Show Report- Charleston Piccolo Spoleto Craft Show

Comment by Michael Skeen on June 8, 2010 at 1:10pm

Thanks for this report Robin, I too live only about 4 hours away from Charleston and had thought about applying to the show, but I couldn't really find anyone that had been to it to ask about. Sorry sales were slow, but I don't think that is limited to the Charleston area.

Comment by John Benton on June 9, 2010 at 9:17pm

Robin,

I did both weekends and found the first weekend very slow, but the second weekend exceeded my expectations. Had good sales and Friday was the best day for the 'money people' returning home and shipping items out. I found the over all quality or art & craft was very good and was very impressed with how the show was run. My price point was lower than the norm with Sales over $250.00 few and far between. The $100 to $250 was a good price point for the crowd buying wood items.The load in and break down was a little challenging, and the 'black dirt' was a 3 time a day dust off. Showering in the evening was mandatory, not an option. Overall, the show exceeded my expectations giving the current economy and I exceeded my goal for sales. Others around me were either hit or miss with the volumn of sales with the higher end crafts faring better. I plan on returning next year.

Comment by Connie Mettler on June 9, 2010 at 10:09pm

Thanks so much for reporting in on this show. I've always wanted to hear about it. It seems that the overall event must draw some moneyed people and a cultured crowd, a nice group for a good fair. Were the fine art and craft shows run by different people? Were there two shows?

Comment by John Benton on June 9, 2010 at 10:59pm

Connie, you are correct. It draws both and is well supported by the locals, Those who 'have' spend and like to support the event. They seperated painings [ fine Art ] and placed them across the street in the square across from the Francis Marion and they were open for the total 17 days. A long time plus a lot of competition. The craft show was across the street and 1 block north of the 'Fine Arts' [ painings] and was held on on Friday, Sat. & Sunday for 2 weekends. Some exhibitors only worked one weekend and others did both. I saw a lot of people come back the second weekend to buy that had been there the first weekend. I feel it was an advantage to be there for both weekends and increased your odds of a successful event. The exhibitors were assigned a new space the second weekend which was nice. My location was not as good the first weekend and had a killer location the second weekend. I am sure that also influenced my sales. I thanked the locals for the support in making a purchase and they thanked me in return for being part of Spoleto. Now that is true 'Southern Hospitality'.

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