David Hendley on sun 29 sep 02
First of all, you can sell pots just about anywhere in the USA.
Is this a great country, or what?
I would take your location over mine any day of the week (in
a business sense, for selling pots). Heck, your county has a
real city, an Interstate Highway, and a population of 350,000
(I looked in my highway atlas).
I live in a county that is officially "Economically Depressed",
has the highest teen pregnancy rate in Texas, and a population
of 40,000.
And I make a living as a potter.
No matter how many "puddle lappers" are around, out of three
hundred thousand people there are enough affluent and knowledgeable
ones to support a few potters.
But you have to go where the artistically educated go, and that
is not a giant flea market or cheap festival.
You have 2 choices: either invest the time and money into getting
into and going to good quality art fairs, or invest time and money
into setting up your own selling opportunities at your studio.
Or both.
Both will take some serious money to get started.
If you don't have the money to invest, save up for awhile until
you do. Going to lousy art fairs is a dead-end strategy.
On the other hand, if you are just starting out, go ahead and try
the "Seafood Fest". Consider it a learning experience, $75 tuition.
If it rains you will see why you want a tent. When I was getting
started in this area I could always count on selling at least a few
hundred $$ worth of pots at "The Rose Festival", "The Syrup
Festival", and "The Black-eyed Pea Festival", to name a few.
Never did make it to the "Fireant Festival" in Tommy's hometown,
Marshall, Texas.
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
hendley@tyler.net
http://www.farmpots.com
----- Original Message -----
> Hi All,
> Need some general thoughts and input on the craft fair situation in
my
> neck of the woods, Pasco County Florida.
> I followed all the threads on craft shows a few weeks ago and I
sure
> don't want to start that whole thing up again. At the same time, some
areas
> of the country are populated by people that are not likely to buy
> pottery...like my area. The majority of the people want a nice shiny
> day-glow plastic bowl from Big Lots for 99 cents. This is not an
Buonaiuto on sun 29 sep 02
> http://216.87.13.186/index.asp
This is the website for the Art Fair Sourcebook. Michael and I depend on it
to choose shows. In the genre, it seems to be the most user-friendly and
helpful...it give specs on shows and rates them from 6-10...10 being like
Cherry Creek, the Smithsonian, Baltimore ACC, etc. the book costs about $100
or maybe a little more now, but it's a great investment...our friends pop in
to check it out.
Also, good tents from http://www.flourish.com in Arkansas...we like it
better than our Craft Hut...of course, the maker is the father of our son's
girlfriend, but family considerations aside, it's still a better tent.
Shelley
Cheryl Hoffman on sun 29 sep 02
Hi All,
Need some general thoughts and input on the craft fair situation in my
neck of the woods, Pasco County Florida.
I followed all the threads on craft shows a few weeks ago and I sure
don't want to start that whole thing up again. At the same time, some areas
of the country are populated by people that are not likely to buy
pottery...like my area. The majority of the people want a nice shiny
day-glow plastic bowl from Big Lots for 99 cents. This is not an
off-the-cuff remark. I have spent the last month watching what people in
this area buy. I have actually stood around in houseware departments of
local stores, gift shops, flea markets, and malls, just watching what catches
the consumers' eye. I think security at the local stores had me pegged for
casing out the joint...I had actually worked out my "research" explanation in
my head in case I was approached.
The local "Big" flea market had a craft show this last weekend. I
laughed after looking around...the name of the fleamarket has USA in it's
name but you'd be hard pressed to find one item that was made here. But it's
a good size market, probably 350 vendor spaces. Twenty bucks for the weekend
for the craft vendors. I figured not much to lose in the name of research,
so I set up a table with my pots. We had a total of 12 craft vendors, all
but 3 had the equivalent of pink crocheted catsup covers. Of the three
craftspeople, (I considered myself in this group), we made one token sale
each all weekend. The lady selling the imitation Barbie dolls with plastic
canvas crocheted dresses was the hit of the show.
This is Jeff Foxworthy Land, folks. I know the majority of the people
that passed my table didn't need pots 'cuz they're still lapping out of
puddles! I was set up on a corner, and directly behind me was a permanent
vendor with a double booth that had those lighted moving waters pictures and
flashing lights set up on the wall about 8 foot high. As people turned the
corner, I watched their eyes go right over my table to bright shiny lights
high on the wall over me, stumble around my table to get to his entrance,
stare, heads up, mouth open, stumble out his exit, which was PAST my table.
