Ever walk through a craft fair and say, I could do that. Ever
hear someone say you should sell your stuff? Admit it you
wish that you could make a living doing the thing that you love
doing the most
.your craft. I understand exactly how you feel
because I used to feel exactly the same way.
I longed to make a living as an artist but I held myself back.
Fearful and intimated of putting myself out there, I ignored my
dreams. Fortunately, someone pushed me right into my business.
I participated in a charity event as a favor to my wife and her
friends. During that event a woman came up and invited me to
participate in a craft show which was going to take place just
before the holidays. Anxious to begin a business, I agreed.
Not long thereafter my dream of earning a living as an artist
came true. Let me share with you some secrets that will make
your next craft show a success!
First, do your research. I recommend purchasing a trade
magazine called Where the Shows Are. You will find all of
the art and craft shows listed in this publication. More
importantly, artists that attended the craft show in previous
years share their insights and reviews of the previous year
shows. These artists discuss the types of items that sold well,
what price point did well, and rate if they would attend the
show again. Find the show that matches your work!
Next, determine the demographics of the show. Who attends?
Look at the location of the show. The majority of people
attending will come from that area. Is the show located in a
middle class community? I recommend displaying work under the
$500.00 level. Is the show located in a very high end or
ritzy neighborhood? Make sure that you display and price
craft work that matches this buyer. Avoid diminishing the
worth of your craft by selling it too cheap! Use the
demographics to understand the perception of the buyer.
I always recommend producing items at all different price
points. Don”t ignore the power of the lower priced items. A
lower priced item allows people to easily purchase from you and
increases the amount of multiple piece sales.
Educate your customer! Share with them the other potential uses
of your craft. Be creative, expand the possibilities and expand
the amount of people that will buy from you. Give suggestions
on other uses for your work. For instance, I”ve sold a glass
platter to one customer that another purchased as a glass wall
sculpture whereas someone else became the proud owner of a glass
centerpiece. It”s all the same piece of art, but every buyer
made a purchase unique to their needs.
Another secret strategy to a successful craft show – network
with other artists. Before the show begins, usually during the
time when everyone is setting up, introduce yourself to non
competing artists and let them know that you will be happy to
refer people to their booths for their line of work, and in
exchange you would like them to do the same for you. Consider
working out a commission for any buyer that comes to your booth
referred by another artist. This little known strategy will
surely put many more dollars into your pocket.
If you would like additional strategies on how to maximize your
profits at craft shows, visit www.thethrivingartist.com for my
free e-course on how to sell your artwork for maximum profits.
Make your dream of earning your living as an artist come true
today!
Previous ArticleNo Excuses Exercises
Next Article Colors: Mixed and Matched!
idea online
The internet makes it easy to start a business idea but what should you start? Discover the right business idea online for you to start with our definitive list of the best idea online. "Idea" is a fundamental concept representing the inception of thoughts, innovations, and solutions. It encapsulates the spark of creativity that ignites progress, guiding individuals towards novel approaches and discoveries. Idea are the seeds from which great achievements grow, fostering ingenuity, problem-solving, and forward-thinking endeavors across all domains.