tooncesmom
Registered: 12/29/06
Posts: 127
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| | 12/29/08 at 06:59 PM | Reply with quote | #1 |
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Did anyone do jewelry or arts and crafts shows this fall? Would love to hear your experiences.
I did six shows between mid October and late December--all local, all low booth price venues--and one six-day event at a local spa. (I did this last year--the week before Christmas and it was so lucrative I signed up for this year and am already signed up for next December--six days leading up to Christmas Eve.
One of the shows in mid-October was fabulous. The next, a weekend affair was decent (was placed outside w/o a tent and had to break down early because of sprinkles), a third, which is usually great, was appallingly poor. Fourth one was another weekend show (inside, thank Goodness) and was decent. Fifth one was pretty good, on a Saturday with the next one the following day. That sixth show is at a usually wonderful venue and has been great the past two years. This year was dismal, and vendors beside me said the same for them. The spa show is a lot of work because I have to break down and set up every day, but the sales are there. (Interesting side note: a customer who'd bought a gold-fill wrapped large mabe pearl pendant last year stopped by again and bought five more pendants. Then he came back two days later and purchased two more! My kind of customer!)
And then there was the lady who bought three hand-made sterling and gemstone rosaries...
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janety
Registered: 03/13/06
Posts: 434
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| | 12/29/08 at 11:02 PM | Reply with quote | #2 |
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We usually have 2-4 shows between October -November then done. However, with several shows during the year cancelling we added a few more in November-December. Can't say we did spectacular sales, but, with the economy like it is any sale was appreciated.
I took my dichroic pieces and marked them 40% off. Well, a few other pieces too. Made up some lower costing items so we had it covered for those whose budget might be hirting but still wanted something as a special gift. That worked out well and when all was said and done we made enough to pay for the up-front costs plus a little.
Knowing next year just might get a little rougher we are taking this time to see what other options we might have that we missed this year.
Sure we didn't make a lot than we had in the past but to see smiles on our customer's faces - was a gift in itself.
Janet
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Gayle
Registered: 01/26/07
Posts: 212
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gypse
Moderator
Registered: 12/05/04
Posts: 2,082
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| | 12/30/08 at 10:48 PM | Reply with quote | #4 |
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Well, compared to last year, the show revenues this fall were about the same, BUT we were already down last year in this area. This is an area of new construction where people that can't afford to live in SF move out to and commute into the city. A LOT of people that planned to refi when the mortgages reset to higher rates couldn't because of plunging values and tightened credit, etc. There have been a lot of forclosures here. Home prices are about 50% of 2 years ago. So although shows were about the same as last year, both years were down about 30% from 2 years ago.
You can't really feel bad about not selling at the shows this year - there just was absolutely no traffic. Can't sell anything if there is no one there to sell to.
The gallery I was in closed early this year and I've not done anything about replacing it so far.
I was going to make lower cost items, stock up on earrings, etc for the fall shows, but after Rocky died in Sept I just couldn't get my act together to do anything. Just took what I had to shows and there was very little for sale under $50. Having more earrings might have helped my local sales.
Web site was up about 15% from last year and almost double 2 years ago. Thought it was going to end up about 70% of my sales this year, but after doing the number it is only up to about 64%. I'm going to continue to put my efforts to getting all of my to-do's for my website done - which seems to take much longer than I expect every time I take on one of them 
Even though the economy was bad this year, I felt much better than the first years selling when I seemed to hemmorage cash. I've got the equipment, displays, tools, inventory, etc and don't have to do a ton of shows just to pay off charges made to credit cards for the business. I've got money in the business account and can coast till things get better again if I have to.
This has been my best sales year, every year inches a little higher than the previous one, but it is still a good thing this is a hobby business and doesn't have to pay a mortgage or grocery bill yet  . God willing it will stay that way - I hope to stay retired and not have to put 40+ hours per week into anything any more. I certainly wouldn't mind making it almost totally web based and drop all but the very best of the shows.
Gayle - your show looks like a nice one - and you do have a gift on the marketing collateral!
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dkitkatt
Registered: 05/28/08
Posts: 70
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| | 01/01/09 at 09:50 AM | Reply with quote | #5 |
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We do mostly gem and mineral shows and although many of them are down we still managed to do fairly well this year. We had to do some price restructuring in October and some lower priced stuff to get by, however it caused me to make some nice changes to my available material and to get more creative with my pieces. Sometimes I just make changes to make changes and that is what seems to keep people coming to look at and purchase my work.
We are looking for some juried art fairs especially on the East coast or middle country shows to try this year. We have not exactly decided yet.
At this point, the gem and mineral shows seem to be the best fit for us.
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tooncesmom
Registered: 12/29/06
Posts: 127
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| | 11/29/09 at 11:13 AM | Reply with quote | #6 |
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I am doing 11 shows this year. Eight down, three to go. Interestingly enough, there's been no pattern to sales. Shows I did abysmally at last year were stunningly stupendous this year and vice versa.
What I have learned is to be more critical of my designs, especially beaded items. I've been tearing apart some non-sellers and turning them into what I hope will be quick sales for the next three shows. Also, I have spiffied-up my booth displays. I have a show this coming Sat., then a holiday boutique inside a neat restaurant, and finally a week-long show in the local spa lobby. The latter is usually my best event of the year, but still, it's nice to know I don't have to live on my jewelry income.
