Extreme Newb Questions

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Connie Mettler on January 16, 2010 at 6:19pm

That is exactly what we did also, Linda. Cash - included tax already in it. No change to deal with. It kept it clean and easy and at a good show, pockets full ;)


Linda Anderson said:

Hi Teri... after years of dealing with coins, I've simplified it to using bills only - keeps pockets from being overstuffed. Since most cash sales are ones under $50, I pick up the taxes on those sales so there is no cents involved. Plus, with cash sales I don't have the fees associated with credit sales. Credit sales are always charged taxes. Keeping my artwork priced appropriately, I haven't noticed a real loss when I absorb the taxes AND not only do customers appreciate it, it surely eliminates the need for any cash box.

I'll agree with all here - new merchandise bags are a must and I too would recommend clear bags to show your work throughout the show. Wishing you the best with your first show.

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Permalink Reply by Jan Raven on January 16, 2010 at 6:39pm

Everyone should keep in mind that including the sales tax in the listed price of an item is not legal in every state. Some states specifically forbid it, some allow it only if there is a sign clearly stating that sales tax is included, and some states do not care one way or the other. Check the regulations for the states in which you sell.

I sell in too many different states to bother keeping track of this. I do not include sales taxes in my prices. Also, why would I want to "absorb" the sales tax? I'm doing each state a favor by collecting the taxes due! If I sell something for $42, then I want to receive $42, not $39 (7% tax) or worse, $37.70 (Chicago's 10.25% tax).

Linda Anderson said:

Hi Teri... after years of dealing with coins, I've simplified it to using bills only - keeps pockets from being overstuffed. Since most cash sales are ones under $50, I pick up the taxes on those sales so there is no cents involved. Plus, with cash sales I don't have the fees associated with credit sales. Credit sales are always charged taxes. Keeping my artwork priced appropriately, I haven't noticed a real loss when I absorb the taxes AND not only do customers appreciate it, it surely eliminates the need for any cash box.

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Permalink Reply by Linda Anderson on January 16, 2010 at 7:16pm

You are right Jan.... I pretty much do WI, MI which are 6% or under. I don't advertise that prices include sales tax - I only tell purchaser that I'll pick up the tax..... AND I ALWAYS make sure I do pay the sales tax so I'm not robbing any state of any funds due.

I know this approach does not work for everyone. But surely makes my life easier and perhaps is partially responsible for my high percent of return customers. Dunno, but works for me.

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Permalink Reply by Karole Bowlds on January 17, 2010 at 8:16am

Hey Teri,
Another Newbie here. I keep a locked cash box in the booth, but keep all bills in my apron pocket. I wear an apron at shows because it has the handy pockets on it. Usually the outfits that I wear to shows either have no pockets(skirts, dressy pants) or the pockets are so small that putting anything in them guarantees losing it. Also. I am usually demonstrating, or resizing something. Therefore pockets for tools. I usually take along some grocery bags- I occasionally sell quilted table runners for a friends Mom, who has been laid up recently, and the grocery bags are perfect for her items. Also, many customers end up stopping at the craft fair on a whim- and have nothing to carry all their purchases in, so I have something to offer them. My jewelry goes into paper jewelry bags, that I have placed one of my business labels on.
I purchased one of those 3 drawer carts on wheels and it slides right under my table. This holds all my sales supplies, Receipt books, calculator, boxes, jewelry bags, business cards, spare labels and tags, pens and markers, and a notebook. I also always have a 30 foot extension cord and a multi- outlet power strip, bungie cords, tape, glue and some clamps in the bottom drawer. I never unpack this. When I am done with shows, it goes right into the studio for restocking.
You never know what the space will require of you or your set-up. Sometimes you have to make changes on the fly. Plan, Prepare for anything, and be willing to change anything at a moments notice. That's my Motto for shows. I have gotten to shows, and there was NO TABLE. I reserved one. They forgot. I always bring a table now. ALWAYS. In Maine , we have to display our Certificate and cannot include the tax in our prices. So we always have to put +tax on our price tags and labels. Good Luck at your show!
Karole

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Permalink Reply by Teri Biehl on January 17, 2010 at 10:07am

Thank you all so much. All you replies have been extremely helpful.

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Sholund on January 18, 2010 at 9:29am

Where do I keep my money? In my cash box. If I were to put it in my pockets I would loose track which pocket had the $20's or $1's. I have to be organized and a cash box does this. Mine has a lock and I position myself (and checkout area) at one of the far back corners of my booth where I hide my cash box in a wooden crate (from Michael's Craft Store). Customers only see a wooden crate, not a cash box. It also acts as a way to hide your cash box - flip it upside down and it becomes apart of the display. Flip it right side up and it becomes a way to carry your box and I make sure I pack things in it - like table cloths - to hide it when traveling to and from my spot (like during set-up and break down periods). My cash box is the last thing that goes into by booth and the first thing out that gets packed in my vehicle.

Merchandise bags. You can get about 250 bags (depending on the style and size) for about $30 or so via gift wrap companies like Nashville Wraps or Paper Mart - both online. I LOVE Nashville Wraps as they have a wide selection of paper, plastic, and all else in between bags. Nashville Wraps offers bags in smaller quantities though - however you save more in bulk. I still have bags from 1 year ago and plenty of them. Although I buy plastic bags with designs I still add a label, that I make via my computer, with my business name and website and logo. This really stands out from the "recycled grocery bags" making whatever is in the bag look extremely professional. Photo is of my bag is included - I even hang them in my booth as sometimes it motivates people to buy as they want the bag!

