Last Show of the year

[ndtroll]

Hey everyone
I just finished my last show of the year... I've been doing this show for over 3 years, once in the spring and again in the fall (always the 1st weekend of November.... I did get pictures of my display but I have not down loaded them yet... as soon as I do I will add them to this site.
This show was the best I have ever done... 2 vendors next to me cancelled at the last minute so I inherited 3 more booths at no charge.... Over all vendors were fewer but customers seemed to be buying more.
The local news paper did an article on my clocks and scroll saw work... I have posted the link if anyone is interested....

http://www.minotdailynews.com/Prairie_Profile/articles.asp?articleID=6674

The article will give you a vague idea of my layout... I ended up with eight booths...
Again.... I will upload pictures of display soon

Later

[William Young]

Congratulations on your sale and on the newspaper article.
It is gratifying to hear that sales are alive and well in some areas of the country after hearing reports of other areas where they are down considerably this year due to economic reasons.
Keep up the good work and we will be looking forward to the pictures.
W.Y.

[Deanna]

Great Article!
Hopefully that will bring you even more customers? Can't wait to see the pictures.

Deanna

[Woodbutcher68]

This is when I do most of my selling. I did a two day show last weekend that was my best ever. I finally broke the $400.00 mark and my average price is $10.00. I had had a woman tell me that her mother wants to do an entire tree with my ornaments 75-100 pieces at an average price of $5.00. I hope that one comes through!

[ndtroll]

Well I finally posted a few of the pictures of my display at the last show of the year for me...
The pictures are posted in my gallery

As I said, I inherited 3 extra booths so I was well spread out and this allowed customers to walk through and look at products with out being herded along in the main aisles.
The Clock towers are luan Bifold doors..... These pictures do not show the many tables I had set up with products on them also

Later

[wisconsinwoodch]

Great job. Do you always have that much stock with you, to be able to fill that much extra space, How much do they charge you for a 10x10 foot space. for a two day show. About how many people go thru every day. Do they jury every body, Do you have much of a probelm with 1-800 crafters.Good luck on next years shows. I hope I didnt ask to many ??? :) :) :) :)


the wisconsinwoodchuck


_________________________________
www.wisconsinwoodchuck.com

[ndtroll]

Yes, I usually have that much stock with me... sometimes more...

At this show the booths where I am run $110.00 for a 10X10.... I usually take 5 booths.... Inherited an extra 3 this time....

Vendors at this show are not juried... however, they old owners (the show was sold this past month) would eliminate vendors if their products were not made or "enhanced" by them.... this, unfortunately was not enforced... I think to some vendors, enhancing a product was writing the check to pay for all the import merchandise.

Not sure about the number of shoppers.... the show takes two rooms... each the size of a good sized auditorium.... about 250 vendors...
customers... I would estimate 2 to 3 thousand or more

I heard rumors that the new owner will not guarantee the same spot for returning vendors.... I've been in the same location at this show for 3 years, 2 shows a year.... Hopefully he does not adhere to that policy

[wisconsinwoodch]

Hi. It costs about the same here in wisconsin,They are starting to get real strict on what you sell, and I whole heartley agree with that.I have herd that some shows make you close up but you cannot leave tell the show is over. You signed a contract and you must honer it .they even have the cops right there. most pormoters will only give you 2 booths, but they still have enough venders. some even have waiting lists .I was on one for 3 years before I got in, but it was worth it. well good luck, and I have to get busey on next years stock, and the internet store stock, this is the time of year it starts to get busy. ( I HOPE ) :) :) :) :)


thewisconsinwoodchuck


________________________________
www.wisconsinwoodchuck.com

[Joann]

WOW :) Beautiful clocks and wonderful article. Glad your shows are so
successful.

Joann

[K&MScrollworks]

Great job on the show. I am impressed with your sucess with your shows. yet to do my first but plan to in the spring. I look forward in seeing the actual booths you set up.
Again excellent work, Kris.

[K&MScrollworks]

Ntroll forgot to say that the newspaper article was great and it certainly will help you in the future, more work and more sales.

Kris

[Gunny]

Looks like last show of the year was my best also.
It was sponsored by the local Christian School and there were over a hundred vendors. The cost was $50 a table and I bought two tables. The bad news is they promised me a wall space but didn't deliver. That cut back on my display plans but we still cleared $1200.
This time I managed to take pictures of the display but the tables behind us sort of took away from the overall effect. I posted the pics at http://themeadow.us/wood/woodturning/show%5Fsetup/ so anyone who's interested can take a look.
I place blocks and chunks of different exotics and domestics randomly around the display so if someone asks I can show them what it looked like before it was a pen or bottle stopper or keychain or tea-light or bowl...
For me, the best part of the day (even better than counting the receipts) was when other woodworkers stop by to chat. It's great talking to someone else who can get excited over a shopmade captive ring tool...
There were a couple of guys there who had really fantastic work... One guy made jewelry boxes with handcut dovetail joints so clean and tight that they looked as if they were done by laser...
Another guy was selling crochet hooks that went for $75 a piece and they were worth every penny... and he makes them on a 20 year old Craftsman lathe...
That's it for me for the rest of the year as far as shows are concerned. It's going to take me until spring to build up enough inventory again to make it worthwhile... Meanwhile I'm building an Early American cradle out of pine (or maybe cherry) for my godson and his wife who are expecting in May...
Any suggestions?...

[pops-shop]

Like the idea of the raw materials and tools. Been trying to figure out how I could do something like that in my limited booth space.

Good lookin finished products as well.