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Springtime Made in the South – Savannah GA (February 22-24) 

This is my first show of the spring season.  I hope it is an indication of how this year is going to go.  I love working with the Hunts (Carolina Shows, Inc).  They are one of the most artist friendly promoters out there – at least that I have dealt with.  And they know how to promote their shows.  There are always crowds whether it is Springtime Made in the South or their Christmas Made in the South Shows.

What I like about Springtime Made in the South

• It is in Savannah, which is a wonderful place to visit
• It is in a convention center – no worries about weather
• People were lined up all morning waiting to get in
• There is a community of great artists and crafters
• Load in and out is relatively easy
• Convention Center Concession Stand offers 50% discount to artists.  Their Irish Nachos are sinful!
• The Convention Center staff are wonderfully friendly and helpful.  The restrooms are spotless all weekend.  Porters are available but not obnoxious
• There is space inside the convention center for your back up inventory
• There is a free ferry ride from convention center across Savannah River to the Riverfront for great food and beverage. On the Riverfront there is Wet Willies (frozen drinks) and Vinnie Van Go Go for great pizza and calzones, some great microbreweries and Irish bars, many wonderful restaurants and market center with great artist galleries.
• I stay at my daughter’s home and get to visit with family and cut overhead

Talking with my friends it appears sales were all across the board.  Some barely made expenses while others did OK.  A few of us did really well.  I give credit of sales in my booth to my husband. That man can sell sand to people in the desert.  We sold big and small.  Anywhere from $2. Notecards to $325 framed canvas prints.  One nice lady said “I’ll take that and that and that and this and this and this.  We were so busy Friday we did not have time for lunch.  We were ringing up and wrapping as fast as we could.  Saturday was almost as good.  Sunday was slower but still better than previous years.   Bottom line – we took in just short of $5000. 

Side note.  Last year a man liked one of my prints but he was not sure it would fit and he was riding with friends so could not take it with him.  He rode home with his friends (an hour away) and decided the piece was perfect and called us to say he was on his way back.  He arrived just as we were packing up and happily took his artwork home.  This year he was back.  He said he loved the print but the colors were not quite right for his room – so he painted the room to look good with the art!  Love. It.

Another lady admired a piece we had but left.  Later in the day she came back with her paint and fabric swatches.  It is so much fun helping people decorate their homes.