MUCH better than last week - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Jediscroller · 10-18-2009, 01:05 PM

Well, after last week's fiasco I was questioning my decision about going ahead but what a difference a week makes. I did a very exclusive show yesterday which is very difficult to get into and has an excellent reputation. The show ran from 10 - 4. By 10:10 I had made back my booth fee ($90). I remembered to bring my pendulum clock this time and it sold within 5 minutes. I was virtually out of mini-clocks by 12. I also sold quite a few ornaments in the $7.50 - $10 range. One woman came in and was surprised at how inexpensive my 8 X 10 midnight serenity cutting was ($25) so instead she bought the 11 X 14 Quiet Escape for $75. There was non-stop traffic for the whole day. My first sale occured at 9:55 (my oak ship box that was in the last issue of SSWC) and my last sale occurred at 3:55 PM. It revived my faith in art and craft fairs. The only downside of the fair is that I was set up across from 2 different bake tables. I probably gained 10 lbs due to 25 cent brownies, 50 cent cupcakes and 3 dollar tins of cookies (or biscuits for you John) hehehehehe. All total I took in about $700 which is pretty darn good for a 1 day show. I think I would've done better if I had more clocks.

34natl · 10-18-2009, 01:13 PM

Congrats Kevin. Glad to hear you had a much better show.
Sounds like mini clocks was the big seller.I have to make a couple.
Mike

JohnB · 10-18-2009, 01:23 PM

Kevin, Well done mate,
It's good to have a winner.
Get yourself a hot coffee and dunk the bickies (cookies

)
I find that that is one of the problems with stalls at fairs/markets, there is always food around and profit gets eaten up, Literally LOL

I took a Thermos to a few of our winter markets and a few pieces of fruit, saved heaps on the day, but I'm to slack to do it all the time

marshall · 10-18-2009, 01:51 PM

Congrats Kevin on the sales

, I'm kind of like you I like the sweets too ...the clocks are what my wife loves too......Marshall

bubbantenn · 10-18-2009, 02:01 PM

Good for you Kevin!! I love a good success story (as if there were any bad ones...duuuhhhhh).
Sounds like mini clocks are good sellers. Seasonal items always do well around here so no surprise with the ornaments.
I wish I had the time to invest in making enough items to sell. Most of my stuff is giveaways or custom orders.
Keep us informed of your next show. Maybe you'll have lots of repeat customers or new ones recommended by them.

Bubba

handibunny · 10-18-2009, 02:04 PM

Glad it went better for you this time, Kevin. Your work is so special that it's not surprising that you'd do better at a show where people are looking for quality. And just how much of the $700 did you spend at the baking booths?

normded · 10-18-2009, 03:23 PM

my wife and i went to a huge show last weekend at letchworth state park in ny and at the end we realized that we spent about $40 and everything we bought was edible bread bowl soup, philly cheese steak, kettle corn, and the list goes on. lmao

Jerry

KtownScroller · 10-18-2009, 03:30 PM

Way to go Kevin. The upscale shows bring in better (read wealthier) shoppers. Time for you to build more clocks!!!

Sally · 10-18-2009, 03:39 PM

Nice going!! I want scroll saw artists to do well - adds to my credibility too. Lucky you.

Ocelot · 10-18-2009, 04:11 PM

That's great, Kevin. Way to go!

