[Nfb-krafters-korner] Selling at craft markets
River Woman
riverwoman at zoominternet.net
Sun Mar 18 13:51:11 UTC 2012
haha, I feel your pain. And, you did only ONE? You are so smart! I was so
stupid I kept doing them for 10 years. And, I did sometime 28 a year, while
teaching full time too. I am really a slow learning. Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: "Charlotte" <sirius_black at comcast.net>
To: "List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2012 9:35 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Selling at craft markets
>I agree with you. I did one outdoor show, and a third of my handmade soap
>melted! I was absolutely distraught. So no more outdoor shows for me. And
>plus, with my heat intolerance issues, it doesn't work for me. But I'm
>still a brave soul. I have a new show on the 31st and another new 2 day
>show on the 21st and 22nd of next month. Some new shows do really well, but
>I remember all too well from last year the sitting, sighing and waiting for
>customers. And then the weather can wreak havoc. My last show of the season
>was in November. We got our first snow that weekend. There was supposed to
>be a large number of people there based on the attendance from previous
>years and the sales I'd gotten there the previous month. So here I was all
>excited, and here came the slush and snow. Our traffic plummeted. Ouch!
>That hurt.
>
>
> On 3/18/2012 8:04 AM, River Woman wrote:
>> H Sahar,
>> Well, I do think most people who make art are optimistic by nature. It's
>> probably not optimism that keeps us going back though. Probably
>> addiction. lol
>> Like gambling. Every once in awhile you WIN, and then you keep thinking
>> you will keep winning. There is an adrenalin rush though when you are out
>> there at a lovely summer festival outdoors - masses of people, lots of
>> activity all around you, the interactions with the other vendors and the
>> joking and laughter. The harrowing part is getting it all set up, but
>> once it is set up and you are oprn for business, then it is enjoyable.
>> After that, the nasty tear down at the end of the show. And, the weather
>> changes, fighting winds that are tearing down your tent, getting soaked
>> and cold, muddy, flooded, - yeah, it must not be optimism, Sahar. It is
>> sheer madness. lol but then, we go back again....sigh.
>> This year, I have eliminated all but two shows and they are indoors and
>> they are ones where I have sold for years and do well. No more tents and
>> mud for me any more. I have had much too much of it over the past 10
>> years. Enough is beyond enough -
>> Lynda River Woman
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sahar Husseini" <sahar at inebraska.com>
>> To: "List for blind crafters and artists"
>> <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2012 8:09 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Selling at craft markets
>>
>>
>>> Lol, Be Backers--I like that. You were inside my head again, Lynda. We
>>> keep going back, hoping, and why do we want to hit our heads against a
>>> wall? Is it really optimism? *lol*
>>>
>>> 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 8:59 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Selling at craft markets
>>>
>>>
>>> I am laughing at Terry's comments - they are so true and so typical of
>>> our
>>> experiences. Yes, they say they will "be back." but that is their way
>>> of
>>> leaving your table gracefully. They most likely will never be back - it
>>> is
>>> quite unusual for someone to come back but occasionally one will - it is
>>> always a surprise. We call those people "BE BACKERS" and we joke about
>>> that
>>> all the time. BE BACKERS almost NEVER come back.
>>>
>>> And, it is our human nature to think that something is wrong with us or
>>> our
>>> spot in the show - we blame ourselves when we do not sell very much. It
>>> is
>>> almost never your spot that is the problem, unless you are next to a
>>> bathroom, or near a food area. Other than that, all spots are good
>>> spots -
>>> you just never never want anywhere near food or bathrooms - never.
>>>
>>> We are always looking for the next show that MIGHT BE a GOOD ONE. My son
>>> told me last year I am addicted to craft shows - he is a psychologist.
>>> He
>>> cannot understand why anyone would keep doing these things year after
>>> year
>>> and have so little to show for the hard work - he is right! It is
>>> because
>>> as crafters and artisans we are very optimistic people, and we WANT to
>>> do
>>> well, so we keep thinking the next one will be better. It seldom is -
>>> but
>>> occasionally you'll hit a good one, and that keeps you going again.
>>> I think I need to take up a new addiction! haha
>>>
>>> Lynda River Woman
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Heather Kirkwood" <hkdawn at yahoo.com>
>>> To: "List for blind crafters and artists"
>>> <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 9:46 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Selling at craft markets
>>>
>>>
>>> Lynda, those were awesome tips. You should put them into an article!
>>>
>>> Heather KirkwoodDirector of Outreach, Vice PresidentHermansky-Pudlak
>>> Syndrome NetworkOne South RoadOyster Bay, NY 117711 (800)
>>> 789-9HPSwww.hpsnetwork.org Personal blog:
>>> www.heatherkirkwood.blogspot.com
>>> Search the Web at www.goodsearch.com and choose the HPS Network as your
>>> charity! HPS New York Conference - March 16-18, 2012
>>>
>>> --- On Wed, 3/14/12, Powers, Terry (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E]
>>> <Terry.Powers at nih.gov>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> From: Powers, Terry (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E] <Terry.Powers at nih.gov>
>>> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Selling at craft markets
>>> To: "'List for blind crafters and artists'"
>>> <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
>>> Date: Wednesday, March 14, 2012, 8:15 AM
>>>
>>> Lindy;
>>> I have only sold at NFB events and one at the National Institute of
>>> Health,
>>> not the actual building I work in. I had no success at the NIH event, it
>>> might have been my location in the room, I really do not know. Many said
>>> they would be back and never returned.
>>> I make braille labels for most of my items, with a description and the
>>> price. I also have the price, in print. I try to have my items, sourted
>>> out
>>> in catigories. I tell people what I am selling and ask them what they
>>> might
>>> be interested in and what color. With braille labels, I can find a
>>> spacific
>>> color, or tell what color I have left. I also try to keep an up to date
>>> inventory list.
>>> Fliers, business cards and if you want, a portfolio are nice to have.
>>>
>>> Terry Powers
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Lindy van der Merwe [mailto:stephlin at iafrica.com]
>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 11:39 AM
>>> To: List for blind crafters and artists
>>> 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
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----
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>>>>>> 03/12/12
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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>
> --
> Skype Name: MidnightPixie2
> If you're a crafter looking to advertise your wares, or you're looking to
> buy handmade items, then join my group. Send a blank email to
> HandmadeSellNTrade-subscribe at yahoogroups.com
> If you love to knit, or just want to learn, come and chat with other
> like-minded blind and visually impaired people. Send an email to
> blindknitters-subscribe at yahoogroups.com
>
>
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