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Permalink Reply by Linnea Lahlum on January 18, 2010 at 12:12pm

You just need an efficient fanny pack with a large zipper top. Some designs work better than others. Leather is more flexible than nylon and you should be able to make change quickly: I do. You need 3 zipper sections. In the main, larger one is your paper money to make change with. I put cardboard dividers in there to separate 1’s 5’s and tens. (1’s in front, divider, then 5’s, divider, then 10’s, divider, then the 20’s I am taking in. Each divider has the number on the front and back top edge and is color coded, green, orange, blue. ). Front zipper section is for credit card receipts and any large bills I take in. Folded once then each slipped inside the previous one. Large bills like 50s are never put in with the change making stash in the center section. Back section holds my own wallet. (I carry a mini wallet for shows that only has a credit card, ID, insurance cards, emergency cash, etc.) I hardly even need to look to make change.

I do have a small plastic box with dividers for coin change. I round the amounts down to the closest nickel so I don’t deal with pennies. Takes too long.

If you are selling pieces for only a few dollars, ok, maybe then a cash box, only for 1’s and 5’s you are giving out as change; with larger bills taken in, put immediately into the fanny pack.

There are even artists making attractive fanny packs, which other artists buy. They know what we need. I try to dress attractively at a show but even will wear this with a dress. So do others. You work too hard to risk it all.

I was next to a woman who lost her cash box on the last day of a 3 day show. She had had a good show, too. She would take it out to make a sale, then put it in the back of the booth, behind a panel, and under a floppy tote bag. I told her several times that putting it under a bag was not safe enough. If I saw it, someone else could too. I think someone must have been watching her over the length of the show to decide just when to take it. Creepy. Even though I sit behind my booth, I did not see anyone go in. Professional thieves are really good at their jobs.


Jan Raven said:

Wow, I couldn't possibly keep all my cash, checks, and cc slips on my person, even with a large fanny pack! When I am really busy, I need to handle transactions quickly and efficiently. I use a small cedar box (from Lane) as my cash box. Bills are all kept together, standing up and separated by denomination by colored index cards. Coins are kept in small jewelry gift boxes that fit nicely in the cedar box. This box is never exposed or available to steal while I am in the booth. Cash, checks, credit card slips and all my jewelry go home with me at the end of every day and are secured while I pack up my booth. I think if you don't have as many smaller transactions, then you can certainly keep everything "on you", but it doesn't work for me.

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Permalink Reply by Linda Anderson on January 18, 2010 at 12:33pm

Many of my shows are consecutive and far from home so I also have an "essentials" kit. This is a plastic bin with a handle on the lid. In it I pack:
scissors, string, chapstick, bandaids, sunscreen, roll of packaging tape, screwdriver (both phillips head & flat head), small hammer, those plastic long tie wraps, ziplock bags, those thicker blue automotive paper towels, a couple of rags or washcloths, packets of wet ones, packets of antibacterial wipes, napkins, plastic spoons/forks, copies of each state's seller's permits, event confirmation/map/instructions (all in a show folder), small garbage bags, a few x-large garbage bags to cover stuff in the event of rain etc. I tend to group the smaller items together in a ziploc bag. I probably missed a couple of things. In my vehicle I always keep towels, umbrella, rope and a clear tarp (has really helped me during too frequent severe weather/downpours). Don't forget weights for your tent! There are several archived discussions about weights you may want to check out.

Sometimes all this seems excessive, but I've needed all of it for many of the shows. The bin I've used is about 8"x5"x15" tall. Nice to just grab & go.

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Permalink Reply by Linda Anderson on January 18, 2010 at 1:07pm

Ya know Paula.... that's a great replacement for my xl bags! I'm picking up some today before I forget. Great space saver & works better I would think. Thanks.

Purse Stuff - Paula said:

One thing I always carry in my show box is Painters Plastic. You know the cheap plastic you can buy on a roll at Home Depot/Lowes or in packages (12x12 size) at W-mart. It weights nothing and literally takes up no room in my show box.

I use them to protect my products from rain. It is inexpensive and has saved my product on more than one occasion. I never leave home without a stash of Painters Plastic in my show box.

Purse Stuff - Paula

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Permalink Reply by Ann Steverson on January 18, 2010 at 5:55pm

Would you bag or pack large paintings or say 16" by 20" canvas paning that is framed?

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Permalink Reply by Stephanie Ryder on February 5, 2010 at 9:27pm

Thanks Teri for posting this....I too am doing my first 2 day juried show in March! I have done a number of one day shows and decided I am ready for more! I really appreciate all the valuable input from the "Pros" and hope that in the future I will be able to assist a "Newbie" myself. Thank you all for the great tips and advise!

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Permalink Reply by skip stang on February 6, 2010 at 7:59pm

New bags,Shows class .do keep the money on me,if it should arise that is to comber-son(not lately)it goes under my carpet,or in a hollowed out book with a goofy title(thieves dont read ,so dont steal books) and if its a real big show with lots of walk around tear down activity I just roll it up in the carpet and deal with it later.Also when you get slow and think nobody's watching,DONT count the money in your booth,if you must ,go the bathroom and lock yourself in.Another idea is leave it in a garbage bag ,and just walk out the door at night takein out the trash
Good luck .and be safe also get to know your neighbors,we all have to look out for each other!!!
Skip

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