I've been accepted to my SECOND juried show!

Hi everyone!

Well, I'm excited to say that this week I was invited back to sell my jewelry at a juried show in Steamboat Springs, CO again this December!  I got the invitation and application on Monday via email.  I filled it out, sent it in with a picture of an example of my jewelry and a check for the booth rental.  I got the confirmation email yesterday that they accepted my application and I will be selling there again this year!  Yippee!

I just hope there won't be a blizzard anytime near the date - I might have to cancel and won't be able to get my expensive booth rental back!

This time, my helper and I will share a hotel room after the show so that I don't have to drive over Rabbit Ears Pass in the dark.  It may be snowing that evening for all I know!  And this will allow us to have a nice dinner in a semi-fancy restaurant and I'll be able to enjoy some wine.  Living in a tiny cowboy town of 1500 people, I rarely get a chance to eat at a place like that, and Steamboat Springs (a ski resort town) has boatloads of those types of restaurants, and people who live there make plenty of money. 

I am also excited because since I sent my application in immediately, I know I will get a better booth than I did last year.  It is first-come first-served with booth assignments, and last year I was a last-minute addition so I got one of the worst booth spots. 

I am really hoping that the people who bought from me last year will search me out this year.  And if that famous guy from last year wants to buy from me again and take the jewelry with him and send me a check later, I will let him. 

Another reason for me to be excited is I have planned improvements to my booth.  No one even glanced at my bracelets, which were all jumbled up on a triple-bar bracelet display, so I have to do that differently.  I got more necklace busts and I plan to display all jewelry sets together to increase the chances of multiple sales to one person.  That was my big mistake last year - not displaying sets together.  We live and learn!

And unfortunately, I know I will lose some sales due to the fact that I can't take credit cards - except through PayPal.  No one took advantage of that last year - I think they wanted instant gratification by being able to take it home that day.   I know that I lost some sales last year just because I didn't take CC's, but I don't do enough business to justify the expense, which is big when you are starting out because it is best to buy the equipment rather than rent it. 

Anyhow, just wanted to share my excitement!  Now I am trying to make at least one piece of jewelry a day, or 7 pieces a week, from now until December 5.  It will be a fun time!

Congrats Sherri! This is so wonderful! I wish you the best of luck! If only you knew someone that you could work a deal with to be able to use their cc machine for sales. I don't know the exact costs, but are there any that offer a 30 day trial period before commitment so that you could try it and see if it increases your sales?

Just a thought! Best sure to remind us when it gets closer so that we can think positive for you!

Sheila, I knew you'd be one of the first to respond, since you do shows yourself!  Thanks for the well wishes!

There may be a 30-day trial period for the equipment, but you have to have a merchant account before even using the machine.  And there are start-up costs associated with that, which I just cant justify when making the sporadic sales that I do.  From the research I've done, some companies only waive the start-up fees if you rent the equipment from them, and you can't get the wireless machines as rentals - that would be an upgrade.  I couldn't do the outdoor shows without the wireless service.  In addition, the reviews I've read state the rented machines don't work very well.  Hence, these are the reasons why I prefer to buy a machine instead of rent ........... when the time comes, that is!

Actually, come to think about it, I have to correct myself - the equipment isn't rented.  They give you the machine, but in the end, the fees they charge you for the service are higher than if you buy your own, so its not free at all.  And the reviews do say the free (not rented) machines don't work that great.

Thanks again for your well-wishes and suggestions!  They are ALWAYS appreciated!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

See if one of your booth neighbors will allow you to use their credit card machine and then pay you! We did that many times for other vendors when we were in the flea market. We charged the other merchants $1 or so for using the machine to pay for our costs. It didn't happen often, but it allowed them to make a sale they would have lost.

Maybe this year's show will be the one that puts you on the map!

Sounds like you have a good plan for staying overnight, so you don't have to drive at night especially if it snows. I don't do snow, so I can sympathize, completely!

