[Nfb-krafters-korner] Selling at craft markets
Sahar Husseini
sahar at inebraska.com
Sun Mar 18 12:13:09 UTC 2012
I always worry about the quality of my jewelry. I think I should just use sterling or gold-filled, but I also use pewter. I like the way it feels, and even though it isn't top dollar, I make sure that I don't make cheap stuff. That's the problem though. Like you said, people aren't always interested in quality. So, what's the trick to selling jewelry; I'd sure like to know, after thirteen years of making it. We definitely can't compete with China.
Warm regards,
Sahar Husseini
For hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind jewelry, please visit my Website at
www.saharscreations.com
Find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/saharscreations
And remember, "Obstacles don't have to stop you.
If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up.
Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."
Michael Jordan
----- Original Message -----
From: "River Woman" <riverwoman at zoominternet.net>
To: "List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 7:56 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Selling at craft markets
For your jewelry it depends on the quality of what you are selling. I use
only Sterling Silver for clasps, and I use very good beads that I buy in a
gem show that comes to Pittsburgh once a year. I do not buy anything at
JoAnns or other box stores for my jewelry. I am not looking for a customer
who wants things for dollar store prices. I am looking for a customer who is
like me and I make only the kind of jewelry that I personally wear and buy.
I do buy jewelry off of other people, too. I recently bought two necklaces
off of Ebay. They were lovely stone necklaces, very well made, and the
prices that they are sold for on Ebay is so low it is pitiful for such a
nice piece. They are, of course, made in China! I bought them so I could see
what they are like - and they are nice. There is no way in the world that a
jewelry maker here could compete with the masses of things being sold on
Ebay. I quickly found out that a necklace that I get $100. or more for at
my holiday markets, people buying on eBay will pay 9.00 or LESS for. After
five months of working at the eBay business (I worked it 10 - 12 hours a
day) I was selling my things for less than what I had in them, and in the
end, was in the hole after paying all the many fees tacked on at eBay. My
experience during that 5 months of intensive work at eBay was a complete
waste of my time and an enormous loss of money in the end. Check out the
prices there and you will see what I am talking about. Jewelry is being made
in large factories in China and other places like this - and being poured
out on eBay and other places.
The other thing I saw last year in Puerto Rico was a store that looked very
beautiful, right on the main drag in Old San Juan - and the jewelry was
beautiful. A complete set of anything in that store was for sale at only
$10. - unbelievable.
That is what you are up against when you put your jewelry out there for
sale. It is probably the most difficult thing there is to make and sell
these days.
The other thing you will encounter is other vendors at the craft shows. They
have made very cheap jewelry and sell it for pitiful prices - and - most of
the jewelry being sold at craft shows is not made by the person selling it.
They have bought it very cheap (we are talking as low as 12 cents for a
necklace) and put it out for sale on their table. It is called "re-sell"
items. While a craft market will tell you this is not permitted, once you
know what to look for, I would bet you will find re'sell on 90 percent of
all Jewelry selling tables.
That is why, I keep my quality high, my prices up where they should be, and
only sell at places where people know what good things really are like. I
sell at Museum galleries, country club boutiques, and artist's studio shows
where everything there turly is made by the person who is selling it.
I don't want to paint a grim picture, but it really is a difficult
situtation for American Artisans who are making beautiful things. People
have developed a dollar store mentality and they do not even know what is
good and what is junk any more.
And, I won't even get into selling pottery - haha
I could go on about that, too.
Hope you don't think I am being negative, I am just telling you honestly
what my experiences have been like for over 12 years of selling at all kinds
of shows - I did up to 28 a year (and had a full time teaching job at the
same time).
Lynda River Woman
----- Original Message -----
From: "Denise Shaible" <denise.shaible at att.net>
To: "List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 3:27 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Selling at craft markets
> Thank you for all of the information. These suggestions are good for no
> matter what we sell. My NFB chapter is holding a bake sale soon and we're
> going to use the apps on the Ipone to help with money. I really like the
> idea of looking people in the eye and having things labeled in print and
> Braille. That way, we know what we're selling and can answer any
> questions. I like the boutique idea and will probably put something in the
> holiday boutique at Braille Institute at Christmas time this year. I
> really need to get in gear if I'm ever going to sell anything. Oh, one
> question, how do you decide what to charge for your work, such as jewelry?
> I would find this interesting if anyone can give me some information.
> Thanks again.
>
> Regards,
>
> Denise
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: joseli Walter
> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 4:29 PM
> To: 'List for blind crafters and artists'
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Selling at craft markets
>
> Love my Ipod touch with money identifier app, (uh, kinda forgot what it's
> called.)
