Revisiting Craft Shows

I used to have another blog for my jewelry...except that I stopped updating it and forget the address and my log on details. =) So I started this one to replace it. I eventually did remember my log in details but kept this blog as my main jewelry blog.

There were some helpful posts on my old blog, at least I think so, and I'm continually referring back to them. So here are a few that I think were particularly decent.

• Thinking of selling at a show? "Things to Consider"
• Getting ready for the show...Don't forget anything. "What do you NEED at a Show?"
• What's it like? My "Average Show Experience."
• Linking to another great article - "What Not to Do when Selling Crafts"
• More ideas on what to take to a show.
• Do you go to craft shows to shop? "Please Don't Do This."
• Pricing isn't a fun part of selling, but it is necessary. "Pricing Nightmare"
• Don't sit like a lump on a log ... "Stay Active" in your booth.

I hope some of these older write ups are helpful. I think it's probably time for me to write some new ones, but there are probably others who have more expertise...especially since I haven't done a craft show in over a year.

Craft Show Results

My expectations for last Friday's craft show were tempered. I did not expect outstanding sales like I had several years ago. My best year ever for the show topped $1,200. This was not going to be that year.

I set my sales goal at $500. This is a 4 hour show and is only open to associates, contractors, and interns within the company. I think the company has around 1,000 people in our main location. So really, $500 is an ambitious goal for even the best of times. Especially when there are at least 5 other people selling jewelry.

Thankfully, I've been selling my jewelry for several years at this show and people know me. Some people I only see at this show.

I could definitely see a difference in traffic compared to previous years. Most shows find people standing in line 10 deep to make purchases. This year I did have two people lined up waiting at one point but I think that only happened a couple of times.

Thankfully I met my goal with a little over $550 in sales. Plus I traded a bracelet for some Christmas presents. So technically that would bump me over $600 but I'm not counting it as a sale.

Of course, this is still not a profit producing show. I mostly run at a deficit all year because my goal isn't to make enough money to pay my bills. My goal is to create and learn new skills. However I do need to continue to sell jewelry in order to fund that endeavor. I'm hoping this year to break even or close to it as I've been fairly frugal in my purchases all year.

After the show I went to a Gem and Jewelry wholesale show and spent half of my earnings. But that was actually my intention so it wasn't as painful as it sounds. I needed more silver wire and I found some sterling chain at a vendor having a clearance sale.

I know that craft shows are hurting for attendance and sales. I've saved all year to buy gifts for Christmas and I'm hoping to buy more this weekend at a nearby high school annual show. If you know of a show in your area I strongly encourage you to attend. Keep your money in your community by supporting local artists.

Well, I Made It

It's a little anti-climactic. I just found out today that I was accepted by the Northwest Crafts Alliance. I've been wanting to apply for two years now and finally got my nerve up. They don't allow artists with simple beaded work - jewelry is their most competitive category of course - and they require 90% of each piece be hand crafted / hand fabricated.

The only reason I found out is because they contacted me about my participation in their upcoming show - which is like 3 weeks away!!! Oh My GAWD! I'm so freaked out!

So, the good news is that I was accepted. The freaky news is that I only have three weeks to get ready for the first show. I don't know if I can get ready in time - I don't really have enough inventory. They have four shows each year and I may do the two later shows.

It's exciting that I was accepted though! :)

Monday Monday

Apparently today and next Monday are the biggest shipping days for the United States Postal Service. And I will be heading there with my own stack of boxes to ship. Not for family but for customers.

It was a crazy weekend - I had a jewelry party at Trooper's breeder's house. Lots of fun and food and puppies!!! Forget jewelry - I just wanted to play with the dogs. The puppies are 5 weeks old and beyond adorable. It was hard to keep myself from sneaking one out.

Orders have not stopped just because it's December, although I'm thinking that they will slow down a lot now that my guaranteed shipping deadline is here. I thought about extending it but the reality of my life makes me leave it as is. Most of my work is made to order so it takes a couple of days just to prepare pieces to ship - I think I'd be cutting it a little close.

So it's off to the post office I go...hauling two bags full of Priority shipping boxes. Phew! I was up late finishing up - and I hope that everyone loves everything. That is always the most anxious part - wondering what they think when they open their packages.

Craft Show Worries

My old blog still gets some hits...it's a good thing I can still remember my password! Someone left a comment today in an old post about craft shows. And I fully understand her worry...

"Megan, I have two shows booked, Dec. 1 and 7, and I'm petrified. Not only do I not have enough jewelry made to sell, I don't have an idea of how to fill an 8 foot table with displays. I honestly don't know if I'm up for it. I am having a lot of work and personal troubles right now. I feel like a jerk for dropping out but don't know what else to do. I have no display items (like busts) because I don't want to invest in something if I don't know if I'll likeit.Any advice? Please?"

