Nina Jones on sat 9 oct 99
Hello the Group!
If you would be so kind:
1. Do you package the pots your customers purchase? How (boxes,
bags)?
2. I've seen shelves and I've seen tables. Any opinions on which is
better?
3. Is it a good policy to give customers a receipt with their
purchase? (not as stupid a question as you might think. At some
street fairs vendors don't)
4. Does anyone hand out brochures as well as cards with their work?
Any suggestions with regard to format/style?
Any other suggestions, tips, warnings, well-wishes?
To all my mentors, thank you in advance.
Nina D. Jones
Southside Chicago (where I've been getting up at 3:30-4:00 a.m.
trying to get ready for this December show--the sunrise does look
beautfiul coming into my studio window; light falls right over the
wheelhead).
@ njones@winston.com
Maid O'Mud Pottery on sun 10 oct 99
Nina Jones wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hello the Group!
>
> If you would be so kind:
>
> 1. Do you package the pots your customers purchase? How (boxes,
> bags)?
I use purchased tissue paper and purchased white bags. I feel if the
customer is paying for a new object, it's tacky to wrap it in old newspaper
and re-cycled grocery bags. Boxes are expensive and I'd need about 40
different sizes, so for me, are not feasible.
> 2. I've seen shelves and I've seen tables. Any opinions on which is
> better?
You can put shelves on tables (I do!). Eye level pieces get the most
viewing, remember.
> 3. Is it a good policy to give customers a receipt with their
> purchase? (not as stupid a question as you might think. At some
> street fairs vendors don't)
I always do - my province is very sticky about charging sales tax - and you
never know which "customer" is actually an inspector.
> 4. Does anyone hand out brochures as well as cards with their work?
> Any suggestions with regard to format/style?
I have wholesale brochures available for those who ask.
> Any other suggestions, tips, warnings, well-wishes?
Best tip I got (via clayart ;) was leave wide spaces between your display
areas. If you have a crowded area, people are afraid to enter your booth
and even more afraid of bumping/breaking your ware. I try for a corner
booth, and set up a 3.5 X 3.5 ft by 5 ft high shelving unit open all 4
sides, as well as displays along the inside 2 walls. This encourages people
to walk around the display. I've seen an increase in sales since starting
this configuration (either that, or people like my work more these days )
--
sam - alias the cat lady
SW Ontario CANADA
http://www.geocities.com/paris/3110 scuttell@odyssey.on.ca
"First, the clay told me what to do
Then, I told the clay what to do
Now; we co-operate"
sam, 1994
amy parker on wed 13 oct 99
>1. Do you package the pots your customers purchase? How (boxes,
>bags)?
Wrap them in clean "newspaper" (available at U-Haul, for one), as many
layers as seem needed for each piece & place in STURDY bag(s). I like the
paper grocery bags with the attached handles - you can buy these new from
the grocery if you ask nicely! Remind the buyer that this is heavy & may
need additional hand support under the bag.
>2. I've seen shelves and I've seen tables. Any opinions on which is
>better?
Depends on you work. Tables take up a lot of floor space and show
everything at the same level, which can make it hard to see your work from a
distance. Plates look best viewed from above, vases from the side.
>3. Is it a good policy to give customers a receipt with their
>purchase? (not as stupid a question as you might think. At some
>street fairs vendors don't)
Of course! Look professional! Besides, you will want some records for
yourself of what you sold. Get the names & addresses of the purchasers
along with a description of what they bought & use this for a mailing list!
>4. Does anyone hand out brochures as well as cards with their work?
>Any suggestions with regard to format/style?
I have a 1/2 page flyer "about your pottery" describing use & care - ex:
raku is not food safe, rest of my stuff is food-dishwasher-microwave-oven
safe - put into cold oven for safest use, avoid thermal shock, etc. I
include one of these and one of my cards inside the newspaper wrappings.
>Any other suggestions, tips, warnings, well-wishes?
Either keep the cash on your person in an apron pocket or have a "booth
buddy" to help watch the box while you are busy with the selling/wrapping!
amy parker Lithonia, GA
amyp@sd-software.com
Jim Cullen on thu 14 oct 99
I just subscribed to The Crafts Report and they sent me a small brochure
titled "104 Ways to Make Your Crafts Booth Stand Out." This brochure has
several common sense points, but it also has several very good insights that
we often overlook. I don't remember how much the subscription was, but this
brochure helps make those blind subscription purchases worth while.
KEEP CENTERED
Cullen
Naperville, Illinois
Kim Peterson on fri 15 oct 99
Jim,
So tell already. How are we to get this information? Maybe your could give a
few hints, either how to get his brochure or what the brochure might say.
Kim
>From: Jim Cullen
>Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
>To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
>Subject: Re: Craft Shows - Tips . . . ?
>Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 13:09:41 EDT
>
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I just subscribed to The Crafts Report and they sent me a small brochure
>titled "104 Ways to Make Your Crafts Booth Stand Out." This brochure has
>several common sense points, but it also has several very good insights
>that
>we often overlook. I don't remember how much the subscription was, but this
>brochure helps make those blind subscription purchases worth while.
>
>KEEP CENTERED
>Cullen
>Naperville, Illinois
>
>
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Bill Williams on fri 15 oct 99
We would be most grateful if you wanted to share some of the "common sense
points". I have had two very disappointing craft shows in the last two
weeks. Connie
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Cullen
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Thursday, October 14, 1999 12:10 PM
Subject: Re: Craft Shows - Tips . . . ?
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I just subscribed to The Crafts Report and they sent me a small brochure
>titled "104 Ways to Make Your Crafts Booth Stand Out." This brochure has
>several common sense points, but it also has several very good insights
that
>we often overlook. I don't remember how much the subscription was, but this
>brochure helps make those blind subscription purchases worth while.
>
>KEEP CENTERED
>Cullen
>Naperville, Illinois
>
Jim Cullen on sat 16 oct 99
I don't remember how I came across the Crafts Report subscription. Old age,
ya' know. Try their web site, www.craftsreport.com, there might be something
there that allows you to subscribe.
I'm sorry, but I'm not about to list 104 ways to do anything.
Maybe I'll just leak these out one-by-one over the next couple of weeks like
crumbs on the patio. If fact, I think that's a great idea. Thanks for the
kick-start.
I'll just go down the list and drop them on CLAYART as CRAFT TIPS.
KEEP CENTERED...and stay tuned
Cullen
Naperville, Illinois
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