Ray

10-18-2009, 01:05 PM	#1
Jediscroller American Crafstman Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Galaxy far, far away Posts: 3,174 Blog Entries: 5	MUCH better than last week Well, after last week's fiasco I was questioning my decision about going ahead but what a difference a week makes. I did a very exclusive show yesterday which is very difficult to get into and has an excellent reputation. The show ran from 10 - 4. By 10:10 I had made back my booth fee ($90). I remembered to bring my pendulum clock this time and it sold within 5 minutes. I was virtually out of mini-clocks by 12. I also sold quite a few ornaments in the $7.50 - $10 range. One woman came in and was surprised at how inexpensive my 8 X 10 midnight serenity cutting was ($25) so instead she bought the 11 X 14 Quiet Escape for $75. There was non-stop traffic for the whole day. My first sale occured at 9:55 (my oak ship box that was in the last issue of SSWC) and my last sale occurred at 3:55 PM. It revived my faith in art and craft fairs. The only downside of the fair is that I was set up across from 2 different bake tables. I probably gained 10 lbs due to 25 cent brownies, 50 cent cupcakes and 3 dollar tins of cookies (or biscuits for you John) hehehehehe. All total I took in about $700 which is pretty darn good for a 1 day show. I think I would've done better if I had more clocks. __________________ Kevin Scrollsaw Patterns Online Making holes in wood with an EX-30, Craftsman 16" VS, Dremel 1680 and 1671

10-18-2009, 01:23 PM	#3
JohnB 1 Tin Soldier Rides Away Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kalgoorlie, Western Australia Posts: 4,859	Kevin, Well done mate, It's good to have a winner. Get yourself a hot coffee and dunk the bickies (cookies ) I find that that is one of the problems with stalls at fairs/markets, there is always food around and profit gets eaten up, Literally LOL I took a Thermos to a few of our winter markets and a few pieces of fruit, saved heaps on the day, but I'm to slack to do it all the time __________________ Regards John "The Golden Mile" I got holes in both of my shoes Well I'm a walking case of the blues Saw a dollar yesterday But the wind blew it away Some of my Stuff Retired Medically Unfit WA Police Officers Last edited by JohnB; 10-18-2009 at 02:02 PM.

10-18-2009, 01:51 PM	#4
marshall Just love Being Here Join Date: May 2008 Location: Jonesboro AR Posts: 2,113	Congrats Kevin on the sales , I'm kind of like you I like the sweets too ...the clocks are what my wife loves too......Marshall __________________ Usually busier than a cat in a sandbox !!!!!!!!!!! { Dewalt 788 only }

10-18-2009, 02:01 PM	#5
bubbantenn Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Clarksville, Tennessee Posts: 707	Good for you Kevin!! I love a good success story (as if there were any bad ones...duuuhhhhh). Sounds like mini clocks are good sellers. Seasonal items always do well around here so no surprise with the ornaments. I wish I had the time to invest in making enough items to sell. Most of my stuff is giveaways or custom orders. Keep us informed of your next show. Maybe you'll have lots of repeat customers or new ones recommended by them. Bubba __________________ "The worst evil that could be inflicted upon the youth of the land would be to leave them without restraint and completely at the mercy of their own uncontrolled inclinations." ~Calvin Coolidge~

10-18-2009, 02:04 PM	#6
handibunny Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NY Posts: 364	Glad it went better for you this time, Kevin. Your work is so special that it's not surprising that you'd do better at a show where people are looking for quality. And just how much of the $700 did you spend at the baking booths? __________________ Carole Follow me on my blog: www.scrollsawbowls.blogspot.com

10-18-2009, 01:13 PM	#2
34natl Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 143	Congrats Kevin. Glad to hear you had a much better show. Sounds like mini clocks was the big seller.I have to make a couple. Mike

10-18-2009, 03:23 PM	#7
normded Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 266	my wife and i went to a huge show last weekend at letchworth state park in ny and at the end we realized that we spent about $40 and everything we bought was edible bread bowl soup, philly cheese steak, kettle corn, and the list goes on. lmao Jerry

10-18-2009, 03:30 PM	#8
KtownScroller So much better :) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: PA Posts: 2,665	Way to go Kevin. The upscale shows bring in better (read wealthier) shoppers. Time for you to build more clocks!!! __________________ - Rick

10-18-2009, 03:39 PM	#9
Sally Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Renton WA Posts: 1,027	Nice going!! I want scroll saw artists to do well - adds to my credibility too. Lucky you.

10-18-2009, 04:11 PM	#10
Ocelot Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NY Posts: 487	That's great, Kevin. Way to go! Ray __________________ http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...t=bdee7145.pbw

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