Make It

Have You Done Renegade Chicago?

This week is the Renegade Chicago craft fair and, though I won't be attending this one, I'm considering applying for the December show. The $250 application fee would be the biggest fee I've ever paid for a fair so I'm hesitant. Additionally, there would be the 5 hour trip there, figuring out lodging, possibly missing work. Has anyone attended this specific show? Think it's worth it?

I'm leaning towards doing it. I've only been to Chicago once - very briefly - and Matt has never been so we could make a mini trip out of it. I bet Chicago during the holidays is delightful. The one thing that would royally screw this up would be an ill-timed snowstorm.

 If you've been to the show, let me know. I've never done a show of this size and it could be pretty fun. I - and you - have until October 9 to decide if I want to apply.

Ann Arbor Art Fair

My mom was in town for 4 days to visit me and Matt, see Ann Arbor and check out the Ann Arbor Art Fair, which ended up taking us three days to cover. The Ann Arbor Art Fair typically draws about 500,000 attendees and is actually made up of four individual fairs held around the downtown area, this Wikipedia link has more info, if you're interested.

The Fair is held over 4 days: Wednesday - Friday, 10 am - 9pm (that's three 11 hour days in a row!), Saturday, 10am - 6pm. It's entirely outdoors so that in addition to dealing with the crowds, vendors are at the mercy of Mother Nature. This year the weather was pretty pleasant, with a few brief rain showers. My mom, a printmaker who does the art fair scene in Alabama, was scouting the Fair as a potential venue for next year, visit her blog later this week to see what she ended up deciding. Here's what I observed after walking the Fair and speaking with a few vendors:

This is an endurance test as much as anything else. You may recall how exhausted I was after the 12 hour-long Shadow Art Fair in November. As someone who is naturally soft-spoken and reserved, I was surprised at how physically exhausted it was to be "on" for the 12 hours of the fair. Smiling, talking, standing, it's all kind of draining. I know there's no way in hell I could make it through 52 hours of that over 4 days. Many vendors commented on the weather. It was very pleasant, but it was even more pleasant because in previous years Art Fair has been on the hottest weekend of the year, usually with a thunderstorm or two. When that inclement weather hits, you can't just pack up and run. You need to stay put. Not just because of the contractual obligation to do so, but also because...

...You spend alot of money to get a booth. Booth fairs appear to be in the $650 - $875 range. That doesn't count travel costs, lodging and food and the host of other unseen costs that come with doing a fair like this.

There's alot of not-so-great art. I hate to bad-mouth others' work, but art is subjective and in my opinion there was very little at the Fair that I would consider buying. Maybe I'm not the target demographic, but I like to think I have a good eye. Not only was there alot of bad art, there was alot of repetition, which is maybe to be expected at a fair this size. I felt like I kept seeing the same styles of pottery photography and glassware over and over again. A good display was definitely a way to draw people into the booth, even if the art was sub-par. This could include use of unique materials or a striking arrangement of framed pieces. A gimmick always works: the booths with pictures of naked people had lots of gawkers, but really, who buys that sh*t? That sentiment pretty much sums up my impression of Art Fair.

Craft Revival: Recap

Yesterday started early - 6:30am - so that I could get to Ypsilanti and meet Marcy of All Things Grow to carpool to Detroit. When we got to the venue, we unloaded our wares - up a few flights of stairs! - set up our tables and waited for the sales to roll in.

This was the first time this fair was being held and I think it went pretty well. There was a steady stream of customers, though never really a big rush, and the people who did come were definitely in the mood to buy. I made about half what I earned at November's Shadow Art Fair, which I'm quite pleased with considering this wasn't a holiday show. The day got off to a great start when I sold two soaps to another vendor - Wei's Open Secret - before doors even opened, a great confidence booster. I recognized a few vendors from November's fair and met some new ones.

This was my first fair with the soaps and I definitely have a few changes in mind for future fairs. I need to work on my display. I love the idea of setting my table up like this (imagine soap instead of cheese) with a bunch of various soaps and labels spread out across the table.
I definitely want to expand my offerings. I'm setting a goal of 20 scents by the time Holiday 2009 rolls around. Yuzu (Japanese Grapefruit) and Sweet Almond Cookie were by far the best sellers. I actually sold out of Yuzu! It's a great feeling to sell out of something, even if it means I missed out on later sales. Now I know to bring more next time and I'll look into adding some additional citrus scents to the lineup. I brought some of my card inventory and sold a few but nothing like the soap sales, validating my decision to move away from stationery and into soaps. Mini sizes were more popular than full sizes - which I had predicted - and so I had made sure to have plenty of those. I think people like the idea of purchasing a little pretty treat for themselves for $4. Lots of really great feedback regarding both the scents and the wrappers.

