Carolynn Palmer on tue 12 oct 04
In a message dated 11/10/04 3:26:36 PM, inua@CHARTER.NET writes:
<< A big High Five for Mel. He's right on target.
With one exception, I don't do fairs/shows.
I apply the Melsan Principle -- Draw a 50 mile radius circle around
where you live, and sell to the stores, and to individuals in the
circle. It works!!!...John Rodgers
>>
I've always believed in the ART & CRAFT SHOW. It is how I started 35 years
ago- showing up at a park, paying $10 and having the "organizer" point out my
spot on the grass. Sometimes in those good old days, I couldn't even get the
pots out of the boxes without having eager buyers hands grabbing them directly
from the boxes and everyone shoving money at me at once!! Those were giddy
times.
Then, the shows got more organized, more polished, more rules, more of
everything...including entry fees, jury fees and late fees and fees for corner
spaces, fees for electricity, etc, etc!!!
Now, I own Craft Huts, pedestals, shelves, special lighting fixtures, (show
approved) chairs, drapes, a Magline Cart, a travel trailer, and who knows what
all. All of this, I to haul to a show site that I've sent slides in for
approval over 6 months ago (with payment for all fees in FULL!!) AND I'm paying
$2.00 a gallon for gasoline to get to the fair site.
AND I'm thinking about what Mel keeps saying over and over. Thank you Mel
for your willingness to teach us even when we are unteachable.
This last weekend, my husband in a burst of energy and a lack of enthusiasm
for organized shows, put up both our booths, side by side, on the lawn of our
Pottery buildings. (He's been reading Mel's posts behind my back!) I dragged
my feet - but gave him my blessing. I once drew a 50 mile circle around the
studio, and almost nothing except tiny (pop. 200) villages and rual farms fell
within it - BUT I hadn't taken into consideration that 2 lane highway out front!
"I'll paint some signs, help put out the pots, but I've got real work to do
inside the studio, because no one will stop." were my exact words.
Which I am eating! Saturday was bright and sunny and US12 was busy. Our
first customer stopped, a young woman from 75 miles east of us, looking for
antiques, but she also loved pottery, and when she saw our signs, stopped. Then
another and another. Some were local, most were not!
Our last sale on Sunday night was two large casseroles and a serving bowl to
two women who
were from about 80 miles west of us!! (It's been a long time since we've
experienced this type of sale at our usual fair.) What a wonderful weekend it
was. No entry fees, no $2.00 a gallon, no rules!!! Just us and the customers.
NOW we're talking, permanent structure for sales of pots - brosure in the
highway rest stops, signs in all of the local gas stations and restaurants,
staying in the studio instead of traveling. Thank you Mel!
-Carolynn Palmer, Somerset Center, Michigan
Kathi LeSueur on tue 12 oct 04
OWLPOTTER@AOL.COM wrote:
><<<<<>for organized shows, put up both our booths, side by side, on the lawn of our
>Pottery buildings. (He's been reading Mel's posts behind my back!) I dragged
>my feet - but gave him my blessing. >>>>>>
><<<>> <>two women who were from about 80 miles west of us!! (It's been a long time since we've experienced this type of sale at our usual fair.) What a wonderful weekend it
>was. No entry fees, no $2.00 a gallon, no rules!!! Just us and the customers.>>
>
>
>
Carolyn,
I've always thought you had an ideal location to sell from your home.
right there on U.S. 12. Lots of traffic every weekend. Hell, quit the
circuit and take advantage of where you are. Keep the money you would
have put into shows and use it to market your work at home.
K
>
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