> But it's awesome!
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sahar
> Husseini
> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 6:16 PM
> To: List for blind crafters and artists
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Selling at craft markets
>
> Also, you might want to invest in a money identifier. If you have an
> IPhone, there are a couple of aps. I also have the IBill, a stand-alone
> money identifier; I paid $100 for it, and it was worth every penny. I
> don't
> leave home without it. I am not usually comfortable selling by myself.
> I've done craft shows, and I find them more stressful than they're worth.
> Lynda, it is so good to hear someone else echoing my sentiment. It's
> funny
> this has come up just after you and I corresponded about it. I feel
> validated, as I told you in my private message to hear you saying what you
> said because people think I'm crazy when I tell them I'm not comfortable
> with craft shows and that I think they're often a waste of time. People
> are
> often looking for a bargain, and not necessarily quality. The best craft
> shows I have ever been in are those at convention. I love doing those;
> they
> are definitely worth the stress. *smile*
>
> Warm regards,
> Sahar Husseini
> For hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind jewelry, please visit my Website at
> www.saharscreations.com Find me on Facebook at
> www.facebook.com/saharscreations And remember, "Obstacles don't have to
> stop
> you.
> If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up.
> Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."
> Michael Jordan
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Lindy van der Merwe" <stephlin at iafrica.com>
> To: "List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 10:39 AM
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Selling at craft markets
>
>
> Thanks, Linda, for all the tips and ideas. I have not yet decided to do
> the
> craft market on a
> permanent basis. You have reminded me to also look for some other
> alternatives and have given me some great ideas to work with. My sincere
> thanks.
> It looks like I will have someone with me for my next market, so I'm sure
> it
>
> will also help me get comfortable if I decide to do this type of selling
> more in future.
> Kindest regards.
> Lindy
>
> Find PRACTICAL PRODUCTS on FACEBOOK:
> http://www.facebook.com/practicalproducts
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "River Woman" <riverwoman at zoominternet.net>
> To: "List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 2:50 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Selling at craft markets
>
>
>>I sell jewelry and knitted accessories. I no longer do "craft shows" but I
>>do some higher end "Holiday Markets." The ones I do now are set up
>>boutique style where the customers show the entire show, then bring the
>>things they wish to purchase to the "check out" area where it is sold and
>>bagged for them. This works perfect for a blind person because you do not
>>stay at your area, other than to come in a replenish the stock. A much
>>better clientelle visites this type of market, and you get much better
>>prices.
>>
>> I did do craft shows for quite a few years. I soon learned that shows
>> held
>
>> in churches, fire halls, and schools are typically very low end ones and
>> flooded with tons of people there to have lunch and visit, but not to
>> buy.
>
>> And, they are not discriminate about how many vendors they have selling a
>> particular thing. ie, they may have a dozen tables of jewelry vendors -
>> which means very little sales for any of them.
>>
>>
>> I do only one show now in which I am there at my booth the whole time. It
>> is in a museum, so again, the clientelle is much better and they are
>> really there to buy nice things.
>>
>> I always have a family member at my booth with me.
>> I am alone at times when they take a bathroom break, and after doing this
>> many times for the four years I have been without sight, I am always
>> quite
>
>> nervous.
>> There is no way anyone would know I am blind at all. Even after I say so,
>> they are skeptical about it. I look them in the eye, and I engage with
>> them through gestures as I always did before. There is nothing about me
>> that reads "blind" unless they saw me walking in with my cane.
>>
>> Customers always say "over there" "that one" "this one" the "pink one"
>> etc. That is the normal way for a person who can see to designate things
>> and they have no idea that we cannot know what they mean. They are really
>> clueless about blindness - I sure was! I understand this.
>>
>> Here is what I do that helps though:
>> I put a clearly marked price tag is on every item.
>> If they ask the price, I hand it to them and say, "Here, you can see the
>> price on the tag." I also put any other pertinent information on the
>> tag -
>
>> I use large tags so it is very CLEAR to them.
>> Money? I have the bills put in an order that is always the same. I use
>> only bills and never have any change. This eliminates a very big worry.
>>
>> I never price anything with "cents" involved. Everything with only
>> "dollars" this way the item is $5. or $10. etc. You can back the taxes
>> off of the price after you get home. When you do your pricing, just
>> round
>
>> it UP to the next dollar amount. This has saved me so much worries. This
>> way you need never worry about making change with those coins.
>>
>> You can get a money ID thing for your bills. I have an ID PacMate that
>> reads bar codes so you can even make bar codes for your items which is
>> pretty cool.
