Selling merch/perhaps a questions for CMs

[LiDa]

I have no idea where to post this question, so I'm going to rely on the wonderful moderators to move me to the right place!

Here is my question....

If anyone has sold merchandise at the Disney parks or anywhere else, I would love some advice. I am starting a gig tomorrow selling merch for a theatrical production that attracts a rabid fan base. They want everything & can afford some, so they will sometimes steal if they can. I know that sounds awful, but I really do like these kids, generally. I'm usually the theatre manager, so they almost all know me, but for this production I have to do merch. Can anyone offer any advice or best practices that will help me control the situation? I love the producers & want to work for them again, so I want to take this seriously: maximize sales & reduce theft.

Again, it's at a theatre merch stand -- I won't see it until tonight so I don't know the set-up.

THANK YOU!

 

[DisneyHardin]

Generally around here there is a display of the Merch and then everything is kept under/behind the table. The customers have to tell the worker what they want and they get it out for them.

 

[_19disnA]

Have never sold anything, but at various outdoor market type places I have been, they usually have a sealed display case to exhibit smaller merchandise. Not exactly clear what you are selling, but if theft is a concern, likely these are smaller items. I agree with prior poster that having the products under/behind the table is a good idea. People can select an item from the sealed display case and then you can provide them an item kept elsewhere.

Depending on the volume of traffic you might also need someone else working with you to manage the crowds.

 

[barkley]

Generally around here there is a display of the Merch and then everything is kept under/behind the table. The customers have to tell the worker what they want and they get it out for them.

that is exactly how the professional touring production's merch sales work here as well as the community theater productions i worked with in the past. no one is permitted to handle items unless it is in direct interaction with a sales person who is ensuring they are only handing it in the course of a sale (so nothing within customer reach).

 

[LiDa]

Generally around here there is a display of the Merch and then everything is kept under/behind the table. The customers have to tell the worker what they want and they get it out for them.

Thanks! I sold for the 1st time last night & lost only 2 items: a button & a plastic beer cup. My boss & I just laughed. It's in a theatre lobby, so we have a table with a cloth tablecloth -- we attached the pins to the tablecloth & that was the end of theft of the pins. (The rest of the pins were in bins by me.)

Something I really regret, though, is letting someone rush the line as intermission started. She bought the last 2 XL hoodies & the very next person wanted one. About 90% of the merch hasn't been delivered yet, so there wasn't much on offer & I was sad that guy got screwed. It was probably good I had to start slowly because the house manager said he'd never seen a merch table slammed like that. I said, "Honey, you've never been to one of our productions before! This is normal for us." And a lot of the audience members come back to see the show multiple times, so they will pick up whatever arrives tomorrow, then Sunday, then next week.... Bless their hearts!

 

[LiDa]

that is exactly how the professional touring production's merch sales work here as well as the community theater productions i worked with in the past. no one is permitted to handle items unless it is in direct interaction with a sales person who is ensuring they are only handing it in the course of a sale (so nothing within customer reach).

Thank you! It was interesting that I had only ONE person who reached across the table to take the items that were NOT part of the display. So many of the audience members come back repeatedly & they know they will be banned from all shows & future productions if they get caught, so they really aren't a major problem. Generally good kids & a lot have their parents with them. I just lost 2 of the low-cost items, so that was a win. When we get more merch delivered today (we hope) I will need to figure it out.

 

[LiDa]

Have never sold anything, but at various outdoor market type places I have been, they usually have a sealed display case to exhibit smaller merchandise. Not exactly clear what you are selling, but if theft is a concern, likely these are smaller items. I agree with prior poster that having the products under/behind the table is a good idea. People can select an item from the sealed display case and then you can provide them an item kept elsewhere.

Depending on the volume of traffic you might also need someone else working with you to manage the crowds.

Thank you! I was hoping for a display case, but we are renting the theatre & all I have is a couple of tables. We've got the merch under the tables in boxes, the buttons pinned to the tablecloth & the beer cups taped to the tablecloth, although I plan to tape them to each other tonight. That way, if anyone tries to take 1 from the set (it's a set of 5 character cups) they will lift the whole thing & not be able to walk off with it. And the hoodies & posters are hung on a rack behind me. And I'm lucky if the producers walk by, but they have too much to think about.

 

[Disneefun]

If you're dealing in cash, protect that box! I work with a lot of fan and game conventions and the cash box is the number one target. Usually you get the tag team where one person tries to distract you by having you pull out items, etc. while the other makes off with the box. Either have someone else with you to watch that box, or make sure it's secure somehow. I've seen merchants devastated because their entire income from the event is in that box and when it's gone, it's gone.

 

[LiDa]

If you're dealing in cash, protect that box! I work with a lot of fan and game conventions and the cash box is the number one target. Usually you get the tag team where one person tries to distract you by having you pull out items, etc. while the other makes off with the box. Either have someone else with you to watch that box, or make sure it's secure somehow. I've seen merchants devastated because their entire income from the event is in that box and when it's gone, it's gone.

We have a cashless system! lol