Sunday, September 04, 2011

A Guide to Signing at Costco

I was very blessed to have my sixth novel, Dearly Departed, picked up by Costco. I signed there regularly from the end of June to the end of August, and had a fantastic time. I'd like to share with you some of the things I learned during those two months in hopes that they'll be helpful to other authors who will also be given that opportunity. Keep in mind that these are things that worked for me, and as you go into the stores, you may find your own ways of attracting customers. There are many ways to skin a cat, as the saying goes - although I never have understood why anyone would want to skin a cat.

Preparation:

There are a few things you can do at home before you ever go to the store that will help ensure your success. Eat a good meal with a lot of protein. Dress in nice, but comfortable, clothing. Wear supportive shoes. Yes, ladies, it's tempting to wear your cute new high heels, but I really advise against it - your feet, ankles, knees, and hips will pay the price. I also found that I became very warm in the store, so after my first few visits, I started wearing my hair up in a clip rather than down. That helped me not overheat. You know what your body needs - honor it and prepare to take care of it.

Supplies:

I recommend that you prepare a bag or a box with the following things -

  • A cute tablecloth. Costco does provide one, but sometimes they are dusty or a little bedraggled, and if you bring your own, you can be sure that it's in good condition and goes well with your book. A six-foot rectangular is best.
  • A table decoration of some kind. I was given a cute statue of a bookworm, and I sat him on my table at every signing. Not only did he give a little more visual interest to the table, but the little kids just loved him and would often stop to pat his head, which made their parents pause for a moment, which gave me the opportunity to speak with them.
  • A water bottle. You'll be talking a lot, you'll get thirsty, and you will want to keep yourself hydrated.
  • A handout. This may be one of the most important things you can bring. I'll discuss this in more detail below.
At the Store:

Try to arrive fifteen minutes early. When you let the manager know you're there, they will ask an employee to help you set up, and that usually takes a few minutes. You want to start your signing on time to fit in as many actual sales opportunities as possible, so by showing up a little early and getting set up, you can begin when you're supposed to.

Put plenty of books on your table. It sometimes feels easiest just to grab one small stack from the table, but you want your table to look abundant. This also gives you, and your customers, a subliminal message: "I expect to sell a lot of books today." That will create an atmosphere that is very conducive to sales.

Have everything you need out on the table. Signing pen, bookmarks, newsletter sign-up sheet - have it all accessible so that when you need it, you don't have to stop and dig for it.

The Actual Signing:

Now that you're all set up and ready to go, it's time to have some fun!

Personal interaction is the best way to bring people over to your table. Some authors have already created such a name for themselves that they can sit quietly behind their table and they will get mobbed by scores of rabid fans. Other authors, though, are still working on building up their name recognition, and they do that by interacting with the public. Stand, rather than sit. When you stand, you are many times over more likely to attract attention. Smile and say hello to everyone who passes. And ... here's where handouts come into play.

Think of something you can bring with you to give people as they go past. I did bookmarks at first, and handed out hundreds per signing. But that wasn't the best use of marketing money. Even though I did get a number of sales, the bookmarks were around six cents each, and if I handed out two hundred at a signing, it was adding up to $12.00 per signing for bookmarks. I was also afraid that the customers would just toss the bookmark at their earliest opportunity, and that would be a waste. So I came up with an idea that was unique to my books. I made up a black-and-white flyer on a half sheet of paper that showed the cover of my book and a catchy blurb, and then at the bottom was a recipe. This tied in with my book because at the end of the Secret Sisters Mysteries series, we're releasing a cookbook that will feature the foods mentioned in all the books.

Then, as people went past, I would say, "Hi! Would you like a free recipe?" If they said yes, I would hand it to them and say, "There's also some information on there about my new novel." In this way, I got my information into their hands, called their attention to the fact that there was more on the sheet than just a recipe, and opened up the door for a conversation. Coming in at two for a penny, the fliers were more cost effective, and because people love to keep recipes, I decreased the likelihood that it would just be thrown away.

When They Say No ...

Customers in Costco are very busy. I know that when I shop in there, I put myself in battle mode. I have a list, I know where I'm going, and I walk fast. My mom has often complained that she doesn't like to go there with me because I walk so fast, she can't keep up. That's just the mentality of the Costco shopper. We know we need to have a firm objective or we'll get lost in the hustle and bustle.

