So, as I've been blathering about for some weeks now, I particpated in a group show and sale in the neighbourhood just east of ours.
It was my first show and sale and I would give it an 8 out of ten. I learned a whole lot through the process, among them the following:
- Pretend your show is a week earlier than it actually is, and set it all up with all your products. You'll figure out what you're missing, what you're going to need, what'll it look like and you'll be totally calm, cool and collected the day of.
- Don't forget your business cards.
- Do your research! By this, I mean, go around to the local sales before you actually enter them. See how the vendors are and if you'll fit in at that particular sale. See what kind of show it is. Check out the venue so you'll know how to display and what things you'll need for that particular location.
- Don't forget your business cards.
- Have professional signage made - and a variety of it - again, know your location. Hanging, standing and table signage.
- Don't forget your business cards.
- Bring extra lighting for your booth/table - don't depend on the location to have it available.
- Don't forget your business cards.
- Bring snacks, drinks, food, etc. I had BSP to fetch and carry, but you may not be so lucky, and shows don't always have runners.
- Don't forget your business cards!
- Bring a camera (as I obviously didn't) to take pictures of the venue and your presence there.
- Keep up a good attitude even if things aren't going well. There were a few vendors who didn't sell a thing, and as the day went by they became grumpier and grumpier, and even if someone were interested in their wares, by that time, the customer would be afraid to approach them!
There were more learnings, but those were the main ones - if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.
Also, don't forget your super duper specially made professional business cards at home.
Favourite Moments:
- One woman who oohed and ahhed her way through my quilts, stopped dead at "Jungle Princess", gapsed, put her hand to her throat, welled up and said "Oh. It's so beautiful, it makes me want to cry!" I've had that experience with other people's art - it was amazing to be the recipient.
- So many enjoyable and fun conversations with different people!
- My neighbour, Carolyn of Carolyn Draws was a lovely, friendly and helpful seller, who had experience and was wonderfully willing to share it - she even gave me some helpful suggestions about ways and means of getting myself out there. She was a true pleasure to sell with.
- That my little quilt "Zen Gardens" a quilt I've always thought was incredibly beautiful but perhaps too subtle for most people, got as much attention at my personal favourite "Of The Moment". It was so gratifying to see that when viewing the quilt "live and in person" people absolutely loved it. How amazing to be validated in my design aesthetic.
- I was told over and over again that I need to be in "The One of Kind Craft Show and Sale". It would take me probably two years to make enough product for the show - but I always imagined myself there one day - how cool to be told by customers that I should be there.
- all the beautiful babies!!! So many people brought babies and small children - my kids are grown, so it was so wonderful to be exposed to all those delicious smelling and sweet looking little bundles.
- Last but not least - my absolute favourite moment:
Did you know I invented contemporary quilting?
I DID!
These three ladies came along - an average of ten years older than I. They went through the top set of quilts and oohed and ahhed and stroked them and twittered about them amongst themselves at an amazing speed (I mean amazing - an entire conversation and five quilts were looked at in about 30 seconds flat. *hee*). And then one of them said to me, "Did you invent this?"
"Quilting?!!!!" I asked, laughingly?
"No", she said, "Not quilting. I'm a traditional quilter, but we've never seen anything like this"
"NEVER!" piped up the second one.
"It's amazing!" said the third one.
"Soooooo beautiful..." said the first one. "What do you call this kind of quilting?"
So I told her that I call myself a contemporary quilter, and that no, I didn't invent it, though I am trying to be true to myself and hopefully, bring something new to the craft. We had a converation about it, and eventually, the two friends pulled the third one away, she looking longingly back all the way out of the building.
First, I invented Pinwheels - now I've invented Contemporary Quilting!
I am magical!
:)
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Beautiful work, Kit. Sounds like a very successful first show...Too bad you didn't have someone who could run home and get your business cards! I did that in the last show that I was in, but luckily was able to send someone back for them! Congratulations...Cline
ReplyDeleteSounds like it was stressful fun in the end!! :) I love the information you shared with us. Great notes to keep in mind. Were you successful in selling any of your pieces? I've never heard of this kind of sale before, I need to do some researching in my area. When's your next one!
ReplyDeleteHi Cline!
ReplyDeleteI did have someone (BSP was with me) but after having sent BSP home for another lamp, and then for pins (I packed push pins but never thought I'd need straight pins!) the show had already begun and it was time to suck it up. :) Oh well... live and learn!
