if you should be so lucky to have someone come in your booth with fabric/color samples or what i like best a tape measure...at least you have a serious customer. they are in your booth because they like your work and it is your job to convince them that YOU are the best ...if it's not the perfect color can you change that? if your art is one of a kind and you really repeat nothing...then it becomes your job to make them realize the value of the work and how it will make a statement that will be a joy for them to live with. it certainly should not be an insult to the artist when people want to match...be nice and positive and helpful...guess that sounds like too much like work to most of the "artists" but as a craftsman i know it can make a difference in your sales. we are not better than our customers and consider this...they have the money!vicki munntired furniture maker of 30 years...connie, i know the article was not really about this subject but this is just what i wanted to say.
I was always happy when I saw the fabric samples come out. That meant -- here is a customer!! What a pleasure to talk with those people.
And, I know I owe Lance and Vicki a great debt because many years ago when we were set up next to them in Greektown in Detroit, during a lull in the activity (during another recession), Lance told me that they were not having a downturn in sales because they figured if someone was at the fair they were looking for something and that customer was his! It made him mad at himself if later he saw that person walking out with someone else's work because he hadn't been a good enough salesman.
Many years later Lance and Vicki have really got it down. Thanks guys for sending me to Zig Ziglar and all the other great sales books you suggested. It changed my attitude and led to regular sales in a tough economy.
Hey Lance and Vicky--welcome to the tribe. I agree 100% with what you are saying. You have to have your antenna out and listen closely to people for clues about who is really interested in buying .Unfortunately too many of our brethern can be seen sitting in the back of the booth reading.
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And, I know I owe Lance and Vicki a great debt because many years ago when we were set up next to them in Greektown in Detroit, during a lull in the activity (during another recession), Lance told me that they were not having a downturn in sales because they figured if someone was at the fair they were looking for something and that customer was his! It made him mad at himself if later he saw that person walking out with someone else's work because he hadn't been a good enough salesman.
Many years later Lance and Vicki have really got it down. Thanks guys for sending me to Zig Ziglar and all the other great sales books you suggested. It changed my attitude and led to regular sales in a tough economy.