As people pass your table, they are very often in this mindset, and they will often say "no" before they even know what you want. This isn't an uncommon exchange:

Me: Hi there! Would you like -

Them: No!

This isn't something to take personally. To quote the Madagascar penguins, just smile and wave. (You don't really need to wave, though.) Just turn to the next passing person. Most customers will be very appreciative of the thing you're giving them, and will be polite in their refusals, if they aren't interested.

After the Hand-off:

I believe that in any book signing situation, there are three steps the author should take in feeling out the customer and introducing their product. It has a lot to do with feeling out the customer's interest level and showing respect by not being pushy. If you offer your information in a non-pushy way, that customer is likely to remember you kindly, and they may purchase from you down the road, even if they don't today. If you're pushy and in their face, they will remember it, and they will tell their friends, and you'll build a reputation opposite to what you want.

The first step is what I think of as the introductory step. At Costco, I'll greet people with an invitation to accept a recipe. As I hand over the recipe, I tell them there's also a blurb on there about my new book. If they take the recipe and keep walking, I leave it at that. However, if they pause, we go into the second step.

This is to give them my quickest pitch about the book. In the case of Dearly Departed, it's: "My main characters are three little old ladies who infiltrate a nursing home to solve a murder." If they are still engaged, I then say, "It's a lighthearted mystery comedy, a ton of humor all the way through, without any language or graphic violence." At this point, they generally either thank me and keep walking, or they start to ask me questions.

It's important to break up your pitch into sections like this so you can give just the right amount of information to meet the interest level of the person. I can't tell you how many times I've:

  • been at a store and had an author or salesman give me a much longer pitch than I wanted to hear
  • been at a store and wanted to know more, but the author or salesman had prepared a pitch that was so short, I was left wanting, and they didn't seem to know what to say after that
Be respectful of your customer's time and don't try to make them listen to more than they want to hear, but be prepared to have long conversations as well.

When Not to Approach:

To go along with our discussion of being respectful, I'd like to suggest that you not approach the following groups of people -

  • People on the phone
  • Mothers who are currently wrestling with screaming children
  • People who are visibly upset
In each of these instances, step back and give them space. They're dealing with something bigger than their decision whether or not to buy a book, and to intrude would be rude and thoughtless.

Taking Note of Your Target Audience:

My book is about an elderly Relief Society presidency, so generally speaking, the people who buy my books are middle-aged ladies. When I am approaching people, I tend to naturally gravitate toward those ladies in my marketing efforts, and find myself more rewarded. However, this is not to say that we should ignore everyone else - it's just saying that we need to be aware of which demographics are more likely to buy. I had a great conversation with a guy studying film making at UVU with an emphasis on horror. That may be about as different from what I do as you can get (except erotica) but we had a great conversation. He didn't buy a book, but he took my information, and I was able to share some things with him that he found helpful. I also sold a book each to two Goth girls wearing plastic bras. It surprised the daylights out of me that they were interested because I hadn't pegged them as people who would want what I had to offer, but they came up to me and asked me to sign two copies. This shows the importance of smiling and greeting everyone who passes, even if you think they aren't likely to purchase.

Sometimes It's Not about Sales:

During my two months at Costco, I had the opportunity to meet some amazing people. Several of them were aspiring authors who needed some guidance in how to take the next step. Some of them just needed someone to talk to at that moment, like the lady who was planning her husband's funeral. To me, a successful signing isn't measured by books sold. It's measured by lives touched, both me being helpful to someone else, and the things I learn from the people I talk to.

Taking Care of Yourself:

We've talked about standing up, but now I want to talk about sitting down. It's important that you not push your body further than it can go. If you're not used to standing on hard floors for long periods of time, work up to it gradually. Sit down during slow times. Stay hydrated. Make sure that you're not hurting yourself. It's wonderful to have this Costco opportunity - it's something only a small percentage of authors get to do - but approach it wisely and make sure you're not hurting yourself. Know your limits and honor them.

Bringing Helpers:

You might find it helpful to bring someone along to help you, especially if you're in one of the larger stores. I did several signings alone, and at other times brought my mom, my son, or my husband along, and in each case, found that having a helper was a good idea. They could hand out fliers to people while I talked to prospective customers. They held down the fort while I ran to the bathroom. They could refill my water bottle. Having a helper there can increase your productivity. It's something for you to feel out for yourself, but I found it to be a good thing. And when it came to my son, it seems no one could resist his cute little face. Nearly every person he approached took a flier.

Most Importantly ...

