I am getting ready to plan for shows for 2012 and I am seriously looking at the Sugarloaf shows in Somerset, NJ, Oaks, PA and Hartford, Conn. These all take place in the month of March and are consecutive weeks. My husband and I make handcrafted wooden Irish Treasure boxes. We would love to have any input on these shows before I apply. If you are interested in seeing what we make visit our site at www.onoraisland.com
Thanks!!
Replies
Valerie,
I have seen you and your husband at a show I did, but can't remember where. It was this year. I remember you at one end of the row and I was at the other, but the place escapes me as I do so many shows. Did you do Chester, NJ in June?
As far as Sugarloaf in Hartford goes, there's a problem. The Expo center in the process of being sold and the new owner wants to convert it to warehousing instead of events. Castleberry is scheduled to have their Christmas show there in December but now that's on hold. The question is, are the new owners bound to the contracts already in place? That's for the lawyers to figure out.
This was my answer from another post just a week ago someone asking the very same question
I did two years all of the spring and all of the fall shows. Let me put it nicely they are very very expensive for what you get. I am all about spending 800-1500 for a booth or more but I expect a certain return and never reached that number. People line up and spends tons with the food and dip people but other then that I am not sure. Some buy/sell, and too many people in each category. I found that many people in my category and others sold very low end work. Sugarloaf claims to have a very loyal clientele and I would agree with that, they also have "lifers" for artists as well. The owners George and Deanne are very nice people but rarely ever attend the shows. Also be aware that many of the locations other then Philadelphia and Chantilly are in very old run down buildings with maryland being in livestock barns (it smells and is dirty)! My best sales were in Chantilly and Phildelpha with Gaithersburg being ok. We had sales in the 3000-5000 range with a booth and a half with 3 day shows and 5-6 days being gone from the studio adding up all the expenses not worth the hassle.
2013 Gaithersburg in October offers Indoor Spaces, Barn Spaces, and Outdoor Spaces. The indoor spaces are normal floors and heated I am told.
They're very expensive for what you get. With traditional crafts you might do ok, but usually the only people who do really well at these shows have been doing them forever and have a huge customer base. I haven't done the 3 you listed but have heard that Oaks might be your best bet.
3 years ago (maybe 4) I tried spring & fall Gaithersburg, spring Timonium, & Mananassas (which has since been eliminated). The crowds were light & most were "lifers" (read:been attending the show since the 80's). It's my opinion that the promoters have either not cared to or have had a difficult time attracting a younger crowd.
Have you ever walked a Sugarloaf? They peaked in the late 80's/early 90's and just stayed there.