So much fun!
.
The craft show was a big success!
I made some nice money, took orders for more and did a lot of great networking.
A store invited me to sell my stuff in their store! I'm going to drive out tomorrow and check them out. It's about 45 minutes from home (I think) but it is consignment so I don't have to work there so that's not a problem. I was also given a brochure about participating in Palmyra's Canaltown Days but it's an outdoor show and I've pretty much decided not to do outdoor shows, at least for now. Too much expense but mostly too much of a risk, weather-wise, with my paper art. I'll keep it under consideration for the future though.
The vendor next to me was very nice; I had a great time getting to know her. She sells fiber necklaces - I was her first customer before the show even started. She doesn't have a website or I'd link to it but I'll take a picture of my necklace soon to show you. Her work is outstanding. She also gave me a list of indoor shows that she participates in with some contact info so that's next on my list - to look at the dates and distance and make a plan. Some of them are 2 day shows out of town, which adds to the expense, so they'll require special consideration.
I had a ton of interest and praise for my work. The thing I heard most consistently was that people had never seen anything like my work. Great! That's what I was hoping to hear! I didn't count but I bet 80-100 people took my business card. I got a couple dozen new names for my mailing list. A lot of people asked about future shows. It was all very cool.
The paper pins went like crazy this time! These are the same pins I had displayed at last fall's show - sold 1, maybe 2. This time I had them displayed at the end of the table so they really caught people's eyes as they walked by. What a happy accident that was! If I had a nickel for each time someone picked up one of those pins, I'd have, well, a big ol' sack of nickels!
The spirella pins were by far the most popular. I've ordered two punches to punch my own shapes so I'll be making a lot more of these. (These are the round shapes with the thread wrapped around - like the old Spirograph designs. I don't have any pictures handy - need to take some of them too.)
I only sold two framed pieces but I think that's okay. I think that's the kind of thing that people will think about and purchase next time. That's how I am about stuff like that. Takes me a while to ponder a purchase sometimes.
The quilt motif cards and the paper embroidery cards sold out. I have a ton of ideas for new ones. I'm going to have a whole series of quilt block cards.
I read a lot of stuff about the craft biz and shows - books and online. I've read several places that while in your booth during shows, you need to engage with the customers. Reading a book is a no-no; you look disinterested. Got all that - knew that already - common sense. But I also read that it's not even good to work on your craft during the show - because you need to look approachable, not busy. I sort of like watching people make stuff but I understand the point too. But during the slower periods, I find it very difficult to just sit there. I had taken stuff to work on so I did. I'd set it aside when people came by so I could talk to them - but some people saw me doing it and asked questions. I guess you just need the right balance. Be interesting and interested in the customers. Anyway, I got quite a bit of paper embroidery done so that was cool too.
It was Steve's ex-mother-in-law that bought the two framed pieces from me. I told her she's running a close second to my own mom as my best customer! The funny thing was though when she picked up the first piece, I felt my heart clench a little. Like, "What? You're going to buy that? Then I won't have it anymore!" I've heard people say they become attached to their art and they don't want to sell it, even though they do want to, obviously. I always thought that was so stupid! Oops - maybe not. It totally surprised me that I felt that way. I quickly got over it, don't get me wrong! Humans are so weird, aren't we?
The card that I posted yesterday is one I just finished the night before and I just love it to death. The colors are a lovely soft green - looks a bit grayish in the blog. A woman bought it but didn't take the envelope so I asked her if she wanted it. She said she was going to frame it. I love hearing that. Actually, I hear that a lot and wonder if people really do it. Some do, some don't, I imagine.
It was a long day but it was all just great. Set-up began at 6:15 so Steve and Simon and I got there shortly after that. (They bring in my very heavy big card rack and leave.) Simon had to be at school 7:00ish and Steve always goes into work early so that worked out fine. There were only a few of us set up that early. I was all set by 7:30 or so. I thought that might be the case and thought I might go home for a while. (The show started at 10:00.) But I decided to stay, save the gas, soak up the atmosphere - and work on some paper embroidery pieces. So it all worked out fine. But I was beat by the time the show ended at 7:00. It takes no time to tear down though and Simon picked up subs on the way home that Steve kindly treated us to. I wolfed that down and went to bed. I think I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.
My studio looks like a cyclone blew through it. All my boxes are still on the kitchen table because I need to reorganize them. And I've got a handful of orders to work on. So first things, first - get cleaned up and reorganized.
I'm going to Geva Theatre this afternoon with my friends so that will be a nice diversion. Have to do the dreaded grocery shopping too. It was my weekend to do that when we were in Tampa so we've basically been scraping by all week. My body is dying for a big glass of cold milk! I wanted to make smoothies this morning and realized we have don't have bananas or milk so I scrapped that idea and had yogurt and leftover pizza instead. I've been on such a smoothies kick the last month or so, can't get enough. Back in the 90s I went through a multi-year phase of having a strawberry smoothie and bagel for breakfast every morning. Feels like that habit is quickly approaching again.
Thanks for all the good wishes and support for this show. Thanks to my family and friends (and new customers who might be reading this!) who came to the show. There was all kinds of cool stuff there. My favorite was yard art made of silverware. The couple that makes those things is also at this store I'm checking out tomorrow. I'll share more about that after my visit.
I made some nice money, took orders for more and did a lot of great networking.
