3rd Fall Craft Show Review

On Saturday, I had my third fall craft show. This is a show that I've done for many years now. I had to miss last year, but it was sure great to be back! I was at a different location and was unsure if I was going to like that. There are 4 or 5 locations for this craft fair and this location was the furthest away from all the others. But it turned out to be a great show!

One thing that makes this a great show each year is the fact that it has been going on for over 50 years. It is a huge show and people plan all year for it. It can be snowing and icy or 90 degrees out and there is always a great crowd :) It is also a well-organized and well-advertised show as well.

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I like that this is a more local show than the others I've done so far this year. That means I know more people that are shopping and more people stop to talk. That always draws more people into your booth :) And many people didn't realize I had added my laser engraved items and stopped to talk and saw all my new products!

I am always surprised by what sells and what doesn't at different shows. My engraved photos always get a lot of attention, so I made sure to put my sample in the middle of my table and higher than the other items. It got a lot of attention at this show as well! And hopefully lots of orders will follow :)

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This was the first show that I brought my etched glass candle votives to. And I didn't sell a single one! I was really surprised by this because they are an item that got a lot of interest from friends and family and from my blog when I posted them a while back. But I'll be sure to take them to the next show and I hope to get them listed in my Etsy Shop soon.

As with my other shows this fall, I handed out a TON of cards! I only had about 3 cards left at the end of the show! And I think I started with almost 150!!! I got lots of custom orders at the show and I hope by handing out cards that I'll get even more :)

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Another thing I found interesting is that I didn't use my Square credit card reader one time! I didn't even have people ask about using a card. I think this has to do with the fact that this show was in a smaller town than my other two shows this fall. People are used to using cash and didn't think about using cards.

I also got the biggest complement at this show :) I'm not used to having other people make similar items to what I make...usually I'm the only one with Name and Word Albums and Engraved Items. This time there was someone at another location making my Word Albums! But I got told on two different occasions that my albums were much nicer! They were much better quality and they could tell the work and detail that I put into mine :) This made me feel awesome!!!

Craft Show Success

Thanks to everyone for their well wishes for my craft show! It was a success! The morning flew by and I couldn't believe it was already noon when I looked at my phone! We had a great steady flow of people all day long...even during lunch hour when it usually slows down :)

I wasn't sure how my sales were until I came home and got everything totalled up. I was afraid I didn't do very well, just because things were so steady instead of big busy periods. So I was happy when I found out I only came out $50 short from last year...that's basically only 2 albums short! I was very happy with this outcome :)

I also had several people take cards and were thrilled that I had a website! I think this is one reason I didn't have as many custom orders as last year. When they know you have a website, they don't feel pressured to buy that day and know they can get ahold of you later :) This helps spread out the orders and a lot of times they order more online because they have time to think of all the people they have to buy gifts for and they can pay with a credit card!

Here's a few pics I took of my booth. It was set up pretty much the same as last year, but we found a couple of things we'd like to change before my next show. I would like to make three or four long shelves that run the whole length of the middle section. And then the smaller shelves will go along the sides. I would also like to make a sign that will attach in the back with brackets and stand up in the middle of the display. I think this will really grab people's attention and draw them in :)

It's Showtime!!!

Wish me luck! Today is my first big craft show for the fall season. It's a wonderful show that I've been attending for 4 or 5 years and it's their 50th anniversary...so it's a very well-known event :) We got my booth set up last night and everything organized for the big day today. I usually have a friend with me, but her son had football so I'm bringing some projects to work on during slower times. I just hope the weather cooperates and we get lots of people to attend :) If you're in the Clarinda, IA area...stop by and say hi :)