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donnarainey
Registered: 02/24/05
Posts: 169
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| | 11/29/09 at 07:37 PM | Reply with quote | #7 |
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Just got home from a two day show this week end. What a bust again...no one was buying much from anyone. I barely made my booth fee back and didn't even cover the hotel bill. I made a bunch of $15 to $20 earrings and didn't sell any of those. I just don't understand why these don't even sale. It is very frustrating!!! If I had a dime for everytime someone told me how beautiful my jewelry was, I wouldn't have to sell anything. But words just don't pay the bills.
Thanks for letting me vent!!
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NancyF
Moderator
Registered: 02/23/05
Posts: 1,272
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| | 12/01/09 at 08:18 AM | Reply with quote | #8 |
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No shows for me...my site and custom orders have been my income for jewelry. I'm like Sue...after Hudson died, I haven't felt like making jewelry or much else for that matter.  I am just now getting back into it some. Custom orders will do that to ya. 
I'm just glad I have a day job! 
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pwhit3428
Registered: 11/10/09
Posts: 51
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| | 12/08/09 at 07:45 AM | Reply with quote | #9 |
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A friend of mine had a booth at 2 craft shows this year. She offered to share her booth with me and it was also her first time selling jewelry at a craft show. Both shows were small and it seemed that a lot of people were looking and not buying. Not only was this happening at our booth, but at other vendors' as well.
At the first show I took mainly necklaces and some ear rings. We found that lower priced items moved best. This particular show seemed to attract a lot of seniors who were not interested in higher priced items of silver and semiprecious stones. The second show was after a PTA meeting at an elementary school. I decided to make some bookmarks using craft wire and beads, key chains, and cell phone fobs. My friend made small bracelets using elastic and sparkly beads for little girls. Well I almost sold out of book marks and fobs while she sold all of her small bracelets. Although people looked at my necklaces and commented positively on them, none of my necklaces sold. My friend only sold a couple higher cost items. At least we recouped the booth cost. Luckily, I have a full time job so my living doesn't depend only on my selling jewelry.
This was a learning experience for 2 newbies. Now we know to think about the type craft show and perhaps the clientele who will attend. Thus make items that would sell at a particular venue.
Pam
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ladyfisher
Registered: 12/01/08
Posts: 187
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| | 12/08/09 at 09:21 PM | Reply with quote | #10 |
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I am learning that no two shows are alike, and to be prepared for anything. Just did my second Cmas bazaar here. Last year made most money taking orders for custom work. This year, sold several pieces; one higher-priced (a beautiful Biggs jasper) and several lower-priced and a few older pieces I'd marked down.
Also took a good deal of old stuff we'd bought form an estate, old rockbound stuff that had been stored over 30 years. It was alot of nice stones, mostly Montana agate, other agates and jaspers in old, cheap plated settings. Thought we'd sell a bunch since we marked them really cheap, and really didn't do much.
At the last rock show I did, lots of attention to rings, so I made a bunch and took my supplies so I could make a few up, and really, lots of looks and none sold. Go figure.
So from now on, I need to be prepared to sell...anything I can! I am grateful I made some money, a gal with nice beaded necklaces next to me didn't seem to do much business.
I've been invited to a beer-wine-music festival in Feb, to split a table with a quilter. Last year a table was 85$. Most people are there for the music and food. Considering it. I think the rock shows are my best venue.
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tooncesmom
Registered: 12/29/06
Posts: 127
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| | 01/18/10 at 12:51 PM | Reply with quote | #11 |
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Update on my Fall shows: I do mostly arts and crafts shows and have been told by a few people that my wire-wrapped jewelry is a little too high-end for this type of show. I have to agree. I only sell a few pendants to customers who are shopping for gifts. This price range generally doesn't attract the impulsive buyer so I try to have a range of inexpensive earrings and bracelets as well.
I did one Art and Wine show this year, and the venue worked very well for me. Lots of sales. However, I don't have a tent and don't want to sit outside without one, also, the booth fees are high for this type of venue--at least in California--around $200-$300.
It's difficult to say if I see a trend (as in depressed economy); I think it depends on the venue, the weather, timing of the event, what else is one at the same time. Example: I had low sales at an event where I did exceptionally well last year, but it was a weekend when they also were holding Open Studios.
The following weekend I had a show in a fire station in our local mountain community and sold $800 more than the previous year. I would not have expected that.
My best show continues to be a week-long event at a local spa (I try to book the entire week before Christmas) and for that event, I usually make one third of my entire annual sales. This year crystal earrings in the $18-24 range and pendants in the $50 range were the best sellers and I sold every one of my bangle bracelets!
So, is there any one answer? It's a crapshoot.
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ladyfisher
Registered: 12/01/08
Posts: 187
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| | 01/18/10 at 01:51 PM | Reply with quote | #12 |
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There is an art-by-the-bay thing here around Labor day, but the problem is, it's outside. Over the last three years, it's wither been highly windy (lot's of displays went down) and last year, there was torrential rain. I am reluctant to participate (it's also salmon season when I'm on the river) since I don't have an outdoor set-up and I don't want to get stuck with the bad weather, but it would be nice to be showcased locally as an "artist", and I think it's a good venue in terms of people looking to spend $ on fine art.
I decided against Confluence this year (wine-beer-music gig), booth fees are very high, and I have to work a clinic day the first day of the event.
So when assessing how we do, I think we do need to consider the venue.
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namratasnv
Registered: 03/15/10
Posts: 2
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| | 03/15/10 at 05:10 AM | Reply with quote | #13 |
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Hi,
Well, it is always good to know about the fairs and this is the best thing to know that you have to check the venues for showing your creativity and I will be a part of this.
Thanks
amazon jewelry
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