So, while I've decided that there was nothing particularly "wrong" with my table display at the craft show, it is a little "busy", and I have decided that some improvements are required.
Namely, the following:
- make a 6' tall pegboard instead of 4'
- install lights on the top of pegboard to properly illuminate photos
- paint pegboard black to better highlight the photos
- make a table runner to draw more attention to the table (lace? bamboo placemats?)
- buy little baskets and/or boxes to put the cards in, in categories, rather than propping each and every card up on the table all meli-melo (that'd be a French expression meaning all "mish mash", or "at random", or "with no particular order"). This also means that as I add to my collection, I won't run out of table space. Or at least, not right away, anyway.
- get boxes to be able to sell packages of cards, whether "custom" or "themed"
- make some "other" photo products, such as jigsaw puzzles, coasters, calendars, etc. to sell, so that people have more choice in how they display my photography
- properly print and frame my logo, pricing, themes, etc.
I also need to put together a price/product list and an order for. Before I go to stores and try to get them to stock (or outright buy) my cards. Because a) it won't look very professional to use post-it notes on the backs of the cards they want to order and b) then I can have a comprehensive listing of all of my available prints and products! And how is that a bad thing, right?
That's my goal for the weekend - get a product/price list together, and finish scanning the sample cards so that I can upload them to my etsy site. Which I will then provide a link to! (And also so that I can pass them on to my web designer so that she can get my website designed and up and running!!!!)
Things are coming along...
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Disappointment
I had my first table at a craft show yesterday.
Everybody who stopped by my table (and that was pretty much everybody who came to the show) said that my photos were beautiful, or that I had a great eye for photography, or that such and such a photo was amazing, but NO ONE bought anything! One guy even asked to come around the table so that he could get a better look at one of my prints, and said (quite convincingly) that he'd be back, but I saw him wandering around for a while, and then he and his wife left!
Well, I didn't sell *nothing*. A friend came by and she and her boyfriend's son each bought a card, and I do really appreciate it, but that's almost like a pity-buy, you know?
It's so hard to put yourself and something that's so personal out there for the masses to either love or hate. And I almost think that it would have been easier if people *hadn't* liked my photos. At least then I'd be able to give up easily, admit that it won't work.
But having people say that they really liked my photos and then not buy anything, well, that makes it really hard to just give up. People DID like my stuff, but maybe it wasn't the right audience for buyers. I mean, for a 7 hour day, we only had ~450 people attend, and most of the day there were more exhibitors in the hall than there were buyers. And I do know that this show was a small show, and that it's not as well attended as the Christmas show in the same hall, which is why I wanted to get a table at this show, so that my name is on the list for the Christmas show.
But, but, but.
It's just so frustrating!! To get so many compliments, and no one buying.
Grrrrrrr.
Ah well.
Here's what my table at the craft show looked like. It's my first table, so I know that there are many things to learn, and ways to evolve to make it look better and attract more buyers, so I'd appreciate any constructive criticism that you readers have. (If there are any readers out there?? lol) The pegboard is 4' high, which is pretty much all that fits in my car's backseat. I'm going to see if I can fit a 6' length in my car with the seats down, but we didn't have time to work that out for this show. Oh, and the signage will be better and more professional next time. I actually forgot about making signage this time, and was rushing to get some made at midnight at my friend's place the night before the show.
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I'm also working on scanning my cards so that I can list then on my etsy site. Maybe I'll get some interest there?
*sigh*
Everybody who stopped by my table (and that was pretty much everybody who came to the show) said that my photos were beautiful, or that I had a great eye for photography, or that such and such a photo was amazing, but NO ONE bought anything! One guy even asked to come around the table so that he could get a better look at one of my prints, and said (quite convincingly) that he'd be back, but I saw him wandering around for a while, and then he and his wife left!
Well, I didn't sell *nothing*. A friend came by and she and her boyfriend's son each bought a card, and I do really appreciate it, but that's almost like a pity-buy, you know?
It's so hard to put yourself and something that's so personal out there for the masses to either love or hate. And I almost think that it would have been easier if people *hadn't* liked my photos. At least then I'd be able to give up easily, admit that it won't work.
But having people say that they really liked my photos and then not buy anything, well, that makes it really hard to just give up. People DID like my stuff, but maybe it wasn't the right audience for buyers. I mean, for a 7 hour day, we only had ~450 people attend, and most of the day there were more exhibitors in the hall than there were buyers. And I do know that this show was a small show, and that it's not as well attended as the Christmas show in the same hall, which is why I wanted to get a table at this show, so that my name is on the list for the Christmas show.
But, but, but.
It's just so frustrating!! To get so many compliments, and no one buying.
Grrrrrrr.
Ah well.
Here's what my table at the craft show looked like. It's my first table, so I know that there are many things to learn, and ways to evolve to make it look better and attract more buyers, so I'd appreciate any constructive criticism that you readers have. (If there are any readers out there?? lol) The pegboard is 4' high, which is pretty much all that fits in my car's backseat. I'm going to see if I can fit a 6' length in my car with the seats down, but we didn't have time to work that out for this show. Oh, and the signage will be better and more professional next time. I actually forgot about making signage this time, and was rushing to get some made at midnight at my friend's place the night before the show.
.jpg)
I'm also working on scanning my cards so that I can list then on my etsy site. Maybe I'll get some interest there?
*sigh*
Friday, February 01, 2008
A probable hiatus...
Good News: I have taken the first couple of steps in starting my own business!
Bad News: I won't have nearly as much time (or energy) to blog as I usually would (which isn't much to begin with.)
I have reserved my business name, have the name registration and home-business registration applications all filled out (will probably submit them Tuesday), have my table reserved at a local spring craft show, and have a domain and website hosting plan purchased. I've also got an etsy site ready to go, but that will have to wait until I have some samples to take photos of and post. And I've hopefully got an appointment with my accountant this week to get the tax crap all sorted out. No point in doing it wrong all year only to get completely stressed out in 1 year's time, right?
I got the e-mail set up and working with Thunderbird tonight, and am going to move onto getting a basic web site up and running next.
I also have to choose photos and get supplies so that I can get my cards made in time for the show!
And I have 3 weeks to do all this in!! (So I'm sure you understand why I might not be back here in a while...)
I will try my best to keep up with Blogstalking (although I couldn't see a post on what we were to post about this week), and keep you updated as to my progress in getting my business up and running.
Wish me luck!
Bad News: I won't have nearly as much time (or energy) to blog as I usually would (which isn't much to begin with.)
I have reserved my business name, have the name registration and home-business registration applications all filled out (will probably submit them Tuesday), have my table reserved at a local spring craft show, and have a domain and website hosting plan purchased. I've also got an etsy site ready to go, but that will have to wait until I have some samples to take photos of and post. And I've hopefully got an appointment with my accountant this week to get the tax crap all sorted out. No point in doing it wrong all year only to get completely stressed out in 1 year's time, right?
I got the e-mail set up and working with Thunderbird tonight, and am going to move onto getting a basic web site up and running next.
I also have to choose photos and get supplies so that I can get my cards made in time for the show!
And I have 3 weeks to do all this in!! (So I'm sure you understand why I might not be back here in a while...)
I will try my best to keep up with Blogstalking (although I couldn't see a post on what we were to post about this week), and keep you updated as to my progress in getting my business up and running.
Wish me luck!
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