So I'm here to share with you a couple of things I learned at my first craft fair. Some things I did cuz' I'm wicked smart like that, and some things I didn't do because I'm NOT wicked smart like that. Pretty simple.
*Make sure you get there early enough. I did not. I thought I had ample time to set up the stuff but whew. It took me forever and I was still bent over my table setting things up at least 5 minutes after it began.
*Bring your own table cloth. I remembered last minute to pick one up on my way there. Which, well, conveniently was located in the grocery store, the same grocery store with a Dunkin' Donuts right in it. Perfect.
*That brings me to the next point. Bring coffee. It's a long day of being in one spot for the most part.
*Try and make connections with the person who is in charge of placing you in a location. Luckily, I work with the woman who was in charge and she put me in a sweet spot. Yay Beth.
*Bring your own tape. It just has to happen.
*Bring candy to lure customers over. This was something I did...I know, I know, I should probably quit my day job because that was such a good move....and I will admit, this ad ploy is along the same exact lines as sugar cereal at a child's eye level. I'm totally totally against all that advertising to kids thing, but this is for a good cause, people. Kids come over to get an Andes mint, parents have to follow them, etc. etc. You know the rest. It worked maybe once. That's more than zero.
*Because 100% of the proceeds went to LLS, I had to make it 150% clear that was the case. I made a fundraising thermometer that showed the customers where I was fundraising-wise. Unfortunately I don't think many people looked at it, but it sure did give me something to do every other hour...fill it up with some red marker. And what a satisfying feeling...like vacuuming over a really dirty spot and you hear all the crap go through the hose. No? Just me?
*This is probably my number one suggestion I have for all the craft fair people out there. DO NOT, and I mean, DO NOT make eye contact with your customers UNLESS they inquire first. I give you this tip from a customer's perspective. I can't stand it when I go up just to look and the person behind the counter says, "Isn't that beautiful?" Ugh. Just leave me alone! I heard the woman next to me do that to every customer and I felt so bad for those people. If I had it my way, I'd make all the vendor people go away and leave me be with the stuff. If I needed the person, I'd ring a bell, or give a signal, or something. But just leave me alone!
So there it is. Really, the reason I wrote this whole blog was to get to that last point. Just leave them alone. They didn't do anything to deserve the abuse.
Oh and also, if you haven't already....donate? Still looking for that 60%!! My site is http://pages.teamintraining.org/ma/wdw10/jaquelin.hubbard@gordon.edu
I'm not savvy but we'll see if that works...thanks!
1 comment:
Jaq I 100% agree with what you said about not making eye contact. Whenever it happens to me I think, "If ever I was interested in possibly buying your art/craft, I am no longer because I feel like you are pressuring me into it by hovering and all I want to do is leave now and not actually think about buying anything." Good work.
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