Nathan Miller on fri 4 aug 06
About a week ago, I did a garden art show at a large nursery about an hour
to the south. Sales-wise, I didn't do very well, maybe a few dollars more
than the same show last year. Garden art is something I do, so one would
reason that I ought to do decently at a garden art show. Apparently this is
not so. I'm going to give it another go next year before considering
cessation of this particular show. At some point, I'll have to decide
whether or not it's worth the time, effort and expense involved in pursuing
this.
My question is, then, how does one decide whether or not to continue the
pursuit? How can I tell if it's the venue itself that's unproductive or if
there's something I need to change to improve sales? Are there a few
particular rules of thumb I should be employing to assist me in my quest?
Nathan Miller
Thistillium Pottery
Newberg, OR
John Rodgers on fri 4 aug 06
Nathan,
The shows I do, I do not do for profit. Shows are simply part of my
overall marketing plan. If I sell something at a show, that's great,
but I consider shows to be a place to advertise my product, not
particularly a place to make a profit. I view a show as a place for
people to come and see what I produce, to pick up some literature and
then spend some time thinking about it. Later on they will often make a
purchase. I sell nearly all my things that way - after the show. What
shows I do nearly always bring me new contacts, and information that
increases my ability to sell the product. If you consider the cost of
advertising on any kind of scale at all, a show is pretty cheap
advertising in the grand scheme of things.There are those who make doing
the shows their business, and the sell lots at the shows, but that has
never worked for me. I found that using the show as a tool worked best.
It s what worked for me.
Regards,
John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL
Nathan Miller wrote:
> About a week ago, I did a garden art show at a large nursery about an hour
> to the south. Sales-wise, I didn't do very well, maybe a few dollars more
> than the same show last year. Garden art is something I do, so one would
> reason that I ought to do decently at a garden art show. Apparently this is
> not so. I'm going to give it another go next year before considering
> cessation of this particular show. At some point, I'll have to decide
> whether or not it's worth the time, effort and expense involved in pursuing
> this.
>
> My question is, then, how does one decide whether or not to continue the
> pursuit? How can I tell if it's the venue itself that's unproductive or if
> there's something I need to change to improve sales? Are there a few
> particular rules of thumb I should be employing to assist me in my quest?
>
> Nathan Miller
> Thistillium Pottery
> Newberg, OR
>
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