tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810466599498707869.post7741525398700221680..comments2024-03-28T12:33:19.506-04:00Comments on Mill Girl: Surviving a bad craft showLiz Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06082326421765682661noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810466599498707869.post-36881229601105948782015-07-27T21:18:59.402-04:002015-07-27T21:18:59.402-04:00I just went from twittering with you to finding th...I just went from twittering with you to finding this post when I searched "do any craft show make money" - your title is perfect, and then I noticed your name looked familiar! Having just had an exhausting show, I was glad to read your post.Margaret Almonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00922823341489003652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810466599498707869.post-2362330265704676752013-05-10T09:36:38.149-04:002013-05-10T09:36:38.149-04:00:) thanks for sharing....
:) thanks for sharing....<br />redrustycarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03255716986706210161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810466599498707869.post-21732808882746365892012-11-13T14:47:19.313-05:002012-11-13T14:47:19.313-05:00Thanks for the thoughtful comment, Theresa! I hope...Thanks for the thoughtful comment, Theresa! I hope your first show goes really well :) Growing a handmade business is full of personal feelings as well as business parts. It is tough finding the balance. All I can say is, time helps. Liz Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06082326421765682661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810466599498707869.post-21529833347625154892012-11-11T10:25:36.880-05:002012-11-11T10:25:36.880-05:00Hello Liz,
Your blog post is very well written. I...Hello Liz,<br />Your blog post is very well written. I'm humbled by your emotional honesty of craft show disappointment. I got accepted to be one of the vendors at the December 1st Union Square Holiday Market in the "Precinct", MA. It'll be my first show ever. I've sold my work at local businesses but never at a craft show. It took me 2 years to finally open an Etsy store and make enough products to sell at a craft show. One of the things that I've been worried about is what I'll do if the craft show on December 1st doesn't go well. First experiences for things are usually very important, it's a foundation for determining reactions to future experiences of that nature. I've been having really high hopes in the past 2 years about what will become of my handmade business. This hope has carried me through a lot of rough moments. Reading your emotion filled blog post is helpful to me. I now have a better idea of what to do if my first craft show on December 1st doesn't turn out well. Thanks Liz! - Theresa Zhong (I've seen your great work at Gather Here last winter's makers' sale) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13257217023516296657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810466599498707869.post-88424084883629749672012-08-03T09:41:00.136-04:002012-08-03T09:41:00.136-04:00Great pics! Hope your next show is a huge success!...Great pics! Hope your next show is a huge success!!Cynthia Sherrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18260558900489479586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810466599498707869.post-687811233639751062012-08-02T23:22:48.013-04:002012-08-02T23:22:48.013-04:00You really put into words what it feels like when ...You really put into words what it feels like when you have a bad show. How even though you have had great shows, this one BAD show can bring you down! Thanks for posting!!!Elegantly Eclectichttp://www.shesacrafty1.etsy.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810466599498707869.post-58569367212170753552012-08-02T14:14:10.346-04:002012-08-02T14:14:10.346-04:00LaAlicia: Thank you my dear! Yes, getting a feel f...LaAlicia: Thank you my dear! Yes, getting a feel for a show before signing up is a great tip. This was my 5th year and the show had been a knockout the first 4 years so... who knows?<br /><br />PoetessWug: Hahaha! Tell your husband he is welcome! Makers are not competitors, we are comrades! That is so sweet he wants to sell for you! Have him read my post on vending at a craft show for a feel of how the day usually goes.<br /><br />Thanks, Vicki! Yes, keeping a cheerful face on is HARD but vital.<br /><br />andrea creates: Good point about a show being advertising. I once established a fantastic relationship with a shop owner at a show where I barely made booth fee! You never know.<br /><br />k.o'brien jewelry: Thanks for comiserating, I haven't found the same issues but I am not doing a bunch of shows either. Here's hoping the holidays are as good as ever!<br /><br />Robin: So glad you could visit and had a good time! I was sorry I had to work and couldn't chat more.<br /><br />Mom: you are the BEST craft show co-pilot! You were there from the very start, you really have seen it all; celebrities, hurricanes, good days and bad. Thanks for your endless support for all I do, it means everything to me!! <br /><br />Leanne: I'm shocked that someone actually said that at Folk Fest, I don't usually get that kind of person at this show. Although now I am remembering one girl who made a point to inform me my $12 rings are "REALLY expensive." LOL, I told her I was raising the price to $14 after the show :)<br /><br />Diane: it's true, it is personal! That's why the rewards are so high and the lows are so low. I try to kindly explain why my items are worth the price, and I do feel like I've educated a lot of people about the awesomeness of handmade. But I know everyone comes from different places with different perspectives. we can only do our best!<br /><br />Coastal Art Glass: That does sound like a lot of shows! I'm hoping that more shows create more buyers and more appreciation for handmade. Maybe I'm naive but it's possible that making handmade goods more available will make buying handmade more common too.<br /><br />Susan: thanks for stopping buy, I appreciate it!<br /><br />Thanks Amy, your work is gorgeous, I'm a big fan! I hope your shows are fantastic!<br /><br />LRod! You are so sweet, I appreciate your kind words so much! It was the WEIRDEST show ever!! Oh well, onward and upward!Liz Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06082326421765682661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810466599498707869.post-1548074628067143522012-08-02T00:54:32.584-04:002012-08-02T00:54:32.584-04:00Fantastic post! Great tips and it's mind bogg...Fantastic post! Great tips and it's mind boggling to me that you didn't do well at FF - love LOVE your work!!! Big hugs to you dear one! xoLiz Rodrigueznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810466599498707869.post-14234389619673322112012-08-01T22:36:05.538-04:002012-08-01T22:36:05.538-04:00You're a rock star Liz! Thanks for the tips a...You're a rock star Liz! Thanks for the tips and reminders. I have a 3 day show this weekend and I am going to go all positive!!! The mental game can often be more challenging than anything else. Look forward to seeing your new pieces!Amyhttp://www.bumblebellydesigns.etsy.