Pipe Shows - Questions About Selling & Trading @ Shows

[pruss]

So having watched, with no small amount of envy, the reports of forum members who attended the NASPC show, the CPCC show and the anticipation thread of the West Coast Pipe Show, I am committed to attending a show in 2014.
I am building up a small inventory of refurbished estate pipes, vintage and antique tobacciana (tools, ashtrays, lighters, paraphernalia), and NOS pipes. As a result I'm looking for advice from you seasoned show-goers as to the best way to sell these items at a show so I can add to my war-chest and tap into my PAD/TAD to best advantage.
After having listened to Brian's primer on show attendance, and having read through the articles here and other places, it appears that the avenues for sales at shows are as follow:

- Personal sales/trades (in room, in the smoking tent/lounge/bar/parking lot)

- The CPCC pre-show swap & smoke event

- Buying a table at the show itself
So, my questions, assuming that the seller is a hobbyist with a small (30 items for sale or less):
1) Generally, how conducive is the energy/attitude/atmosphere of attendees to personal sales off the show floor?

2) Is the CPCC the only show that makes available the amateur/hobbyist swap & smoke style trading floor?

3) If you've participated in the CPCC pre-show swap & smoke, How did you find it? Would you do it again?

4) If you've had a table on the main-show floor (of any show), what kind of volume of inventory do you plan for?

5) How receptive are show organizers to table-sharing between multiple vendors/hobbyists?
Thanks in advance for your consideration and thoughts folks.
-- Pat

 

[bigvan]

Here's my 2 cents...
"1) Generally, how conducive is the energy/attitude/atmosphere of attendees to personal sales off the show floor?" Quite a lot of sales happen in the hotel rooms the night before the show starts, and in the case of Chicago, during the pre-show and in the smoking tent in the night(s) leading up to the first day of the show.
"2) Is the CPCC the only show that makes available the amateur/hobbyist swap & smoke style trading floor?" Are you talking about the Friday pre-show? If so, then Chicago is the only one I know of that has a pre-show (guys, correct me if I'm wrong). But as mentioned in #1, the evening "room crawl" is a HUGE opportunity to make some sales/trades.
"3) If you've participated in the CPCC pre-show swap & smoke, How did you find it? Would you do it again?" I've participated as a BUYER, but not a seller. However, the pre-show has the reputation as being the 2nd biggest pipe show of the year (1st being the actual Saturday/Sunday show).
"4) If you've had a table on the main-show floor (of any show), what kind of volume of inventory do you plan for?" I had a table at the Columbus show this past weekend. I brought about a dozen estates and sold them all to an internet dealer within the first few hours of the show. About half were higher end pipes (Dunhill, Ashton, Ferndown, etc.), some well made pipes by lesser known carvers (Sam Learned, Andrew Marks) and one or two lower end pipes (Peterson).
"5) How receptive are show organizers to table-sharing between multiple vendors/hobbyists?" I've done it before; shared a table with friends and the organizers don't care.
The only other piece of advice is to set your expectations properly. Know the value of what you're selling. I know some guys get frustrated because they bring a lot of no-name estates that they spent a lot of hours restoring and then they don't sell. If the pipe wasn't in demand new, it probably won't be in demand as an estate.
Hope to see you at a show soon!
JJ

 

[judcole]

The only other piece of advice is to set your expectations properly. Know the value of what you're selling. I know some guys get frustrated because they bring a lot of no-name estates that they spent a lot of hours restoring and then they don't sell. If the pipe wasn't in demand new, it probably won't be in demand as an estate.

Words of wisdom.

 

[kcghost]

About the only thing that doesn't fly is standing in front of someone's table and trying to sell your wares. Or horning in on someone else's sale.
Sharing tables is fine. It can be hard for someone to set up shop in a hotel room and try to sell pipes if no one has heard of you.

 

[winton]

I have sold my tampers at the Chicago pre-show for the last two years. I definitely to attend again, but also sell at the regular show this next year. Sharing a table is allowed at this show, but selling a table is not. You also need to have merchandise that people want. I tried to sell some no-name estates the first time, and could not get anyone to look at them. Last year several vendors really wanted to buy my tampers, but first had to sell their own items. Each year is different. I really enjoy it.
Winton

 

[pipestud]

Howdy Pat,
Pipe shows are a wonderful thing. The most pleasing part for me is seeing so many of my clients I have dealt with over the years but never met in person. There's nothing more enjoyable than meeting these folks in person. My first show was the 2003 Kansas City Pipe Show and I have always made it a point to go back to that one every year. I also attend the Vegas Show every year and had the time of my life this past year at that one. I was blessed to be the guest speaker at the show dinner in Vegas last year, and it was like being with a huge room full of best friends.
Buying and selling pipes and tobaccos at these show is actually a secondary thing for me. It's the people who share my enthusiasm for the hobby that is most important to me.
And finally, can you imagine the fun you'll have when you meet in person fellow members of this forum that you've been chatting with? And also meeting the great pipe makers whose pipes you smoke? As an example; at the Vegas Show last year I finally met carvers I have enjoyed conversing with and smoking their pipes for years - Rad Davis and Mark Tinsky come quickly to mind. What fine gentlemen!
In closing; if you want to enhance your enjoyment of the pipe smoking hobby, do indeed attend a pipe show in 2014.
Best,
Pipestud

 

[pruss]

Evenin' Gents,
Thank you all for your thoughts and observations, they resonate loudly with me.
During my brief time within this community of pipe smokers and collectors I've discovered that we, by and large, are amiable, opinionated, engaging and accommodating people. Given your reports above, it seems that this discovery is pretty close to on the mark.
With regards to selling at shows, I hear the wisdom in making sure that the items I offer for sale be interesting, and fairly priced, and that I don't overstep the common bounds of courtesy with regards to other folks' sales.
In short, it sounds like the best advice is to: have fun, be friendly, see if your stuff sells and enjoy the company of other pipe folks.
Totally doable.
Cheers,
-- Pat

 

[rebornbriar]

Buying and selling pipes and tobaccos at these show is actually a secondary thing for me. It's the people who share my enthusiasm for the hobby that is most important to me.

Totally agree. Here in the UK there really aren't any pipe shows to speak of. I took a table at the British Pipe Smoking Championship and had a ball of a weekend!
As PipeStud says, people coming up to you at the show introducing themselves as customers, that they have purchased pipes from your website is a great feeling. The sales were secondary and I definitely plan to attend again next year.