Wish me luck!!

[hunterridgefarm]

Great work.

I do craft items and wood work also. On your display also consider a couple of antique type cabinets or old kitchen items to complement you spoons.

A couple of pictures of you actually making the spoons would also be good. If it is a outside craft show consider the sides of your tent. The lower front corner could be pull up and attached to the top rear corner to allow for more light and for people to see what you have before they get in front of your display.

Use colored bowls or pottery bowls to display some of the spoons like in your pictures above.

We recently started going to a Farmers Market to sell produce. I read a lot of articles on how to present your display to attract customers. I use different colored baskets to complement the color of the produce and banner displaying my Farm Name as well as t shirts with the farm name. We are new comers to the Farmers Market compared to many who have been there for years. This past weekend was our third week and we have doubled our business each week.

You have some very nice work there and it should sell great, good luck!!

 

[forgeblast]

Hunterridgefarm, I just made up a few laminated and backed posters from staples.(Now do not believe their guarantee that it will be done in 4 hours, at four hours they didn't even know my job had to be done and I had to wait another 4 for them to get it done, and then was told the guarantee means it might be done in 4 but will be done in 24 hours....just beware.)
I did some blowups of the spoons in bowls, and with fruit, I also put together a poster that shows the tree being carved from log to spoon in a bowl. I did think of t-shirts, but I need some cash flow coming in first to pay off the tent and the insurance. I do agree the more put together a stand looks, the more it will sell.
I have over 10 years of retail sales experience (was my 2nd-3rd job at times), so I know once I get the people to the boot I can close a sale.
I am starting to run out of room to bring things on this trip. But for close local shows I plan on bringing the potter we have to "stage" the spoons better. Hauling everything will get easier next year, wife's car and day care will be done so I can finally afford a truck. (I plan on taking a good look at the new dodge 1500 diesel). Today is the test fit to see what does not come on the trip lol.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Great art and have a good show.

 

[forgeblast]

Just got back from the fair (did the fair and a week at Cape Cod). It was a beautiful day, we sold 20 spoons of various sizes. No bowls or bark boxes though. A lot of people liked them, but I heard time and time again "Oh I love them, I am not ready to think about Christmas presents yet! Can I take a card?" I am hopeful that I can get some repeat sales through my website. I learned a lot and was interviewed (Ill post the link as soon as the video is posted). The vendors were great. I really learned a lot, especially how to present and sell the item. I have a few more signs and things to make to have my booth stand out, but this was a great shakedown run. I am much more confident for the next few shows I have coming up. Thanks all the comments were spot on, all the suggestions were so helpful. I will try to set up a promo code for tbn'ers for free shipping once it gets closer to the Holidays as my way of saying thank you for your advice and support.

 

[smilinjak]

Congratulations on your successful show. Now you can take a 15 minute break and create some more art. Gettig a new business up and running is more work than creating and crafting the products,eh. I say again you do beautiful work.
Smilinjak

 

[PhysAssist]

Hey FB,

Congratulations, you really earned that success!

Remember that the first one is always the hardest, then it gets better and better, but they will all have their quirks as to what sells and what doesn't.

Keep kicking butt and taking names!

Be well,
Thomas

 

[forgeblast]

Gettig a new business up and running is more work than creating and crafting the products,eh
Yes, Yes Yes!!! I had to go to the bank today to open my business account, I had my binder of paperwork with me.
Now its scrambling for shows, I have one this weekend (a spot opened up) & I might have made a really exclusive show, they only take one vendor from each media. I will find out later this week. I have also tried to fill up my weekends coming up before Christmas with shows. It helps so much that my wife is supportive, and my daughter (4) loves helping me. Thanks again all, I have to get back to making wood shavings