Upcoming Show this Friday!

So, I am having my first show of 2010 up here at law school. I have really gotten a great response from my classmates about my jewelry. This type of feedback is something that has been not necessarily missing but has stepped to the side for a few. A friend was admiring my work today and she was telling me how my work looked very professional - I am thankful for honesty and compliments! I have really been pleased with the response about my show, people are excited and I am even more excited to have a show again.

This show will be held at a friends house Friday afternoon and I think her location will be good because she has some couches, chairs and her place is really comfortable and inviting. Her step-mom and friend are even coming into town for it! I am thankful for her generosity in letting me have an event at her house. I must say, I have missed going to events and shows where I can expose my jewelry to the public. I am going to try to make a few more pairs of cool earrings before Friday, as I think those are an easier commitment than my necklaces mostly because they are more affordable.

I think of the steps I used to go through when I would go to a festival. Do I have my EZ-up? Do I have enough change? Did I remember my business cards? Did I bring my calculator and inventory list? Credit Card slips? Mirrors? Table cloths? It was quite a production to get things organized, priced and loaded into the back of my car. But organization really is the key to a successful show - that and CONFIDENCE. Something that I started to do at shows and festivals was talk about the pieces as if I was simply a seller, not that I made the items myself - it was a way to step outside my own fragile ego and sort of relax when talking to people. I don't talk in the third person or anything crazy like that but if I take it personally if someone says "OMG that is expensive" well that's taking down my defenses and I don't need that. Something essential to handmade businesses is to focus on the quality of material (if you use it). Now you don't have to shoot down any competitors or larger businesses that make a similar product - karma will bite you in the ass for that at some point (ha!). What I tend to do is try to make the customer feel valued and unique. I am also honest, even if it takes away the sale of something, if I don't feel like it is vibing with your skin tone or hair, I might suggest something else, even if it is less expensive. One of the worst things you can have is an unhappy customer. I wouldn't want someone to buy something and then regret it or think oh she let me get this but it really doesn't work for me. No. That is why mirrors are SO KEY to have with you. MORE THAN ONE MIRROR! The uniqueness factor is something I strive for in my business, I might make similar designs, but unless requested, I never try to make the same exact piece more than once. This makes the customer feel unique and that they have bought a one of a kind item. I find that this is important to anyone, even myself when I am a consumer, if I am going to spend my hard earned money on something I want it to mean something to me.

I know everyone has a slightly or drastically different approach to how they sell, their set up and their attitude. Confidence is key though. Without confidence in your product or art, well it just doesn't work for anyone.

Would I love to have my pieces still in a gallery or boutique - absolutely. Right now, my main focus is law school but perhaps this summer I can work on getting some of my pieces in a few boutiques. Who says you can't have two dreams at once?

Craft Attack: Results

I think the organizers of this event did an awesome job. It was by far, the most talented show I have been to thus far. I was very impressed with the artists they chose. Everyone was super friendly and kind - so were the customers. I think they targeted a strong audience in this city.

Personally, unfortunately, this was by far not my best show. I think that factors are involved: the economy mainly, and there were a lot of artists. Both things beyond my control. I did sell a few things and gave out a lot of cards, but it wasn't as good - financially - as some other shows I have been to. I don't think this is anyone's fault, I think that it just isn't a good time for luxury goods. I think my prices are very fair, I know I have a quality product. I think I could change up my display, but for right now, I am not doing any shows probably until Thanksgiving/Christmas.

Since I will be taking an intense LSAT prep course for the next month and a half, I will be pretty occupied. Hopefully making jewelry will still be a great stress outlet for me. Hopefully.

Oh mannnnn

So time is cracking down rather quickly! I am more or less ready for this weekend. Recently though, I have been doing some more life/soul searching and I am going to take the LSAT in December. I am being smart and signed up for a prep course - no matter how I do, I don't think this course could ever hurt me. However, the first day is this weekend on SATURDAY! It is a practice test (first of a handful) and while it isn't 100% crucial that I attend, I would like to put myself in as many testing situations as possible. The test is from 10-2pm.

Craft ATTACK is from 9:30 to 5:30 pm. If I take this test, I will miss a 4 hour chunk at my booth. However, there is a chance my mom and friends may be able to help me out for a few hours - these friends are close enough to know about what I do and to effectively represent me and my work. I am hoping they can help out, but understand if they can't.

