Holiday Painting at the Mall

by rosecanino on Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:07 am

Hi All,
I decided to call my local mall and see if I could pay to set myself up there for a couple weekends in December to offer Holiday face painting. This is my first year at marketing myself in my community and I thought being set up beside Santa at the mall would be a really great marketing move. I am feeling a bit discouraged though... I had to pay $50 a day to be set up and so far after one weekend it is looking like I will not make back the cost to set up. Most parents seem apprehensive to approach me at all... the kids seem excited but the parents don't want to make eye contact. So I am finding it difficult to even promote myself by handing out cards for future parties. Any suggestions?
I printed out $5 and $10 off when you book a party coupons and stuck them on the back of my cards. I figured that would be an incentive to at least check out my website and consider booking a party. How do I get my cards into the hands of future clients?

Here are some pictures (mostly of my daughter) Very Happy

[img][/img]

by a face painting mom on Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:13 am

Gift Certificates! Print them up, and sell them at a discount.

An empty chair tends to stay empty, and a full one, it stays full! Try to have a kid in the chair, even if you have to give it away, you may find that you soon have a line to get what seems popular. Kind of like ordering desert...unless someone breaks the ice, no one orders. One does, everyone does!

by a face painting mom on Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:14 am

The gift certificates are for parties, I sold a bunch at a craft show, had the disount in it, but people were more willing to purchase if they did not have to commit to a date.

by MeeMee on Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:00 am

Just tossing around some promotional ideas... Do you look like you belong with Santa? Is your booth decorated with icicles, candy canes, and have a Christmas magical look? I see you are a fairy, are you a Christmas fairy or pretty girl elf? Do you have a big beautiful photo of a child with their face painted sitting on Santa's lap on your photo board? Also if parents are having to wait a long time for Santa is there a way for them to have a place holder card while they are being painted?

by bluebunneh on Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:03 am

Can you play music or add Christmas lights to your booth? Can people tell that you are offering face painting? Do you have a big sign? You may want to have a friend bring costumers in. Paint something on their face and have them draw attention to you. Wear a cute Christmas outfit or colorful wig ( I wear wigs when I paint and kids LOVE it ) Always smile! ^_^

by rosecanino on Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:27 pm

Thanks for the ideas...
I have been dressing up and I have also had my daughter with me and been painting her face as well.
It might just be the time of year? People are most apt to do something like that when it is warmer weather and not so much when they are getting their picture taken with Santa?

by Kat's FacesForFun on Mon Dec 12, 2011 8:12 pm

PICTURES. Make sure you have a REALLY good display!!

by Tasha on Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:55 pm

make sure people can see you over a crowd. maybe have a bunch of Balloons or tall sign. maybe you can talk to the Santa set up and see if they will hand out your cards with the pictures they're customers are buying.

by a face painting mom on Mon Dec 12, 2011 11:05 pm

Ohhhh....give out 1$ discount coupons to anyone who sat on Santa's lap?...or anyone with a receipt from a mall store? Print them up, give them to the merchants...?

by HillbillyDiva1 on Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:59 pm

rosecanino wrote:Thanks for the ideas...
I have been dressing up and I have also had my daughter with me and been painting her face as well.
It might just be the time of year? People are most apt to do something like that when it is warmer weather and not so much when they are getting their picture taken with Santa?

I worked for 7 years painting faces next to Santa at the Theme Park I work at and always had a long line. The reason I'm not still doing it is the park gave over the Santa photos to Kodak and they kicked merchandising out of the Santa barn and tried it in the toy store for 2 years but too crowded. The parents that are not making eye contact are doing it so when they get in the car and the kids complain that they didn't get their face painted the parent can say "Oh I didn't see them." They ether don't have the money or are too tight to pay for it.

by OtterGirl on Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:06 pm

Hopefully things will pick up once the kids are out of school. I think the $1 off for mall receipts is a good idea. Ask if you can set up a small display or flyer in any kid-oriented stores like Gymboree, Kids Gap, Candy and toy shops, etc. If you can get another adult to help you out, have them work the Santa line handing out your cards. Tell the people that if they show the card to you in the next two hours, they get a discount. (The time limit thing makes people more likely to spend).

by rosecanino on Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:49 pm

Really great ideas!
I am set up again this weekend so I will use the coupon idea for sure!

by a face painting mom on Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:07 pm

Let us know how it goes! I hope you rake in the dough!

by rthling on Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:38 pm

I tried to get a spot in the mall here, and was wildly unsuccessful. They offered me a spot for $750. I couldn't even consider it.

by scgilland on Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:59 pm

This is something I am considering too, I was offered a booth for $500 a month at my local mall, and am still milling around with it. I can set my own hours and my kiosk will be advertising when I am not there. $500 is alot for me in one month, but I am thinking I may want to try it for one, just to see how it does.

Holiday Painting at the Mall

Holiday Painting at the Mall

Re: Holiday Painting at the Mall

Re: Holiday Painting at the Mall

Re: Holiday Painting at the Mall

Re: Holiday Painting at the Mall

Re: Holiday Painting at the Mall

Re: Holiday Painting at the Mall

Re: Holiday Painting at the Mall

Re: Holiday Painting at the Mall

Re: Holiday Painting at the Mall

Re: Holiday Painting at the Mall

Re: Holiday Painting at the Mall

Re: Holiday Painting at the Mall

Re: Holiday Painting at the Mall

Re: Holiday Painting at the Mall