Booth Setup: Come In or Keep Out?

by Linda Tenney.
(Palm Harbor, Florida USA)

I was curious what other vendors’ opinions are on having your booth set up either so shoppers can step in and look around or if your tables define the perimeter and shoppers browse from outside.

Outside vs. Inside Booth Setup

I have a 10’x10′ white tent and have done about 8 shows with it. I have two 6 ft. tables and one 4 ft. table and with these you can create a “horseshoe” shape that fits the 10×10 dimensions perfectly.

I have mostly set up my booth so that my tables are on the outer perimeter of the tent, as this is my preference: I am inside, “behind the counters” and shoppers browse from the outside. This gives me space for my little work/office table and a chair and to easily reach under the tables for supplies.

But it seems most jewelry vendors’ booth setups that I have seen here on JMJ do the opposite: the horseshoe is inverted and shoppers can come into the tent. I tried this once (see photo) and didn’t like it as much. I like having my “personal space.”

I know some may say that having the inverted “U” shape is more inviting to shoppers and simulates more like walking into a brick & mortar shop. But as a shopper myself, at some of these outdoor shows, I don’t want to enter someone’s booth because then I might feel obligated to buy. I like “window shopping” from the outside.

I know neither approach is right or wrong or even better than the other; I just wondered what people’s opinions were and maybe if you noticed a difference in sales with one approach over the other? Or perhaps other options are viable that haven’t been mentioned?

Linda Tenney
Heart of One Creations
Heart of One Creations on Etsy