My first show

Ok... so a couple of weeks ago I did my first show ever and boy was I knackered!  I sold enough to cover my fees which was my - rather modest - goal, but the show was actually more about me wanting to find out if I could do a show. If I could put together a table to be proud off, if I could last a weekend and just, well, pull it off. And the answer to that, my friends, is - Yes.

My table looked exactly what I had invisioned, with oldish flavours yet clean and crisp. Cozy. I had plenty of stock with me and I think I had set my table up making the customers working themselves from right to left with something drawing them on, looking some more. I noticed several of them stopping to look and making motions as to leave, but then spotting something that pulled them in again. These customers typically made a second round of the table too. LOL

So what didn't work?

1. The weather!! Saturday was horrendous! Storm gusts and pouring rain. I felt so sorry for the customers coming in through the doors, they looked like freezing, drenched rats. That kind of weather don't really make people want to stop and ponder jewellery.
2. My location on the show. This is partly my fault because I thought the barn I was in, was a completely different one. They hadn't marked the map with the names of the seperate barns (not uncommon in these parts "EVERYONE knows which barn is which".. umm... no.) But I should of course have called and asked them. The barn I stood in turned out to be in the "food end" of the show (which was nice for me ...rubbing tummy) but not the right location to set up a jewellery booth. Oh well.... lesson learned. :)

Now - this was a learning show and I did learn a few things I'll keep in mind for the future.

Notes for future shows.

1. Black earring cards - I either have to mark the prices on the front with a white pen, or change earring cards. I had marked all my earrings on the back of the cards and even though a LOT stopped to look, not that many turned them over. (I did tell them of course that the price was on the back.)
2. It probably depends on the show, but for this show it was not the right decision to flaunt my most expensive, elaborate necklaces. I ended up removing the price-tags on Saturday on these as I noticed it scared people off. 
3. People seemed scared to touch the jewellery. I repeatedly told them it was ok to fiddle with it... and yes, your children may touch too. But still they were reluctant. Talked this over with DH and one of the conclusions was that this show wasn't the right type show for my jewellery at all. I'll probably do better at a juried handmade show, when the customers expect more expensive things. This one is a typcial Christmas Fair/show with all types of handmade/semi-handmade/wholesale things and people wanted to buy cheap stuff. My jewellery isn't cheap and that might have been what scared them off. (see #2)

Please don't mind the background - we were setting up. :)

But the one thing that struck me was how much fun I had. I was riding on a high all week after the show and was literally aching to do another show the weekend after. LOL So... apparently this type of selling works for me and needs to be investigated further.

I did spy on the other sellers around me and I think I have an embryo of a plan for shows but basically it boils down to: bringing the right type of merchandise to the right type of show. So, what can you conclude from this? Well.... I'm expanding. (Well not literally... no, wait that too... Christmas candy... my nemesis.... *mumblemumble nom nom mumble*) But my range. I'm thinking of selling not only jewellery but also other stuff, mainly within the home decor area. (I'm going to use Frog Crossing for this expansion so expect to see other stuff besides digital images in there soon.) So to some shows I may ONLY bring jewellery but then again to other shows - no jewellery at all. I'm still noodling on this and I have to do a lot of research but I'm quite sure the right way to go is to offer a wider range of merchandise, with a wider range of prices to a wider range of customers. The economy is tough - for all of us - and we are all looking to make a bargain. If I want to do this, I have to adjust to the customers. Simple as that.

And besides, I've found something out about me. I have a huge need for ego boosts. And every sale is an ego boost. So... *giggling* I actually prefer to sell 10 things/day at $10/each, than one thing/day for $100. Of course - if I could sell 10 things/day at $100/item I'm not going to argue. LOL Also - I work better when I have a lot to do. When things get quiet... I tend to relax too much so every single thing that needs to be done, feels like a huge mountain to conquer. Stupid, I know. But that's me and I'm glad I'm finding these things out now.
So, my first show was really a success. I reached my goal saleswise and I learned a LOT! Now... onwards and upwards. I'm just going to finish this box of Christmas chockies...

♥
/anna-karin