Their retinas were still reacting to the bright lights, so they couldn't have
seen my pots anyway.
I will say that the people that did look at my pottery all were very
complimentary and immediately drawn to the Waterfall Brown bowls. Thanks
again for Ron & Jon! I think at the right venue they'll sell first.
So, here's the dilemma. I can't yet afford the big shows in the real
cities...the $300. or so booth fee, the $800. tent, the travel expense, etc.,
that they require are just not in the pottery budget at this time.
One of the biggest yearly events around here is the Hudson Seafood
Fest. I know there will be a lot of trinket vendors, stuff on a stick,
carnival rides, etc. But they also bill a craft fair, hopefully in a
set-apart area. They also claim that last year their attendance was 20,000.
The booth fee is only $75. and you don't have to have a special tent. Since
I've just recently moved back to this area, I've never been to their event so
I don't know what the craft vendors had last year. No lie...I've been trying
to talk to the organizer but he runs Ike's Garage and every time I call he's
under a car! I know this should tell me something.
At the same time, 20,000 is a lot of people passing by and I'm sure
we'll have a lot of snow birds (Northerners) down by then. So, any opinions
out there? Am I just setting myself up for failure?
Cher Hoffman, whose husband just told her she's gonna get in trouble for the
"lapping out of puddles" remark. Before anyone jumps on me...IT'S A JOKE,
OK?
foxpots on sun 29 sep 02
Dear Cheryl,
Hey, Pasco County. That's where I grew to the age of 18, Dade City.
Anyway, my advice would be to start with a GOOD tent. My Craft Hut was
expensive; however it stays put while lesser tents are in bad shape after
poor weather. Thinking along the same lines that you are, I made the
mistake of doing shows that offered a lot of "loving hands" work and
imported junk (not imported high quality goods).
Go to high quality shows. Talk to the artists, ask questions, what are the
good shows, etc.,learn what to shoot for in offering the best you can
create. Work on your craft. Improve till you can offer a finely crafted
product. Have good slides made by a PROFESSIONAL photographer who
specializes in making slides for craftspeople. Get a good canopy. Get a
good display. Get good props. Apply to good shows. Don't waste your time
being set up next to the chimpanzee booth (like I did, now that was a hoot,
no money, just a hoot). Well, I surely did learn what a chimpanzee looked
like up close, made a mug with a chimpanzee face, learned two things; how to
make a chimpanzee and to do better shows.
Take care, write to me if you wish. I miss Florida but am happy in my
little hollow in Kentucky in my 200 year old log cabin.
Jean Wadsworth Cochran
Chris Campbell on sun 29 sep 02
Cheryl -
I think you have already answered your own question. In your gut you
know that this is a doomed venture.
One of the biggest yearly events around here is the Hudson SeafoodFest. I
know there will be a lot of trinket vendors, stuff on a stick,carnival rides,
etc. But they also bill a craft fair, hopefully in a set-apart area.
It does not cost them a red cent to take your booth fee and call you a craft
fair.
They also claim that last year their attendance was 20,000.
So you will have 19,999 walk past without stopping.
The booth fee is only $75.
I pay .21 cents a pound for clay, so that is a lot of clay you could buy.
you don't have to have a special tent.
Just pray it doesn't rain or storm
I've never been to their event so I don't know what the craft vendors had
last year.
Yes, but I believe you can guess
I know this should tell me something.
Yes, it's saying run for the hills
I'm sure we'll have a lot of snow birds (Northerners) down by then.
Those seniors are not notorious for being big spenders, or for needing
another pot.
Am I just setting myself up for failure?
YES !!
You know the answer already. There are a hundred better ways to get
started without enduring this show. There are a lot of great craft shows in
Florida. Join the Florida Craftsmen ... they are a tremendous resource. Find
a nearby potters guild. Get a good inventory ready for a better gallery or
show. E-mail me and I will be glad to cheer you on.
Chris Campbell - in North Carolina - I have survived a show where I was
trounced into the ground by a little old man selling 'Santa Stop Here' posts
and foot long bubble gum.
