[Nfb-krafters-korner] Holiday Market Marketing

[jill]

Linda,
I really appreciate your info.  I would love to do a holiday market at some
point in conjunction with our Alabama institute for the deaf and blind
regional center.  I volunteer there during the year.  I would love to get a
number of blind crafters together here locally to showcase their abilities
and talents.  Your information is great for planning purposes!  Thanks for
taking time to write down your thoughts!

Jill

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-krafters-korner [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of River Woman
Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2012 10:38 AM
To: List for blind crafters and artists
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Holiday Market Marketing

Hi everyone,

I thought some of you might like to get some tips on marketing the holiday
shows you might be doing this year - or have the information you can use for
something in the future. I hope this helps someone. Our Christmas artisan
market is very successful, and gains momentum each year, even though it is
out in the country, and has no such thing as a "store front" or
"pedestrians" or people just passing by. In other words, it is out in the
middle of nowhere, really.



 Our show went really well this past weekend - lots of people and just about
everyone came to buy.  I don't think I saw anyone leave without a package -
but we have built up that clientelle for the past 12 years. 

How we built our clientelle:

We advertise the local newspaper.
We call the show a  "market" which  immediately make a person think of
buying things there.
The word, Market, indicates 
"selling" stuff.  

We keep records of those who have made purchases each year.  They will get
an invitation by mail and by e-mail each year.

We give a wonderful GIFT to one lucky person at the end of the show.
The vendors EACH  donate one item for the "gift bag" and everyone who buys
something at our show, gets to fill out a little coupon as they pay for
their purchases at the check out desk.

The coupons for the drawing are kept till the end of the show.  

On the coupon, we get their name, address, email, phone, and how they found
out about our show. This way we know what is most effective for brining in
people  

We have a FaceBook page for the show.  It is FREE marketing.
On that page, we highlight different members who will be selling there -
show photos of their work, and describe it, on the FB page.  

Each of the vendors "share" that information through our own FB pages, too.


Remember this:

IT takes a maximum amount of effort by all of us to being out the buyers
each year. That is what it takes - you cannot just put out your work and
think that people will come and buy - it takes a lot of work all year long.

And, one final thing that makes our show work is that there is no
duplication of products. In other words, only one sculptor in the show;
only one photographer, only one card maker; only one knitwear designer, etc.
It is very important to limit the scope of vendors so that they are not
competing with each other. Be selective in what vendors you permit into your
show - Make sure it is people who respect each other and who get along well
as a group.  You don't want anyone who tries to undersell anyone else, or
who makes duplicate items. This way the show stays FRESH and EXCITING to the
people who come to shop each year.

I hope this helps anyone here who is intending on putting together a nice
holiday market in your area.

Remember, it takes time to build it up, so just work on it throughout the
year and be really selective about what you are putting on display.

Lynda Lambert
104 River Road
Ellwood City, PA 16117

724 758 4979

My Blog:  http://www.walkingbyinnervision.blogspot.com
My Website:  http://lyndalambert.com



 
 
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