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810466599498707869.post-31447290360311633222012-08-01T18:35:05.652-04:002012-08-01T18:35:05.652-04:00Boy oh boy can I relate...both to the highs and th...Boy oh boy can I relate...both to the highs and the lows. Thanks for sharing.Susan Forsythehttp://www.beautifullypractical.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810466599498707869.post-61210171913071550752012-08-01T15:47:16.628-04:002012-08-01T15:47:16.628-04:00I believe that the area and I'm speaking of Ma...I believe that the area and I'm speaking of Maine is saturated with festivals, art shows, craft shows and ArtWalks. Every weekends starting in May and going into October there are over a dozen of shows each week. Then in November we start with Christmas bazaars in every school and church using the proceeds as fund raisers. Help! it's no wonder we can't make money...Coastal Art Glasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15531182016403142876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810466599498707869.post-90103314987090418792012-08-01T11:44:35.010-04:002012-08-01T11:44:35.010-04:00This is such a great post, Liz - realistic, yet po...This is such a great post, Liz - realistic, yet positive. People who sell handmades are really putting pieces of their souls out there for the public to see and comment on at these shows, and that's never easy. Leanne's comment breaks my heart. It's like we should put everyone through a brief "Handmade 101" orientation before we let them shop craft shows, so their expectations are in line with the goods for sale!Diane Gillelandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02210339859168266767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810466599498707869.post-30865244448415544102012-08-01T11:12:23.625-04:002012-08-01T11:12:23.625-04:00Ug! I'm so tired now!
I definitely spent a go...Ug! I'm so tired now!<br /><br />I definitely spent a good month getting ready, on top of my usual 60 hour workweek, and for what?<br /><br />Between the pricey booth fee, the raw materials and all the incidentals (credit card fees, packaging, meat on a stick), you're not the only one who's not feeling the love from Art in the Courtyard this year.<br /><br />And all those sales really were hard won. I actually had someone come up to me and ask me to justify the "sticker shock" on a $68 handwoven. I was like, huh? You mean the cheapest handwoven scarf I have? That took 4-5 hours to make and about $15 in raw materials? Not to mention 4 years in art school? And she was from the Berkshires! She was totally serious, too. She literally didn't understand why she should pay $68 for a handwoven when she could buy a scarf at Walmart! She actually used Walmart as a comparison.<br /><br />Those definitely weren't my people, either. Some days it really feels like I should stick to selling grilled cheese.....Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02480905199312010493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810466599498707869.post-87869109702008369672012-08-01T04:43:56.855-04:002012-08-01T04:43:56.855-04:00I have sat with you through good and bad flea mark...I have sat with you through good and bad flea markets, good and bad craft shows,what a roller coaster!<br /><br />How I admire your courage, your energy, your always beautiful smile.<br /><br />I love the things you make, the beautiful colors, the excellent crafsmanship.<br /><br />I know how hard you work. HUGSMomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810466599498707869.post-91273480687952525212012-07-31T19:19:13.252-04:002012-07-31T19:19:13.252-04:00Liz -- Your booth looked fantastic and you seemed ...Liz -- Your booth looked fantastic and you seemed relaxed. I definitely plan to come back next year!Robinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810466599498707869.post-16004384444500469432012-07-31T18:34:57.948-04:002012-07-31T18:34:57.948-04:00It seems to me there is a trend that even if anoth...It seems to me there is a trend that even if another vendor is doing well at a show it isn't as well as previous years. I think there are too many craft fairs over saturating the area and buyers are becoming browsers. I love to buy handmade but can't afford to at each and every show there is, there are just too many and for the most part these shows have the same vendors. It has become monotonous. I realize this may not sound like a pep talk. It is a 'you aren't the only one' talk. Hugs + drinks to you! xokimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18012408263563580152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810466599498707869.post-11542523920004194612012-07-31T18:23:45.861-04:002012-07-31T18:23:45.861-04:00i love to do shows and have had both successful an...i love to do shows and have had both successful and non successful venues...i haven't done any in a few years but hoping to this year... it does build up your confidence when you do sell and talk to customers in person~<br />i like to look at the not so good shows as advertising and like you said inventory building ;)<br />good luck for your november show,i'm sure you'll do great :)andrea createshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18121033486362358917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810466599498707869.post-39899250990922541632012-07-31T18:20:33.853-04:002012-07-31T18:20:33.853-04:00What a great post Liz! Slow shows are always a bum...What a great post Liz! Slow shows are always a bummer, but your advice is spot on -- keep your chin up and don't broadcast this news!Orion Designshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11931362806311746160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810466599498707869.post-15316348273458061552012-07-31T17:59:57.292-04:002012-07-31T17:59:57.292-04:00What great advice! My husband wants to know where ...What great advice! My husband wants to know where your next show is! ^_^ But I don't know if he wants to be a customer or a rival vendor somewhere near you! LOL He likes your attitude. And since I can't sit at shows, and he's been thinking about sitting there with my stock for me, he ses your advice as very helpful...and so do I. But I ALWAYS find your experienced advice helpful. :-) Thanks for sharing it!PoetessWughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05269054577952128702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4810466599498707869.post-80897018292290168902012-07-31T17:53:59.102-04:002012-07-31T17:53:59.102-04:00I'm so sorry to hear that you had a bad show b...I'm so sorry to hear that you had a bad show but I think you handled it like a champ. <br /><br />I try to attend a show as a shopper before I sign up for it to see who/what's there first -- but yes, it's a gamble...LaAliciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11498132706924490435noreply@blogger.com