How to organize an Open House event at home to have good visibility and sell your items. Are you the one who has a passion to have a side hustle? You are the alone, there are hundreds of thousand people living in Western countries thinking of having a side income. The Internet is flooded with such ideas, out of which many are fake ideas. As we all know Asia is a huge production house and great quality stuff is being produced at a very nominal cost. This gives you a great opportunity to import stuff from Asian countries and sell it in the USA.
When it comes to selling, it’s a very challenging task. In my experience to start, “Open House” is a very effective way. Open house is an amazing way to connect with potential buyers, showcase your products, and ultimately sell your products. Below I am listing down steps that will help you to have a successful open house event in New Jersey, USA or similar cities/countries.
- Open House Step 1 – Find a Suitable Venue: Start with finding a venue that connects with your with your product. It can be your home, a nearby community center, your backyard, or even a rented event space. You have to keep in mind the quantity of your products and the footfall you are expecting. Space should not be too big or too small. Make sure to check town regulations and permits for that place to have such an event to avoid any disturbance or after notice.
- Open House Step 2 – Prepare Invitations: This is very important, you have to design attractive invitations to draw people’s attention towards your open house and bring them to your open house. You have to follow simple steps, like clearly mentioning the date, time, venue, and a brief description of the items (e.g. Indian Handicraft Items, Indian Jewellery, Woolen Cloths from Nepal etc.) you’ll be showcasing. There are tons of online platforms which provide this for free e.g. evite, eventcreate, punchbowl, RSPVify, etc. . You can also leverage social media platforms or community notice boards.
- Open House Step 3 – Theme It: Theme makes it easier for your visitor to connect with you and your product. It becomes more intuitive for the visitor. For Example – If you are bringing stuff from India, put up some pictures from India, if it’s Handicraft items, you can put pictures/paintings of handicraft workers, or celebrities wearing some handicraft items, to enhance the appeal of your items.
- Open House Step 4 – Display Your Items: All of us go to various shops and supermarkets, and you must have also observed a specific way of displaying items. Most attractive ones at the start to pull the folks in your Open House, and some very interesting and in-demand items at the end, so that everyone goes till the end. This way you can make sure that they are having a look at all the items on their way back. Use tables, and shelves, or even create thematic sections to make it easy for visitors to navigate. Information is very important, don’t forget to put cards with as much information as possible for the visitors to make sense of the items. What is it? materials used? cultural significance? where it can be used? what’s the price etc.
- Open House Step 5 – Offer Refreshments: If you want to keep your visitors for a longer time, it’s a good idea to offer some refreshments. Consider serving traditional Indian snacks and beverages, creating a pleasant and welcoming atmosphere for your guests.
- Open House Step 6 – Arrange Demonstrations: To make it more engaging arrange some workshops or demonstrations related to the craftsmanship involved in the items.
- Open House Step 7 – Entertain Visitors: You can play some music, or put up a TV with some interesting videos. This will play a dual role, it will entertain your visitors, and at the same time, they will get to know more about the culture or products you are selling. This not only entertains your guests but also immerses them in the rich cultural background of the handicraft items.
- Open House Step 8 – Promote Local Artisans: If possible, collaborate with local artisans or craftsmen who can contribute their creations to the event. This not only diversifies your collection but also supports the local artistic community.
- Open House Step 9 – Offer Special Discounts: This is a proven way to boost your sales. If you are starting a new business or want to clear old stock, a discount works in all situations. But be careful dont create an image of marking up items with higher prices and then offering discounts. You have to be genuine and put a an actual discount. If you are selling stuff cheaper than Amazon, or Walmart, you know you have got a good chance of success.
- Open House Step 10 – Create a Payment System: This has to be quick and flawless. Try to have as many options as possible. All types of credit and debit cards, cash, touch free ways of payment are a must. If you are selling Indian Handicrafts, will you accept Indian Rupees 🙂 , just kidding.
- Open House Step 11 – Capture the Moment: Hire a photographer or designate someone to capture the highlights of the open house. Share these images on social media, creating a buzz for future events and allowing those who couldn’t attend to experience the showcase virtually.
- Open House Step 12 – Gather Feedback: After the event, seek feedback from attendees. This information will be invaluable for improving future open houses and tailoring your offerings to meet the preferences of your audience.
Organizing an open house for Indian handicrafts in New Jersey is a wonderful opportunity to share the beauty and cultural significance of these items. By following these steps, you can create a memorable event that not only promotes sales but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship and traditions behind each piece. Embrace the diversity of Indian handicrafts and enjoy the process of connecting with your community through this enriching experience.