What time of the year did you hold this Vendor night / expo?
Could you also hold it as a "career" expo?
Example: local tech colleges could buy tables, temp agencies, the military, various trades associations.
With the "baby boom" population getting ready to retire in 2010 - the Bureau of Labor is predicting massive worker shortages after 2010, especially in the skilled trades area. (encourage your daughter to become a plumber ).
(This may be a good idea at the middle school level).
Our school recently had a vendor/crafter show. We sold 4x8 foot tables for $15. We had it on a Friday night for 3 hours. We also asked each vendor/crafter to donate 1 item worth at least $10 for a raffle. We then set up the items with bags to put the tickets in and sold the tickets 3 for $1. We also sold pop corn and bottled water. Just make sure you do good publicity or the vendors/crafters won't come next time you have one. I think when all was said and done we made about $400. I think we had a least 20 vendors.
I have heard of vendors giving something like 10% of what they make on these functions but I am wondering if a fee for setting up is also charged when you are also getting a percentage.
One of our schools does this, and it is always a HUGE hit!
They charge $15 for a 10'x10' space, and the only thing they provide is 1 chair. They offer space(s) to any parents who want to participate first, then open it up to the public. They also have a pizza place that either donates, or lets the school purchase for a large discount, pizza which they sell for $1 per slice. Of course they have soft drinks and bottled water, too.
The profit margin is going to depend on how large of a facility you have and how many vendors you can safely allow. Just make sure that there is enough room for the customers to walk and browse between the rows of booths.
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