Before I get into the show details: I got a lot of comments yesterday about people wanting to see my Morton Salt Girl Halloween costume. I will be sure to get some pictures and share them!
I had my first fall craft fair this past weekend. I always plan to write a follow up post about my shows. Until the show is finished, it can be very hard to predict what I'll be discussing.
I had my first fall craft fair this past weekend. I always plan to write a follow up post about my shows. Until the show is finished, it can be very hard to predict what I'll be discussing.
I know that people always enjoy seeing photos of displays. I have used a very similar display set up for my past few events and continue to be happy with it.
You can see more detailed photos of this set up here and here. This show took place in the indoor portion of a large soccer facility. You can see from the orange booth borders that we have large spaces. We also had ample aisles for customers. So the set up was pretty nice, but the customers just weren't there. We had a fair amount of browsers but very few buyers. I had my second worst sales record at an event to date.
This was a two day event. Needless to say, it was a big time commitment. Normally I would have left an event like this bitter and depressed about how little I sold. There were a couple reasons that this wasn't true this time.
- This was my first of six fall/holiday shows for 2012. I'm confident that I'll be able to make up the money that I planned to make here at some of my other shows.
- I had one of the best booth neighbors that I've ever had at a show. We really hit it off, and the show went amazingly quickly considering how few customers we had.
Aren't his products and displays great? It is extremely rare that I purchase anything from craft fairs where I vend. I am kind of cheap and am reluctant to part with the money that I just made. Also, I'm almost always at shows on my own and I've usually been so busy talking to customers, packaging items, and keeping my booth tidy that I haven't gotten to many other booths. But I had to get a couple things from him.
I always enjoy it when Sharla and other people with pets have their pets model their newly acquired items. So I gave it a try. Angel is not big on sitting for the camera and thinks that 99% of people and cat toys are completely pointless so I was glad that she got up (kind of) from her Best Buy bag and checked this out for a few seconds when I had the camera ready.
Not only is this item a great concept, but it has a cartoon-y aspect that I love. For anyone else who grew up watching Looney Tunes and Wiley Coyote, I'm sure that you get that.
You can check out his Etsy shop right here.
While I definitely will not do this show again next year, it was still a great weekend. The mixed blessing of a slow show is that your inventory is still pretty good for the next show. I am going to keep pushing away on some best selling items and some holiday products, namely Christmas cards, but I'm already in great shape for my few November shows.
Did anyone else have a show this past weekend? Share your experiences.
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Thanks for clarifying whether this was indoors or outdoors - the grass had me wondering ;-)
ReplyDeleteHaha - Angel looks adorable sniffing the F-bomb (I had no clue what it was until I checked out his shop).
Your display looks wonderful!
Wow! I'm so impressed. I'm glad it went well. You are so talented and creative! I like the things you got from your neighbor's booth, too. :-)
ReplyDeleteYour display looks fabulous and you have such a nice variety of items. Good thing I don't live near you - I would have made your day. Can't imagine passing your display and not buying a bunch!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't know the first thing about putting together a show. Your booth looks awesome. Then there is Angel who is always a treat. Just saying.
ReplyDeleteHave a terrific day. Scritches to Angel. :)
How good of Angel to move over slightly from her wonderful Best Buy bag to help you out!
ReplyDeleteThe show set up looks great with a lot of space. Your display looks most inviting!
You're display looked great! The shows I've done around here only had room for a 10 foot table with barely any room behind it to move around. It's good your booth neighbor made the event enjoyable. Angel did a fabulous job modeling your purchase too! Angel & Isabella are very impressed! :)
ReplyDeleteYour display looked wonderful. From talking to others who have done craft shows, I've learned that sometimes you'll do well at a show and the next time you do it you may not sell much of anything. I guess it's a matter of going with the ones you enjoy doing the most and hope for the best. Better luck to you at your next one
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about the slow sales, but I love your outlook about this show :) Glad it was still a fun time!
ReplyDeleteYour display looked great! Maybe the next ones will be better. That pillow is too funny!
ReplyDeleteI think it's great that you have such a positive attitude. Things can only get better!
ReplyDeleteBummer your sales were slow, but it sounds like being there was still a positive experience.
ReplyDeleteValerie
Everyday Inspired
I recently had a show, and while the event itself was a fun experience, the sales simply weren't there. A lot of the other vendors were very upset. However, I had fun, took it as a learning experience, and was able to network with some nearby folks that were happy to help me at my first event. Heres to more successful events in your future.
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