craft$ellers

As many of you know, I’ve been working on a new tool for doing craft show searches. As I have been adding sites to the search engine, I am coming across some real gems that I want to make sure that you see.

While looking around for information on how to set up displays, I started searching with the term visual merchandising. I came across the following link:

http://www.giftandhomechannel.com/channel/vod/list/visualtips/?gclid=CLPXr4z7spMCFSUqagodDDn9nw

This is a must see. There are all kinds of videos here to help you set up displays. It is well worth your time. And, they are all free. Hard to beat that price. Check it out and let me know what you think.

One subject that always seems to be popular is that of Copyrights. Where do we cross the line from inspiration to violating the hard work of someone else? While in many cases it’s clear, sometimes it can be a difficult question to answer.

Sometimes you may not even be aware that you are violating someone else’s work. For example, if someone brings you a picture they want to have printed on a mug or a sweatshirt. Maybe they found a saying on the web they really like and what it engraved. What should you do? Do you go ahead and print or engrave it? Do you simply ask them where they got it and as long as it sounds good, go ahead? What is your level of responsibility to verify it?

Even if you aren’t in direct violation of a law, what is your ethical responsibility? I would really like to know what your thoughts are on this subject rather than just go on about it. Drop a comment and share your thoughts with the group. It’s always helpful to hear what others have on their mind.

As you probably know I’m taking a poll on the site right now asking the question of profitability. In other words, are you making a profit with your craft business. At this point, most people are answering no. One email sent to me about this poll caught my eye and I wanted to comment on it. One gal said that she sells jewelry, and the reason she can’t make a profit is because there are so many people doing the same thing. Is there something you can do about this, or should you just close up shop?

The answer isn’t to close up shop, it’s to get creative with your selling. You need to differentiate yourself from the other vendors in such a way that will get people’s attention. You need to find creative ways to market your products so that they will be seen in their proper context and show people just how great they are.

Let’s consider the area of jewelry. What could you do in the midst of all the vendors selling jewelry that might make a difference?

There is one place that my wife shops that she talks about more than any other - Costco. Why? Their return policy. No one’s return policy is as good as theirs. Maybe on paper, but when she goes to return something, she doesn’t get hassled or feel like they’re trying to talk her into keeping it. They just take it back. No problem.

Why did I tell you that story? To demonstrate for you what people will think of you for treating them the way Costco treats my wife. With courtesy and respect. If for some reason they don’t like their purchase, no don’t give them trouble about it. You just graciously refund their money.

What it’s really about is giving people the confidence they need in order to part with their money. They need to know that if for some reason they aren’t happy with their purchase, then you’re going to be there to take care of them. They don’t have to worry about getting the third degree, or being shamed into keeping it. They can trust you. And, if they can trust you, they are more likely to buy from you.

A second idea to consider is partnering. If all you sell is jewelry, then consider partnering with another booth that might benefit from having your products in their display, and would demonstrate your products. For example, let’s say someone a few booths down sells clothing. They have them nicely displayed on, but would even look nicer with some jewelry added in to the display. So, you go down and ask if they would like to add in your jewelry for a complimentary look. In exchange you’ll give them a small commission on anything they sell. Working together like this can be a powerful tool.

There are more ideas that I will share in days to come in the blog and in articles. Please always feel free to post a comment or question. The interaction is really helpful to others and can stir up some great conversation.

As you look around at the different craft shows today, it’s sad to see how many people are selling “crafts” that they put little or no effort into. It brings up the question of what has happened to the true craft show. Having done craft shows for almost 30 years, I’m not sure I can answer the question.

To me a true crafter is one who makes everything from scratch that they sell. I don’t believe you can call yourself a crafter if you simply buy pieces of precut wood, and only paint them. There’s no real crafting being done. The same is true for those who sell preassemble jewelry, or buy stuffed dolls and bears and only dress them. I have seen this happen for as long as I have been doing craft shows.

When I was first doing the shows, the true crafter would call these crafts, Granny Crafts. The people would buy a kit, make it up and sell it as their own. This has always irritated the true crafter.

Today more and more of the things sold at craft shows are kits or down right commercial products. Who is the blame for this? Is it the crafter who isn’t making the money they use too or is it the promoter who will take anyone who has the money for the show? Or maybe the potential customer? In reality, all are contributing to the problem.

Some promoters are good people with good intentions and some are just out for the money. When shows were few and far between, promoters would take the time to ask what the people made. They would ask for pictures, or check you out at another show. After a while, people just decided that being a promoter could make them some good money by getting a show together and they got greedy.

Over time there was proliferation of shows, sometimes every weekend at the same site, and the true crafter all of a sudden wasn’t making any money. This resulted in them dropping out of some of the shows. This then made the promoter ask for more money to be in the show or take whoever would do the show. This let in a lot of the commercial products that we see today.

Even the types of shows being put together don’t really qualify as craft shows. Think of the big shows that are in every large city in the country, that are held in convention centers. Are these true craft
shows? I don’t think so. They promote the show as a handcrafted show but usually the people who are selling the products, don’t make the products themselves. They have other people make the products at home or in a factory. These shows are usually juried, which is an added expense, and the show itself is very expensive.

Promoters will probably be upset with me saying these things about them. And, I know that it costs more to advertise today and more to procure a site for a show. There is certainly a lot of work and expense
in setting up a show. But, I feel that the costs have got out of hand.

What about the crafter? How do they contribute to this problem? Many people may have started out making everything themselves. But, with the cost of supplies, travel and the cost of the show, they too started to add products that would sell but they didn’t make. This made them a profit alright, but is that what the customer wanted when they went to the show to buy handcrafted items? Is this comprise worth it? Now they are no longer a true crafter and I think the customer is really the one who loses.

The customer can also contribute to the problem. They can go to the discount retailer and buy, what they think is the same thing, for less money. They don’t seem to realize that the cost to make something by
hand is higher than the giant who buys their products overseas and in bulk. Also if something is made by hand, no two are ever alike, even when they are made from the same pattern. It is the uniqueness of the
handcrafted product that makes it special. There are times when I think only the true crafter understands this concept.

I am a true crafter and still like to get out to do some shows. I have gotten use to being beside commercial vendors, and it doesn’t bother me as much as it once did. Still, it is sad to me to see how it has changed and lost the essence of the “true” craft show.

Check out Eva’s teddy bear site.