Would you like fries with that? — We’ve all heard the line, but have you ever tried upselling when you’re out facepainting? Alot of you would probably answer no, and some of you might be unclear about what up selling really is. So before I go any further here is a definition from Wikipedia:
Up-selling is a sales technique whereby a salesman attempts to have the consumer purchase more expensive items, upgrades, or other add-ons in an attempt to make a more profitable sale. Up-selling usually involves marketing more profitable services or products, but up-selling can also be simply exposing the customer to other options he or she may not have considered previously.
If all you’re doing is giving the customer what they asked for instead of giving the customer what they’ve asked for AND asking them if they’d like more — then you could be losing some serious money!
It’s a known fact that if somebody is willing to spend money on a particular product or service, thirty percent of the time they’ll spend even more, if the opportunity arises infront of them. And it’s your job to makesure that opportunity arises, you have to makesure that everyone who comes to your face painting booth, knows about your other services.
Now, you’re probably thinking…but what can I offer as an upsell, what other services can I offer?
And it’s much simpler than you’d think! Temporary tattoos, stickers, extra body painting, glitter hair spray can all be used as upsells to squeeze a little extra cash out of your customers.
A simple temporary tattoo can do wonders, say for example you’ve got a boy who wants to be painted as a pirate. All you have to say to the parent is “…for an extra $X I could add a temporary tattoo to his arm to really make him look like a mean pirate?” And it’s done! But you’ve got to ask for it, otherwise the parent wouldn’t have known.
And remember if a sixteen year old at McDonalds can do it, then so can you! Give upselling a go and see what happens!
For more face painting business help, check out our How to Start a Face Painting Business Home Study Course!
Happy Face Painting 
Philadelphia Tivoli
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P.S. What services do you provide besides facepainting, that you offer as an upsell? Leave a comment and tell us about it!
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Useful “food for thought”.
never thought about that before. Thanks for the ‘heads up’!
i would like to do face painting on the side, i would like to know extra tips on turning it onto a bussiness.
Hi apple,
Check out the articles found in the”Face Painting Business Tips’ catergory:
http://facepaintingtips.com/blog/category/face-painting-business-tips/
Maybe adding gems to a crown? Have to give it more thought.
this is really helpful to me now i can get hair spray color, and tatoos also gems that is really good. thank you for the tips
Glitter can always be an extra charge upsell. Worked on me at the theme parks where I first got interested in face painting. Sure the kitty face was cute but way cuter when they asked my 6 year old if she wanted glitter on it. Only $3.00 extra. lol
Wow $3.00 extra really? Sounds very expensive to me, but if the patrons are happy with that then that’s great!
I’m loving all that you are teaching! I’m a “Newbie” in the business (face painting), going to clown school since January! I have done only two festivals so far, and, I have a friend that twists balloons. He does his thing and I do mine, however, we started upselling by combining our talents. I do alot of princess masks, and pirates. I get more work than he does (I’m more aggressive, I wear big blue hair and have flowers and butterflies in them), so I asked him to come up with a wand and tiara for a princess, and a sword and pirate hat for the pirate. I use the balloons as my up-sell! We both are busier then ever! It has really helped his self-esteem and my dollars! So, grab a balloon twister and smile away!
That is great to hear Bethann!!
Brilliant!! ThanQ for sharing…
Apart from what has already been mentioned, i also have a mesh laundry basket nearby with modelling balloons inside per inflated, and i make wacky balloon hats for a up sell, no dogs, swords, flowers etc, just crazy funky hats, and there is a reason behind this.
Boys will bash each other with a balloon sword, and the kids get bored with carrying a balloon dog about, so it oftens ends up in mums bag, but a wild and wacky balloon hat, they want to wear, and the bigger and better you make it, it gets seen from far away, people get curious or ask who made it etc..KER-CHING..More work for you.
I always try to sell on the princess nail polish parties I have and offer a trail of the make up I use when I do make up application. A simple $5 can get a mom to try a quick eye make up that she might take home and ask for a make up application for a night out that can be in the range of $30 to $60 depending on the type of make up and the application.
I usually have temporary tattos and glitter tattoos available at my table but
have been a wee bit shy to push them, but I will give it a go.
thanks