Let Me Say This About That: Meh…
Kazuri Earrings: Perfect Red and Honey
It’s spring, and that means the start of intensive show-going for me. This spring’s crop hasn’t been an unmixed blessing. It’s been quite marred by Greg’s two hospitalizations with a dodgy ticker. Thankfully, he’s been restored to good health, though our diet is now a bit Draconian. It’s OK. I’d eat sawdust seasoned with Mrs. Dash for every meal if it meant keeping him in good health. I not only miss his can-do attitude and help with the lifting at shows, I also miss his steady, friendly company.
Last weekend (April 25-26), the region was staggering under a heatwave that sent temperatures into the nineties. I did the show at the Crofton Country Club on Saturday and then went to the Highlandtown Wine Festival on Sunday. Sales were pretty good–not stellar–at Crofton. I was well set up in a moderately shady spot, but I’d forgotten my chair. Sunday was pretty much an unmitigated disaster of glaring sun and unbearable heat, with tables set on the asphalt street. Following Saturday, it was a bit much for me, and I ultimately refugeed into the cool garden area where there was shade and a breeze.
This past weekend we did the ever-popular Towsontown Festival. I shared the space with Lauren of Jersey Girl Designs and Erica of CEK Custom Designs. The weather Saturday was spotty with showers. The weather Sunday was a downpour, with corresponding downturn in business. Still, I’d have to chalk up a successful weekend not only in sales but in terms of opportunities.
I’ve taken away a lot of key learnings from the past two weeks in a variety of areas, such as:
- I need to re-think my packaging and storage. The enormous plastic bins we use aren’t appropriate for me if I’m by myself. Neither are the briefcases with stackable trays for the jewelry. I did much better the second weekend by stashing my display pieces in several small bins.
- Large yardages of inexpensive fabric in various colors give you lots of flexibility in covering your tables. (Thank you Erica.)
- Canopies with sides provide the opportunity for building displays UP to eye level. The walls make things cozy. I’m getting one as soon as I can afford it.
- Even with my new, high-tech iPhone, Paypal’s Virtual Terminal isn’t working for me. And at $30/month, it’s pretty expensive. I’m looking at a couple of much more affordable solutions that will enable me to use the iPhone on the cellular network to securely and affordably process my transactions.
- And finally, there’s the issue of community association shows.¬† This one is a toughie. It’s disheartening to pay a sum of money for the privilege of being one of the attractions and the remote chance of selling something. Community associations need to look at their vendor relations and find creative ways of attracting top-quality sellers. A large show, such as the one this past weekend, is more expensive to begin with. But it places everyone on a level playing field, and the opportunities to succeed are much greater.
- Indie crafts shows need to be aware of this, too. Another jewelry vendor (with some pretty creative stuff) has been wait-listed for our large city-sponsored July multi-day extravaganza. She’s been wait-listed for the past three years after successfully showing there for yonks previously. Her husband stated something that I’ve been feeling for years: “4,000 applicants at X dollars per application when they can only accept a couple hundred . . . you do the math.”¬† So from my little perch, I won’t be sending out too many more non-refundable application fees.
Watch the space to the left. I have lots more shows to do. Oh, and the picture? “High Red” Kazuri bead earrings in the “Diani” pattern.
