This may be a huge can of worms, but I will go ahead and open it because I am curious.  What is behind the resistance to actually stating your sales numbers at a show?  I recently wrote a blog post about a show and stated my sales numbers.  Connie Mettler said I was "brave" for posting such intimate information.  I must admit that I don't really understand why this is brave.  I have been reluctant to state my numbers only because everyone else seems to be reluctant to state theirs.  I realize that a "good" show means different things to different people, but it really matters what someone means by "sales were terrible" or "sales were great".  Someone may bring in $1000 over a weekend and be ecstatic (I know I was my first year!), but that same total could mean the show was a money-losing failure for someone else.

I'm not necessarily advocating that everyone post their sales figures.  If you don't want to post them, that's fine, but what is wrong with posting them if you are comfortable doing so?  I am just trying to understand why everyone but me seems to need to keep that information to themselves.  Perhaps someone can help me understand why I shouldn't necessarily state my own sales numbers.

You need to be a member of Art Fair Insiders to add comments!

Join Art Fair Insiders

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • All of this information gathering/sharing is so helpful to all of us. When I first started, I asked a jeweler where she got one particular display piece (I liked the style & had no intention of copying her display, and told her as such). But she was so rude, I felt bad and left the show. At that time I was walking shows to see what would fit my jewelry best. Since that time, I have vowed that whenever anyone asked me a question that wasn't related to 'getting the sale', but, instead, an information-based question, I would answer it to the best of my ability. I have felt that way about sales figures too. But have never posted here. I do send in my Art Fair Source book surveys. I have only once gotten a Sunshine Artist survey-and that was for a very disappointing Yellow Daisey Festival. But, to have a survey/information board here would be grand. I love what Tina (hey girl, how are you? Miss seeing you & talking PMC), and Jan (how's MN? I used to live in Marshall-the southwestern corner),have to say. It is important for everyone, and I like the idea that we specify our medium (like jewelry-is it fabricated, precious metal, woven, beads-on-a-string?)-these types of questions/answers help us all. Thank you for listening to my ramblings. And, if any of you are going to be at Port Warwick this weekend, please stop by and introduce yourself. I would love to meet with you and share...... :-)
    • I've been talking to an artist friend of mine about this subject and together we'll be building a database of local shows.

      This thread gave me the idea to create a form on google docs that can be emailed and also embedded on a local website I'm developing. Its a simple to use form that addresses the topics mentioned here. We'll be emailing it to other artists in our area, and with the information we can gather plus our own experiences & info, work to build a database for all of us to use; the information to be posted on the website (still under construction). I'm all about networking and working together to build our businesses. As I said, this is simply on a local level, but for those of us who are just now starting out, and for those who will be newbies in the future, this could be invaluable assistance.

      If you'd like to see it to get an idea what might also work for you, just pm me or email me at jendonaldart@gmail. com. Oh yeah as always, suggestions are welcomed!
  • Not since Lee quit producing the "Craft Fair Guide". He made it very simple where artists could either mail or post it anonymously online. The information was shared with the subscribers either in the magazine or online.

    It's great strength was that it was information provided by artists only and not his viewpoint.
  • Lee Spiegal used to produce the "Craft Fair Guide" in California, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and Washington, and then he sold out to "Craftmaster News". Lee produced an excellent guide that featured anonymous reviews by the artist which also allowed them to post the category they sold as well as there sales figures. I would see him at nearly every show I did (over 25 per year) and used the information to build a successful business.

    Typically, I don't like to share sales information because I don't want to feel responsible if someone does the same show and does less than terrible. There are a lot of factors that make each of us successful whether it's the art we create, how we interact with customers or the customer base, and the weather just to name a few.

    My belief is that if something were set up like the old "Craft Fair Guide", more artists would be willing to share.
    • Lee, do you know anyone who gathers this kind of information from artists that has it available online?
  • I think Diane has got it right meaning "different strokes".
    I'm one of those who can only do originals. My price range is going to be much different than someone who can do reproductions so comparing my sales say to photographer really doesn't help them. If you went ahead and constructed a polling method by medium that would be a help. But what is good is that when people who do just originals do well then usually you know the show was good for everyone.
    • I agree that you can't compare apples and oranges and expect to get similar sales numbers, but knowing what sells at a particular show is important. For example if you are a sculpter with prices starting over $500, a show that mostly sold items under $100 across all the other mediums and a high number of the sales were reproduction prints, then that might not be the best show for you because people were not shopping for orignials. It is also helpful to see details about your particular medium. For example jewelry sales averages were $2000 at a show. Well was that 2 sales of $1000 high end jewelry or 67 sales of $30 low end jewelry? It gives a big indicator of the clientel at the show and then the artist is armed with helpful information and can personally deterime whether it might be a good show for their art.
      • This is the kind of data that Sunshine Artist magazine tries to collect and report. I find it very, very useful to read about dollar amounts, number of sales, medium, and price range. I keep track of how many customers I had each day and track my sales per day on a spreadsheet. At the end of the year I assess each show in terms of "return on investment," not necessarily absolute sales.
        • I do like Sunshine Artist Mag. I always make sure to send in the card after a show.
      • Tina, along those lines, to include if you are a contemporary, traditional, folk artist. This makes a HUGE difference for me in a show. Even more so then price points.
This reply was deleted.