Advice on selling a product in a mall - how do I make sure the money comes in and it sells?

**krupt** · 06-22-2008 05:42 AM

Hey people,

Long time I havn't posted here. I've got a question I can't seem to figure out the "ideal" way.

In a few weeks time I am launching a product and I have booked a space in some malls in my local area. 3 different malls, near the entrance, I'll be having a small stall to hand out my "product" which is literally $4 in price. It's a new type of magazine I want to see if I can sell.

Now I have "Girls" handing this magazine out.

We have 3 malls on the same day so I can't be at all of them at one time.

-

I have 2000 copies of this magazine being given in each mall. I have 3 girls at each stall in each mall.

Now my big question is, how can I make sure they sell them and obviously keep the money? Like...if one of them tries to pull a fast one, how should I maintain that trust?

What I'm planning to do is, every magazine they sell, they keep half and I keep half.

So $2 a peice

So they could make $2000 in one day or a few hours depending if they flirt and use their girly skills to sell them.

Does this sound right/ok? Or any other tips?

**matt_15** · 06-22-2008 05:51 AM

You need to get them under a contract that binds them. Make sure they understand the terms so that if you take them to court, it's no suprise to them.

**krupt** · 06-22-2008 05:54 AM

What should I make the contract as? Like what kind of things should I state?

Basically what I am doing is, every magazine they sell, I keep $2, and they keep $2

But obviously I can't be there physically to make sure they are "keeping" or "collecting" all the money...know what I mean?

**JohnnyBudZ** · 06-22-2008 11:53 AM

No, I don't think a contract is the best way in this case. If this is a magazine for "girls" I doubt the females you hired are even 18 so a contract wouldnt even bind them.

My advice to you is to ask a family member or someone you trust to be at every stand you have. Or maybe just keep track of inventory, if they sell 200 magz you know they owe you 400$. If someone needs a somewhat steady job for a while they wont burn you for $200 when they need to make 250 a week for lets say a month.

BTW, there are three local malls near me. What state are you in?

**HugoBoss** · 06-22-2008 11:59 AM

If one of your main worries is that the girls can rip you off with the money, wouldn't doing inventory at the end of the day work.

**Hooman** · 06-22-2008 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by krupt

Hey people,

Long time I havn't posted here. I've got a question I can't seem to figure out the "ideal" way.

In a few weeks time I am launching a product and I have booked a space in some malls in my local area. 3 different malls, near the entrance, I'll be having a small stall to hand out my "product" which is literally $4 in price. It's a new type of magazine I want to see if I can sell.

Now I have "Girls" handing this magazine out.

We have 3 malls on the same day so I can't be at all of them at one time.

-

I have 2000 copies of this magazine being given in each mall. I have 3 girls at each stall in each mall.

Now my big question is, how can I make sure they sell them and obviously keep the money? Like...if one of them tries to pull a fast one, how should I maintain that trust?

What I'm planning to do is, every magazine they sell, they keep half and I keep half.

So $2 a peice

So they could make $2000 in one day or a few hours depending if they flirt and use their girly skills to sell them.

Does this sound right/ok? Or any other tips?

I think you're paying them waaay too much. 50% is too much. I think saying they can just keep half is too informal. Pay them an hourly rate, it's cheaper and makes more sense. What kind of girls are they that you're afraid they'll pull a fast one?

Yeah, an independent contractor type of contract is a good idea. I'll PM you a sample of what I use. Basically you say they have to work for x amount of hours and you'll pay them x amount per day, but no more than x amount, and that they're responsible for everything on their own, blah blah.

**KKoher** · 06-22-2008 02:07 PM

I agree...$2 per mag is too much. I'd say $1 is plenty. You will have roughly 666 mags in each mall, and 3 girls per mall. So let them all know if they all sell an equal amount, that's $222 per girl...that's a good amount of cash for one day of work. I'd do it. I'm surprised you have girls selling the mag...since you are advertising to girls, I'd think some hot guys would better persuade a girl to buy it.

**zharlene** · 06-22-2008 02:33 PM

Yeah, I think a 50-50 split is way too much for them. I also don't think that paying them at an hourly rate will help (they're just going to take all the time in the world so they get to earn more).

