FAQ’s, on the nuts and bolts of a trunk show.

1) What is a trunk show?

A trunk show is a short-term sales event incorporating merchandise that is different to, and in addition to, the retailer’s normal collection. Trunk shows on land are typically one day or weekend events. The most common ones in the retail jewellery industry are diamond days centred on an in-store bridal event.


2) What is a cruise ship trunk show?

A trunk show on a cruise ship is normally for the duration of the cruise, which can be anything from a week to fourteen days. The trunk show merchandise will be different to the merchandise normally carried onboard. Ideally it might also be representative of the region where the ship is sailing. The routine of a typical MDF trunk show is shown in the Sample Trunk Show page here.


3) What is my responsibility should I choose to do a trunk show?

Your main responsibility is to get yourself and your merchandise to and from the ship. This includes the cost of flights, shipping charges and customs brokerage. We will assist with logistical support and advice. Once onboard we would expect you to give a presentation to the guests and to spend a certain amount of time in the gift shops helping to sell the merchandise.


4) What kind of presentation should I give?

The most popular presentation is a PowerPoint slide show. This should not look like a management training seminar; it should be entertaining and informative, light-hearted but still professional. The presentation should take about half an hour. The ship will have a projector but you will need to bring a lap top computer to play your slides on. The guests respond best to light humour, gem history and folklore rather than high tech manufacturing and gemmology. Other successful presentations have been fashion shows, jewellery quizzes or cocktail parties.

5) What types of marketing and advertising are available onboard?

Flyers delivered to the cabins and an advert in the ships daily events program are the routine formats used. We have also used DVD’s played on the cabin television channel. The types of marketing and advertising vary from ship to ship but some sample flyers can be viewed here. Advertising should be prepared one month in advance of the trunk show. This is so we can get it to the ship before the cruise and they can get it printed onboard prior to your arrival.



6) Do I pay for my cruise?

The cruise is free of charge; this includes food, entertainment and a cabin which can accommodate two people sharing a twin or double room, so you may bring a guest or assistant. On some ships drinks are also complimentary. Some ships do charge a per day token fee to cover tipping etc.


7) Is there a dress code?

Most cruise ships have a dress code; which is explained in detail in their brochures. You should be prepared for formal evenings. Most of the time smart casual attire (golf club) is appropriate.


8) How many hours should I work in the gift shop selling?

This is flexible and depends on the cruise itinerary. The gift shop is a tax-free environment and therefore can not open whilst the ship is docked in port. On average the ships spend two or three days in port for every one-day spent at sea. If the ship is in port you will be expected to come into the shop once the ship departs. This normally occurs at 6:00PM. We would expect to see you in the shop for a little while either side of your dining period. This would equate to about two to three hours in an evening. The shops close at 11:00PM on most ships. When the ship is at sea the shops open from 9:00AM until 11:00PM. On these sea days we would expect to see you in the shops for about seven or eight hours in total.


9) How do I price and label the merchandise?

Once the percentage split has been established and retail prices can be calculated. Then all that is required on each piece is its retail price and any information you require when making a sale. We will issue you with a list of price pointed codes to match the retail prices to; these codes will be used to process the sales through the ships tills.


10) Do we do all the selling ourselves?

The staff that work in the gift shops will process the sales through the till for you and assist you in the shops at all times. They will also look after things when you are not in the shop.


11) Is the merchandise insured while onboard the ship?

Once you arrive at the ship, check the merchandise off against your invoice in the company of the shop manager, assistant manager or jeweller. Once both parties agree that the list and the merchandise match ask the witness to sign, date and stamp the invoice. From this point on the goods are insured while onboard provided they are kept in locked display cases.


12) How do we settle up and invoice at the end of the cruise?

Manually list the sales made including the till codes and prices. At the end of the cruise check that this matches what the shop manager’s computer states. Once agreed, have the shop manager sign, stamp and date your list. Attach a copy of this list to your invoice and email or post it to us at the end of the cruise. We will remunerate you thirty days from receipt of the invoice.


13) How much merchandise should I bring?

This depends on the nature of your inventory and also on the available selling space on a particular ship. An average fine jewellery trunk show normally brings 100-250 pieces.


14) What sales should I expect?

This depends on your merchandise, the ship and the itinerary. With these specifics we can give a more appropriate guide. Our trunk shows have varied from under $10,000 retail to in excess of $200,000. Our target is about $30,000 on most ships.
 

15) Do I have the option of leaving merchandise on the ship after the trunk show is completed?

This may be an option based on sales history and the nature of the product. This would be addressed on an ad-hoc basis.
 

16) Once a trunk show is booked, should we then purchase flights etc?

When MDF make a request to the cruise line for a trunk show, the cabin is normally made available to us on a stand-by basis. 95% of the time a cabin is available, however we do not always know this until a few days before the cruise begins. It is your choice whether to take a gamble and purchase cheaper flights in advance or wait for a confirmed cabin. When we make bookings we will advise you of your best options in this regards.
 

17) In the unlikely event that I am unhappy with any aspect of my cruise or if I wish to buy an upgraded cabin who should I contact?

In this highly unlikely event, under no circumstances should you approach any other person or organisation except Mariner Duty Free Ltd. This is because you are acting as ambassadors of our company as well as your own. We will act on your behalf or advise you on your best course of action onboard.
 

Still Have More Questions?

We are happy to provide you with further information to any questions that you have regarding our trunk shows. Our contact details can be found on our contact page.