First piece of advice......take some deep breaths! :) It's not the end of the world. No one will die if you don't participate and no one will die if you have a bad show. The good news is that everyone starts out being scared and having no idea what to do. Trust me. If you are that stressed it might be a good idea to back out for now and try again next year. There's no harm in that and you aren't a jerk! Life happens (trust me...just read the last few entries here and you'll see how my life has been going the last week!).

But you have at least two weeks and I think if you want to go ahead with the shows you should have no problem. A few handmade display items and a little confidence go a long way!

My first show was at a local high school. I had three small folding card tables that I borrowed from my mom and they were super wobbly. I went out and bought some cheap fabric (red and green since it was the season) that was sheer because I thought it was pretty. Some black, non-sheer fabric that was sort of silky. I found this cool tree looking thing at Michael's to hang bracelets on. I used a picture frame with a plastic cross stitch thingy inside for earrings. Necklaces went flat. It was really pathetic.

Sheer fabric - don't do it unless it's over a solid fabric. You can SEE through it (duh!) and you could see my ugly tables. Not only that, it was also sort of silky and kept sliding off the table!

Despite all the horror of my set up I still sold around $80 - which I thought was pretty darn good. It only cost $15 to get a space. My expectations weren't very high and I think that is important for a first show. It's more of a learning experience than anything else. Sales are just a bonus!

As for the amount of space - 8 feet is a lot less than you think. I prefer at least 10 x 10 and even then it's not always enough. Get two tables in those 8 feet and add a few people browsing and it gets really cozy really fast. With an 8 foot table you'll be surprised how fast it fills up! And you'll be surprised how few pieces you may need. I am a perpetual overachiever when it comes to creating items...I always always always have too much.

But if the show is a small local show I would estimate that if you have at least 50 pieces total (that includes earrings which should be the bulk of your items) you will be just fine. You don't want to have too much out on your table because it can overwhelm customers. Having ten or twelve necklaces and an equal number of bracelets should be enough if laid out properly on the table. Earrings are usually what sells most so have more of those.

So here is my 2 cents on display ideas - for what it's worth...

Go down to the Walmart or other discount store and raid their clearance fabric section. I got great fabric for $1 a yard for my tables. I didn't sew them or anything (I probably should!) but just cut them to fit. Most folks aren't looking at your table clothe seams!

While at Walmart, see if they have some inexpensive picture frames. Inexpensive is the key because to me these are just a stop gap until you get an actual earring display. They can be any color because you can always spray paint them the color you want (I prefer black or natural color).

Now go back to the sewing section and get those plastic thingys (yes that is the technical term) that are used with cross stich and yarn - you know the ones...they have lots of little squares. A lot of times they will have different colored ones...black is best to me. You'll also want some colored paper (again, I like black but white is good too) to put behind it since you don't want to see the back of the frame. This will be where you can hang your earrings. You can use them with french hooks and leverbacks (though it is a little tougher with leverbacks).

Do you have any old shoe boxes or storage boxes? Use these to create layers at your table (put the boxes under the fabric so make sure the fabric is long enough to go over these and the table). It's okay to drape necklaces and bracelets flat - especially if you're short on time and resources. It's not ideal but people WILL look! And adding layers will help.

These three things alone will give you a respectable table display. And it won't cost you much at all! It's a good idea to not invest too much if you aren't sure if this is the direction you want to go with your business.

Feel free to ask lots of questions! There's also a ton of great advice over at Cagey Crafters where some of our members have been going through these same anxieties. We'll talk you through it! :)

It's Show Time

Ahhh...another show. I always say that I hate shows, but you know what? Sometimes they are fun. This particular one is local - not more than 10 minutes away from my house - at the local county fairgrounds. I've been part of this one for more than 4 years - maybe 5...time flies.

It's an 8 x 8 space, smaller than normal, but it's not bad. I actually lucked into the space. It's in the main building (out of 4) and one of the first places people will go...and it's a corner space. I'm loathe to stop doing this show even though it's not really my market any longer. Mostly little old ladies (so cute!) and moms with kids looking for some entertainment and a good deal. My work is no longer their price point.

But I decided that for $65 it was worth it to do the show at least once more. I have tons of older inventory that I cringe at the idea of taking apart but am never going to sell unless it's at a show like this ... and I offer it at 50% off.

So I made some signs - "Inventory Clearance", "50% off" - we'll see if I can move some stuff. If not I'll be bringing items home and getting some quick photos to post in my Etsy shop. I don't want to add things to my main site because I'm working so hard to focus my site on a consistent look. The things I'm trying to move are not part of that look any longer.

Wish me luck!

Deep Breaths

How in the world is November almost here?!?!? When did that happen!!! I just realized this morning that Friday is November 2...and that is the first day of a craft show I am doing this weekend. ACK!

