This subject came up on Ellie's venting blog and it is an interesting topic where reactions will vary by mediums. In my case with leather and if the kids' hands aren't obviously sticky, I enjoy showing them and letting them feel different leathers while mom and dad are looking around. I show them how elk and deer are softer than cow and they seem interested enough in the hair-on, ostrich, gator, sting ray, etc. For some reason kids gravitate to flasks and when they tug at mom or dad with one saying "hey dad this is real beavertail", they sometimes make the sale for me. And, of course everybody loves to run their hands over a saddle and hold onto the saddle horn. Some of the 4-H kids and Scouts are doing leatherwork projects and I answer their questions. Nice thing about leather in most case it will clean up or can be "antiqued". Adults with too many drinks in them are more of a problem for me than kids. Worst was a gal on opening night spilling a Black Russian on my Navajo blanket table covering. It smelled for several show days and had to be dry cleaned. Photo ops with little kids in a saddle are also popular as long as their diapers are dry. It all opens dialog with people and some feel obligated to buy something from this "nice old gentleman". LOL and CLOSE THAT SALE.
I have a sign that says 'Please play with the toys'. I do jigsaw puzzles. For the loud insistent parent, I say 'let me show you how to pick these up'. In 24 years I have had one puzzle broken deliberately by a child. I do take a quick look at fingers and offer handi wipes as necessary.
I love children and several years ago, I got tired of adults touching everything and then yelling at their kids not to touch. This caused me to come up with something that the children could touch. So, I have a giveaway basket for children only. Kids can choose one thing for themselves. If you know children -- you know that faced with many different items for free -- they will take a great deal of time selecting just the perfect item. As a result, they are not bugging mom or dad to move on. Thus, the children help me keep their parents in the booth and often results in a sale that would not have happened without something to keep the children busy. The cost for my gifts is very little. I have a religious supplier who has small item giveaways for 3 cents each (erasers in shapes like a cross, fish, etc. I also use the Christian listings on Oriental Trading Company and can fill my basket for very little money. I have discovered that it is important to have a cloth to lay over the basket. If not, children sometimes discover that when I am busy with a customer--they can come back and raid the basket. It is great fun and most of the children are very polite and happy to receive a gift from me.
Years ago, I had to speak sternly to two boys in my booth. Actually what I said was "you! Out!" They looked sheepish and left. They come back almost every year to talk and look at the new stuff. They're in their 20's now and have bought a lot of puzzles over the years.
Because I make puzzles, I have a lot of kids in the booth. If there's space , I bring a small tabletop to let them assemble on. Maybe it's the ex-library lady voice, but I rarely have any trouble. I do look for sticky fingers and ice cream is out!
We use a lot of stones and in our display. One day after my husband took a lot of time with one family, showing the kids the gemstones, they came back a brought US a piece of an Indiana geode that he'd found in their backyard by the creek and cracked open. It has become part of our display, too. It was such a precious moment for us.
Kids like rocks and minerals. And old retired prospector/miner in Prescott, AZ always told me as a toddler that every piece iron-stained quartz I picked up "had color and was close to gold". That was back in the 40s, and 20 years later I had a Ph.D. In geology. I like to look at the samples jewelers display with their work too. There is a guy at the Steamboat show who sculpts fossilized rock etc., and he cracks geodes for kids. There is always a crowd at his booth.
Btw...you jewelers make me think I need to take some sample rock collections with my display! ;) lol.
I will say a little hint there, I have sometimes had some natural stones as part of the display and the kids would gravitate to them, if you want to keep hands off the actual jewelry.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this post! Though, yuck, looking at the typos I made in my first reply. As a former teacher, mom to be and someone who has dealt with the kids in art booths thing this hits me on so many levels.
I guess I'm sap about the little ones, but really believe in the importance of education!
Carla, I'd love to read your post, but I'm having trouble finding it.
Comments
I love children and several years ago, I got tired of adults touching everything and then yelling at their kids not to touch. This caused me to come up with something that the children could touch. So, I have a giveaway basket for children only. Kids can choose one thing for themselves. If you know children -- you know that faced with many different items for free -- they will take a great deal of time selecting just the perfect item. As a result, they are not bugging mom or dad to move on. Thus, the children help me keep their parents in the booth and often results in a sale that would not have happened without something to keep the children busy. The cost for my gifts is very little. I have a religious supplier who has small item giveaways for 3 cents each (erasers in shapes like a cross, fish, etc. I also use the Christian listings on Oriental Trading Company and can fill my basket for very little money. I have discovered that it is important to have a cloth to lay over the basket. If not, children sometimes discover that when I am busy with a customer--they can come back and raid the basket. It is great fun and most of the children are very polite and happy to receive a gift from me.
Because I make puzzles, I have a lot of kids in the booth. If there's space , I bring a small tabletop to let them assemble on. Maybe it's the ex-library lady voice, but I rarely have any trouble. I do look for sticky fingers and ice cream is out!
We use a lot of stones and in our display. One day after my husband took a lot of time with one family, showing the kids the gemstones, they came back a brought US a piece of an Indiana geode that he'd found in their backyard by the creek and cracked open. It has become part of our display, too. It was such a precious moment for us.
Heck, I'd be at a booth like that :)
(Can't drag me away from most geological exhibits)
Btw...you jewelers make me think I need to take some sample rock collections with my display! ;) lol.
I will say a little hint there, I have sometimes had some natural stones as part of the display and the kids would gravitate to them, if you want to keep hands off the actual jewelry.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this post! Though, yuck, looking at the typos I made in my first reply. As a former teacher, mom to be and someone who has dealt with the kids in art booths thing this hits me on so many levels.
I guess I'm sap about the little ones, but really believe in the importance of education!
Carla, I'd love to read your post, but I'm having trouble finding it.
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