tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010443633955755126.post1343220386438216123..comments2024-03-14T19:12:35.076-04:00Comments on Love My Art Jewelry: Selling Your Handmade Jewelry at Shows Part 2: Craft Fairs and Juried ShowsArtisan Beads Plushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17162473523455499816noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010443633955755126.post-26942918362264034632014-01-12T02:03:31.131-05:002014-01-12T02:03:31.131-05:00Is it at all common for jewelry designers to take ...Is it at all common for jewelry designers to take orders at shows? I would like to sell as shows next year, but I don't have the money to make the same piece over and over again in hopes that someone would buy it. I would much rather have a large collection and take orders. Thanks for your help.Jesusclone1985https://www.blogger.com/profile/15127499069386855908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010443633955755126.post-57179087241646234292012-03-17T09:45:14.036-04:002012-03-17T09:45:14.036-04:00i know how much time effort and experience went in...i know how much time effort and experience went into this post - and it is so nice of you to share it, esp as the notices are coming up for shows... it can be overwhelming even to those who have done it many times... your set up looks professional and inviting...mairedoddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01518352870828784085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010443633955755126.post-63922878723745297652012-03-16T12:24:17.416-04:002012-03-16T12:24:17.416-04:00Awesome post STaci!!! I whole heartedly agree wi...Awesome post STaci!!! I whole heartedly agree with all of this. I too learned the hard way. I have specific bins I keep my display pieces in, my checkout stuff in (credit card slips, bags, receipt pad, business cards and holders, tissue paper, signs, cash box, mailng list ) It does really help to keep it all organized, so that you pack it up the same way each time, and when you get home, the bins, bags are ready to go for the next show, and you don't have to "pack" all over again. <br />** I do HIGHLY recommend putting out a mailing list, which has a place for address AND e-mail address. You can develop a WONDERFUL following (fan club) that way. Lots of shows that I do provide postcards for you to send out to your customers. I mail these out, AND send out an e-mail reminder. I see the same faces over and over, AND they bring their friends, and spread the word . ALSO, make sure you have PLENTY of business cards. I give handfuls to some of my best customers, at their request, so they can pass them along when someone wants to know where they got their unique jewelry :)<br />*** AND show etiquette is HIGHLY important and will take you far!! Make sure you stay inside your designated space, keep your space clean, and DO move your vehicle as Staci mentioned. Your life and others will be MUCH happier!!!! Having been encroached upon in all these areas personally, I speak from experience!!! :)Kellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14638777927479610157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010443633955755126.post-54223862135009273032012-03-16T07:13:12.550-04:002012-03-16T07:13:12.550-04:00Great post Staci! All wonderful information....my ...Great post Staci! All wonderful information....my favorite tip was the one about having a tall stool or chair (especially in my opinion, over a lawn chair) because you want to be seen and actively engage with your customers. I prefer to stand as much as possible however, standing for several days at 6-8 or more hours can be really tiring so even having a nice tall chair or stool to lean on or take a few breaks was my very first lesson and my #1 tip for all other newbies!<br /><br />I would also add that if you're accepting credit cards to make sure that the facility or venue has a good strong signal or enough wi-fi capacity to support all the vendors connecting...as well as to order an extra square for your checkout bag in case it goes missing or breaks. I've heard show horror stories about both of these circumstances and in the last few years, my sales are now 50% or more on cards and as you mentioned, every sale counts!!!!Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10980307796009482871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010443633955755126.post-56374020183345940182012-03-15T19:46:12.301-04:002012-03-15T19:46:12.301-04:00Wow, Staci! What an incredibly informative post.....Wow, Staci! What an incredibly informative post.... I don't do shows, but I'm married to someone that does. The one thing that stood out to me is the consideration of your "neighbor" comment. I think if there is one thing that he has complained the most about, it is that. He's a really hard worker, helps others, etc. and finds it frustrating when others are not the same. <br />MaryAnnArtisan Beads Plushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17162473523455499816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010443633955755126.post-48285439187703448932012-03-15T19:17:56.023-04:002012-03-15T19:17:56.023-04:00OK- I will try to explain the noodle thing better....OK- I will try to explain the noodle thing better. You tuck them into the corner framing of the inside of the tent- and there would be one noodle for each corner. They would be arched up and the ends tucked on etiher side of the corner. So they are all across the corners, diagnal. OH my- maybe I should have drawn a diagram. Its hard to explain.stacilouisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14337978880639296378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010443633955755126.post-9471500441036328912012-03-15T13:33:51.200-04:002012-03-15T13:33:51.200-04:00I have a love hate relationship with shows! lOL! ...I have a love hate relationship with shows! lOL! But I really do enjoy them, when its sunny!stacilouisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14337978880639296378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010443633955755126.post-53282510685585365882012-03-15T11:25:57.766-04:002012-03-15T11:25:57.766-04:00Love your packing-station-in-a-bag! What an effici...Love your packing-station-in-a-bag! What an efficient way to handle it. The first show I did was an outdoor event, it was like living in a wind tunnel!! The tent next to us blew down. Everybody ran to help! Thankfully my Honey had helped my sister and I put ours up and when he does something it is DONE so we didn't have any problems. The Organizer said after "Well if you survived this weekend you can do anything!"<br /><br />Carol Bartawpliccbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03939765728411203442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010443633955755126.post-90218277332551086002012-03-15T10:07:02.897-04:002012-03-15T10:07:02.897-04:00This is awesome information. At the request of a f...This is awesome information. At the request of a friend of mine who sells pottery, I am considering my first outdoor show. It would be in early October in upper Wisconsin for 3 days! I am not sure that I am ready for something like that, but if I could be next to my friend and share accommodations with her I might give it a shot. I am bookmarking this great info to come back to as I will have to build a booth from the ground up!<br />Enjoy the day, Miss Staci!<br />ErinTesoriTrovatihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12771359288546654791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010443633955755126.post-86661318328044473762012-03-15T10:04:46.219-04:002012-03-15T10:04:46.219-04:00You have it all covered! Can you be more specific...You have it all covered! Can you be more specific as to how you use the noodles to prevent the roof from sagging? Thanks!Off the Beadin' Pathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00698952086696011597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010443633955755126.post-23353637678804135862012-03-15T09:28:40.752-04:002012-03-15T09:28:40.752-04:00AWESOME! Great tips!! Almost makes me want to get...AWESOME! Great tips!! Almost makes me want to get back out there and do more shows!!!Mystic Indigohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13819788891906071402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010443633955755126.post-33063217930619688002012-03-15T08:49:32.720-04:002012-03-15T08:49:32.720-04:00Wonderful information - Thank youvery much for pos...Wonderful information - Thank youvery much for posting this!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010443633955755126.post-46522323331992216862012-03-15T08:27:33.649-04:002012-03-15T08:27:33.649-04:00These are fantastic Staci!!! I will add one - chec...These are fantastic Staci!!! I will add one - check if the event has FOOD. Did my first outdoor event only to find out when we were there there was no FOOD. It was in a park - if I am walking through with my kids I want to hand them something then go and peruse the goods. No food means you lose customers who go to find it off sight and never come back or don't stay because they are hungry - never even thought of it before then!My Life Under the Bushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13836423832413060032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010443633955755126.post-27581192291169237352012-03-15T05:14:52.445-04:002012-03-15T05:14:52.445-04:00Great information and very timely for me. I have m...Great information and very timely for me. I have my first indoor show on Sunday. I love the idea of having a packing station, I'm going to take your advice on that.<br />Thank you so much for sharing this.Daviniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00816205028289012921noreply@blogger.com