Craft Shows

[ndtroll]

I am in the middle of a two day craft show here in Minot, ND....
Last year the spring show was slow but I made my expenses and abit more... This year I have almost doubled last year's sales on the 1st Day....
As I was getting a cup of coffee yesterday prior to the show opening, I overhad a number of the other "regulars" at the show discussing how slow caft show sales have been, etc.... Many haven't added new or different items in years.
All of us like to get the same location so customers can find us.... However, some of the reasons I feel I am more successful that some of them are:
1. I vary my display presentation every show.... same location at the show but a little different look to the booths
2. I add a number of new items at every show - Customers remember what you had last show and want to see new items - if you don't have new items thay quit stopping in
3. The old items that haven't sold in a while I gradually keep reducing the prices to rotate them out and make more room for current items
4. on pictures I cut into 1/8 inch birch... re-frame them so they get a new look.... just take a few minutes and switch frames from one picture to another...
If you do scenes in baltic birch like I do... Leave the glass out of the frame... they are lighter and people can see that it is a picture in wood not a print
5. Get as many booths as possible to spread your work out
6. Try to set up your display area so customers can easily walk into it and look around.... I've tried tables in front and walkways into the booth around the tables.... I've tried Arches to enhance the entrance...These is my thoughts
- Make the entrance to your display area a natural progression from the aisle.. so customers at times may not realize they are entering.. many people are reluctant to enter your space even though you want them to.
- Busy, crowded shows tend to "herd" people along - some hesitate to stop and shop because they don't want to block traffic... Hence you need an easy entrance into your display
7. I try not to hang around in the display area... some customers won't walk in if they someone who may try to "sell" them something.... I stand a ways off and enter when it looks like they need help
8. If you have some customers, others tend to be attracted to what's going on and come in to check out the action

Just a few thoughts on Craft Shows in the upper midwest

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Dave

Thanks for posting some pointers you have found over the years doing shows.
Glad to hear you are doing better this year with the spring show. I know you mentioned last year it was not a worthwhile adventure but this is the nature of these shows. You never know from show to show or year to year. I know in my area spring shows are a thing of the past. Even the larger shows are just not worth it. The people running the show get their money which is from the crafters but the poor crafters take the hit. I have stoped doing spring shows. I tell you also the winter shows are really not what they used to be either here. In fact I lost 2 big shows last year that have been going for over 25 years and that hurt because I could not get into any decent shows in time.

You make some good points like changing stock around and adding new stuff. I know I have a few customers that I think I have furnished their entire house with items and they are always asking for new things but I am running out of ideas for these people. But they are odd cases so it is good to do as you mentioned. You also mentioned about being there but not being there. This is what I try to do also because some people want help right away and some want to be left alone. It becomes a class in physcology. Neat displays and easy access is also very vitale. Pricing is always a guessing game. But all in all it can be fun and a way to pick up some cash so you can buy more toys. Hope things finish with a bang for you Dave. Good Luck!!

[Deanna]

Glad to hear that your sale is going well. I am working towards a sale in June, it is part of a conference that is taking place. The are asking local artisans with natural products to set up tables. This is the first time they have tried this, so were not sure if it will be a success or not. Table price is only $25.00, so I am going to give it a shot.

I read somewhere to only put out one of any paticular item at one time, therefore it would be more like a one of a kind, rather than a mass produced item. I was intrigued by that idea. Is that something you do?

Good luck on your last day, and be sure to let us know how it turns out

Deanna

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Deanna

Yes that is a thing to do for two reasons. It gets to show more of your items and it makes the people think they bought a one-of-a-kind item. So to them it is even more special. Good luck with your show and am sure you will do good. Remember to report back here with the results. We want to know. :)

[pops-shop]

Just a few thoughts on Craft Shows in the upper midwest
Dave - that's an understatement - I'm surprised you are thawed out already.

Great points on show stoppers. I have my first one on the 15th of this month, followed closely by two more. Will let ya know how your suggestions work.

Thanks again

fred

[lonepine]

Dave; Thank you for the pointers. After years of giving away and donating, I just started doing craft shows. It is nice to hear feedback from veterans like yourself. It is encouraging. Thanks Bob

[TIMBERTODD]

Dave thank you for the insights. Im in the process of cutting christmas ornaments for the shows that will start here in the fall. I am going to jot down your suggestions.
TIMBERTODD

[Gunny]