Chris Campbell Pottery, LLC
9417 Koupela Drive
Raleigh NC 27615-2233
e-mail : ccpottery@aol.com
website : www.wholesalecrafts.com
John Baymore on mon 30 sep 02
Cher,
Boy..... it IS tough to get started. And this is a quandry for so many
people.
They also claim that last year their attendance was 20,000.
The booth fee is only $75. and you don't have to have a special tent. =
Since
I've just recently moved back to this area, I've never been to their even=
t
so
I don't know what the craft vendors had last year. No lie...I've been
trying
to talk to the organizer but he runs Ike's Garage and every time I call
he's
under a car! I know this should tell me something.
At the same time, 20,000 is a lot of people passing by and I'm sur=
e
we'll have a lot of snow birds (Northerners) down by then. So, any
opinions
out there? Am I just setting myself up for failure?
If I told you that those 20,000 people has NO money at all........ would
you still give me $75 and spend a day's time talking to them? NO money. =
None ..... zip. In other words..... they will not buy any pots. BUT, I
say....... there are 20,000 PEOPLE there.....doesn't that sound great? =
Yes.... it does......... IF you don't consider WHO those people are. Who=
are they? What do they like? Will they be interested in buying my pots?=
You already pretty much have the answer...... for yourself...... it is
there in the whole "tone" of your posting. You just don't want to believ=
e
it.
Likely .... I won't get my $75 . Drat. =
You are right........ this is not the market for your pots. There are no=
t
too many craft fairs that are worth doing anymore. You time is valuable.=
=
Do your homework and choose carefully. BUT........ look at the likely
return on investment for the money and time you spend on a marketing
effort. Sometimes a $1000 booth is cheap......and a $100 booth is
expensive .
This stuff below is a portion of a CLAYART posting I did back in 1999 on
this subject. It is a tad out of context.......... but it should be food=
for thought. It was part of a response to some comments asking if others=
were seeing a general decline in the quality of craft fairs.
______REPOSTING OF OLD MESSAGE_______
When you consider your TIME...... and few craftspeople value that FINITE
resource highly enough....... then you gotta make a real LOT of money at =
a
fair to make it worth it. LOTS. Doing a retail fair, you are a
retailer....not a potter..... and you should look at it as that. =
To analize this, you gotta pretend you bought the goods you are stocking
the booth with at wholesale from yourself...that's a real cost of goods f=
or
the retail fair. When you sell a mug at 15 dollars at the fair.........=
the craft fair only really earned $7.50 of that gross income (before fair=
expenses). The other half went directly to the potter (you) to buy the m=
ug
wholesale (hopefully you paid yourself correctly). =
So take 50% of your gross at any fair right off the top to pay the potter=
(you) for making the work you are going to sell. Put that away at home a=
nd
don't consider it when evaluating a fair. You can go back home later and=
see if as a potter (you) ....you are happy with what the retailer (you) h=
as
paid you for your work .
THEN look at your time.....and honestly COUNT the time getting ready and
recovering from the show. Mileage and depreciation on vehicles, meals,
and lodging all cost a pretty penney these days. Take all of the expense=
s
of doing the fair and subtract it from the 50% of gross. Then divide by
your hours of effort to see what you got paid for retailing. Subtract th=
e
taxes on your wages you'll pay to Uncle Sam as a self-employed person. =
That's your net take home hourly wage...... not counting any factor for
"profit". =
You are certainly worth more than minimum wage...... even if you are pret=
ty
new to this. If you've "been around the block"....... your time is worth=
plenty. Look at what other skilled "craftspeople" in our society make pe=
r
hour for a guage to measure by. What does your carpenter or your plumber=
charge you to fix someting? Do you have to work a week to pay their bill=
for two hours? Shouldn't you at least be in the same ball park? McDonal=
ds
pays pretty well these day for the simple skill of flipping burgers on a
grill .
Pretty soon a fair a hundred miles away that does less than $6-7 grand
overall gross for a weekend looks pretty bad. That doesn't leave many
fairs these days.
Then.......... just to put things in real perspective.......... how much
work could you have done in your studio with all the time, money, and
effort invested in the retail fair? Include the lost productive time jus=
t
before the fair and right after. That is a real expense of the show too.=
=
Should you have just hired a rep to sell your pots to galleries?
