I make jewellery and hats for my living and here's what works for me: use the best materials you can afford, do the best work you can and always put the customer first. Don't do 'cover versions' of other people's designs - look with your own eyes and work with your own hands. Good luck.

Jennifer - I just downloaded the e-book and can't wait to read it.  I have been doing craft shows for 4 years (this is year 5).  I just did one show my first year and was scared half to death the entire time - but I made some sales and ended up having a great time so added more shows each year.  I am always looking for ways to improve my sales, my booth display and my jewelry making skills so this e-book (and so many of the other ideas on this site) is great.  The only advice I can offer is don't be afraid to try and always be open to ideas and suggestions.  At that first show I did, I ran into another vendor - a woman who worked at one of my local bead stores and we got to talking before the show opened.  She generously gave me some wonderful advice on setting up my booth, pricing my items (told me I was pricing things too low), and even helped me re-arrange some displays before the show opened to better showcase some of my items.  While we were "competing' for customers, she was so helpful to me as a first timer and was almost as excited as I was when I made my first sale (her booth was diagonally across from mine and she could see my booth from hers).  I have tried to help other vendors whenever I could to "pay forward" all the help and encouragement she gave me at that first show.  I'll never get rich selling my jewelry - it is more a hobby than a business, and the money I make goes to buying more beads, but I have found that it is something I really enjoy doing.

Ricki

Ayer Baubles

I don't think I would have a good time at a craft show!  If someone made a negative comment, I would be crushed!  LOL  I know my taste isn't the same as everybody else, but still...  

Has anyone ever used Esty??  

I've been selling jewelry at shows for years.  Let me start by saying that I love selling at shows.  I've met some fabulous people, had many good times, and wouldn't trade it for the world.  Also, I won't quit my day job, and expect my jewelry to pay the bills.  

Please don't think you're going to set the world on fire at your first show.  Or first year of shows.  Most shows now, be it a local neighborhood craft show or a big juried show are FULL of jewelry.  You should have a great display, a great product and a fantastic attitude, or you're going to be just another jewelry booth.  

As far as Etsy goes, this morning there are over 848,000 listings for 'beaded jewelry'.  Again, you have to stand out in a crowd.   With Etsy, you have to promote, promote, promote, and that can be a full time gig too.    

Buy great materials, be meticulous in your execution and by all means have fun.  There are few things worse than walking up to a booth at a show, and having the Seller not look up from texting, or her Kindle, or stop talking to her friends long enough to acknowledge their customer.  No wonder they aren't selling anything!

Also, grow a thick skin.  Some customers talk like you're not even there.  My favorite line is, "I could make that!"  Excellent...here's my card, I have ten shows coming up and I could use a little help.  The person usually backs slowly out of the booth and goes away.

We had a lovely women next to us a show last year.  Her work was nice, she was sweet, but she didn't sell a dang thing and at the end of the day was sitting in her husbands truck sobbing because she tanked.  Hey, it happens.  Get over it, move along.  You might come out and have an awesome show one time, but tank at the next one.  Again, it happens.  Practice, practice, practice.

I just have fun.  Where else can you spend a day talking about jewelry and beads and come home with money in your pocket?  (Sometimes not a lot, but still!)  Although I still get a little teary eyed when one of my 'special epic' babies finds a new home, it's very gratifying to see someone try it on and go "Oh. My. Goodness.  I want this now, wrap it up."  Whoot!

Wow.  Big post and it got eaten.

My rules after doing shows for 10+ years.

1.  Stand out.  Every show has a million jewelry sellers.  Be different.  

2.  This is hard work!  The jewelry making is the easy part.  The hard part is schlepping tables, chairs, tents, displays, containers and all the other stuff that makes a booth into and out of shows. At six am.  In the dark.  And then there's the weather at outdoor events.  That's a whole other post.

3.  Don't expect an awesome show every time.  Sometimes you win, sometimes you're lucky to make expenses back.  Every show is a learning experience.  

4.  Everyone is a critic.  Get over it.

5.  Have fun.  Nobody wants to buy from a sour apple.  And put the Kindle and texting device AWAY.  That's just obnoxious.'

6.  Buy sell imported garbage is a way of life.  It isn't cool to be set up next to the person who bought cheap crappy Chinese beaded bracelets for $5 a dozen, and selling the heck out of them for $3 apiece, but it happens (Unless it's a very juried show) Get over it. and be grateful some people know that quality and originality costs money.  (Just don't be the buy-sell person!)

7.  Have fun.  I can't stress that enough.  You're not going to quit your day job after your first show.  I still haven't quit my day job.  But boy do we have FUN!!  Where else can you talk about beads and jewelry all day long?

I make all kinds of jewelry. Never used an e-book before please send instructions if they might be needed.

Thank you,

tielamarie

Hi, I just downloaded the e-book and can't wait to read it. My sales at The Beaded Pathway have been very slow. I have done some craft shows and some were good, some were so-so.

Going to read the e-book.

Sue

The Beaded Pathway