Yesterday I participated in another Holiday Boutique event. It was one I had not done before and one that I was very excited to do because the organizer had reached out to me via my Etsy shop saying that she really liked my work and wanted to know if I wanted to have a table at their boutique. Of course I said yes. The entrance fee was a little steeper than the other craft shows I am doing but I figured it was worth it to get the additional exposure. Table fees is an item I can deduct on my business taxes so it is not really that bad. This was also a longer day than the other ones, extending from 9 AM to 6 PM. It was at St. Dunstan’s Catholic Church, so not too far away and I guessed that there would be people coming in after mass. I was hoping that the priest would give encouragement to the parishioners to support the vendors. You know how well the Catholics can play the guilt card, right? (I’m Catholic so I can say that). I am also fresh off the high of the last event and the contact with the art store owner so my expectations were great.
During the last week I’ve been trying my best to get more product made so I have something fresh to sell and I was able to add these gems:
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| Gift tags |
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| Gift card holders and more tags |
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| Christmas Cards |
I got most everything ready to go the night before and got up early to get to the auditorium by 7:30 AM. It takes about an hour and a half to get completely unpacked and have my items out for display. It was a challenge this time because the table was only 6 feet long. Most of them are 8 feet and those extra 2 feet really help. I tried my best to get a lot of things on the table without making it look too cluttered. This is what I looked like all set up and waiting for the hoard of buyers I was sure were coming:
And I waited. People started filtering in because there was also a pancake breakfast and a visit from Santa.
A few people walked by my table and looked at things but there were no quick sales. I waited. After about two hours I got out some craft things I had brought along with me so I wouldn’t just be sitting there doing nothing. There was a steady stream of people coming through but I still hadn’t made a sale. The woman behind me was selling natural products like homemade soaps, reusable cups and drinking straws, herbal pain relief, etc. and she was doing a brisk business. Occasionally someone would stop and tell me how cute my things were or ask if I actually made everything myself but there definitely was no rush to buy anything. I was really starting to get discouraged.
My husband had called and asked me if I wanted him to bring me some lunch and I originally said no but when the time dragged on with no business, I sent him a message and asked if he would go to McDonald’s and bring me a salad. He said he would and then called from McDonald’s saying that they were not selling salads because of the e-coli outbreak. Great. The day was getting better every minute. I told him I’d just eat what I had brought (some ham and cheese, no bread and a couple of bites of a Quest bar – no carbs, remember?).
And then, just when I was starting to feel the day was going to be a total waste, I sold two of the sliding gift card holders.
Once that initial sale was made, even though that was nowhere near enough to make my table costs, I started to relax. Slowly but surely I sold a card here and there and then I got a custom order for two mini-albums! That made my day. I finished the show recouping not only my table fees but almost $50 on top of that. It may not seem like a lot but for me it is a good day. Every time I make a sale I pass my business card out which has my Etsy site on it and hopefully people will check there to see if I have anything new.
I still have two more shows to do this season so perhaps my good luck will continue. At least I have a week between shows to get some more items created. I think I know what Santa’s elves feel like – LOL.
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Janet's Smiles 
Well done! Those slider cards are totally adorable! I also think your table display is lovely!
We have a couple of craft fairs we attend this time of year. One raises money for charity and another for the school performing arts. I usually buy gifts for others, and I set a strict budget, good cause or not — but I must say, one year there was a lady who had repurposed sweaters into handmade mittens and they were so cute and warm, I bought several, and broke my budget, lol! I took her card and I did, in fact, buy other items from her. Even now, years later, I still peek in to see what she’s got. SO getting those cards out with your store info — fabulous way to generate business.
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Yes, I am excited when people take my cards and I have to remember to start shoving them in the bag when they actually buy something. God knows I have enough of them!
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Wonderful! Sounds like a great day! Love the pics!
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Thanks Margie! You never know how these things are gonna turn out, do you?
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Thanks for commenting on the blog, too, my friend. It really helps!
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I love the Christmas tags! I’m so happy you made a profit–those have to be the BEST days ever!
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Absolutely! Crossing fingers for the next two.
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Love the photo of you with your table display. Glad business picked up after awhile. Good to hand out your etsy cards, too, so people will visit & buy from there. 🙂
Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving! 🙂
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Thanks Barbara. Most of the time I just take a picture of the table so I can remember how I set things up but once in a while I ask the vendor in front of me to take one with me at the table.
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💗💗
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So happy to hear the day worked out for you. How many vendors were there? When I go to the big Catholic School Craft Fair – I find it way too overwhelming and end up not wanting to buy anything. It’s just too crowded when the gymnasium, hallways, cafeteria, etc. have booths. I want to see them all before buying anything, and then I’m too tired or can’t remember how to go back and find that one booth where I saw something I wanted. I admire your persistence and that you found the positives in the experience. And that you stuck to your diet too!!
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This was in one room and there were about 20 to 30 of us. There was plenty of walking room between the tables too so it didn’t feel too crowded.
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Picky shoppers, eh? I’d call the day a success then, just like you did!
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Oooo wow! I’m glad you came out with a small profit at the end! I can’t imagine having to do a show like that! Must be so boring waitget bc for sales and nerve wracking too! Lol
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Especially when I see the lady behind me selling like hotcakes! The woman in front of me was doing well too. She was selling terrariums.
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Oooo wow!! Maybe it’s just a little too early in the season for cards? Christmas cards at least. You should have done a deal with one of the ladies “but a terrarium and get a card to go with it!” Lol
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We’re you close to the entry door? People just starting will hold on to money till they see whats there. I sold our stuff at a swapmeet. We were close to the exit, we sold nearly everything we brought
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No, I was in the middle of the pack and truthfully there wasn’t anyone else there selling the types of things I make. I did have a couple of people say they were going to walk around and see everything and then come back but didn’t.
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Congrats to you, Janet! Glad it all turned into a positive for you. 🙂
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It is hit and miss sometimes. Hoping to continue the trend with the next two.
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