Glass Plates

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(Click photo to enlarge.)

I wanted to show you two new things about my booth at this week's show. One is displaying my pins on these glass plates.

Originally I displayed the pins scattered on the table. Then I went to selling them in the little organza bags so I pinned each pin to the outside of the bag and stacked them in a dark wood tray. When I decided to use the organza bags for the gift tags, I knew I had to find an organized way to display the pins. Scattered on the table looks too amateurish.

I talked it over with my advisor, my friend Jen at work. I first thought of wood bowls or something I could paint black, so the pins would stand out. Jen suggested I check out the local dollar store and I found these heavy glass plates. The design is perfect - clear, so less obtrusive than black, circular, flower-like, like a lot of my work! I bought one that day, got Jen's approval and went back the next day and bought all they had. We talked about setting each one on a circle or square of co-ordinating paper but it turns out I like them like this - they pretty much disappear and all you see are the pins. Perfect!

The other thing I wanted to show you is barely visible in the above photo and the other photos I took were a bit out of focus so I ditched them. To the left of the Sticky Notes is a wire spinner that I originally bought because I thought I'd eventually sell the glasses chains I make out of DMC embroidery floss but that's pretty back burner these days. But this two-tier spinner is perfect on which to hang the little organza bags that contain the gift tags. I only had 3 styles but I'll definitely make more, especially in holiday themes. I left one of each style out on the table so people could see them clearly. I raised the price from 60 cents to 75 cents and sold enough that I know it's the way to go. Most people bought one of each style but there were a couple of people who bought just one.

Then at the end of the show, a woman from the women's club that was selling calendars next to me, came into my booth and wanted to buy some of the purple design gift tags. Fifty of them, she said. I know I had that deer in the headlights look as I replayed what she said, to make sure I heard her correctly. I only had 30 so she bought those - actually 29 so I could keep one to replicate in making more. She doesn't need them until April - she'll use them for little thank you cards for an event. I gave her a break on the price for buying so many. She said I didn't have to do that but she appreciated it and in the name of customer service, I think it was the right thing to do. I only gave up a few dollars in the long run and maybe she'll be a repeat customer. Not to mention the 50 people who will turn over that little gift tag and see my name, my company's name and website address. Cha-ching!

I love how at each show, I learn a little something, try something new, meet new people, reconnect with old friends & customers. This is what I was meant to do, y'all.

But now, I need to stop yapping and get myself organized and productive. I have all day and night to make more things, and tomorrow morning. I have to work at The Enchanted Rose Garden tomorrow afternoon 12:00-4:00. I should be able to get some stitching time in during the slow periods, but being busy selling stuff would be a good thing too, of course.

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