Regardless, I am excited about both new ventures. I have high hopes for everyone involved in Craft ATTACK - this could be the start of a really awesome event with a lot of positive local involvement. I can only PRAY that I do well on the LSAT to get into a decent law school...but that is much further away than this weekend ;)


Big things are always on the horizon...no matter how far away they are.

ohhhh getting ready again!

I am getting excited for CRAFT ATTACK 2008 :) I hope it doesn't rain... it is about two weeks away from the big day.

Better than expected!

So I had my little booth at BazaarSpark this weekend and let me say - considering the economy and gas prices - I still made a profit (go me!). The whole event was very cool - lots of people came out and there was a very good variety of vendors and I was pretty impressed with the whole set up. There was live music, events for kids, crafts, food, and culture. I wish there were events every 2-3 months like this in every small city. Life would be different. This weekend was a chance for the community to realize that there is so much art culture in Raleigh and that they can involve themselves with local artists with out feeling inhibited. To me, that is so beyond wonderful.

For me personally, I can say it wasn't the best show I have been to - but it wasn't the worst either. I made a profit, and I got some people to sign up for my mailing list, and I met some awesome people who understood that my jewelry was a very high quality, not mass produced, and truly understood that each piece I make is one of a kind, which really helped drive the sale home for them. Some ladies tried on a necklace and were like "No one else will have this....I will get this one!" I have said in some other posts, but the feeling of knowning that a person is so happy and fulfilled with their purchase FROM me, is an undescribable feeling. As an artist I think sometimes you wonder if you are being appreciated, and on days like today you feel it completely. And thankfully - other artists were feeling this too (I hope, bc they were making sales too!).

I am doing another show in a few weeks and I hope that I get the same response. I think I came into this even with little to no expectations - this is mainly because I came into a city which I had NEVER been to before and got compliments that made me feel good. Even though right now, I am a lady with cramps (sorry fellas) that could kill - I threw on a smile, and unforunately not a windbreaker - it was so cold today. Like I didn't get the memo and thankfully brought a sweater and jeans - and chose not to wear my sundresses. hahha. I am excited for the next show!

I hope everyone has a wonderful rest of the weekend!!!

Getting Ready!

This weekend will be my first show since the spring. I am very excited to go to a new place and set up shop for a full day. I hope that people come out and support what others love to do :)

This week will be busy, getting everything together, making sure I have everything I need - especially change! I definitely have a ton of business cards, bags, and artist info cards. And I certainly have a lot of inventory... I hope it does well. I want to at least break even.

I hope yall have a great week!

Right on Track

I feel soo much better now that I have re-organized my earring racks for my upcoming shows! I even did inventory and had some time today to make 9 more pairs of earrings to fill up the missing slots! I think this will be so much easier because even though I used an Excel document prior, I have now organized them by price and rack and row - so each earring has its place - this way I can take inventory while selling, and determine if people have stolen from me (lets hope I don't have to take it that far though!). I think will do this again with my necklaces, rings, and bracelets - so we will all be on the same level and I can check my inventory on these items before I get to the show. I will also know how much I am valuing my inventory and set some selling goals for myself.

It felt good to make a few more pairs of earrings, it has been a little while since I have really sat down to create.

As for the farmer's market - I am still getting to working on that. It's like I think about it when I figure the office is closed, like when I am cooking dinner or something and then I think DAMMIT! I'll get to that tomorrow. Hopefully I will remember one time to do this during the day.

I sold some items today to my friend, that also felt good. She picked out a necklace and earrings for her friend. She has good taste ;)

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!!

BazaarSpark September 20, 2008

SUPER NEWS: I just found out I got into the BazaarSpark in Raleigh next weekend! I am very excited about doing a show - I have not done an official show since the Spring and am ready to get back into that. BazaarSpark is a really cool idea trying to get the arts into the local community and getting people out of enclosed malls. I love the idea :) You can check out their website and other events that will be going on next weekend @ http://www.sparkcon.com

Now I really need to get everything organized... this will be good!

September Goals

This month I would like to go a little more smoothly than last month. I am moved in completely and the studio is set up! I have some goals for this month that are a little bit more focused and more attainable than last months.

• organize earring racks by price
• create new inventory list of all items
• continue marketing etsy store
  
• keep up with the three teams I now represent
• work on getting a table @ the local farmer's market on saturdays
• Find a few more local shows if farmer's market turns out to be a bust
• have fun!
• I would like to have at least 3 online sales

I think these are pretty attainable! I hope I can accomplish what I have set up for myself.

Have an awesome week!