A store invited me to sell my stuff in their store! I'm going to drive out tomorrow and check them out. It's about 45 minutes from home (I think) but it is consignment so I don't have to work there so that's not a problem. I was also given a brochure about participating in Palmyra's Canaltown Days but it's an outdoor show and I've pretty much decided not to do outdoor shows, at least for now. Too much expense but mostly too much of a risk, weather-wise, with my paper art. I'll keep it under consideration for the future though.
The vendor next to me was very nice; I had a great time getting to know her. She sells fiber necklaces - I was her first customer before the show even started. She doesn't have a website or I'd link to it but I'll take a picture of my necklace soon to show you. Her work is outstanding. She also gave me a list of indoor shows that she participates in with some contact info so that's next on my list - to look at the dates and distance and make a plan. Some of them are 2 day shows out of town, which adds to the expense, so they'll require special consideration.
I had a ton of interest and praise for my work. The thing I heard most consistently was that people had never seen anything like my work. Great! That's what I was hoping to hear! I didn't count but I bet 80-100 people took my business card. I got a couple dozen new names for my mailing list. A lot of people asked about future shows. It was all very cool.
The paper pins went like crazy this time! These are the same pins I had displayed at last fall's show - sold 1, maybe 2. This time I had them displayed at the end of the table so they really caught people's eyes as they walked by. What a happy accident that was! If I had a nickel for each time someone picked up one of those pins, I'd have, well, a big ol' sack of nickels!
The spirella pins were by far the most popular. I've ordered two punches to punch my own shapes so I'll be making a lot more of these. (These are the round shapes with the thread wrapped around - like the old Spirograph designs. I don't have any pictures handy - need to take some of them too.)
I only sold two framed pieces but I think that's okay. I think that's the kind of thing that people will think about and purchase next time. That's how I am about stuff like that. Takes me a while to ponder a purchase sometimes.
The quilt motif cards and the paper embroidery cards sold out. I have a ton of ideas for new ones. I'm going to have a whole series of quilt block cards.
I read a lot of stuff about the craft biz and shows - books and online. I've read several places that while in your booth during shows, you need to engage with the customers. Reading a book is a no-no; you look disinterested. Got all that - knew that already - common sense. But I also read that it's not even good to work on your craft during the show - because you need to look approachable, not busy. I sort of like watching people make stuff but I understand the point too. But during the slower periods, I find it very difficult to just sit there. I had taken stuff to work on so I did. I'd set it aside when people came by so I could talk to them - but some people saw me doing it and asked questions. I guess you just need the right balance. Be interesting and interested in the customers. Anyway, I got quite a bit of paper embroidery done so that was cool too.
It was Steve's ex-mother-in-law that bought the two framed pieces from me. I told her she's running a close second to my own mom as my best customer! The funny thing was though when she picked up the first piece, I felt my heart clench a little. Like, "What? You're going to buy that? Then I won't have it anymore!" I've heard people say they become attached to their art and they don't want to sell it, even though they do want to, obviously. I always thought that was so stupid! Oops - maybe not. It totally surprised me that I felt that way. I quickly got over it, don't get me wrong! Humans are so weird, aren't we?
The card that I posted yesterday is one I just finished the night before and I just love it to death. The colors are a lovely soft green - looks a bit grayish in the blog. A woman bought it but didn't take the envelope so I asked her if she wanted it. She said she was going to frame it. I love hearing that. Actually, I hear that a lot and wonder if people really do it. Some do, some don't, I imagine.
It was a long day but it was all just great. Set-up began at 6:15 so Steve and Simon and I got there shortly after that. (They bring in my very heavy big card rack and leave.) Simon had to be at school 7:00ish and Steve always goes into work early so that worked out fine. There were only a few of us set up that early. I was all set by 7:30 or so. I thought that might be the case and thought I might go home for a while. (The show started at 10:00.) But I decided to stay, save the gas, soak up the atmosphere - and work on some paper embroidery pieces. So it all worked out fine. But I was beat by the time the show ended at 7:00. It takes no time to tear down though and Simon picked up subs on the way home that Steve kindly treated us to. I wolfed that down and went to bed. I think I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.
My studio looks like a cyclone blew through it. All my boxes are still on the kitchen table because I need to reorganize them. And I've got a handful of orders to work on. So first things, first - get cleaned up and reorganized.
I'm going to Geva Theatre this afternoon with my friends so that will be a nice diversion. Have to do the dreaded grocery shopping too. It was my weekend to do that when we were in Tampa so we've basically been scraping by all week. My body is dying for a big glass of cold milk! I wanted to make smoothies this morning and realized we have don't have bananas or milk so I scrapped that idea and had yogurt and leftover pizza instead. I've been on such a smoothies kick the last month or so, can't get enough. Back in the 90s I went through a multi-year phase of having a strawberry smoothie and bagel for breakfast every morning. Feels like that habit is quickly approaching again.
Thanks for all the good wishes and support for this show. Thanks to my family and friends (and new customers who might be reading this!) who came to the show. There was all kinds of cool stuff there. My favorite was yard art made of silverware. The couple that makes those things is also at this store I'm checking out tomorrow. I'll share more about that after my visit.
posted by Stefani at 7:19 AM
3 Comments:
It's so cool everything went so well. You'll be busier than ever making new stuff now.
Glad all went well. I'd love to see the silverware yard art. I've got some steak knives converted to digging tools. :-)
Yay! I'm so glad the craft show was such a success!
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