Have fun! You're there to celebrate this awesome accomplishment - you are a published author and you have landed a spot in one of the most coveted sales venues in the nation. Enjoy it. Enjoy the people. Enjoy the chance to share what you love to do. If you find that nothing else I've said strikes a chord with you, I hope this does - leave the stress behind and just appreciate the moment. Your talents are being given a showcase. Your name recognition is about to skyrocket. Your opportunity for future sales is going to increase exponentially. You are planting seeds for a bounteous harvest later on. The expression "joy in the journey" is completely applicable here - even if you have a slow day, you are paving a path for your future as your information gets into people's hands. I did a signing at Swiss Days in Midway and was told over and over, "I saw your book in Costco." You become recognized, and in this industry, that's a good thing.

My book is no longer being carried in Costco - you need to hit a certain sales bracket in order to remain in the store over an extended period of time, and because my book is a little more specialized, that didn't happen. But I know my experiences there are going to help me in a ton of other ways, and I'm so happy for the chance I had to be a Costco author.



18 comments:

Donna K. Weaver said...

This is great information, Tristi. I've heard of some signings that were agonizing for the authors. What a terrible position to be in isn't it? Finally successful so you can do a book signing and then feel like a total failure because you were unprepared and felt like an idiot sitting at a table everyone passed by.

"To me, a successful signing isn't measured by books sold. It's measured by lives touched, both me being helpful to someone else, and the things I learn from the people I talk to."

See, this is why I love you.

Canda said...

Tons of great advice here--thank you! Deanna and I aren't ready to use this yet, but we hope to in the future.

Braden Bell said...

Great thoughts. Thank you Tristi

Stephanie Black said...

Thanks for sharing your experiences, Tristi! And congrats on being carried in Costco! That's awesome.

RaShelle Workman said...

Tristi - This is great information. Thanks so much!

Marie Higgins said...

I agree with everything you said! lol But I noticed (as did Amy Orton when she was with me once) that when I left to go to the bathroom, people still stopped by my table and took a book. That was exciting to know!

~Marie~

Melanie Jacobson said...

I love so much about these ideas, especially your idea for a hand out. Something I've learned to do because I only have access to small indie LDS bookstores, is talk to customers about other LDS novels. I've read a ton of them and I consider myself an honorary bookstore employee that day. It usually ends up in fun conversations and the bookstore owners are pretty happy with me after that. But mainly it just makes the day fun.

Small Town Shelly Brown said...

That was great Tristi! Thanks. I'll just tuck all that info in my pocket and finish my novel :) Maybe one day...

Unknown said...

Thanks for the great tips, Tristi!

Angie said...

Thanks, Tristi. That's great information. I am hoping *fingers crossed* that my book will get into Costco too. I am bookmarking this post!

amberargyle said...

Great ideas. I'm so glad I found this, as my very first signing is on Saturday!

I always have a hard time with the pitch. I never know what to say. I'll work on it.

Thanks!

Unknown said...

This is a great post. I love your perspective and practical approach. Best of luck to you.

Lois

Rachelle Christensen said...

Thank you so much for your advice! I love all the details you include. My book was in Costco but I was only able to do one signing because I was pretty sick at the time with my pregnancy. But that one signing was great! I'm hoping for another chance to do more in the future!

Cindy C Bennett said...

Thanks for the great info, Tristi!

One question: I assume Costco provides the table and chair. What size tablecloth do you suggest?

Also, I found a great site that does bookmarks for less than 2ยข each which is still more than flyers but affordable. And they are high quality, nice bookmarks.

Tristi Pinkston said...

Great question, Cindy! I'll go in and add the information directly into the post, but Costco's tables are most often four-foot rectangles. So if you get a six-foot rectangular tablecloth, you'll be good to go.

Lori said...

Tristi, I had my first signing at the Ogden Costco today (as an illustrator) and found all your suggestions to be very helpful--I sold dozens of books! I appreciate your wisdom and insight.

Lori
Illustrator, What Are You Thinking? http://www.whatareyouthinkingbook.com

Sharon Shabinaw said...

Great advice Tristi thanks so much! Did you just go to Costco and talk to the manager about doing a signing? Was there any sort of criteria that you had to meet in order to be allowed to do a signing? Great advice I hope to put to work!

Tristi Pinkston said...

Your publisher or distributor usually has to set this up - Costco rarely works with authors directly. You can check with your local store just to make sure, though.

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