Craft ATTACK 2008 Charlotte, NC

GOOD NEWS! I just found out this morning (why I am up SO early on a Saturday... I am still wondering) and checked my email to find out that I have been accepted to the Craft ATTACK 2008 here in Charlotte, NC! I am super excited as I am new to the area and want to keep the business going. WOO HOO!!!! This event is especially cool because it is being put up by the Carolina Etsy Street Team, so close to home (etsy...ahahha) but they are including artists both a part of etsy and not - which is so awesome.

The event sounds cool, it will be my first show in a real city. Mmmm, wow I need to get working! I haven't been slacking on production, but I also haven't been busting it out because I have only had one trunk show this whole Summer. Back to work. This will really inspire me to figure out where my studio will be now and how to set it up. Looks like some re-arranging is going to happen.... :) In college I used to re-arrange my room freshman year like once a month. Not even all at once, but like little things. This will be major.

Savannah Market Bazaar - Results and comments

The 2nd Savannah Market Bazaar was an experience and went seemingly well for me. I made a profit, small but still there. I met a lot of great people and gave out a lot of business cards, probably close to 50 or so.

At this point in the game, this show wasn't my first rodeo as they say, but I was glad to know that there were so many etsians there with me. Most people I talk to either have heard of Etsy but never checked it out or have no clue and I inform them. It was great to know that people know what I do and how I work my online store at etsy.com. There were some booths that were interesting and again because I was all by myself, I didn't have a chance to check them out. There were some jewelry booths, which is good, but I was told everyone had a different style and booth set up - so that was reassuring because jewelry is a very flooded market. There were also some people just selling their old clothes and old crap from their house - this is not dismiss that one mans trash can be another mans treasure - from a distance though it was a type of booth I probably would have avoided, that's probably me though.

Because the Market was in a parking lot it got rather steamy which I have to believe is why they aren't doing it over the summer and starting again in the fall. I was very hot and there was probably some where I could have gone to the bathroom but I was alone so I couldn't really leave. It was nice that it was open like as soon as you set up AND closed around 3 - though because of the heat many people left at like 1pm, I stuck it out until about 2pm. I ran out of water too which made me very dehydrated and a little loopy. I always think I bring enough water but I underestimate the power of the sun and the heat. Thank god for my EZ UP. One guy told me I should start charging for shade. haha.

My main seller this weekend was definitely rings! I sold a bunch of my wire wrapped rings which is good! I sold some earrings too. I even put a 10% off all necklaces to entice buyers but they did not go for it. Not one necklace or bracelet sold.

I hope to have a trunk show locally within the next two weeks. Those have gone pretty well each time I have them and now since it is warmer out we can do them outside. I think I will make bigger and more signage for this next one. I try to put it online and etc but people often stop in randomly. Basically I am trying to do as much free advertising as possible. Newspaper ads are ridiculously expensive. I think I might try fliers and put some in starbucks and give some to some local boutiques, show some in people's newspaper boxes or tape them to their mailboxes.

The Savannah Market Bazaar

This saturday I will be in Savannah, GA for the Savannah Market Bazaar at the old Sear's Building by Forsythe Park. There will be a bunch of vendors there (including me!) presenting to the public. It will go on pretty much all day.

I am excited to be a part of this market because I will get to meet new people and have another chance to work on my show set up and delivery. I have also been making new items especially for this event and hope that they are well received.

I found that a few of my pieces at the Maye River Gallery have SOLD!!!! I am so excited that my pieces are a) selling and b) selling in a gallery with other great pieces of art. WOOOHOOO!!!!

Good News! and GOALS

I just got into a show next weekend in Savannah, GA!

My friend in DC works in a boutique and she is working with me on setting up a consignment situation with them. I am excited because I think my earrings will do well there. Plus since my friend works there, I feel like there is less of a probability of being screwed big time. Ha.

The picture up top is from Central Park in NYC. I was there this past saturday with some of my girlfriends. I was up there visiting with my grandma for the weekend. I had a great time :)

GOALS (for the rest of the week)

• Pick pieces to send to my friends boutique
• make more items
  
• finish wedding piece for a friend
  
• take pictures!
  
• upload pictures to Etsy and Dawanda

Change of Plans...

Since the price of gas is becoming ridiculous, I have decided to stay a little closer to home for festivals/shows from now until further notice. I applied and was accepted to the Bluegrass Festival in Aiken, but after spending 100$ on gas last weekend going to and from Walterboro from where I reside I decided that I just cannot do that. Aiken is twice as far away as Walterboro.

SO I solved the problem by signing up for a more local show that is only an hour away in GA on Tybee Island. The show is called "Spring Art is the Park" and it is next weekend. They have a few other shows on Tybee that look interesting. Here is their website with the information and downloadable application: click here.

