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 >
posted by: LadyG (reply)
post date: 10.06.08 (4:16 pm)
Your work is beautiful, you should sell on ebay an esty.
posted by: Intricategirl (reply)
post date: 10.06.08 (4:25 pm)
Reply to: LadyG
Thank you, LadyG. Ebay and Etsy are so difficult. If you go on there, there are some on there that take so much effort, and they're selling them for so little. I've put my dreams of getting rich aside, but there's no way I'm investing 10+ hours of time and getting a $10 profit or less. And I fear that if my prices aren't similar, people have no reason to buy from me.
A lot of those are mass-produced, and mine aren't, but still... Maybe someday.
posted by: LadyG (reply)
post date: 10.06.08 (4:33 pm)
Reply to: LadyG,
Well the best thing is to continue to sell on your web site and advertise, advertise, get your name on all of the search engines, send one to one of the celebrities like Ellen or Oprah and get some free publicity.
Join your local Chamber of Commerce also and that is contact with peoplewhich helps.
Good luck.
posted by: Intricategirl (reply)
post date: 10.06.08 (4:52 pm)
Reply to: LadyG
Agreed. I think the wholesale/consignment idea really has some potential. The low cost ones in there, the more artistic, detailed pieces in galleries and art shows. If it's meant to happen, I'll find my niche. :D Thanks! (And Oprah?? How cool would that be?!)
posted by: LadyG (reply)
post date: 10.06.08 (5:26 pm)
Reply to: Intricategirl,
Very cool indeed.
posted by: rajkumarpb (reply)
post date: 10.07.08 (4:51 am)
Nice work...I suggest u what LadyG said.. Even i too buy your art works.... Hope i see ur product in eBay....
posted by: OldSchool (reply)
post date: 10.07.08 (6:42 am)
Congrats. Keep at it if you love it. It takes some time.
I am always looking for cool ornaments for gifts, so I will definitely check out the website and hopefully buy a few.
posted by: Intricategirl (reply)
post date: 10.07.08 (1:36 pm)
Reply to: rajkumarpb
Thanks, but like I told LadyG, probably no Ebay.
posted by: Intricategirl (reply)
post date: 10.07.08 (1:37 pm)
Reply to: OldSchool
I do love it, and I've been talking about doing this for years. So, I'll keep trying various things until I figure it out. :)
I hope you find something there you like. Let me know if there's any particular sort of design you're looking for.
posted by: Intricategirl (reply)
post date: 10.07.08 (1:39 pm)
Reply to: kurtmaddox
Yep. Working on it. Those shows are painfully expensive though. I'm just going to have to do it anyway, I'm afraid. It's nearly impossible to predict what sort of success or failure I'll have at a big show from the one this last weekend. It's just such a different type of event.
I'm lucky in that I'm an artist's assistant, and I get to watch all her experiments and figure out if they can be adapted.
posted by: alaskawildflowers (reply)
post date: 10.14.08 (4:36 pm)
speaking as someone who has done the craft fair circuit, I found I did better if I looked at the show before and got a feel for the "personality" before I committed to booth space. If it's not a show you've done before, is there someone with whom you could share a booth? The expense is less-- but the drawback to that is, I didn't sell as much unless I was in the booth. People want to talk to the artist, not the booth-mate. As far as selling on consignment: I have a retail store now, and I don't consider any item for consignment if the artist is selling them on their website for the same amount they're selling to me. If you do offer consignment, make sure that the "wholesale" cost to the merchant is one you can live with, and that the "retail" price is higher. Good luck, your pieces look fun.
posted by: Intricategirl (reply)
post date: 10.14.08 (5:25 pm)
Thanks for the tips. The reason I went with this particular show was because the entry fee was so low. I figured I wouldn't sell many, but I was hoping. Most of the shows I'm considering now have much higher booth fees. They also aren't afraid to list their attendance numbers, and they are much better attended.
I do have someone who I could do booths with, but our stuff is quite different, and I'm not sure it would be a good blend for a show. That's not to say we couldn't carpool and save some money that way, or maybe even rig the booth so it looks like two separate spaces. And the kind of shows I've been seeing (juried art shows) require that all the artists are actually present. So being there isn't a concern if it's required anyway.
My wholesale prices are less. I would not expect to sell it to them for the same price, and I don't see how anyone could actually try and get away with that. It just seems nervy to me. Wholesale is wholesale. They get a good rate, but I require a minimum purchase in exchange. For my retail customers, I'm happy to sell one piece, but it's going to be a bit higher. I've done the consignment thing before with my first business, so I'm pretty confident with setting my prices for that. I'd prefer the wholesale route, but I suppose I'll take anything.
Thanks so much for your advice. It really helps to hear from someone who's gone that route.
posted by: swanktrendz (reply)
post date: 10.18.08 (8:15 am)
Hey there
Well done on your art! It just goes to show that ome never knowd what is around the corner.
If you get together a site (with a paypal link or a shopping cart thingie) send it to me and I will profile it on swanktrendz. I would love to do something for you (for a change, hey?)
Mind you - That's not much of an offer being that I've been so lazy the last three months, I think our 30,000 (est) viewers has dropped to 3 (and they're all family.)
posted by: swanktrendz (reply)
post date: 10.18.08 (8:19 am)
Oops - I will link your site, but I still didn't see a pappal link (or is it right here in there of me)?
posted by: swanktrendz (reply)
post date: 10.18.08 (9:17 am)
Believe it or not... I CAN spell paypal, just not on your site ;)
posted by: swanktrendz (reply)
post date: 10.18.08 (9:18 am)
Also, sorry for the multiple posts - I am not even sure what I did, aside from click return a zillion times. Is there any way I can get rid of the extras?
posted by: Intricategirl (reply)
post date: 10.18.08 (10:50 am)
No problem about the extra comments. I took care of them. :)
If you go to my website listed above, and click on an individual item, some of them have Paypal links. Not all. I've been so busy trying to get all the stuff together for the shows, and haven't had a chance to do each individual item yet.
And thanks. That's really sweet of you.
