything. What it tells me is that they aren't excited about their product, they really don't want to put in the work to convince me that they're the ones I want to purchase from. It also tells me that they really don't want to be there. I'm sure I'd think the same thing at a reptile show, as well.
Me and my wife went to a show and we was trying to buy a crested gecko for her projects. The lady that had the gecko kept ignoring us to talk to a different vendor. It took us 25 mins for her to just tell us a price. Then it took another 15mins her telling it goodbye.
Love your video brother keep it up with the videos because I've been learning a whole lot about business with the ball python Hobby thank you so much💪💪💪💪😊🙏🙏🙏😊
Yes I've been to shows and have been ignore so now I don't go to shows anymore but I do appreciate you explaining everything that is so should be and I want to thank you very much
Jane, along time ago we did a video about being a female at a show, it seems to cause a lot of vendors to ignore them. A lot of my best sales have been from female customers. I have found if their, they are their for a reason. If not ignored, many will purchase. Some other vendors get it too, you won't always be ignored
I’ve just started vending shows. This weekend will be my third. We’ve absolutely killed it at every show and I hear from a lot of other vendors they had horrible shows. I’m just an outgoing person so I’m already doing a lot of what you were taking about in this video but it truly is a difference maker. I engage everyone who comes to the table. I ask everyone if theirs anything they’d like to see or if they were looking for anything in particular. I always introduce myself and ask where they are from and make small talk. There’s always a lot of people who are new to reptiles and looking for their first one and I make suggestions and educate them in what to expect when the animal is full grown. I’ve sold many people their first reptile and now they always contact me first if they are looking to get another. Everybody who cries about having a bad show just sits there on their laptop doing nothing and paying no attention to the customers. I am definitely gonna bring a speaker tomorrow though!
@@OlympusReptiles i don’t know much about you or your channel. I found this video by looking up reptile show vending tips but I’m definitely gonna give you a follow. Will you be at the herps show in Slidell tomorrow?
Awesome video Matt! I will add that as a seller, you should also have an idea on what you are talking about when it comes to your animals. I was at an expo once and this table had a GHI Fire and a Super GHI Fire but I couldn't tell the difference between them other than the price, the Super GHI Fire was around $1000 and the GHI Fire was a couple hundred from what I remember. When I asked about it the guy who was helping me couldn't tell me what the difference was either lol! I think that the guy was just a helper and not the actual breeder but he could have gotten the breeder to come over and answer my question but he just kinda stood there awkwardly until I walked off. He was nice and came up to engage me, but since he couldn't tell me about the animal, he lost a potential sale.
Awesome video Matt. We did our first show in January and I did a bunch of prep work to figure out what equipment I'd likely need. We got the table more for exposure than anything else as we only had about 10 snakes to sell. One thing I wish I were prepared for is how unbearable it is standing on cement floors for a ton of time. Half way thru the day my feet hurt like crazy - whatcha got for that? I was thinking a set of those puzzle-piece gym mats but not sure how plausible that really is.
Those ball pythons are so cute just super derpy in their little display cages yes definitely use the lock bar here in CA we have had a string of idiots stealing from the reptile stores here one was on valentines day an expensive bp morph the other was a really expensive tortoise both times they just stuck the poor animals in their pockets and took off man i feel bad for those animals
Absolutely agree have to be up and engaging people... I had one table they had exactly the snake I wanted for a good price but it was covered in mites 2 feet away from it on the man's table he was selling mite spray... 😥😥😂 ended up buying that same snake from another table an hour later
Do you need UTH and a therm for your display cases at all? I would be concerned about ambient temps not being high enough, and at the same time, I wouldn't want it too hot. Do you ever worry about heat under the acrylic display?
Can you please tell me what the substrate is that you have inside your displays and where to get it? Thanks for the awesome video. Will be a vendor at my fist show next week 😊
What are you using as bedding in the displays? That's something I"m having trouble finding info on. I've seen people use a sheet of paper, I've seen these little tiny squares that looks kinda like shredded paper, I've even seen dried beans used. And some people use nothing. Wondering what you would recommend.