All in all I had a great experience at Craft Revival. As an introvert, I find fairs draining. But after it's all over, I'm usually glad I participated. And lately, I've had some nice earnings to show for it. I'm now debating whether to apply for July's Shadow Art Fair. 12-hours of straight salesmanship is kind of my equivalent of running a marathon. But I had alot of fun and sales last year so that might just be enough to woo me back.

Also, if you've been interested in trying my soaps but wary of ordering them because you can't smell the scents, I've put up a special listing of one mini yuzu and one mini sweet almond cookie. I will waive the shipping fee (on this item only) for blog readers who enter the discount code BESTSELLERS. Type the code in the message to seller after ordering and I'll send you a revised invoice (or refund you if you've already overpaid).

Craft Revival

I apologize for the lack of blog activity lately. Not much new to share these days, though I'll have more in the coming weeks. If you're missing you're rifferaff fix, I've been a little more active over on Twitter.

I've been prepping for Craft Revival taking place at The Magic Stick, tomorrow April 18, info here. This will be my first show as a soapmaker and I'm not sure what to expect. I did really well at the Shadow Art Fair back in November, but given the economy (especially in Michigan) and the fact that this isn't a holiday show, I think it may be slower. Who knows. Full recap on Sunday.

A recap: Shadow Art Fair

The Shadow Art Fair has now come and gone and I'd say it was a success! It was by far the most profitable of all the shows I've done so far. I'm not sure what contributed to that. Maybe because it was a holiday show or the fact that I had a wider range of items and a better presentation than I've had before. Whatever the reasons, I made alot of sales, met some great new artists and hung out with a few new Ann Arbor friends. The fact that the show was twelve hours was a little intimidating and I started to fade a bit at the 4 hour mark (only 8 hours to go!). But I got a second wind and Matt came in at 6 to help me finish the day and we had a great time.

Up next, I'll show some of the items I got from other vendors.

Brooklyn Flea: A seller's point of view

I was considering heading to NY this weekend for the opening day of Brooklyn Flea, but I decided to wait until the weather is a little nicer (it's still quite chilly here on the East Coast). In the meantime I've been clicking through some Flickr pics of the event and reading Karen of Hammocks and High Tea's blog post of her experience as a seller there. It's interesting to see what products ended up being her best sellers.

Baz Biz - A recap

So the Bazaar Bizarre has come and gone. Arguably one of the biggest annual events in the craft scene, this Saturday's Boston fair (there was also one in L.A.)attracted tons of attendees.

Ironically, the success of the BazBiz is also the source of my biggest frustration. It was packed. Almost too packed. As a result I was unable to see all of the vendors up close and personal. One of the benefits of a craft fair like this is the chance to see, and feel the merchandise up close in a way that isn't usually possible due to the fact that many of these vendors sell exclusively online. There's also the added bonus of getting able to meet the creator/designer and ask questions about the product or their process, should you have any. Frankly, it was very frustrating to jostle for position at most of the tables to inspect the offerings. As a result, after getting halfway through the vendors, I decided to cut my losses and only jostled for position at the tables that were able to capture my attention immediately. I overheard other attendees complaining of the size of the crowd, so I know it wasn't just my problem.

With that said, I was thrilled to see such a huge turnout and to see the usually conservative Boston (even if only the very small part of it within the walls of the BazBiz) injected with a taste of something different. Major kudos to the vendors who were in place for the fair from 1 - 7pm and also had who-knows-how-many hours spent travelling to and from the venue, setting up and breaking down and dealing with non-stop crowds. I did spy a few vendors who looked absolutely exhausted, I can't blame them.

By the time I arrived around 4 (three hours from closing) several tables had signs indicating they were low or sold out of some items. Congrats to those people for selling so much but I couldn't help but wonder how many additional sales they would miss out on with three hours left to go in the event and limited inventory. Additionally, there were alot of items that looked the same, which is why I think it's so important for crafters to attend events like this, check out the competition, and then make sure that you are bringing something new to the table.

