First Show

I had my first show yesterday. Money wise, it wasn't good. I spent a good 12 (almost 13) hrs there (including setting up and taking down, sold a miserable 5 pieces (including one to my mum) and paid $10 for the experience (sales - fee and costs)

Out of a total of 15 stalls, 11 were selling jewellery, with some cheap wholesale stuff and some mid-range wholesale stuff. I was the only stall there with 100% handmade jewellery.

Wasn't a *total* loss though, I learnt quite a bit, and met some new people.

I actually intended this first show to be learning experience, and had intended to go in without much expectation, but still, I was bummed about not making any money when I came back after a long day.

The show was held at a club, and it was badly publicised. There were no signs up about the bazaar, and no mention in the newsletter. A member told me that she was there the whole day, and did not realise that there was a bazzar going on.

I did network with the other vendors, some of whom were really helpful and shared information about other organisers and so on. Now, I also know to ask about info on other vendors when signing up (how many jewellery sellers, and if they limit the number of jewellery sellers)

I also learned about selling:
a) not to be too quick to offer a discount just to make a sale, (if they're really interested in buying the item, they will, and if they really want a discount, they will ask for one)
b) that I should try to upsell. A girl who bought my fav pair of earrings commented that maybe she should buy a pair for her sister, if she wanted another one. she said no - I shd have asked her which one her sister would like, and perhaps offered her a small discount if she got more than 1 pair.
c) that I must fight the urge to hover.

Other good things that came out of it:
1) I got compliments from some folks who thought that my things are pretty (if only they found it pretty enough to buy)
2) got compliments on my table set-up.

This is my table set-up.

I got compliments on it, but I fancy that it's a little sparse. However, other vendors who packed their table full of stuff did not do any better. Maybe this set-up would be more appropriate at a more up-market event.

And the rest of the show. There were two more vendors behind the photographer.



The pieces sold were:

Red Heart Glass Foil Pendant
I made this at the show itself. A little European boy and his mother came along, and while she was looking at something else, he drew her attention to something similar near this pendant. She looked at that part of the display and he pointed to this pendant. The mother looked at it and asked me how much it was. I told her, and she turned to look at him. She said something in a European language that I could not identify. I asked her if she would like to try it on, but she said that she would take it. She paid and I wrapped it up for her. She stopped at the empty table next to mine, and promptly put it on, got her son's approval and kissed him on the cheek. (So sweet) They then stopped at the next table where the boy pointed out a red bracelet which she also bought. (The boy obviously likes red. He was wearing a red t-shirt too. :)


The White Square Foil Glass Necklace is a long necklace of seed beads and white square foil glass beads (duh!). I sold this to a mother-daughter pair at a 10% discount because they asked for one.


The Gone Fishing earrings (my favourite) I sold to a young woman who picked it out straight away. (good eye) She asked me how much it was. As I approached her to serve her, JH whispered to me to give her a discount. I probably would have given her one if she had asked for it, but after a moment's deliberation, she said that she would take it, so yay! If I had offered her a discount, I would have unnecessarily cut my profit on that piece, because she obviously thought that the price was reasonable.

I also sold a similar (Gone Fishing) handphone charm (to a man who mistook me for his friend's daughter - another vendor, but not sure which one) and a lanyard (to my mum) These don't really count as they were sympathy buys. But money is money, right? And that 3 people like my stuff enough to buy them is good too. Not as great as *many* people liking my stuff enough to buy, but it's better than no one at all.

Here's to a better and more successful show next time.