Ok, enough of the drama. My arm is fine (thank you for the nice comments-) and I enjoyed a lovely weekend away from the computer. We spent Saturday at my son’s wrestling finals and Sunday I turned my dining room into a craft show display.
I pulled out the pieces I worked on over the summer to add price tags to. Then I modified a consignment-store-petticoat-skirt into a much shorter piece for my dress form and with the fabric leftovers, made another one for the mini dress form that was made from a paper-maché craft store form, cheap desk-lamp base and Mod Podge’d pages. The larger form will display the rosette pins I finished up yesterday and the smaller form -the vintage pins and brooches I’ll also be selling. (See the other deer-head cufflink on the little dress-form skirt that came from THIS pair? I made a pin with a green mount!)
I price-tagged everything, including the little bottles of winter and Christmas. Now the hardest part…coming up with actual prices for everything!
As soon as I can get a 6′ x 30″ stand-in table, I’ll work on a table covering. In the meantime, I’m stressing over prices, should I sign up with ProPay to accept credit cards, are craft fairs worth it, will I become addicted to selling at them, will I be coming home with more than I left with , and the list goes on.
Any advice is welcome! Happy Monday.
Just one comment…propay is worth it. We’ve done it for a year now, and gladly just re-upped. It’s easy, great for the small or occasional seller, and it really does help part people from their money (which I am conflicted about, to be honest, but that’s another post).
Oh. I think I signed up under a special for etsy sellers, which made it a bit cheaper. Search the etsy forums for info…
Such cool things, I love the rosette pins!
Ummmm! I don’t think you need to worry about coming home with anything but a list of more items to make for all of the people that didn’t get to your craft booth!!! Cathe, your inventory is amazing, I would buy it all right now if I could. I say go with your gut on pricing, your items are so unique and fantastic that I would worry more about not having enough!!!(don’t stress about that now:) Seriously, you are going to sell out!!!
Goodluck! Everything looks smashing for someone that is working armless. I do think you will come out even though, I can’t imagine being at a craft fair all day and not loading up on goods but I am sure just as many clients and vendors will be buying up your beautiful projects!
Oh, everything looks just glorious! Best wishes!
Everything looks wonderful; such beautiful work. I’ve never done a craft fair-I’m hardly as sparkly in person as I am on my blog!
But from the look of your work, I can’t imagine you’ll be going back home with much…serve beer-it always helps me overspend! Good luck Cathe!
Your display looks fantastic. Love all the different heights.
People spend more $ if they can use their credit cards. Sad, but true.
Is the craft fair inside or outside?
Either way you might want to consider a backdrop to set your space off from others. Nothing worse than seeing all the empty boxes and ice chests the person in the space behind you stores under their table…
gorgeous displays!
My advice on pricing is that you need to keep in mind the psychology of it… people actually feel better about spending more. They aren’t going to buy from you because it’s cheep… you aren’t Target. They will buy so they can tell anyone who will listen all about how they got that particular treasure right from THE ARTIST’S HANDS!!! They are buying a story too.
And the packaging/wrap you offer is the best investment you’ll make… I once bought a $3 glass ornament from ABC Carpet in NYC (you need to sue them for copying everything you think and create, by the way) and gave it as a wedding gift… but it was so beautifully wrapped that it felt special and that set the value (it was really pretty too).
An artist should never “factor in” things like time and materials… unapologetically price from your gut, then double it.
(am I really still writing?!) Another trick is to assume each item will be a gift to someone you love dearly, and then ask yourself what they would be willing to “give it up” for.
And whatever doesn’t sell, the bonus is that your Christmas shopping is nearly done!
Phew. (that’ll teach you to abandon us for 2 whole days!!!)
Wow! Awesome advice. Thank you!
I just love your display. It’s similar to mine which is very “shabby chic” except I sell jewelry. It gave me some good ideas as I’m updating my display right now. Thanks and don’t forget to show pictures of the finished display at the show!
Mary
Man you’re an acheiver!!! WOW. Not much of taking time off!
Well wrestling watching is time off I guess. Love the button flowers too.
oh hello hello! I have just stumbled across your blog and I share surely be back to visit if you’ll have me!
I too know how you feel…I have been in business {selling online} for several years now and I am doing my first show in a couple weeks. It is out of town and I feel like I have just been shipping one thing after another to my mom {my show will be in my hometown} and I am so nervous to think I have shipped too much {I do tend to overpack for trips!} oh how I don’t want to come back {SHIP} more than I sell! thinking good thoughts for you too!! your stuff is so precious!!!!
I got a fair coming up in two days and I’m still making things, that what happens when you only find out about it two weeks ago and not have anything to sell :-p Currently busy making stock. I don’t even know how I’ll be displaying the items, fortunately I’m sharing the space with a friend selling crystals so at least the table won’t look bare.
And the pricing… gotta think about that too.