Thankfully it is a local show, not too huge, and I have most of my gear packed up from the last show and ready to go. Plus it is an indoor show so no tent needed. But still ... I am scheduled to take that day off, which I forgot about. And I need to get a little more organized. Even small shows are stressful and hard work.

Not only that I have all of a sudden gotten more orders than I'm used to - both from my main website and from my Etsy Gemstones store. I'm greatful and excited but exhausted. It clearly doesn't take a lot of orders to make me crazy. LOL It's the combination of working full time, having a two hour commute each day that wastes my time, and then coming home to hubby and dogs who need attention. That leaves me about 2 hours before bed. Or 3 if I go to bed late - which is not good for me and leaves me with headaches and more chances to get sick.

I'm honestly not complaining. Really. I get the biggest thrill when I see an order come through on my jewelry website. And I'm glad to be getting rid of my excess inventory of beads and things. I like that other jewelry designers are getting to use beads that just sit in my house - lonely and waiting to be part of something beautiful.

Oh, and Kodiak goes into surgery today. :( My poor baby boy! I won't get to see him until tomorrow and then he'll be half drugged, shaved, and with that big cone thing on his head. Look how adorable he was as a puppy! He was pure white when we brought him home. He sure has darkened up.

Looking at his puppy pictures makes me smile. :)

Positively Positive

Do you have a positive attitude? Or are you a Negative Nelly?

Selling online, you may think that your attitude doeesn't matter, but I actually think it makes a huge difference. I believe that your personal self shows through in everything you do...from taking photos to writing descriptions.

Are you willing to take constructive criticism? Or are other people's suggestions 'stupid' and your way is the right way? All of that comes through in how you present yourself online.

Do you sell at arts and crafts shows? Negativity will drive away customers faster than a rainstorm. Are you sitting in your booth and glaring at people as they walk by? Are you complaining to your neighbor about bad sales?

Or are you sincerely smiling at everyone who walks by or enters your booth? Just a simple smile can make all the difference in the world. I found this fabulous artist's blog and she writes:

Another way to stay in the booth is to keep your bad mood and complaints to
yourself. Let me say that again, in big, bold letters:

KEEP YOUR BAD MOOD AND COMPLAINTS TO YOURSELF.

I am astonished at artists who rant at the drop of a hat, especially during a fair. It’s bad enough to have to be around people like this in any circumstances. Set-up and breakdown are stressful enough. We all have our moments, of course. But someone who is unhappy and determined that everyone else needs to know that, is a total downer.

It’s hard enough to listen to this before and after a show. But during a show, it’s criminal. Nothing breaks a happy fair shopping mode than listening to someone else complain.

If you are a show complainer, you may think your fellow artisans are admiring you for your amazing insights and cutting words. They aren’t. They are sitting there wishing, hoping, praying that you will suddenly be struck down with laryngitis. Or worse.

Because you are bringing everybody down, down, down. And “down” people do
not buy stuff.

Well, of course! Seems logical doesn't it? You'd be surprised how many vendors enter my booth to complain. I try very hard not to...although noone is perfect. :)

It's hard to be positive when you aren't getting sales...but just remember that everything happens for a reason. Evaluate why you might not be seeing sales and try to adjust your approach accordingly. Sometimes sales just aren't hopping today ... but tomorrow is another day. You never know what will happen!

Third Time Was NOT a Charm

Well, so much for my last outdoor show of the year. This was my third year participating in the Olympia Harbor Days show. It's a great and fun show but it obviously isn't the right place for me to sell my jewelry. I don't know if I just suck at doing shows or if my work is just too expensive for these types of shows now. *sigh*

It wasn't a *total* loss! :) I met a bunch of great people, collected quite a few names for my newsletter, and got to spend lots of time with my little cousin Jordyn. And Trooper REALLY loved seeing her. He's practically as big as she is!

Friday I set up and opened up a little early - around 4 - and it went until 8 p.m. I did not sell one item. Saturday morning we opened up and the booth looked fabulous!

I spent quite a bit to get all matching display items from Rio Grande. That's the only place I could find that had these pretty natural colored displays.

I decided that my new TS Harrington photos HAD to be part of my display so I printed out two of them. I wish I could show them all off at the same time. Ha!

I think my booth looked fairly nice...classy and elegant. But apparently it wasn't enough to get people to buy. It cost $225 to be in the show. I need to pay my super duper helper at least $150 (and that doesn't seem like nearly enough for two full days work!). And we only sold $650. *sigh*

On the other hand I met someone who reads my blog!!! It is so weird to think that a stranger reads my words. And then get to meet them! :) She also makes jewelry - and I was so GREEN with envy when I saw her work. Her name is Susanna Tam and she works with silver. She was selling a lot every time I walked by her booth so I'm even more jealous!



I also got to see and chat with my friend Pam of Paper Scissors Rock. I got some of her goodies! And it was great talking with her...her advice for me is to get into higher end shows or just start going to retail stores. One of these days I will approach a store!