It was stressful before, and even the set up time was a bit stressful, but after that I just enjoyed the day. No point fussing about things you can't control!
ReplyDeleteI was successful - but not in the way I expected. I thought for sure I would sell "Of The Moment" and "Baby Go Round" and though they did get a tonne of interest, "Zen Garden", "Islands in the Stream" and (oddly) "Jungle Princess" got an equal amount of interest. I didn't sell any of them though - and I think that's about the "do your research about the other vendors" thing. I ended up in a costume jewellery and tchotckes sale, and from what I saw, my lowest price point was 5 times what the highest one was around me. I was very unexpected.
Despite the fact that I didn't actually sell anything, I did get five commissions. So that was an awesome result!
Hi there Kit!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Am glad to hear that it was a good experience even though you didn't sell. When my husband first started doing shows (he's a photographer), he had a similar experience to you. Most of his work at that time was framed photos that were $150 and higher. He then created a few items that were lower price points and it ended up that people started buying cards, and matted prints. He often had people call after the show because such big buys don't tend to be on impulse, but rather after the person goes home and can't stop thinking about what they didn't get although they loved it dear. Glad to hear about the commisions, and i think that after this show, you will never forget your business cards again!
Hi Lisa,
ReplyDeleteIt's true - I will NEVER forget my business cards again! lol It was fun show and I was really happy to participate. Thanks for hosting! :)
Kit,
ReplyDeleteIt was great meeting you on Saturday and seeing all of your gorgeous quilts -- I really do think they're going to take off and someday when you're world famous (for inventing contemporary quilting, of course!) I'll be able to say we once shared a wee corner of your first (and my second) craft show! Best of luck, and I hope you both have a wonderful holiday. See you next time! C
Thanks Carolyn! Hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday too - and see you at show! :)
ReplyDeleteHey, I'm a little late getting here since I see everyone else has already commented, but I was thinking that you would be gone longer. And never did I think you would share all of these exquisite, one of a kind quilt. I think when people see and are reluctant to buy they just don't know what they are passing up. They fail to realize that your quilts are one of a kind and buying a one of a kind is never CHEAP. Thanks for giving me more inspiration on this Monday morning.
ReplyDeleteI think that for the most part, people weren’t reluctant to buy because they thought the quilts weren’t worth the price, they were reluctant to buy because it was out of their range or because of the season.
ReplyDeleteOne woman for instance, really, really, REALLY wanted to buy “Of The Moment” but said she couldn’t justify spending $500 on herself at Christmas.
Truth be told, in retrospect, I’m glad I didn’t sell any of the lap quilts – they were all really under priced – in particular, “Of The Moment” and “Zen Gardens”.
“Of The Moment” was made of all silk. I bought the fabric at a 50% off sale, but still spent $25/metre, and there’s close to 4 metres of fabric in the quilt. $100 on sale, but normally, $200 for the fabric alone. Add batting at $35 metre (about a metre and ½ in the quilt), thread, and the fact that I spent about 30 hours quilting it (not to mention the design and construction time of the quilt) – it really should have been in the range of $700-1,000. I was only able to offer it at $500 because of the fabrics being on sale – and it’s not a precedent I should set – if I sell one silk quilt at $500 because I got the fabric on sale, they’ll be expecting me to sell the next silk quilt at $500 whether I got the silk on sale or not.
Anyway – blah blah – for the most part, people not only expected the prices; a lot of them seemed to understand that they were getting a deal.
The commissions will be getting regular prices. They’ll pay full price for the fabrics and notions, and a fee for design and then quilting. They may be sorry they didn’t buy the ready-made quilt when they had a chance! :)
Magical lady:) That is so cool inventing contemporary quilting as well as pinwheels;)))) Well done in getting FIVE commisssions - wow! xx
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear the sale went well for you- thanks for sharing your takeaways! LOVE the story about the ladies who thought you invented contemporary quilting- how could they not with your unique and distinctive work? Congrats on the commissions- that is superb!
ReplyDelete*hee* Yes - I was pretty darn happy about the commissions. One is for quilted pillow covers which doesn't seem like much, but there are four of them at $50/each so it's not such a bad investement of my time. :)
ReplyDeletelol Alexis! You know inventing contemporary quilting is totally my favourite story too. You know how much I love inventing stuff! :P
ReplyDelete