First Craft Sale

I'm very excited! My friend just got a call from a community club craft sale... they had someone drop out last minute so now we get their table!! I only have a week to make stuff which makes me very nervous considering I do mostly beadweaving!! I may have some questions for some of you guys since I've never done this before and am on a tight schedule! I don't know how good this show's going to be, but I plan on making things that I was going to give as gifts for Christmas, so at least if things don't sell I have my Christmas gifts finished!!! So much to do, so little time AAARGH!!

~Briggs

So go, go, go! That's good news, Briggs! Good luck for the sale!

That's exactly how I got into the bazaar I did last weekend-found out the night before!

Do what you can but don't drive yourself nuts.  Try to make projects that don't take too long to complete-you'll have more that way.  People are probably looking for gifts & stocking stuffers, so if you can make some fairly simple earrings, bracelets & necklaces (say a stitched focal piece on leather cord) that won't be too expensive you should nail it.  I'd say aim for under $50 on most items if you can, though do bring a few nicer pieces so you can show off what you're really good at.

Best of luck, and ask anything you need to!

 Thanks for posting Jeni - that's exactly what I was aiming for... nothing too crazy and pieces that were manageable to make with only a week's time... I've been studying like mad for the past 3 months so haven't had a lot of time to make anything... I'm going to bring some of my bezeled rivolis and I'm going to make some Swarovski Christmas tree earrings. I'm hoping that the $50 range will be good since it is Christmas. I don't know how many people they'll be getting, but even if I only sell a few pieces, it'll be worth it. I'm sharing a table with a friend, so it's only costing me $15 to do this.

I also plan on bringing a few pieces that are customizable... my family necklaces and a few other things to have on display. I'm hoping to get some orders that I can make in the next few weeks!!

I think I'm going to get a sturdy tree branch and spray paint it silver. Then I'm going to stick it in a vase with some clear stones and hang my necklaces from there. I'm going to try to find a small fake Christmas tree for my earrings... if not, I've seen a lot of decorative reindeer with fancy spiralled antlers that will be perfect for hanging earrings from!!

~Briggs

 It sounds as if you've got a good plan.

Always remember to have fun at a show because if you're stressed or frustrated it will show on your face and in your manner.

Good Luck and be sure to let us know how it goes.

sellen

 Briggs:   Good luck on the craft show!  Sounds like you have some great ideas.  I did one just this last Saturday and I thought I would tell you what worked well for me.

I had a drawing for a bracelet (next time I think I will do earrings).  A very nice bracelet (around $50.00)  I had premade little sheets asking for name and email or phone number and had a bowl for people to put their slips of paper in.  The reasons this worked so well is while I would have felt weird saying to people walking by, "Come and see my lovely jewelry",  I had no problem saying "Would you like to enter a drawing for a free bracelet, no purchase necessary".  Most people would come over and start to sign the paper and I would tell them a little bit about my jewelry while they were filling it out.  95% + of the people that I invited over, came over and then actually LOOKED at my jewerly.  I also kept the email addresses for sending a quick email about my website when I have a sale (about 2 times a year).  I did not keep the ones who left phone numbers unless they won the bracelet, I would not call and bug people.   I did get 6 email addresses and the lady who won the bracelet ended up ordering some custom earrings from me too.

I will defiinitely be doing the drawing again.  You might want to try it.

That's a good idea Laurel.  I might try that next time.

 That IS a good idea!

Briggs-- something I have found to be easy/fast and have sold really well has been the charm necklaces... 16" of silverplated chain, a small S clasp, and a tassle of assorted beads with at least one metal charm of some kind. especially done in blues and white tones, I have sold.... 8-9 of those sorts of things. They're REALLY popular with the 15-30 age range. could be fun with a bead-woven medallion or flower too.

Good luck!

Lois

 Congratulations and good luck! Sounds like great fun, enjoy!  Let us know how you fair.

cb

 I love the tree branch idea.  Good luck at the show.

 I just did a craft show last week and sold only Christmas earrings!  I made a lot of angel earrings and some snowman earrings and that is what sold.  I used a small tabletop Christmas tree that I painted white enough to look like snow and hung the earrings as ornaments with red and green ribbons.  I attached a sign to the top of the tree with a craft stick painted green to blend in.  It was really a big hit.  Good luck!  Lynn

 You guys all have such great ideas!!

Laurel, I may just do a draw... if any of my beads ever come... I'm really hoping that I get home this evening and that there's 4 or 5 packages of beads for me... otherwise I'm in trouble... I'll only have a day to make everything if they come tomorrow :( 

Lynn, I was going to use a small Christmas tree too... I didn't think about using ribbon though... that'll probably be MUCH easier to hang earrings with!! I also think the sign idea is fabulous!

Thanks for all your ideas!! I don't have much progress to report since my beads aren't here yet :(

~Briggs

 Oh Briggs, I hope they come for you today.  I just hate waiting on beads!!!

 Nope, they definitely did NOT! Some of this stuff shipped November 2nd and 3rd... it NEVER takes this long!! Now I'm desperately hoping that it all comes tomorrow or I will have a very empty table :(

~Briggs

 Did they come?  And how did the craft sale go?  Inquiring minds want to know.  :)