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?

SUCCESS!

Well the show on Saturday ended up as the biggest success I have had since Thanksgiving! I have sold more this week than I have in months. My Mother's Day sale (buy one, get one half off) was extremely effective and what was interesting was that most people only purchased one item. One lady really took advantage of the sale and bought two necklaces and two bracelets!

Maybe it is the times, but people still like good quality items and in the right environment, a sale, a holiday, and jewelry makes a fabulous combination :)


Check it out - there are still some items left! http://karma711.etsy.com

Show Results

The show went surprisingly well considering the economic state of our country. I am lucky that I have some good friends who always support my shows. :) I sold some good inventory on Friday.

I also brought some more inventory to the Maye River Gallery. Maybe it is wishful thinking, but only a few more pieces were left from my initial inventory at the gallery. I have been getting a check almost every month, so I have to believe that my pieces are selling. The pieces I just dropped off are a bit lower in price so perhaps they will be easier sells that the previous items.

Just like last year, I am doing my best to participate in the Hand Made Pledge. I am trying to buy all my holiday gifts for people that are handmade...which means a lot of ETSY shopping (yay!!! my favorite!). I hope that all of you who read this decide to take part. It makes gift giving a lot more personal and creative - and in the end, more appreciated.


Thank you to everyone who came to my shows! A HUGE Thank you to my Mother for helping me with everything and for supporting me. She is a wonderful artists who small paintings would make fabulous gifts. She sells on ebay but also takes private requests through paypal. Also a thank you to my Grandma for baking awesome cookies and getting everyone I know hooked on her famous Rum Balls (which my friends tried to figure out what kind of rum she used...and what color rum she used - hilarious).

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!

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!

Give Thanks and SUMMER DISCOUNT CODE!

I wanted to take some time and thank the people who came to my Trunk Show on Thursday night. It was a really comfortable and fun get together! The overall show lasted about 2.5 hours and I sold about 400$ worth of inventory so I am VERY VERY thankful to those who came by!!!

It makes me soo happy that even my returning customers can take the time and sit at a table with the jewelry, and find something they love.

I am hoping to have ONE more show next month before I make the big move to Charlotte.

In other developments, I just opened up a new store at an online market place called BigCartel.com. Here is the link http://karmabymorgan.bigcartel.com/
I have most of the same items I have in my etsy and dawanda shops, but am trying this out. It is different from Etsy and Dawanda in that you don't have to sign up for a membership AND I can offer a discount code that can be implemented at the time of check out. BigCartel loves paypal (and so do I!) so that is their method of checkout.

So I decided to give some of my friends and fans a discount code - which if you are reading this should really take advantage of! The code is summer08 and you will get 15% the total order. That sounds like a nice idea to me :) I hope that some of you will take advantage!

Have a wonderful weekend!

KARMA TRUNK SHOW

KARMA TRUNK SHOW

@ 31 Maiden Lane
Bluffton, SC 29910

From 6 to 9pm

THURSDAY June 26th

please contact me if you need directions or have questions

http://karma711.etsy.com
(there is still time to shop online before the sale...wink wink)

***sale prices are for items bought ON LINE ONLY!!!***

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.