I was at my sales booth at a Midwest orchid event a couple weeks ago when a woman walked up and said, "Is there more than one vendor at this show?" I replied that of course there was, and, in fact, that there were too many! She then looked around the room and asked, "How do we tell you apart?"
 |
|
Holcoglossum kimballianum
|
Initially I figured that it was a "lack of perception" problem on
her part. Then I realized that, after looking around the room (with an impartial eye), she may have made a very keen observation. I have to admit, I was somewhat embarrassed by the woman's question, and I felt that I had, perhaps, lost a bit of perspective over the years.......
Have you noticed that the vendor booths at many orchid shows are beginning to look more and more alike? Are we all becoming regional distributors for Hawaiian-bred intergenerics and mini-catts? And honorary Taiwanese Phalaenopsis dealerships?
Admittedly, we are obligated to pay our bills and
 |
|
Lycaste lasioglossa
|
thus must sell showy hybrids and clones to the general public at these shows to help us make a living. But I have to admit that over the years, the section of our sales table that contains unusual and interesting species has shrunk. Something is wrong with that, especially since that is what Oak Hill Gardens is known for. And I plan, going forward, to change the formula back to what it was. Otherwise, as the woman suggested, we are
not setting ourselves apart from the competition! Are you?
 |
|
Coryanthes fieldingii
|
There are still orchid nurseries here in the US and abroad that offer many interesting and unusual things to the collector. Hermann Pigors, who is still working in our lab producing species seedlings, has dedicated his life to it, and, at 74 years old, still preaches it.
Oak Hill Gardens does roughly 16 orchid shows a year, most of them in the Midwest. There are many more shows around the US at which people never get to see the type of weird species that we have to offer. Not to mention the internet and other outlets on which species can be sold. Customers and hobbyists are really missing out on what makes the orchid collecting hobby a fascinating endeavor!
This is where you come in, and it can be good for both of us. For instance, you could become the only vendor at your show with Darwin's Orchid
 |
|
Angraecum sesquipedale
|
seedlings available. Tell the story with a life-sized photo and the short history of Angraecum sesquipedale on a laminated sign. Not everyone will buy one, but it may bring them over to your table to stay for a minute or two. Who knows? - they might buy something else that catches their fancy.
Think of what attract peoples attention. One idea that has gone bonkers for us is the "Bag O' Orchids." We take
 |
|
Bag O' Orchids
|
a lunch bag and put three seedlings in it (stuff we've overproduced, of course!) for $10.00. I make up a printed sign with a photo of all three flowers and staple it to the bag. Last weekend I sold 63 of them at a small show in Iowa. Easy money! They help themselves to a bag, hand you a bill and the transaction is complete!
You can get seedlings of unusual species off of our wholesale list for only $2.00-$3.50. Sell the the bags for $15-20, make a 50-70% margin on the deal. You make a little money, but more importantly the customer is at
YOUR table because they came over to see why you were serving bag lunches, instead of at one of the other 14 homogeneous vendor tables at the show.
Another hot trend is mounted plants. We have begun to mount a much larger percentage of our species varieties, as they seem to grow better
 |
|
Free Plant w/purchase of every spoon!
|
and look better on a plaque. They also take up less space, which is another reason that collectors are taken with them. Lately we have been creative in mounting plants not only on cedar shingles, but grapevine, cork rafts, wooden spoons, glass punch cups, mini bird houses, etc. People love it!
I'll bet that you can think of other ways to differentiate yourself. It's so easy, and most vendors don't really try that hard. We're here to help by supplying the species. See our wholesale list, with 57 interesting varieties (18 new items since last fall) to choose from. See the list and order online at the link below. If you wish to print out a PDF of the list, click the PDF link right below that.
On-Line Wholesale List
Printable Wholesale List (PDF)
Set Yourself Apart - Increase Your Sales!
Good luck,
Greg
