Please help for ideas on craft show displays and sales....

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Please help for ideas on craft show displays and sales....

by Cynthia Gilbert
(Morrison)

Hi,

I have been to a few craft shows since July 2011, and so far at only 1 of my shows have I made anything. I do not know what I am doing wrong. I am still trying to figure out my display set up. I have people look at jewelry and I try to talk to them to interest them more but not sure what I am doing wrong. Anyone have any ideas?

I don't make fancy fancy jewelry, just simple ordinary necklaces, and bracelets. I just make what I feel looks right. I am open to any help and or suggestions. Thanks

Cynthia Gilbert

Comments for
Please help for ideas on craft show displays and sales....

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It takes time
by: Margaret

I have been doing craft fairs for two years. This year I have been doing much better than last year and expect to do even better next year. There are several things you must consider: first you need to pick shows that are good for the style of jewely you make, second you must be sure you don't under price your jewelry (many crafters make this mistake, David Weiman has some excellant videos and articles about this issue), third you should have pieces that fit a range of prices and fourth you need to be a good salesperson at the shows you attend. Display is also important.
Look at the show where you did well and try to figure out what was different about it than the other shows. Time of year may also be a factor. People spend more during Christmas than at other times.

You will Make It!
by: Pegi

Your work is very nice. I do wire also (with some chainmaille and metal clay). It will get better. I agree with Margaret. It just takes time. There seems to be a learning curve that we all go through.

I've been doing this about 9 years now. Because of illness I was away for about 3 years. As I began to talk about it again, my two best friends decided they wanted to join me. We are now crafting and selling together and having a great time. They don't realize how lucky they are to skip some of the learning curve.

Here are a few tips that have worked for me. You will have to experiment to see what works for you.

1. Figure out a color scheme and work it into the display, business cards, table cloths, and everything else. Don't use more than 2 or 3 colors. I use 2 colors, dark red and black.

2. What ever you choose for your displays, keep it professional looking - not helter skelter. Rena uses a great, quick set up display. Check out one of her articles about her 30 minute display setup.

3. Display your work at varying heights; it is pleasing to the eye. One level can get boring to look at. I've tried many things. But this made the biggest difference in sale for me.

4. Let your display reflect your own personal taste and jewelry style. What I use and what Rena uses are both great. But your needs to be great for you.

5. Make sure your jewelry does not hide within your display. Keep the focus on the jewelry. Too much display draws the eye away from the jewelry.

6. Some people use good, large photos of their jewelry on a poster; others use a digital picture frame. Both/either add a profession look.

7. Make sure your jewelry, both beads an metals are clean and shiny. Shiny or glittery jewelry sells. Dirty jewery does not sell.

8. Invest in lights!. They make the jewelry glittery and I repeat - Shiny or glittery jewelry sells. This has made the second biggest difference in my/our jewelry sales.

9. Have several mirrors so customers can see your jewelry on themselves. Customers find it harder to leave a piece they have held and tried on.

10. Put your best pieces where they can attract attention and bring people into your booth. After they inspect this piece up close, they will look at your other pieces, too.

I made a gorgeous and expensive Tanzinite necklace that I never really expected to sell. I planned to use it for show submissions and it was good for drawing people into the booth. At one show a lady kept looking at it and came back 4 times to look at it again and again. I suggested she try it on and see it in the mirror. She kept saying, "No, it is too expensive for me." But each time she came back I suggested she try it on again, just for fun. She finally did and She Bought It!

That's enough. I wish you good luck and great sales.

Pegi of P2K Design

Jewelry Display Ideas
by: Rena

Hi Cynthia!

I'm not sure if you've been to Jewelry Display Ideas yet? There you'll find a few hundred pages of great ideas (including photos) for displaying your work, all generously shared by jewelry artists.

Most of the ideas are do-it-yourself projects you can easily make - often for free or costing very little money.

If you spend some time wandering around there, you can't help but be inspired with some good ideas you can adapt for your own display needs.

Please keep us posted on what you decide.

Also, thank you Margaret and Pegi for your great tips (shared above)!

My last display with PROFITS.
by: Cynthia Gilbert

My latest show was Saturday Oct. 8, 2011. It was an awesome day. I sold some jewelry. YEA!!!! I also had found a display idea from the internet images and made it. It actually is really too large, but helped get jewelry off table and upon eye level. I am still working on display ideas.

I thank each and everyone who leaves me comments. I appreciate every one. I love every idea. I am so glad to have happened upon this site.

I am gonna try to add a picture to this comment.

Again thanks to everyone. :)

My display
by: Cynthia Gilbert

Hi everyone, again. I just left a picture of my last display on the Displaying Jewelry page and the title is called PIPE WORKS.

Awesome, Cynthia!
by: Rena

So glad to hear about your show! It's a fantastic feeling to get in the groove of a show where everything is flowing well.

I love your Pipe Works display - the multi-levels are a neat feature, and it looks like it won't blow over easily at outdoor shows since there isn't a large surface for the wind to hit.

Do you take it apart and put it together at each show, or did you glue the parts together?

(Also, thank you so much for your lovely feedback on this site! I'm so glad you've found us too!) :o)

PIPE WORKS DISPLAY....
by: CYNTHIA GILBERT

Hi Rena, thanks for the comment. Yes it comes
apart. Would like to paint it but my husband
thought that everytime I take it apart and put it
back together again, that it would scratch paint and it wouldn't look neat.

I just make sure the words on the pipes are turned toward the back. My husband thought it was too tall and we are gonna make it a little smaller. He also wants to make a bracelet display also. I haven't figured out earring display yet. I suppose those ideas are yet to come. lol.

Again thank you for everything and help.

Good looking display
by: Pegi

Cynthia,
I do like your necklace display. I think it will look great with a smaller bracelet version. That starts to tie the booth together.
I'm glad your show went well for you. You are on your way, And I wish you great shows in the future.

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