One of the worst things a vendor can do is pack up and leave before the end of the show.
Yes, there are some good reasons a person has to leave early. Medical emergencies and familial crises warrant a hasty departure. Not making any sales or being bored is NOT a reason to leave. You paid your money to be there. You agreed to be there. You need to fulfill your obligation.
The show may be slow. There may not be a customer in sight. You may be bored out of your mind. But it is still inappropriate to pack up and leave early. And the worst offenders of all are the ones who pack up and leave in a huff, making as much noise as possible while blocking aisles and neighboring booths.
Customers see early packers as a sign that the show is over. They will spend less time looking. They avoid aisles that are blocked with a cart and boxes. They leave. Vendors who leave early disrupt the entire show. They ruin potential sales for their neighbors. It is bad form.
Furthermore, leaving early also means you miss potential sales. I have had more than one slow day break even or make a profit because of sales at closing time or even just after. Sometimes, it is from other vendors who were waiting for their final tally before spending. On one occasion, I slow-walked my clean up for the boy with the 5 siblings who kept tugging on his mom's sleeve as she chatted. By the time she was done and they walked over, it was probably ten minutes**** past closing. She quickly bought him the monster he wanted and she bought something for each of the other 5 with her. You never know.
If you have a crisis and have to leave it is best to try and locate the coordinator and let them know your situation. It may not save you from being put on the naughty list but it is the correct thing to do. Quietly letting your booth neighbors know what is going on is also appropriate. They may be able to help let the coordinator know and they may be able to help you get packed up.
The real key if you absolutely have to pack up early is to be as discrete as you possibly can. Start from the back of your booth leaving the easiest thing to pack in front and on display as long as possible. Politely tell any customers who come into your booth or pause at your table that you must leave for a personal reason. Offer them a card so they can check out your on-line shop or tell them when you will be at the next show.
Move your stock and display out of the area as quickly and quietly as you are able. Do not block the aisles. Do not shove your cart through the crowd. Take the least crowded, least obvious path you are able to follow. Do your best not to disrupt the flow of customers to the booths around you.
Follow up with a note to the organizer about why you had to leave. It is only polite.
Otherwise. DO NOT PACK UP OR LEAVE EARLY.
**** Lest you think I am slowed up the works for the organizer, let me be clear that while I was waiting for the boy and his mom, I had organized and packed everything behind my booth. My price tags were stowed. Most of the secondary display items were packed. I'd taken down my sign. I'd picked up my business cards. My paper bags were in their place just open enough so I could get to one. I was ready to go once their purchase was complete. And let me also say that due to the nature of my product and due to the fact I have a bunch of engineers and efficiency experts in the family, my tear down process takes at most 20 minutes start to finish if I am by myself and if I have help we are often in the car 15 minutes after we start packing (it has become something of challenge to see if we can beat the record time). So my stalling for 10 minutes still meant that I was packed and gone in less than half an hour after the close of the show. I would never do that if it took me longer to pack up.
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