I had a bit of an interesting day yesterday involving the dentist, Sam's Club, setting up a new Ez UP by myself in my backyard, setting up my COMPLETE setup to take booth pictures for applications, speeding to the post office to get my application over-nighted, and racing to the south end of the island for another appointment, then finally ending up at the gym.

I posted about this yesterday in the forums, mainly to see if other people who may have ever been to a Sam's Club had an experience similar to mine. I was overwhelmed with the response: "I boycott Wal-mart...and Sam's Club is a part of Wal-mart!" I know what Sam's Club is and who it is associated with. To my knowledge it is the only store of its kind within 50 miles of where I live, and definitely off the island. I was a bit perturbed because I have boycotted Wal-Mart for about 3 years now and detest even going in the store (our wal-mart is really kinda weird anyway) and if I had another choice of going to Sam's or not, I wouldn't go to Sam's. I was offended that people were questioning why I went there, and then telling me there were other options in my state and etc (this person did have a point and stunning jewelry, but she lives about 4 or more hours north of me in the upcountry of SC, I live in the Lowcountry...acutally the lowest country in SC.) Hilton Head limits what kind of chains can really prosper on the island. They really do try to keep it for the little guy, which is one thing I have loved about growing up here. There are no billboards, no Olive Gardens, no Circut Cities, HomeDepots, Lowes, Michaels, etc. Everything is a little bit hidden from the road too (I mean you can see it, but it's really not as obtrusive as people are used to). All of the major chains and car dealerships are over the bridge in Bluffton, Beaufort, and Savannah. So you see, Sam's was my only option - especially since gas for me is 50$ a fill up.

BTW: setting up an ez-up by yourself, while your dogs look at you as if you are totally crazy (you know when they turn their head a lil cockeye, as if to say wtf are you doing?), is hard. I wear a heart rate monitor to the gym to make sure I am in the right zone while I'm doing cardio, I had it turned on while I was doing this and my heart rate was 150. That's in the Cardio Zone for me. EzUP cardio.

Rice Festival Results slash Aftermath!

So my time at the Walterboro Rice Festival was interesting. I did make a profit, so that means I broke even! YAY! The women who were running this festival were extremely nice AND helpful. They are trying to make this section of the festival less like a flea market and more like a REAL arts and crafts show. So this was their first transition year. There were some interesting booths that I saw while driving in, however I was unable to really look at them because I was alone at my booth. It was a long two days-I will say that! The first day I got there at 730 am and was fully set up by 830am. The event didn't even open until 10am! The good news is that I have my set up down and can do it and put it away quickly. We (vendors) were supposed to be there from about 830 or 9 until 7pm. People who had been there in years past said that usually they left at 5 but this year they were wanting the vendors to stay longer. I didn't mind the first day- I got some last minute customers! The second day I arrived around 830 and was fully set up by approx 915. I didn't have any sales until after 12pm. They did place me right next to another jewelry vendor, their pieces were less expensive than mine and also completely different (I think they probably profited more than me). It was good that they didn't have too much of the same- I think there was only 3 vendors for jewelry that I could think of or were told to me.

All in all, I am satisfied with how the weekend turned out. I am still thinking about the Aiken Bluegrass Festival in a few weeks. I am going to make some calls this week and do a little bit better research than I had done for this last show. I am hoping that doing these shows and festivals will get me some much needed exposure and sales.

Buying Karma Locally!

I have news...you can now buy Karma Jewelry locally in Bluffton, South Carolina at the Maye River Gallery on Calhoun Street. This is very exciting for me and I hope that it goes well. Their website is still under construction because they have only been open for about a month. I have about 20 pieces of my jewelry there. Mostly my fine silver and freshwater pearl pieces.


I am also excited because I just got accepted to the 33rd Annual Rice Festival in Walterboro, SC. It is this coming weekend - the vendors are open from Friday to Saturday. This is a very arty part of South Carolina and I am really excited that I was accepted. You can check out the event here: 33rd Annual Rice Festival. It looks like a good time. I hope I do well here as well.

Other than that, I am still working on getting my pieces into more locations locally and beyond :) I hope that I can do this. People are seeming more and more interested in my pieces which is awesome.

Taking Chances

April has been about taking chances.