I did my first craft show a week ago. It was at a local firehouse and the table fee was only $28. It was actually my wife Betsy's idea... I never thought of selling the stuff I make.... I do it for therapy more than anything else.
Anyway, there were a total of 9 tables and besides us, there was only one other crafter - a young lady who made beautifully decoupaged (sp?) wicker baskets and trays... All the others were selling Chinese made lamps, handbags, etc. One family (two sisters, one of their husbands and four tots) had a square of tables set up in the middle where they were selling their kids old clothes. No table covers, signs or display, just piles of old clothes laid out on tables and several kids playing tag and hide n'seek.
It was probably not a great choice for a first craft show... There were a total of 11 customers who showed up.
We made a total of $140 for 4 pens and a bottle stopper. Nobody else sold anything.
Betsy signed up with Craftlisters.com so maybe things will be different in the future.
The more experienced vendors had lots of suggestions and several said they liked our display.
We use a dark-green felt table cover that reaches the ground all way round and I picked up some folding pen display cases that hold 48 pens each.
I made some styrofoam block displays for the bottle-stoppers and covered them with green felt also. I printed and laminated a price list and a little blurb sign about the wood I used and that was pretty much it. Since everything is so compact, setup took a total of 15 minutes if you count carrying the stuff in from the car. Breakdown at the end of the day consisted of closing the display cases and folding the table cover. I have some small pictures of the display at http://themeadow.us/wood/collage.jpg
If anyone has any suggestions I'd be grateful for them... It's hard to learn anything from a show with only 11 customers...
I've got a lot

[pops-shop]

Gunny

Now that you got your feet wet it's time to spread your wings and fly.

Don't get discouraged - I think you did well. You got your name out there, folks have seen your products, you met a few new friends.

You will learn how to pick and choose the craft shows you want to attend. All it takes is a little time.

The following is not a commercial or a stand of support.
I find most of my shows at www.craftlister.com -- it is a free service and I find it most helpful. My humble 2 cents.

fred

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

As Fred has said you got your feet wet and you will learn to go to better craft shows over time. Your display is well laid out and it is easy to set up. You may want to add items as you go though to take in a bigger range of shoppers. You scroll so add some of this work such as desk clocks. Being a turner add desk items such as letter openers pen holders stamp holders and things like that. Maybe some scrolled baskets for the women and just more all around things. Your sales will easily double because you are not catering to one group. Good luck and try some fall shows and you will really get hooked.

[Deanna]

beautiful work Gunny!

Being a veteran at craft shows :rolleyes: (I have exactly two under my belt) I have one suggestion for you to consider.

A real veteran at my first craft show suggested to me the importance of having my products at different levels on my table. I don't know how important it actually is, but you can take from that what you will. I'm not sure why it's so important... maybe people have to slow down and look at all the levels, instead of just quickly scanning the table and moving on. Maybe it is just so you can display more product on the table.

The first sale I did was also very small, and while I didn't make much more than you, I was actually thankful afterwards that it was a small sale, as I had no idea what to expect, nor how to conduct myself. It gave me the experince I needed to jump into another sale.

Hey, considering you only had 11 people at the sale, I would say that you did quite remarkable!
Congrats, and be sure to tell us how the next one turns out.

Deanna

[pops-shop]

First show of the year is behind us. For a small town show we did quite well, considering. Can't retire on the proceeds, but can buy quite a bit more wood for projects. It was sponsored by the Boy Scouts. Had mixed feelings about participating - BUT - will go back next year.

I just love the small town shows - people and atmosphere - sell stuff? a bonus :)

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Fred

Good to hear the first one went well and you did pick up some extra cash. You mention Boy Scouts. I had a run between the past 3 years and it all started with a mother buying a clock for her son. It was an Eagle clock with an eagle in it the face. She said she bought it because he turned an Eagle scout. Well it was shown to a few at the troop and from there I sold quite a few to Boy Scout moms and some added names and dates. I had no intention of using the clock for that idea but who knows how things happen. Keep up the enthusiasm Fred. Your work will always sell itself. :)

[ndtroll]

Another suggestion for craft shows
I have done a lot of clocks for friends and relatives with their name, important date and a clock, either off to the side or below.... Usually cut these out of 1 inch oak or walnut... I have two pregnant women who heard about this and want me to do the baby's name, date of birth with a clock.
I use Wood Trax for my lettering and have about 4 fonts in there that I use....
For the craft shows, I took some odd pieces of baltic birch, (1/8 inch) and scrolled the following

YOUR NAME
AND DATE
AND EVENT

This 3 lines are all connected and scrolled out
size - 4 1/2 inches high, (1 1/2 inch per line), and about 8 inches wide

I did 5 of them and have them scattered through out my display area.....
An example would be the fire department clock in my gallery

I does get people thinking and they will take a business card.....

I've done these name/event/clocks for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings etc
Thought maybe someone else could capitalize on this also

[pops-shop]

Great idea, Dave

I tell you - when the snow melts way up north all the brains start really hummin' :cool:

[Woodbutcher68]

I normally only do shows in the Fall. My biggest selling items are ornaments, crosses and bottle stoppers. I just found out about a benefit Gospel-Fest in June and a guy from our club worked out a deal for members to get spaces. Our cost is $0.00! Other vendors will have to pay. They are hoping that more crafters will draw more people to pay the $5.00 admission to the Fest. I have a number books of religious patterns of crosses, plaques and signs, so I think I am going concentrate on the "target" audience here. Keyrings and bottlestoppers made of Bethlehem Olive Wood should sell good to.