More shows, more pics, more wholesale... just more.
10.22.08 (5:51 pm) [edit]
I applied for my first juried show today. I won't say where in case I don't get in, but it's a big one. I'm really hoping it works out, but I feel so unprofessional. Not an hour after I turned it in, they wrote me back and told me that they needed a booth pic without me in it. Okay... seeing as how I don't even have a proper booth yet, this will be difficult. I'm going to have to take my crappy tent over to the medical center after they close some evening, and set it up with my tree, table, a chair, and my curio cabinet full of eggs. Should be interesting, and I hope to avoid getting arrested for looking like I'm camping at a medical center.
I found another show I'd love to go to. It's in NYC, and it's a huge wholesale show where I could show my stuff to 45,000 gift store buyers. Fantastic!! The biggest problem isn't even the expensive airfare to get there, nor the insane hotel rates. The biggest problem is that they want $27.50 per sq. ft. for booth space, and the booth is 10'X10'. By my math, that's just shy of three thousand. Anyone want to buy a kidney?
I finally got some really great pics together and made my own wholesale brochure. (Which will be very helpful since I can't afford to go to the wholesale show.) It looks S-L-I-C-K!! I need to get a copy printed up, but it's a beautiful black background with some of the eggs. All laid out very well, and it looks really professional. This weekend, I'm hitting a couple of flower shops to see if they are interested in carrying some ornaments.
First Friday is coming up soon, and I hope to have a lot of my ornaments in the studio. And the gallery show is coming up pretty soon. I can't wait.
I found another show I'd love to go to. It's in NYC, and it's a huge wholesale show where I could show my stuff to 45,000 gift store buyers. Fantastic!! The biggest problem isn't even the expensive airfare to get there, nor the insane hotel rates. The biggest problem is that they want $27.50 per sq. ft. for booth space, and the booth is 10'X10'. By my math, that's just shy of three thousand. Anyone want to buy a kidney?
I finally got some really great pics together and made my own wholesale brochure. (Which will be very helpful since I can't afford to go to the wholesale show.) It looks S-L-I-C-K!! I need to get a copy printed up, but it's a beautiful black background with some of the eggs. All laid out very well, and it looks really professional. This weekend, I'm hitting a couple of flower shops to see if they are interested in carrying some ornaments.
First Friday is coming up soon, and I hope to have a lot of my ornaments in the studio. And the gallery show is coming up pretty soon. I can't wait.
First Show
10.06.08 (6:09 pm) [edit]
Well, I had my first show this weekend. Tiny little craft fair, but I wasn't sure of that when I booked it.
The good news is, I sold my first piece. The bad news is, it was only one of two. I made enough to pay for my booth fee, but not enough to cover the gas to get out there, food, etc. Still, it was nice to sell some, and I'm hooked.
My husband is not so pleased. I'm trying to convince him that there are large ART fairs nearby, and though the booth fee is higher, so is the potential. So far, not much luck. He wants me to do it, but the biggest problem is coming up with that booth fee, especially in a bad economy, especially since the first thing to go when people's finances get tight is art. He says I picked a lousy time to go into art, and I'm having a hard time arguing against that. Still, I think as long as I'm smart about it, I shouldn't have any problems.
I've almost got all my pieces done for the Winter show at one local art gallery. I'm very proud of them. Sorry, no pics yet, but they will be up soon. I also met with a woman at a different gallery today, but I fear that because of insurance, that may not work out. But someone back in my adopted hometown gave me a great idea. She said I should speak to various gift stores/florists around town, and get them in there through either consignment or wholesale. I figured out my price points, so that's something I'm going to be pursuing in the next few weeks.
While you're waiting on pics of the new pieces, stop by and visit me at my egg art website. While you're there, check out the ornaments. These make great Christmas presents. They're all handmade, and most feature carvings, so you still have that "Wow!" factor. Furthermore, with an ornament stand, you can display them throughout the year. But best of all, they are all absolutely one of a kind. At $15 each, they are inexpensive, completely unique Christmas gifts. And I can work with you to find a particular design or color. < / shameless plug >
The good news is, I sold my first piece. The bad news is, it was only one of two. I made enough to pay for my booth fee, but not enough to cover the gas to get out there, food, etc. Still, it was nice to sell some, and I'm hooked.
My husband is not so pleased. I'm trying to convince him that there are large ART fairs nearby, and though the booth fee is higher, so is the potential. So far, not much luck. He wants me to do it, but the biggest problem is coming up with that booth fee, especially in a bad economy, especially since the first thing to go when people's finances get tight is art. He says I picked a lousy time to go into art, and I'm having a hard time arguing against that. Still, I think as long as I'm smart about it, I shouldn't have any problems.
I've almost got all my pieces done for the Winter show at one local art gallery. I'm very proud of them. Sorry, no pics yet, but they will be up soon. I also met with a woman at a different gallery today, but I fear that because of insurance, that may not work out. But someone back in my adopted hometown gave me a great idea. She said I should speak to various gift stores/florists around town, and get them in there through either consignment or wholesale. I figured out my price points, so that's something I'm going to be pursuing in the next few weeks.
While you're waiting on pics of the new pieces, stop by and visit me at my egg art website. While you're there, check out the ornaments. These make great Christmas presents. They're all handmade, and most feature carvings, so you still have that "Wow!" factor. Furthermore, with an ornament stand, you can display them throughout the year. But best of all, they are all absolutely one of a kind. At $15 each, they are inexpensive, completely unique Christmas gifts. And I can work with you to find a particular design or color. < / shameless plug >
