[Nfb-krafters-korner] sales and organization
Terry Burns
ladycrochet1 at hot.rr.com
Wed Aug 8 14:51:15 UTC 2012
Dear All,
I have been reading the emails concerning craft shows and
organization and it has rraised some qquestion and comments.
First, I don't have that large of a stash of yarns. I wish I did.
My yarns are kept in gift bags according to project. For example, I am in
the process of crocheting my grandaughter an afghan for Christmas. All the
yarn for that project is in one gift bag. I have other projects going and
again, the yarns are organized in gift bags according to project. My
questions regarding this is what about patterns and so forth. Also since I
can still see contrast, how do you mangage to see new patterns. The pattern
books are so bright and the print is not very good. My best way to view
print is white on black. Any tips on scanning patterns and getting them in
a format I can see well. I have had luck with some online patterns and
recipes being on my notebook computer.
Also do your crafts really sell? I have had some folks with success
and some not. What avenues do you use other than craft shows?
Lynda, you must be a very talented artist. Wow!
Terry B.
I
-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of River Woman
Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2012 8:55 AM
To: List for blind crafters and artists
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] sales and organization
De
Sounds like you are on a mission to really be organized, Terry! Good for you
and lots of great ideas here.
Here are some of my tips for organization of art/craft things:
YARN:
My yarn is organized in my fibers studio/office which is a room off by
itself. It used to be a back porch many years ago, and my husband tore down
the porch and built a room there and made it far larger than the porch used
to be. It steps down from my kitchen and is very private and not part of my
house. I love it.
On two walls, he put in shelves that hold slide out drawers that are
transparent. I bought them at Dollar General for about $6. each. There are
25 of these pullout drawers. Each is about 12 x 15 inches and 7 inches deep.
They are wonderful and keep my yarns clean and safe. I have quite a large
STASH, as you can imagine. Since I can see contrasts if they are very
large, I made a sign for each box - white paper with large black marker on
it. I put this sign right inside the front of the drawer so it shows up very
well when the drawer is closed. I can see each sign so I know what kind of
yarn is in my drawer.
(cotton; acrylic; fun fur; novelty yarns; Noro; lace; mohair, etc.)
In addition to those shelves and drawers, I also have containers that have
three shelves in them, stacked one upon the other. Since those drawers are
not as deep as the single ones, I can keep knitting and sewing implements in
them, threads, and other smaller items. I really like to have like things
with like things - it makes life so much easier!
We also bought a shelf unit from Home Depot and it was only about $25. and
it has five shelves on it - goes from floor to about 2 1/2 feet from the
ceiling. It is about 4 feet wide. On these shelves I have placed all the
three drawer containers, and lots of shoe box sized single containers.
On the bottom shelf of this unit I have binders - bought at Staples. In the
binders are my knitting patterns. I have a separate binder for each kind of
item. Example: Scarves; shawls; childrens' jackets; etc.) And, finally, in
archival storage boxes (bought from Graphic Dimensions mail order or
website) I have all my knitting magazines. Each is stored by type in these
archival boxes.
Another good item was purchased at the Dollar General. I bought lots of
containers that look like they would hold cupckes. They stack very nicely
one on top of the other. I can put four of these containers in one stack -
they are fantastic and I love them. They have lids that snap into place so
they are wonderful for putting projects in - this way I can just pick up a
container and I have everything I need for my project right there in that
container.
For the Beads:
I am currently having a studio built for just my beading equipment and a
place to work where nothing is disturbed and I can just be alone to work. I
have a really nice room in the lower level of the house where I used to
paint and do printmaking a long time ago. Bob is going to build a new
hardwood floor in that room (it is concrete now) and I will have it painted
a bright cheery color (yellow) and can then have all my bead stuff in one
place. It is maddening right now as my bead stuff is spread out in three
places! I long to have it all in one place.Right now, I am working on the
dining room table - and it is covered with beads all the time - so when I am
getting company or a business call, I have to clear off my table - and that
is driving my crazy! lol
Bead Storage: All beads are stored in segmented containers which were
purchased at JoAnns. They are containers that have individual segments so I
can put like beads with like beads in those. Example: jade, malachite, onyx,
etc.) I do not mix types of beads but keep each separate for easy use in the
future.
Right now, all my beads are stored in a different building - my pottery
studio. I have shelves there, with doors on them, so that everything stays
pretty clean. These will be moved into the bead studio once Bob gets it
built - cannot wait for that.
Pottery Studio:
In my pottery studio everything is stored on those shelves I bought at Home
Depot. or in closed containers and stacked on the floor. Again, I do not mix
things. A container will have only one type of item in it. Example: Bowls;
Vases; Egg plates; etc.) This studio is on the second floor of a barn
shaped building on my property - it is perfect for pottery making. Making
pottery is a very dirty business - so it does not matter how dirty the space
gets up there, though I do keep it as clean as possible and clean up after
every session.
As for selling things, I no longer do any kind of craft show or artist
markets, with the exception of two in November - I sell my work only in
galleries or museums, and normally it is a one person show, or a small group
show that I do. I did do artist's festivals for about 10 years. These are
normally not very profitable and require immense work to set up and tear
down tents and displays - not worth the effort and time and dealing with
rain, wind, and intense heat outdoors. Ugh!
