FIRST TIME SELLING A CHILDREN'S BOOK TO CUSTOMERS: MY PITTSBURGH INDIE EXPO EXPERIENCE
On March 30th 2025, I tabled at Pittsburgh Illustrators Expo (PIE). This was my first time ever putting together a vendor’s table at a show. I’d say it was a great success; moved almost 20 preview edition copies of
Milo the Mime, my current children’s book with Incubator Productions. The expo was a lot of fun and today I will share with you some of the details of how I prepared for it and some lessons learned.
MY FIRST PIE EXPERIENCE
Never have I thought my venture for promoting my book would lead me to this. The Pittsburgh Indi Expo, a comic book creator expo where young and talented people sell their independent work to the masses, in
the hopes of engaging with new audiences. Being that this was my first time there, and my first time selling my current book project Milo The Mime, I had to structure myself so that I could engage with not just the
customers, but with fellow artists who are just as creative as me. But it wasn’t just the book I was selling, I was also selling keychains, bookmarks, t-shirts, and buttons. I even had a video add of my book playing on
loop on my iPad, so people might notice. But mostly, I am was selling myself so that people could come to me and take interest in my works.
NAVIGATING PAYMENTS
Seeing as I was once a customer to some events similar to the expo, I knew that not everyone would bring cash. Some did, but people tend to use mostly cards. So I bought a card-reader for this occasion. I
practiced using it before the show. It was a challenge at first but I soon got the hang of it. Wasn’t as hard as I feared it would be. Though I will have to go to more events to sell my work in the hopes of getting use to
my card-reader device. I also learned that some people use different paying services like PayPal or Venmo. Luckily I have both just in case. I think it’s a good idea to have 2 paying services, even if you’re comfortable
using just one. One send money, the other to keep money.
THE CUSTOMER FACING EXPERIENCE
What went well for me was getting people invested in my work, and products. Granted most didn’t buy anything, but that’s fine. They still looked at my work and skimmed through my book. I even engaged with
some of them. Although it was mostly to solicit my products, take interest in Milo The Mime, and hopefully subscribe to my newsletter. I remember someone at a table next to me, making small talk with her
customers. She was being casual, asking them questions, complimenting their clothing. I probably could have done that, but I was afraid to make small talk with people. I feared that it would make them uncomfortable
if I start asking them questions about themselves, even though I’d try to keep it simple without getting too personal. I think next time I can ask customers what they do for a living, and if Milo The Mime would be
good for their work.
If there was one group of people who I felt most resonated with my work, it would be the parents, and the kids they brought along. I was welcoming and I gave the kids a quick read of the book in the hopes they
would be interested. The parents also read to their kids; they seemed intrigued by my book and want to share it with their kids. Although of course the children had the final say in the matter weather they want the
book or not, and kids can be exigent customers.
SUMMING UP THE EXPERIENCE
All in all I say that this experience was fair at best. I sold some books and products, I got people to sign up for my newsletter, and I’ve done my first promotion. I guess what I can do next time is to talk to people
more. See if I can connect with this and hopefully find a common interest. It’s always best to know what people like and wonder if I can create something for them to enjoy. There are two types of smarts. Book smarts
like reading, learning, and arithmetic. And then there is street smarts, the ability to read people. It’s always best to know what people want to hear and what people needed to hear. In a way, I want people to buy me,
not just books.