>>
>> Any time I sell things that are different colors, I put them in "Roy G.
>> Biv" order. In fact, everything I can put into that order in my own
>> house - all my jewelry is in Roy G. Biv order. Roy G. Biv means Red,
>> Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet. In my home I have plexiglas
>> containers that are tall. Each one has a lid, and each one holds one
>> color
>
>> of necklaces. They are in Roy G. Biv order on my dresser. No worries
>> about
>
>> what color I am getting, if it is kept in order.
>> Another special container holds all my earrings in this order, too. I
>> found a wonderful Earring Box on Home Shopping Network. It holds 72 pairs
>> of earrings. All in order and easy for me to find just what I am looking
>> for.
>>
>> I do know that some people will definitely cheat you if given the
>> opportunity. If I had not had my daughter with me to watch the
>> transactions, there were some times when I would have given a person
>> change for a $20. when she really gave me a $10. and the person stood
>> there waiting for the change. My daughter saw it happening and ran over
>> to
>
>> clue me in. Also, teen age girls come into your booth in groups and they
>> are there to steal - one engages you in conversation while the firends
>> are
>
>> stealing. This happens a lot at outdoor festivals. I cannot imagine being
>> in the booth alone without some watchful eyes to watch the crowd -
>> especially when you sell jewelry. It is small and very easily slid off
>> the
>
>> table into a tote bag even when a person CAN see well.
>>
>> Those would be my most important tips after about 10 years of doing arts
>> festivals, craft shows, and markets.
>>
>> Lynda River Woman
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Lindy van der Merwe" <stephlin at iafrica.com>
>> To: "List for blind crafters and artists"
>> <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 3:03 AM
>> Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Selling at craft markets
>>
>>
>>> Hi there,
>>> To those who sell at craft markets, I was wondering about a few things.
>>> 1 Do any of you manage a stall or a table on your own, or do you usually
>>> have someone there to help?
>>> 2 If you do it on your own, how do you answer the questions: how much is
>>> this? or I'd like to take this ... or Do you have change for this?
>>> 3 How do you handle sorting and exchanging paper money?
>>> I had my first experience with selling at a stall last Saturday and
>>> these
>
>>> were some of the aspects I had to deal with.
>>> I don't think it is immediately obvious that I am blind, which did make
>>> for some awkward situations, I thought.
>>> Perhaps there may be some obvious answers to some of these questions, or
>>> perhaps I just need some practice with being more comfortable in dealing
>>> with strangers in that type of setting?
>>> I know it will be most helpful to have prices on either the products or
>>> on the containers they reside in, but it just felt like people related
>>> to
>
>>> me using gestures a lot of the time, which obviously made communication
>>> somewhat difficult and even though I wanted to respond in a confident
>>> manner, I found it quite challenging at times.
>>> Any ideas and thoughts would be much appreciated.
>>> Lindy
>>>
>>>
>>> Find PRACTICAL PRODUCTS on FACEBOOK:
>>> http://www.facebook.com/practicalproducts
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: <Blindhands at aol.com>
>>> To: <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 5:28 AM
>>> Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Looking for volunteers
>>>
>>>
>>>>I am looking for teachers to teach the classes. Do you know or are you
>>>> interested in teaching any of these suggested classes? I need
>>>> volunteers to
>>>> teach.
>>>>
>>>> Heads up we hopefully will be having an email class with an Origami
>>>> project
>>>> in the near future. I will do a soap class and a sewing class, but
>>>> I
>>>> am busy with kicking off my new craft business. I am not sure if I
>>>> can
>>>> fit classes in that I will teach between now and middle of July. I
>>>> have 4
>>>> holidays between now and then to fill orders. Hopefully I am putting
>>>> St.
>>>> Patty's Day Wild Irish Roses to bed maybe by tomorrow. I have 100 in
>>>> reserve
>>>> for my Irish Bar that is selling soo many of them. I spent the last 2
>>>> days
>>>> working on Easter ones to get a head start. I will know on Wednesday
>>>> if
>>>> they need any more St. Patty's Day ones.
>>>>
>>>> We need to wait for the Latch Hook class to be finished before we start
>>>> a
>>>> new email class. I want to only do one at a time email class for now,
>>>> until we work any problems out.
>>>>
>>>> So think about what you can teach, host a chat night topic. I will
>>>> be
>>>> there to help with what YOU do.
>>>>
>>>> Krafters Korner is for everyone and everyone makes Krafters Korner what
>>>> it
>>>> is!
>>>> Joyce Kane
>>>> _www.KraftersKorner.org_ (http://www.krafterskorner.org/)
>>>> Blindhands at AOL.com
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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