MONEY:
One tip I highly recommend is that you price your items in rounded off
numbers - so you are dealing only with bills and not making change. It is
very smart to sell something for a rounded off number - you don't have to
waste time making change, and you don't have to fiddle around with carrying
coins - a nuisance. And, I learned to add in the tax and just round the
price up to include the tax so that you don't have to fiddle around with
adding it on at the festival - this way, a person knows exactly how much the
itmes cost right up front, and not have to worry about how much it will be
with tax. Make things as easy for you and your customer as you can.
I highly recommend that you take credit cards through your I-Phone. You will
have far more sales if you take credit cards. Using your phone puts the
money directly into your BANK ACCOUNT, right away.
Smart tips to increase sales:
When I had a one person show last year at a museum, I had five people in
charge of my sales. This way, I could greet the guests, discuss my work, and
enjoy my opening. I did not have to worry about anything - the five people
made all the sales. One person was in charge of all credit card sales using
her I-Phone. Another person was in charge of cash sales - only whole
numbers, so not need for change or writing up taxes, etc.
Two people in charge of wrapping and packaging all items sold. (The major
pieces are not taken home that night, but are on display in the gallery for
a month. But, a very smart thing to do is to have a display area where you
are selling smaller items and those things can be taken home that night.
Those items ranged from $20 - 100.) We sell tons of things this way - people
love to take something home with them from the show that night.
Larger items in the gallery are taken home when the show has ended - they
come back to the gallery and pick up the work from the office there. All
work is paid for up front on the night of the opening or when a person
visits the show during that month. Once the work is paid for, then a red
sticker is placed on the name card beside the piece - so everyone knows the
work is SOLD. It is motivating and encourages sales - people get excited
when they see lots of red stickers and it makes THEM want a piece of my
work, too!
Each of the five people who work at my sales come in and out of the gallery
during the entire evening - putting up red stickers on the sold items.
The attendance at my last solo show was record breaking for the gallery -
largest attendance in the 25 years the director has been there. and she said
I had the highest sales in the galleries history. So my methods work very
well. I am prepareing right now for a six person exhibition that will open
in October. We'll do the same sales tactics at this show, too. If it ain't
broke, then don't fix it.
OK, passing along these thought to you today in hopes something here might
help you. Blessings and have a sparkley day. Lynda River Woman
Lynda Lambert
River Road Studio, Since 1976
Village of Wurtemburg, PA 16117
Visit my Web Site at: http://lyndalambert.com
Visit my Blog at: http://www.walkingbyinnervision.blogspot.com
www.lyndalambert.com
www.walkingbyinnervision.blogspot.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Powers, Terry (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E]" <Terry.Powers at nih.gov>
To: "'List for blind crafters and artists'" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2012 8:29 AM
Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] sales and organization
>
> I am in the midts of sourting out all my yarn and organizing it. I got 2
> book cases that were my nieces, that are broken down into squares. Thay
> came from Target and you can buy folding baskets to fit in the squares of
> the book case. I bought different colored baskets to go along with most
> of my yarn colors. I have blue for blue, red for red and yellow, green
> for green, purple for purple, and I have not desided what colors I will
> use for cotton or thick and quick or verigated yarn.
> I am working on getting my beads in one location even if they are not
> labeled.
> Also, I found the Id mate will read some yarn colors, especially the Lion
> brand 3 and 4 ply.
>
> I am just getting started, using the pen friend, to make labels for yarn.
> This is good, because the labels can be erased and used again. I bought
> plastic lables from the NFB, but later thought of using the plastic name
> badge holders for my pen friend labels. They can be cliped to an item or
> wrapped around an item or just put in a plastic bag of yarn.
> Identifying beads is the hard job. dimo tape does not stick for long!
>
> When selling items, usually at an NFB function, I use index cards and
> braille a description and the price. I also print the price for the
> sighted. Remember, they can see the item, so the description is for the
> blind and for me to identify the item. Some items are to small to label
> or the label would hide the item, so I do not label them. These are
> ornaments and I can identify them by feal and looking at them, closely for
> color, if necessary.
>
> Money;
> Somewhere, I came upon a whalet that has 3 large zippers, so I can
> organize my bills and change. It is pretty large, but can fit in a large
> pocket or bag and I do not have the hassle of opening a register each
> time. The mo ney is in my hands, all the time. No one can reach over the
> table and grab from the register.
>
> Set up
> I try to set up my table with all related items, together. I put small
> items in containers, so they will not fall off the table and get lost or
> get mixed up. I find this keeps my table, neet and orderly.
>
> Hope some of these ideas help, someone.
> Any ideas on organizing beads?
>
> Terry P.
>
>
> Theresa L. Powers (Terry)
> Grants Clerk
> Tobacco Control Research Branch
> NIH/NCI/DCCPS/BRP/TCRB/DEAS
> 6130 Executive Blvd, MSC 7337
> EPN 4039B
> Bethesda, MD 20892-7337
>
> Rockville, MD 20852-7337 (express mail)
>
> Phone: 301-496-8584
> FAX: 301-496-8675
> E-mail: terry.powers at nih.gov<mailto:terry.powers at nih.gov>
>
>
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