I believe I learn alot as an attendee at crafts fairs and I have the opportunity to compare side-by-side how different vendors participate. Everyone had zippered pouches and silkscreened t-shirts, these were probably the most prevalent items. But there were a few vendors who offered these items with a little something special. Saint 9 had super cute little pouches that were silkscreened with assorted motifs. Their color combos and silkscreened motifs set them apart. (www.saint9.com - their website is not yet fully functional. I definitely recommend having your website in place to coincide with your participation in a major craft fair). The only item I purchased (I am a very discerning - and frugal - shopper) was from 1boy1girl, who have an etsy store I was already familiar with. They also offered t-shirts, but theirs were hand block-printed and included a suede applique, a great example of taking a traditional craft fair offering bringing it to a whole new level. Their products did not look like anything else that was offered.

So a recap of what steps to take before a big craft fair, based on my observations:
*Have your website up and running.
*Do some research and make sure your product is unique.
*Have enough inventory to last you through the fair.

Did anyone else make it to Boston to attend?

Make it a Crafty Holiday Season

Last week decor8 posted a very helpful roundup of holiday craft events in San Francisco and Boston. Check them out if you're planning to be in one of these cities over the next few weeks. I even spotted a few events on the Boston list that I hadn't heard of yet.

Attending crafts events like this is a great way to support small business during your holiday shopping but also a great way to check out "the competition." Take a look at how wares are displayed, handle the merchandise, interact with the sellers and take business cards so you can go home and look them up online. Take note of which tables seem to have the most customers and make note of whatever it is they are doing to get all that attention. The best way to see what works in a craft fair setting is just to get out and check it out yourself from the point of view of a visitor.

Crafty Shopping in Raleigh - Part 2

Here's another holiday shopping opportunity for craft-friendly shoppers in Raleigh, NC (lucky peeps!). This one comes from Michelle:

Hi Shannon,

I wanted to give you the heads up about the event I produce that I think your audience would be interested in, The Rock & Shop Market. The next event is Saturday December 2nd from 1-5pm in Downtown Raleigh, NC. Since 2004, The Rock & Shop Market has been combining emerging designers and live music into a hip, urban market in Downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. The event showcases designer goods from local & national artists as well as music by the area’s most talented bands & DJ’s. Shop the indoor aisles, grab a beer and listen to some great tunes.
 
You can check out the designers & get more info here:
http://www.rockandshopmarket.com

 

Because Mall is a Four Letter Word

Now is the time of year when shopping kicks into overdrive: for yourself, for friends and family. If you're going to plunk down the cash anyway, why not support other small businesses. Those of you in Raleigh, NC can do just that at The Handmade Market this weekend. The vendor list includes a couple of former Crafter Interview subjects. Tell 'em Shannon sent you!  :)

This holiday season, you have a choice. You can brave crowded parking lots and cranky cashiers to shop for cheesy, impersonal gifts at the mall, or you can shop for stylish, unique gifts in a relaxed, boutique atmosphere at Raleigh, NC's The Handmade Market.

Featuring over 40 local and national artists, designers, and crafters, The Handmade Market is the area's biggest independent designer market. Come shop for holiday gifts, apparel, accessories, jewelry, kids and baby gear, paper goods, and so much more by talented vendors such as Pink Loves Brown (http://www.pinklovesbrown.com), india*romeo (http://www.indiaromeo.com), Pear Threads (http://www.pearthreads.com), and The Handmaidens (http://www.thehandmaidens.com.

Join us on Saturday, November 11th from 11am - 5pm at Vintage 21. (209 Oberlin Rd in Raleigh, NC). Free parking and free admission.

Free parking and free admission. The first 250 guests at The Handmade Market will receive a free goodie bag, so come early! Visit the website for directions, a list of participants, and other important information: http://www.thehandmademarket.com.

In addition to the holiday market, there also is a charity raffle to support the The Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC. Bring a canned food item or two for a chance to win a gift basket full of handcrafted treats
and valuable services.

Once you experience the handcrafted goodness and easy shopping at The Handmade Market, we think you'll agree that "mall" is a four-letter word!

The Handmade Market is brought produced by The Handmaidens (http://www.thehandmaidens.com)