Craft Show picture

[LarryEA]

Big flop.

Had lookers, compliments and some good conversation.

Very little sales.

The highlite for me was chatting with a 90 year old Marine Veteran.

He enlisted the day after Pearl Harbor attack.

I guess that made it worth while.

 

 

Edited November 17, 2013 by LarryEA

[heppnerguy]

Larry,

   It looked like you had a  good array of offerings there. We attended a craft show today too. I was not a vendor there though. There were many vendors but i did  not see much stuff being carried out the doors. Mostly lookers I  guess. I said to my wife, "I am glad I did not spend my day at this craft show/ bazaar. I doesn't look like there are many sales for all the hard work everyone has done here."

   Don't let that discourage  you. Keep up the  effort. If you travel around to the different events, you will learn which ones are good and which are a waste of your time.

 

Dick

heppnerguy

[amazingkevin]

No worry's everyday can't be the same. Ill tell you this though, your show case was high dollar items and to bring that out even more add trivial things in there too. The roving eyes can tell in a quick second that this is not low ,pocket change items for me. You set up is the best and quite impressively loaded with highly skilled workmanship, I'm giving your the blue ribbon on that note. I'm still in awe at the array of quality hand cut items. You don't know it but word got around what they have seen with their own eyes .if you become a regular you'll be sought out next time and next time. Something quick and easy  and free to give with a sample of scroll saw work is appreciated too if you like. Just a quick something that sets on a desk as a reminder of the show. I'm going overboard on this probably. And for the life of me I can't come up with a suggestion. Maybe a quick pen holder, something you use everyday, Desk fiddle around things as your talking on the telephone to keep the fingers busy as an idea. But your work is top of the line and more for the higher class shows which also cost a lot more. The one show I visited one guys booth was swamped with sales .I couldn't figure out what was selling and thought maybe it was a frenzy  with friends to generate  sales .but I'm telling you the guy with the receipt book was busy as a cat in a sand box writing sales. And cash was flying. He had jewelry boxes I remember but they weren't selling. Never did figure out what was selling. But the customers were back to back there?  

[PawPawRay]

Know the feeling.  Did 6 shows this yr.  Lots of lookers and compliments, very few sales.  Only 3 of the shows did I make booth fee.  But it's fun to do and keeps me out of trouble.

[ChelCass]

Sorry to hear the show was such a flop.  Don't give up.  Perhaps Christmas and Thanksgiving ornaments for this time of year.........aka stocking stuffers.  As said before low cost items to get people started.  Even a raffle will help get peoples attention.  Wonder if setting up a video of you doing some scrolling to give people idea of what is involved to make your pieces.  You just never know what people are thinking.  Maybe ask for suggestion from the browsers???????

[jerrybritner]

I do a lot of shows, perhaps way more than I should. But the wife and I get a get a lot of enjoyment out of it. Your booth and workmanship is quite impressive, however I agree with what has already been said. I don't have a clue about your prices, but definitely toss in some attention getters, bait and hook low price items. Personally I put my portraits in a low cost, "display frame" ( Dollar Tree) and stress this to the potential customers saying that they will fit in any standard 8.5 x 11 frame. I also add that I had talked to a frame shop and the cheapest frame price I could get was over thirty dollars which would more than double the price of my items. Selling between $20 and $35 may be low, actually may be very low however at that price my work is getting into the hands (slowly) of happy customers, and people are actually looking my show schedule up on my face book page and coming to look me up.  However I do chuckle as the wife keeps saying she is going to start charging $5 each for compliments. So anyway I had to look at why I am doing the shows is it the bottom line or the enjoyment I get meeting and greeting so many awesome people, I finally decided if I get back a portion of my expense and know that I am never going to get rich doing the shows, then I am well satisfied.  

After all isn't the enjoyment we get out of doing what we do, why we continue to do it?

[bobscroll]

Larry, You have some nice things there for sale, I'm sure things

will look up for you in the future, Bob 

[LarryEA]

I took stuff to a flea market once and the seller next to me said,

" It ain't the first of the month, they don't have any money to spend. "

What I'm saying is there are many reasons why crafters may have a bad day

at a show.

* Location, where it is held;

* How and if it was advertised

* Reputation, maybe

* Competition from other events on that day, possibly

* etc,etc

This area has an affluent side of the river and a 'less' prosperous side.

And one of my favorite saying, " Any excuse is better than none. "

On Saturday December 7th (Pearl Harbor Day), I get another go at it.

Actually and in truth, I don't care that I didn't get rich.

My craft scroll cuts from " ALL YOUR PATTERNS "  are very good.

Enough said..

 

Larry

[edward]

Sorry about your show, been there done that, my last show was like that your display looks great, the only thing that I can see is that things shouldn't be sitting on containers on the floor, should be eye level, learn that  from other vendors.  edward

[LarryEA]

Hi Edward, thanks for your comments.

I would have put everything at eye level or even on the table,

but it was already over crowded.

I'm building a couple more panels that I can hang work from.

Maybe that will help next time.

But your comment is well taken.

 

Larry

[amazingkevin]

just another though is the people come maybe more as a recreation to look which is understandable.When I vist as a customer I try which is hard to say something good to each vendor and would even like to hand out cheap ribbons as a ice breaker to ones I enjoyed the most and ones that aren't doing any thing.

[browders]

I attend a few craft shows locally each year. I enjoy looking, but rarely buy. There are usually a few booths selling scroll saw items. The work is awfully good, but there never seems to much being sold. My wife and I usually make a trip or two across the country to visit kids and grand kids. I've often wondered if it would be worth it to work a couple of shows en route. Although we probably wouldn't make any money, it might be a good tax write-off for the trip. What do you think?

[Ron Johnson]

Craft show:

I have yet to do a craft show but I have done many shows in regards to the business I am in which is the monument industry.

I have found you have to draw attention to your booth creating interest to give people a reason to take a second look and stop. Stay away from give aways.

As a sugestion I would set up with a small scroll saw within the display so people can see how some of your beautiful work is actually made.

Many times I have seen other scrollers set up with a fabulous display and people just walking by.

If you happen to attend any of the big craft shows you'll see what I mean.

[Jim Finn]

"I have yet to do a craft show ...As a sugestion I would set up with a small scroll saw within the display so people can see how some of your beautiful work is actually made...."

I have tried that and found folks just glance at me scrolling and go look at my stuff and buy or leave.  Very little interest  in what I was doing. No interest in how it is done.  I no longer do it.  Just my experiance...

[LarryEA]

Whether using a scroll saw at a show be good or bad, I only have one.

It's too heavy, and too valuable for me to damage in transportation.

I like it just where it is.