Is that an ARS box or did you manage to find a better/more budget friendly alternative? I've been following your series recently as I'm looking to get into the hobby of breeding and eventually selling. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of option for acrylic displays out there.
How do you transport your animals to and from the show. Also, do you leave them in the displays overnight in the facility or do you pack them back up and take them with you.
Lol, the guy captured the nation. There are some qualities there, but there are definitely some things you don't want to be. Meth addicted being one, lol
Aw matt i had u sign my shirt buddy ......lol i got u actually i think everyone signed it..... He if that wears off can i send shirt and get a reprint lol
I understand the help as a lot of vendors could use the help. But I wish more people understood how many people who are vendors are shy and socially awkward people. I vended and when dealing with animals vendors its what I noticed. I just expected it.
Many are, but it will help sales if they aren't. Sometimes, you have to put the shyness away. Use the awkwardness to your advantage as well. It will feel very uncomfortable at first, but gets easier.
I've got my first snake coming to me next month its a normal female, the guy I bought if off lost its exact date of birth and he reckons it was born around September time last year right but the snake has only recently hit over a 100grams and he's just been able to sell it to me because it's now over 100 grams, am I buying a really underweight snake? or am I just worrying too much? Like a roughly 7 ton8 month old snake should not be 100 grams right..
Typically, it would be more. But if born small, or a slow start may be ok. Yes, for 8 months that is small. Question is, why? I have had snakes that initially took me time to get to size. I would say, if it is that old and he held and refused to sell until it was 100 grams, he was likely taking great care to do the best. Probably ok
I just had my first instance of RU-vid unsubscribing me from a channel. I was bummed that I wasn't seeing any videos from this channel in my feed anymore and decided to check out the page. Turns out I had been unsubbed. Not anymore!
@@OlympusReptilesI'd never been unsubbed by them from anything before. I enjoy your frequent videos and thought it was weird that I wasn't really seeing anything anymore, but was still getting patreon notifications of videos.
@@OlympusReptiles Thank you. Been binge watching your videos here recently. Been keeping these animals for 30 years now but lost my collection in my divorce. Looking to rebuild and go back to doing what I love. So thank you for this business series. I look forward to more.
Yes. I’ve walked up to a table and couldn’t find a candino any where. I seen one at their table& the guy walked up and asked me wat I was doin& wat I wanted🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️needless to say I didn’t buy it
Chase Randall yea it was crazy. It wasn’t one of theirs hey wats sup questions. It was literally like he didn’t want me their. Idk if he was having a bad day or he profiled me but I looked at him like he was crazy and walked away
There has been more then once where I go to a show and two breeders are talking with each other about there morphs shows ect and will not pay you any attention. I just walk away
I know I'm watching a 3 year old video, I just wanted to take the time to say I think you guys are great. I saw you at the last KC Cold Blooded show. I always feel like a dick when vendors have the energy you guys do because I want to look what you have vs. what I came looking for and decide on the price I am willing to pay. I feel like I come of wrong because I tend to not engage and I'm wasting your time if I'm not going to buy something from you. Currently I am buying up females to start up. My question is do you all take people that come to your table acting the way I described personally?
One more thing if you give out a business card with a website make sure it works, and please dont think a facebook page counts id say a youtube channel is better then facebook. Also for people attending shows this is a good video on show etiquette for buying ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-35raLkJSKys.html
Took me about six years to convince my dad the only draw back you have to buy a lot for a great price hey Matt what’s the easiest way for me to contact you with questions
Ok I go to shows to sell and you will always get that entitled parent with her kid that wants one of my Retics he asks to hold the cow or pied which is some of my more expensive animals then he is trying to grab it by the head and it strikes and the parent is over here saying to the kid I told you retics are mean and I’m just trying not to be rude and then one lady had the balls to ask me for lavender albino super tiger for free
I don't mind if someone is on their phone when i approach, but if you see me and you don't get up or atleast clearly attempt to wrap up what you may be doing, I wouldn't even finish looking at your animals. I don't care if you have the perfect male jungle anery boa I have been trying to find for years. I'm done with you and will probably spread the word about you that you are rude and unprofessional. Now, same scenario but I don't see you look at me, I will continue to look and engage you if I were to need you and would not have anything bad to say.
