Art & Craft Show Tips of the Trade Volume 3:
April/13/2008 02:03
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1
Read Tips of the Trade Volume 2
Keep Your Confidence
A while back I got some great advice from the gallery owner Julie from Creative Genius in Medford. There will always be nay sayers. There will be rude people at these events, and sometimes, they’ll make comments to you. Thus is life, somebody will always try to put down others to make themselves feel better. Don’t let this get you down. It probably won’t happen often, but when it does it can hurt your feelings.
There will be someone who thinks that Handmade should mean Cheap, as far as cost.. They will pick up an item and say something like “Fifteen Dollars for a ______?!?!?!?! I could buy a _______ in Target for $8!” You smile, and say something like: “Well, you’re right, you could, Handmade products are not for everybody, I’m not simply selling a ______ I’m selling a one of a kind item, that I personally have put much care, thought and attention to detail into.” - you could continue to say “Not only that, but my buyers have the satisfaction of supporting the local economy, and not a global box store culture. Buying handmade is also better for the Earth, as many of the big box store factories are contributing to global warming and polluting our environment with excess packaging and waste. My items are made with my hands, not big industrial machines! That’s why it’s more expensive, but, I know Handmade isn’t everybody's cup of tea and that’s ok!”
It’s actually a great sell if you think about it, some people just don’t understand, but when you put it like this it enlightens them that Handmade is actually more exclusive, better quality, and better for the environment. For the people that were just genuinely being rude, well, you’ve all the sudden made Buying Handmade seem like some sort of exclusive club, and maybe now, they’ll want to join!
How Much Do I Bring?:
People always wonder how much inventory they should bring, as a general rule, I’d always have more and have to carry some extra stuff back then to sell out and still have stock sitting untouched at home. I don’t mind having to carry a bit extra if it means my wallet might be heavier at the end of the day. Just cause you bring it all doesn’t mean you have to display it all, put a few of each item out and just keep restocking!
Read Tips of the Trade Volume 2
Keep Your Confidence
A while back I got some great advice from the gallery owner Julie from Creative Genius in Medford. There will always be nay sayers. There will be rude people at these events, and sometimes, they’ll make comments to you. Thus is life, somebody will always try to put down others to make themselves feel better. Don’t let this get you down. It probably won’t happen often, but when it does it can hurt your feelings.
There will be someone who thinks that Handmade should mean Cheap, as far as cost.. They will pick up an item and say something like “Fifteen Dollars for a ______?!?!?!?! I could buy a _______ in Target for $8!” You smile, and say something like: “Well, you’re right, you could, Handmade products are not for everybody, I’m not simply selling a ______ I’m selling a one of a kind item, that I personally have put much care, thought and attention to detail into.” - you could continue to say “Not only that, but my buyers have the satisfaction of supporting the local economy, and not a global box store culture. Buying handmade is also better for the Earth, as many of the big box store factories are contributing to global warming and polluting our environment with excess packaging and waste. My items are made with my hands, not big industrial machines! That’s why it’s more expensive, but, I know Handmade isn’t everybody's cup of tea and that’s ok!”
It’s actually a great sell if you think about it, some people just don’t understand, but when you put it like this it enlightens them that Handmade is actually more exclusive, better quality, and better for the environment. For the people that were just genuinely being rude, well, you’ve all the sudden made Buying Handmade seem like some sort of exclusive club, and maybe now, they’ll want to join!
How Much Do I Bring?:
People always wonder how much inventory they should bring, as a general rule, I’d always have more and have to carry some extra stuff back then to sell out and still have stock sitting untouched at home. I don’t mind having to carry a bit extra if it means my wallet might be heavier at the end of the day. Just cause you bring it all doesn’t mean you have to display it all, put a few of each item out and just keep restocking!
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