Just this past weekend (October 26-27) I had my first Vegas Reptile Expo experience. Not as a customer, but as a seller for Tortoise Supply (thanks again Tyler). For having done this my first time, I'd like to believe I did pretty well. Before actually going behind the booth as a first time sales person, I had an idea of how things went and what to expect. For the most part my expectations were met, but my aspect of how things would go were mistaken. Being a sales person is hard, but the time, work and money that is being put in to attend the show is much more difficult. Tyler, made this easier for me because he was the provider, "the source" of what was being supplied; the product. You've got your variety of tortoises, enclosure supplies, supplemental dieting, food, custom display cases, business cards and all the other supplies that are necessary. Tyler's, Salad Style and Herb Mix are a process of there own to produce something that needs precision and time. The products that were being sold at the Tortoise Supply booth were already things that needed; time, work and money. Something that was apparent to me that I thought to be more important above all the rest was sacrifice. Sacrificing, time with your family, hours of your day and money, are risk. You can only hope you'll be able to make a profit from a show. This being my first show as a sales person was a great opportunity to share some knowledge and receive it, as well as being surrounded by tortoises 
. Tyler, his family and his friends were great company to be around with.
As a sales person, you've got to have basic knowledge on the tortoises you have available (history, size, diet, enclosure and if they'd do well where ever you were from) and the products that are being sold. For an example, something basic for me was to ensure everyone knew or learned about humid hides. I had a plastic container with me at all times and demonstrated a simple way of constructing one. My response went like, "you can use a Tupperware container because they're available in different sizes, flip it upside down and cut a door with scissors or if you have a dremel that works too. Use this on the substrate of your choice, I highly recommend using coco coir, cypress mulch or orchid bark, a mix between any of this would work well. Be sure to keep this on the moist area of your enclosure, something I do to keep the hide humid is spray the spot of where I place my hide and always have it on the warm end of your enclosure. Keeping it below a ceramic heat emitter on a thermostat is what I would recommend." That would follow with me explaining why humid hides are necessary and beneficial etc. I rarely got into conversations about closed chambers. I had even provided more of the "updated" caring information to people who have had tortoises for years. People who got into depth with questions were always the ones most interested. People who asked to hold one most of the time were always the ones who just thought they were cute. Of course, I rarely approved of this and the times I did was when they were picking out their tortoise or consent with Tyler, or his wife. There's a lot more to being a sales person than what I've been able to share, but I would do this again if I were offered to and I had the time for it. Helping others, giving awareness, hanging out with other reptile enthusiast and being surrounded by tortoises? Hell yeah!
Here are a few pictures of the Tortoise Supply booth.
If anyone has questions feel free to ask!
THANKS FOR LOOKING!
. Tyler, his family and his friends were great company to be around with.As a sales person, you've got to have basic knowledge on the tortoises you have available (history, size, diet, enclosure and if they'd do well where ever you were from) and the products that are being sold. For an example, something basic for me was to ensure everyone knew or learned about humid hides. I had a plastic container with me at all times and demonstrated a simple way of constructing one. My response went like, "you can use a Tupperware container because they're available in different sizes, flip it upside down and cut a door with scissors or if you have a dremel that works too. Use this on the substrate of your choice, I highly recommend using coco coir, cypress mulch or orchid bark, a mix between any of this would work well. Be sure to keep this on the moist area of your enclosure, something I do to keep the hide humid is spray the spot of where I place my hide and always have it on the warm end of your enclosure. Keeping it below a ceramic heat emitter on a thermostat is what I would recommend." That would follow with me explaining why humid hides are necessary and beneficial etc. I rarely got into conversations about closed chambers. I had even provided more of the "updated" caring information to people who have had tortoises for years. People who got into depth with questions were always the ones most interested. People who asked to hold one most of the time were always the ones who just thought they were cute. Of course, I rarely approved of this and the times I did was when they were picking out their tortoise or consent with Tyler, or his wife. There's a lot more to being a sales person than what I've been able to share, but I would do this again if I were offered to and I had the time for it. Helping others, giving awareness, hanging out with other reptile enthusiast and being surrounded by tortoises? Hell yeah!
Here are a few pictures of the Tortoise Supply booth.
If anyone has questions feel free to ask!
THANKS FOR LOOKING!
