2009 shows are over for me. I am feeling a need for just plain talk...how are you doing? got any new ideas? ...What are you going to go this winter if you arent going to Florida?
Going on vacation?
Lynn Krause
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As you know, we did the February wholesale shows in Valley Forge for a few years. The place was crawling with shop owners looking for spring lines.
Like you, Diane and I make everything ourselves. And we had to move a lot more product to make the same money we were making at retail shows. This may work great for you, and I hope it does. But we decided that we were "working just as hard for only half the money" and went back to a full schedule of retail shows.
What exactly do you mean by a wholesale show? I'm fairly new to this and don't know how that is different from a regular show except that I guess the prices.
Love to chat! Sometimes I don't know when to stop! HA!
Anyway, I do have one more show this year - my last big bang of the year if you will. I am truly looking forward to it as it has been a great one for many.
After that I am contemplating doing a Jan. show and make it a vacation show (about 2 1/2 hours from home). My goal for 2010 is to just do 2 big renaissance festivals with a wholesale show between ren-faires (early Spring and then early fall). The idea of doing only 2 shows - yet lasting several weekends long is so exciting to me. I have been in the business for 7 or so years and even though I am young (in my 30's) the setting up and tearing down and doing so much work with little reward (for most shows this year) that is giving my shoulders and legs a good work out - too good! I am still exploring who is my target market audience as it tends to change and then when you add a new line/product - this too gets factored in. Makes my head spin.
I am aiming to attend a conference or seminar or two - something I usually do in the Spring time. The conferences are a breath of fresh air - meeting so many people like yourself where we can actually talk shop and come up with some great solutions to many issues plaguing so many in the field. I highly recommend doing so as it really opens your eyes to new possibilities, network and learn something new possibly inspiring a new line or explore a different medium OR combining mediums. Not to mention it is a chance to explore a city you may never have the opportunity to do again.
But that's what's going on in my neck of the woods - what else is going on with others? I am curious like you.
I have four more shows here in the Pittsburgh area including the one this weekend (well actually one is in the Cleveland area), then the Xmas holiday. After Xmas it starts all over again - applying for shows and setting up next season. I think I'm staying close to home this winter and work on setting up my own website - I keep putting it off and on a line of copper and copper with sterling cuff bracelets. I might take a lost wax casting class.
One more, one day show left next month. In fact, it will be in Sandbridge, VA where that gigantic barge got stuck during the NorEastern last week. Glad that was moved. Then I take a break from shows and do the grandma thing; baking holiday goodies and wrapping kiddy presents. Cooking/baking is my second passion. I believe artist are really good cooks. (Those food booths make a fortune at fairs.We should be so lucky.) lol Edible art?
I hope to explore this winter some new and old painting techniques and maybe a class in something totally different like glass fusion or clay. Has anyone done any shows in Brunswick, GA or Jeckyl or St Simon Island they could express pro or cons? I have free lodging if I go there. Just not sure about the artshows.
I decided this fall/winter to expand marketing and sales efforts by finding several art galleries and art related stores to sell my work. In the last two weeks I found four new places. It's a big world to explore.
The shows up here in New England aren't over yet. We have one I leave for today in Troy, NY, two shows Thanksgiving weekend, one in Sturbridge, MA and the other in Wilmington, MA. Setup is Thanksgiving day. Then Hartford, CT the first weekend in Dec, and Salem NH the second weekend.
Then I curl up in front of the woodstove!! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!
Jan 16th is our first show in 2010 in upstate New York. Then the flower shows, home and garden shows for winter, etc and then the cycle starts all over again for year number 31.
The shows are not over. There are some holiday shows like this coming week end at the Plumbers hall in Chicago. Just when they light up the X-mass lights in Chicago. And I will do a few Florida shows end Jan begin Feb
Zaki
Hi Lynn, great to hear from you here. I miss seeing you. Yes, our life has changed this will be our third winter without going south for the shows, but then we haven't done any shows for three years and I have transitioned over from the almost 30 years heading to Florida and the happy hunting grounds there.