If you are just starting out in selling, a retail craft fair can be a goo=
d
way to get your feet wet. It is the "nursery" to allow the sprouts to
germinate. It gives you a chance to test the waters with your work and
guage public response. Sometime the REAL reason to do a fair is the PR
value....... and any pots sold are gravy. But it is REALLY important to
remember that it is NOT THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN....and probably should be w=
ay
down the list these days as the main sales effort. Once you gain a littl=
e
experience.....find other ways to sell your work.
Don't get yourself "locked into" the craft fair circuit as the ONLY (or
even prime) way you get your money. Sort of like drugs . You'll get=
hooked and then it is really hard to stop . Before you know it, all =
of
your efforts will have been directred into a one way approach. =
One reason the craft fair still seems to dominate the craft selling marke=
t
is that it is easy to get into. That alone should tell you something =
. =
Another thing to think about here is the nine magic words that have doome=
d
many a business............... "But that's not the way we've always done
it!"
Take the same money, time, and effort that you would have invested in a
retail craft fair and put it into some other marketing effort. For most
fairs (other than a local toss-off done mostly for local PR purposes), th=
at
is a LOT of time, money and energy available. (Potters work their butts
off to do fairs.) Get creative. I bet that you'll reap a far better ROI=
. =
And you'll probably feel better about what it is that you do.
Best,
......................john
"Who does only one major retail craft fair per year....50% for it's PR
value."
John Baymore
River Bend Pottery
22 Riverbend Way
Wilton, NH 03086 USA
603-654-2752
800-900-1110
JBaymore@compuserve.com
http://JohnBaymore.com
Concepts in Clay on mon 7 oct 02
In a message dated 9/30/2002 8:44:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
hendley@TYLER.NET writes:
> When I was getting
> started in this area I could always count on selling at least a few
> hundred $$ worth of pots at "The Rose Festival", "The Syrup
> Festival", and "The Black-eyed Pea Festival", to name a few.
> Never did make it to the "Fireant Festival" in Tommy's hometown,
> Marshall, Texas.
>
When we were getting started we did the craft show at the Falmouth Goat
Races. Honest to Pete, that was a hoot. The midshipmen from Annapolis even
came with their goat and joined in the tobacco spitting contest. We didn't
sell more than 3 or 4 pots, but the memories were worth the time
invested....... and we did break even (except for time).
Bobbi in PA
Pat Southwood on thu 10 oct 02
Hallo you caring bunch,
"concepts in clay" wrote:
"The midshipmen from Annapolis even came with their goat and joined in with
the tobacco spitting contest"
hey, retail opportunities in the U.K for ceramics may be severely limited
but we do really draw the line at that sort of behaviour.
Yours,
with personal integrity intact,
Pat.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Concepts in Clay"
To:
Sent: Monday, October 07, 2002 9:39 PM
Subject: Re: Craft Show Quandary
> In a message dated 9/30/2002 8:44:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> hendley@TYLER.NET writes:
>
>
> > When I was getting
> > started in this area I could always count on selling at least a few
> > hundred $$ worth of pots at "The Rose Festival", "The Syrup
> > Festival", and "The Black-eyed Pea Festival", to name a few.
> > Never did make it to the "Fireant Festival" in Tommy's hometown,
> > Marshall, Texas.
> >
>
> When we were getting started we did the craft show at the Falmouth Goat
> Races. Honest to Pete, that was a hoot. The midshipmen from Annapolis even
> came with their goat and joined in the tobacco spitting contest. We didn't
> sell more than 3 or 4 pots, but the memories were worth the time
> invested....... and we did break even (except for time).
>
> Bobbi in PA
>
>
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__
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>
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>
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melpots@pclink.com.
Concepts in Clay on sun 13 oct 02
In a message dated 10/9/2002 11:12:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
pat@SOUTHWOOD4.FSNET.CO.UK writes:
> concepts in clay" wrote:
>
> "The midshipmen from Annapolis even came with their goat and joined in with
> the tobacco spitting contest"
>
> hey, retail opportunities in the U.K for ceramics may be severely limited
> but we do really draw the line at that sort of behaviour.
>
> Yours,
> with personal integrity intact,
> Pat.
>
Pat,
I think the tobacco spitting contests are just a carry over from the early
days here in the colonies.
Cheers,
Bobbi
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