This is my first time doing a show in Pennsylvania and I had always heard that this one was a high quality show. After a nine hour drive to State College which is a bit in the middle of nowhere, I was wondering what to expect. It's the home of Penn State but other than that, not much there. Hotels were a little pricy for a place called Happy Valley and was wondering if I would break even considering the gas, hotel, booth fee and other expenses. Got there on Tuesday, (this is a 4 day show) and got the lay of the land.
The show is set up in two section with one large u shape of exhibitors on campus and one in town. The college side is much quieter than the town side which has the food and entertainment. But the college side is hillier and not as easy to set up. Luckily I was located on Burrows and I had a drive in/out set up and it was a dream (except the scary Thursday night storm with tons of lightning which happened right in the middle of set up).
Thursday was overcast but cool and really pleasant to walk around. The crowds came and they came and they came. Except for Sunday, the roads were packed and the buying energy was extremely high. Some said it was better to be on the University side and some said the other- because they had the food and entertainment but I don't think either could go wrong. I saw people for 4 days in a row-by the 4th day I knew their first names!
Everyone you saw had a package under their arm, usually more than one. I was astonished, the town seemed small, but apparently everyone in Pennsylvania and beyond comes in for this show every year. People were extremely nice, the organizers were very gracious and made us feel like rock stars. Lots of help if you needed it and a wonderful classy dinner the first night of the show. Didn't win anything but my fiber neighbor won a large award and many others did too- there was over 17,000 in prize money with fine crafts taking the bulk of the awards. Very generous and appreciated I'm sure,for those who won.
I had one of my best shows, selling all price points from 1500. - to 50. and lots of in-between. The potter next to me (great girl/great work) did well, and the bow tie man a few booths away (what a wonderful human being) almost sold out. The metal artist down at the end sold out too.
The quality of exhibitors was very high and I did not see one bit of buy and sell. Everyone was so nice and helpful and positive. By the end of the show I kind of understood the Happy Valley thingy.
Thank You, CPFA, You are a class act and a well-oiled machine that doesn't miss a beat, Thank you State College, a gem in the middle of essentially nowhere, that is so loved by it's alums, that they all descend upon the town for this much loved event every year, and thank you weather, you turned out to be fabulous for the middle of summer and made viewing and selling a delight. I'm in the car if they ask me back next year. Makes me love what I do.
Comments
So nice to read a great review, for a change! Thanks for sharing Margaret. A good friend of mine did the show too and was very happy. I'm also going to try for it next yr. Farthest I've driven in one shot has been 8 hrs so I can tack on one more hr and it's all good!
I grew up near State College and I've always loved this show. I've never been an exhibitor there but I'd really like to try next year.
Computers were not invented yet, but accounting was easy. A one incher, one inch roll of $20 bills was $500. Two inchers were locked in the safe. They were $1500. The "Square" was an honor student who put all the bills facing the same way.
Thanks, Barry...just brought back lots of memories! I especially liked all the cash. That was very nice. Does cash exist at the shows any more? Who were some of the old timers you saw?
Nice report. I was at the show down the road called "The Peoples Choice". Just a note that many dismiss the Hampton Inns as too expensive. My room was $79 a night, not $159. If you reserve very early , and have the Honors card you can get a reasonable rate. Hamptons have an excellent breakfast and are super quiet.
As for the show , it was decent. Not great but not bad. The set up was beautiful and parking all day at your booth. These people do everything that's possible to get people there, however I did think traffic was light.The entertainment tents had good performances. I did like the ladys driving around in golf carts offering free rides. It was a joy to meet some old timers like me that started out in this business with the pioneer. We started with a woman called Jinx Harris doing Mall shows. Forty years ago. This was before there really were street shows and things like Sunshine Artist Magazine, buy and resell, Hampton Inns, charge machines, canopies, and jury fees. We just had pockets full of $20 bills.Those were the days my friend. We thought the y would never end.
Thanks Connie, you know then.....a little slice of heaven in between set up and take down.
Good job on the review, Marge!
I know, you drive and drive, and you are in this beautiful place, but where is State College? Then you find it nestled in Happy Valley and you wonder how they keep everyone else away.
The challenge of this show, and you delineated it, is where you want your space to be. We did it for several years on campus and still remember dollying everything up the hill from College. Not fun, but once set up in a lovely place under the large trees. The eternal question, street or campus?
Oh yes, and where do you stay? We stayed in the dorms a couple of time. After long hot days in later years we opted for an air conditioned hotel.
Congrats on your good sales and reports on the folks all around you. I know Rick Bryant the executive director of this show -- a great guy, lots of fun, but gets all the business done and done right.