Deb

 It's a shame the show hasn't set up a credit card booth.  The Christmas Fair I did last year did that....we just filled out a ticket they took it to the credit card booth brought us back a receipt and we handed the sold item over.  We then handed our receipts in at the end of the fair and they paid us.  They took a small commission to cover their costs but that was just the same as we would have paid if we were doing it ourselves.

You make me nervous saying you'd give your jewelry over to someone who would later send you a check.   Just because someone's famous it does not mean they are honest.  Celebrities are used to getting things for free and some come to expect it.  Get your money before handing over your product!

I've been stiffed by Hollywood people on more than one occasion...my ex was Hollywood so I met a lot of celebs.

Congratulations Sherri ~ I'm sure that your show will be a success.  Have lots of FUN

Deb, thanks for the suggestion, I will consider it.  But how will they pay me?  I can't imagine that they would bring their company checkbook with them, then pay a stranger money for a credit card transaction (or two or three...).

Mikki, believe me I was nervous last year.  But last year I talked to two vendors that were there who have done this with this local celebrity numerous times, and he always came through with a check.  After talking to those vendors, I was comfortable trusting him to take the jewelry and send me a check.  I received the check in less than a week after the show, so all was good.  I totally understand your concern, though!

But I can't imagine why he doesn't just bring his checkbook with him to the show!  It's bizaar.......

 Congratulations!

I thought there was a way to process credit cards with your cell-phone.  I'm no expert, so I may be completely wrong, but it's something to look into.

Cathi

 Congrats Sherri! This must be so exciting for you! I remember you mentioning the last one you did, I think.

Get busy on those pieces so you have lots to offer!

 Well...I feel better.  But what the heck is it with these people?  I swear celebs are either really nice or totally crazy.

I could totally write a Naughty or Nice list.

Hi Sherri - That's great news!!  As far as credit card sales, I use Propay (www.propay.com) and have used them for over 5 years (no affiliation, just a satisfied customer!).  You don't need to have a merchant account, there are no monthly minimums and their annual fees start around $30-35 to just accept Visa and MC (plus per transation fees).  I got a knucklebuster from ebay with the credit card slips (I think the username is Mr Imprinter).  You have some time to figure out if you think you would recoup your sales making that kind of investment.  Good luck and feel free to ask me any questions about Propay.

Megan

 Excellent Sherri!  That is such wonderful news. I hope you get front and center, right in the middle of the main drag... not too close to the start, but a little way in, so people are starting to look to BUY, not just getting an idea of what's on offer. Anyway, good luck with getting a piece a day made.  Better keep a sketchbook near at all times, so when you get an idea, you can write it down and draw it out!

Lois

MeganH:

Hi Sherri - That's great news!!  As far as credit card sales, I use Propay (www.propay.com) and have used them for over 5 years (no affiliation, just a satisfied customer!).  You don't need to have a merchant account, there are no monthly minimums and their annual fees start around $30-35 to just accept Visa and MC (plus per transation fees).  I got a knucklebuster from ebay with the credit card slips (I think the username is Mr Imprinter).  You have some time to figure out if you think you would recoup your sales making that kind of investment.  Good luck and feel free to ask me any questions about Propay.

Thanks for the tip Megan!  I'll check it out for sure!

A "knucklebuster".........is that one of the manual credit card machines?  I would consider that, as long as there was a way to get credit card approvals using my cell phone at the show.  What a great idea!  If ProPay is as reasonable as you say it is, this might just be possible!  And depending on the cost of the machine, I may be able to recoup my money just in the sales I would have lost by not taking credit cards!

Cool!  I think there's hope!  Thanks again!

Lois, thanks for your well wishes, and for your suggestions with the sketchbook!  I appreciate it a lot!

Sherri,

Be sure to let us know which way you go, and how it works out for you!  We're all interested, even if we decide to never sell.