Adventurers walking down the street stopped to take a look. Nice, good initial interest! With so many adventurers around, I figured a few would pause.
“Hey, you there, the good-looking guy! Adventuring with such a beautiful lady, aren’t you the lucky one! Why don’t you let that luck guide you over to check out what I’ve got? I promise it won’t disappoint!”
I called out to a couple that looked like adventurers. By the way, that envy? Totally genuine.
“Oh wow, ‘good-looking,’ he says.”
“Oh my, he called me ‘beautiful!’”
“What’s this all about?”
“A shop for adventurers, you say?”
A few others joined the couple, pausing to see what I had.
“Behold, what looks like an ordinary spoon and fork. But don’t be fooled—these are no ordinary utensils! These are collapsible spoon and fork sets!”
“Whoa!”
I held the spoon and fork high for everyone to see, folding and unfolding them as I demonstrated. Metal spoons and forks are rare here, and collapsible ones even more so. Hard to miss.
“Made of sturdy metal, these will last a long time. And when folded, they fit neatly into this cup, saving space!”
“Whoa!”
The crowd’s enthusiasm helped. In a setting like this, people reacting positively really adds to the appeal.
“And here’s the kicker! These spoons are only eight copper each, forks the same, and the cup is just two silver! But if you buy all three together, I’ll cut it from three silver and six copper down to just three silver and three copper! Take the deal, it’s a steal!”
“Let me see that spoon! Hmm, this really is compact and convenient. And the cup’s sturdy, plus it’s made of this fine metal. I’ll take the set!”
“Me too! Give me a set!”
“I’m in for one!”
“Thanks a lot!”
Ha! Did you see that? My sales pitch, honed at a grueling black company, actually worked here. People are drawn to the foldable spoon and fork, and adding a regular cup in the bundle makes it even more tempting.
Not that this is some sneaky tactic. The cup is priced about the same as in the market, and the quality is way better.
“Next item! Here’s a carabiner—a sturdy metal clip that’s easy to attach and detach. You just clip it like this, and it won’t come off easily. You can hook it to the side of your backpack or use multiple at once. It’s a limited item you won’t find anywhere else, only one silver coin each!”
“I’ve never seen anything like this at other stores. Seems like it’d come in handy. I’ll take three!”
“Looks easier than tying things up with rope. I’ll have two, please!”
“Thanks a lot!”
This was starting to feel like a TV shopping show. It seems that exclusives and special prices attract people no matter where you are.
“And now for the main item! You there, with that fine sword and shield, you look like a strong one. What do you think this might be?”
“Me? Ha, you’re sweet-talking an old man. Hmm, it’s small...maybe some kind of concealed weapon?”
“Close, but not quite! This is a fire starter—an item that replaces flint and steel. Now, I see some skeptics who might think a little thing like this can’t possibly create fire.”
I pulled out some twine made from fine plant fibers. “You just loosen the fibers a bit, scrape this stick along, and finally, with a few quick strokes...and voila!”
“Whoa!”
I lit the twine on a metal plate, then quickly put it out with water for safety.
“It takes a bit of practice, but once you get the hang of it, it’s easier than flint and steel, especially for strong adventurers like you. This handy tool comes with fire-friendly twine for only two gold coins. But I must apologize; we only have three of these available per day! First come, first served!”
“Hey, it’s cheaper than flint and steel! I’ll take one!”
“I’ll have one too! I was planning to get a new fire starter anyway!”
“I want one too!”
“Me too!”
“I’m sorry, but it seems our quick friend here with the keen ears was first. I’ll be open around the same time tomorrow, so if you missed out today, be sure to stop by then!”
I handed over the fire starters to the three who raised their hands first, letting them know they could ask for a demo any time.
Yes, limiting the quantity raises demand, avoids causing issues for other shops, and encourages people to come back tomorrow—a triple win. And no, this isn’t shady; it’s just good business strategy.