It's strange not looking in the refrigerator and thinking how many days until we are on the road again. In fact, right now I don't even know when I'm going anywhere again! Travel has been such a part of my life that I'm not sure how I'm going to use this time. Ohhh...yep, I'm going to be sitting here at this computer.
I got scared last year when the economy was crashing and thought I had to save every penny, but now I'm thinking maybe a vacation. Want to go to the Maya Riviera this winter? I have lots of frequent flyer miles....
I'm new here so no one knows me, but I'll jump in anyway! I live in Minnesota and am mostly done with shows, enough so that I have spent the last four days doing nearly nothing (unheard of, for me). I have nearly forgotten how to relax and not be productive! I know I want to work on some new techniques and designs, but may not work on that until December. I have never gone anywhere for shows in the winter, but I am trying to get down south for February-March. My newly widowed mother is there and it would be nice to spend a month helping her with the house.
I know what you mean about just wanting to talk. We have one more show and I'm already thinking about my down time and what we are going to do. First, we need to get through the holidays and a remodel project Dave started in August. I want to recharge and get the creative juices going on some new ideas for next year. We need to update my order form picture. I added a new design mid-year and need to catch up my pictures. During the year I get a feel from my customers what they would like to see and colors they want. We hope to make time for a vacation, we'll play that by ear.
Replies
As you know, we did the February wholesale shows in Valley Forge for a few years. The place was crawling with shop owners looking for spring lines.
Like you, Diane and I make everything ourselves. And we had to move a lot more product to make the same money we were making at retail shows. This may work great for you, and I hope it does. But we decided that we were "working just as hard for only half the money" and went back to a full schedule of retail shows.
Anyway, I do have one more show this year - my last big bang of the year if you will. I am truly looking forward to it as it has been a great one for many.
After that I am contemplating doing a Jan. show and make it a vacation show (about 2 1/2 hours from home). My goal for 2010 is to just do 2 big renaissance festivals with a wholesale show between ren-faires (early Spring and then early fall). The idea of doing only 2 shows - yet lasting several weekends long is so exciting to me. I have been in the business for 7 or so years and even though I am young (in my 30's) the setting up and tearing down and doing so much work with little reward (for most shows this year) that is giving my shoulders and legs a good work out - too good! I am still exploring who is my target market audience as it tends to change and then when you add a new line/product - this too gets factored in. Makes my head spin.
I am aiming to attend a conference or seminar or two - something I usually do in the Spring time. The conferences are a breath of fresh air - meeting so many people like yourself where we can actually talk shop and come up with some great solutions to many issues plaguing so many in the field. I highly recommend doing so as it really opens your eyes to new possibilities, network and learn something new possibly inspiring a new line or explore a different medium OR combining mediums. Not to mention it is a chance to explore a city you may never have the opportunity to do again.
But that's what's going on in my neck of the woods - what else is going on with others? I am curious like you.
I hope to explore this winter some new and old painting techniques and maybe a class in something totally different like glass fusion or clay. Has anyone done any shows in Brunswick, GA or Jeckyl or St Simon Island they could express pro or cons? I have free lodging if I go there. Just not sure about the artshows.
I decided this fall/winter to expand marketing and sales efforts by finding several art galleries and art related stores to sell my work. In the last two weeks I found four new places. It's a big world to explore.
Then I curl up in front of the woodstove!! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!
Jan 16th is our first show in 2010 in upstate New York. Then the flower shows, home and garden shows for winter, etc and then the cycle starts all over again for year number 31.
Zaki
It's strange not looking in the refrigerator and thinking how many days until we are on the road again. In fact, right now I don't even know when I'm going anywhere again! Travel has been such a part of my life that I'm not sure how I'm going to use this time. Ohhh...yep, I'm going to be sitting here at this computer.
I got scared last year when the economy was crashing and thought I had to save every penny, but now I'm thinking maybe a vacation. Want to go to the Maya Riviera this winter? I have lots of frequent flyer miles....
Deb