I had my show @ Gamma Phi Beta which went very well! I had a great time and they couldn't have been nicer :)

I applied for three craft shows - two in SC, and the Art Star Craft Bazaar in Philadelphia. The two in SC I am pretty sure you sign up and you are in. I did not get into the one in Phillie :( I am sorta bummed out about it, but I guess they had a record number of applicants this year - which is great for them. I was hoping to have some success out of state. Maybe next year!

The first craft fair I am doing is the 33rd Annual Rice Festival in Walterboro, SC. I am excited because it is out of town and spring is beautiful down here and I will be open to a new audience. I will hopefully make some sales too!

The second one is May 8-10 in Aiken, SC for the Aiken Bluegrass Festival. This is from their website

" Blue Ridge Outdoors, distributed free to
110,00 readers from Baltimore down to
Atlanta, honored Aiken bluegrass Festival
in its impressive "Top 50 Festivals in the
Southeast". Picked for packing "in the
heavyweight pickers" and "a stellar couple
of nights from some of the genre's finest"
it is quite and honor to be listed next to the
likes of Merlefest and Bonnaroo!"

So hopefully this will be fun and profitable.

I am excited and hope that they bring in some business.

I finally went around to try to set up some meetings to sell my pieces in stores. With help from my Aunt and Mom, I made an artist bio/info card that I could leave at stores with the right people. I gave 15 out. This is kind of huge because I have been trying to get over a not so nice boutique visit where a clerk was really rude to me. I think they look pretty good and I hope to get some appointments. :)

Feelin good!

Yes, I filed my taxes today. Returns to come to me soon (I hope!). So that feels good knowing that 2007 is taking care of in the eyes of the IRS.

This is a big step for me, as having just graduated from college this past May (woohoo), filing and paying taxes is completely new. I feel good.

:)

I also spoke with my friend Julia who is working with me on my next show at a sorority house at the University of South Carolina (Gamma Phi Beta). She asked me to have a jewelry show and I am donating 10% of all sales to CampFire. This will be happening April 4 from 12-4 at the Gamma Phi Beta House in Columbia, SC. I am worried about not having enough inventory so I am off to work!

ciao have a great week :)

1st Craft Show ever... RESULTS

WELL! It was not the best day of my life, however it was not the worst.

The facts:

• i participated in AND paid for a very unorganized event
• I was probably in the worst spot. The way the traffic flowed was from right to left - meaning I was the last left. I was at the VERY end. By the time people got to me, they had spent their money.
  
• People took cards
• I sold 6 items from 9am to 5 pm. thats less that 1 item an hour.
  
• a sale is a sale, I am happy I sold something. my work spoke to someone
  
• i expected more from this experience as a whole
• GRANTED I met some really cool artists - mostly jewelry artists
• there were about 80% jewelry booths. 80% - you would think they would regulate something this
  

QUESTIONS:
Is it typical for someone running the event to sell their goods as well? I am clearly new. I don't know the answer. I don't have the experience. I don't and cannot say what I think the answer should be with out being out of line...
and
You pay for your space, and maybe I just wasn't bitchy enough but I arrived early and she put me in the WORST spot possible. You know the say early bird gets the worm, WELL early bird got screwed and then I hear people who arrived TWO HOURS LATE bitch and moan until they got put in a better place. wtf??? is this how it is? bitch and moan until you get your way? are we in kindergarten? last time I checked we were adults and adults are supposed to be mature, not bitch and moan, we all paid the same price for a space and you get to choose after I was told we had assigned spaces, she gets to choose? Sort of seems unfair and crazy!


all in all i made 160$ (thats after booth fee) better than NOTHING. I spoke with a woman who lived in NYC and she said she was happy because she sold a few pieces but she had been to some shows in NYC where she had never sold anything. Something is always better than nothing when it comes to sales. ya know?


lessons well learned here. well learned inDEED

I just hope the next craft fair/show I participate in is much more organized.

1st Craft Fair EVER .... & some jitters

So as you might know, I am participating in my FIRST EVER craft fair this weekend down @ Palmetto Bay Marina here on the island. I am very excited and have - amazingly - beaten my *to-do* list almost all the way down.

Here is what I did this week:

• Made Appointment to pay taxes - monday morning. I am nervous I have never paid taxes before... this is a big moment in my life.
  
• got my oil changed
• did all inventory except for earrings
  
• made sure prices were correct - this was a big move
• went grocery shopping
• exercised - ran with the dogs and went on a long walk today
• eyebrows waxed (this can be considered an emergency)
  
• created
• made a sale :)
  
• blogged.
  

Dammit! I have been a busy girl. And I am not done yet - tomorrow I will finish making everything I need sign wise and take a picture of my mock set up. So still more to do...