Maybe you should contact an agency that can provide such assistants? So you don't have to worry about paying the girls, because you have to pay their agent.

I don't think having a team of 9 girls would guarantee the best sales. I feel you should probably try to mix it up a bit, because sometimes gorgeous girls intimidate customers.

All the best!

**krupt** · 06-22-2008 03:21 PM

It's not really I am scared the girls are going to pull a fast one - I know half of them already having worked with them

It's just...I want to make the best deal to make them happy and also me. I agree, hourly rate is bullshit.

The mags will sell for $4 each -

The girls are all hot and pretty and will wear tshirts of my branding. The mag is targeted at men.

... I'm confused on what to do...as like I said, I can't be there all the time.

**JLeezer** · 06-22-2008 03:58 PM

At the end of the day, you collect the money from each of the girls at each of the malls. Keep the money from each mall separate (it will make life easier in the event there is a discrepancy). Count the number of magazines remaining at each mall. Subtract that from the number you started with. That number is your number of units sold. Multiply that by $2 and you've figured out how much you must pay per mall. Divide that by the number of girls at the mall and there is what you pay each girl.

DO NOT have the girls giving you your half of the money. This is your business, treat it as such. You figure out what to pay them.

**matt_15** · 06-22-2008 04:32 PM

JLeezer has given you some good advice, take it. Also I think it would be good to take a look at hooman's contract draft.

**Fanatik** · 06-22-2008 09:25 PM

Let us know how it turns out. The inventory at the end of the day and them giving you FULL payment, so YOU can sort it out is more formal. If you're worried about pissing them off or displeasing them, find someone else. This is YOUR business. Take initiative and run it as such. I'm curious to see how this all turns out.

**Nigami Enterprise** · 06-22-2008 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by Hooman

I think you're paying them waaay too much. 50% is too much. I think saying they can just keep half is too informal. Pay them an hourly rate, it's cheaper and makes more sense. What kind of girls are they that you're afraid they'll pull a fast one?

Yeah, an independent contractor type of contract is a good idea. I'll PM you a sample of what I use. Basically you say they have to work for x amount of hours and you'll pay them x amount per day, but no more than x amount, and that they're responsible for everything on their own, blah blah.

That type of work has to be commission based.

Don’t just pay them a base of $2 per magazine

After you have done it a couple of times and you know how much each girl should be selling set up an incentive scheme.

For example instead of paying them $2 for each magazine sold give them 50 cents.

But then if they sell 20 in a day you give them a bonus of $30

If they sell 50 you give them a bonus of $75

You are paying them the same yet making them work harder. They will also enjoy it more because they will think they can earn more and they can.

Now this is just going of the principal that you want to pay them $2 per magazine personally I would give them about a $1 to $1.50

**krupt** · 06-23-2008 03:05 AM

Originally Posted by JLeezer

At the end of the day, you collect the money from each of the girls at each of the malls. Keep the money from each mall separate (it will make life easier in the event there is a discrepancy). Count the number of magazines remaining at each mall. Subtract that from the number you started with. That number is your number of units sold. Multiply that by $2 and you've figured out how much you must pay per mall. Divide that by the number of girls at the mall and there is what you pay each girl.

DO NOT have the girls giving you your half of the money. This is your business, treat it as such. You figure out what to pay them.

I don't see how that works.

My mag is $4 each - I have 2000 mags for MALL A...I have 3 girls selling them

I sell all the mags

So 2000 units sold X $4 = $8000

Divide $8000 by 3 girls = $2666

So that means...I give $2666 to each girl? So then $2666 x 3 = $8000....???

Am I missing something? I don't get it, what's the point behind that?

**rossco1** · 06-23-2008 03:24 AM

Mate easy.. just make sure the girls track sales, and record how many magz have been sold.

So at the end of the day. Count how many magz remain from the original quota given.

At the end of the day, go around and calculate everything up.

50% definitely seems high. But we don't know your expenses and your strategy.

I really find it hard to believe you can sell 2000 magz at each stall. Thats quite a lot!

Say the store is open 9-5.. thats 8 hours, so that 250 an hour!

Very ambitious, be prepared to learn a lot from this experience...

Good luck and please report back!