Trade Days raise $86,000

The Cook Islands Trade Days event which was held from 17-18 September was highly successful and the income generated proved the decision to hold the event over two days and at the particular location, was fully justified.
The annual event was again organized by the Trade Promotions division of Business Trade and Investment Board (BTIB) and held during the Maeva Nui celebrations.
When the event began in 2006, there were 17 stalls. This year there were 29.
The BTIB has just produced its report on the event and excerpts are set out below.
“Stall Sales
The overall takings made from stall sales this year have reached a record amount. A major contributing factor to this is the event being extended to 2 days. Although, the higher number of stalls, exhibitors had prepared more products to sell and the popularity and attendance to the event have also made the increase in earnings possible.
Of the 29 Stalls 12 were from the Outer Islands and 17 were Rarotonga based. Of the 29 Stalls 8 were selling Food and 21 selling Craft. The overall taking on Day 1 is approx. $51,552.00 that showed to be more profitable than the overall takings on Day 2 which is approx. $35,133.00. The grand total for both days is $86,685.00.
The Outer Islands collectively made more than the Rarotonga based exhibitors which may be due to a number of reasons, such as:
The popularity of products exclusively sold by the Outer Islands
The higher priced items sold e.g. Rito hats at $200 each and Mats at $300
The surplus of items prepared for sale.
The 21 craft stall takings averaged $2,222.60 each on Day 1 and $1,445.45 each on Day 2. There were 2 to 3 stalls that had sold out of a majority of their craft stock by the end of Day 2. The 8 food stalls each made an average of $890.00 per day. Plates of food sold out fast on both days and so next year food vendors will need to be better prepared to not only make more profit but to also ensure that visitors of the event are not missing out too early.”