First Show was a bust

[jennjenn]

So after panicking about this for months and being worried about not having enough stock I sold just 1 piece!  A painted Jasper pendant for $75.  I didn't even sell enough to cover my booth cost of $200.  It's very frustrating.

I did learn a lot and I think the most important lesson was to make sure I'm participating in shows that have the right audience.  My prices were a lot higher than other jewellery booths and people were more interested in the cheaper stuff.  That's OK it was a good experience overall, just a little disappointing.  So my goal the rest of the summer is to check out some additional shows and make sure I'm signing up for ones where people can appreciate unique pieces and be willing to pay for them!

Jenn

[Mark]

Sorry to hear the first show didn't go too well, but like you said, you learned from it and that's important.

Mark

[Charlotte]

Jenn,

You actually did great.  My goal on my first show was to sell one item.  I learned so much more than what I lost that it made it worth it.  I spent time looking around the other booths and watching what people were actually looking for.  I also worked through people touching everything and leaving fingerprints on everything and dropping everything and moving everything****** and I kept a smile on my face and tried to answer most question asked........  You did great, you sold one item!

[Taogem]

Your positive attitude shows when you can look at it like a learning experience, and move on to the next show.

Don't be discouraged !

Congrats on the sale Jenn.. 

[thewrightthings]

Jenn, that is a common lesson with jewelry(and other things).  Certain types of shows are geared more toward folks who only seek a bargain.  I had the same experience at my first(and last) show.  It was the week after 9/11.  At the time I was making and selling high-end glass jewelry.  Not only was noone in a buying mood, but a hugh storm blew in and knocked over my displays, breaking many glass pieces.  In addition, it was a lower end show, so my prices were over the norm for the crowd.  I did break(guess that would be a pun) even for the show cost, but lost quite a bit of stock to the breakage. 
  Now, I prefer the net, word of mouth, and home shows. 
  We all learn lessons!

[Charlotte]

Jenn, your work is beautiful.  It will sell.

[Rockoteer]

I did learn a lot and I think the most important lesson was to make sure I'm participating in shows that have the right audience

I would think that is the hardest thing to  do, picking the right shows. 

TOG

[ScarlettoSara]

JennJenn:)  I know what beautiful pieces you design and there is a market for your work.
Like any business you have to know your customers. Dont ever drop your prices, they are worth the price you set. Go where people appreciate the time and effort and materials you combined. Your designs are custom, only one in the world like it and name your designs. Such a silly thing I know, but when the lady wears it she will say.....yes the designer calls this "Nightmoves" and her friends will nod their heads and go oh yes...I want one of her designs too:)

[jennjenn]

Thanks guys for the kind words.  So I think what I'm going to do from now until next spring is just focus on checking shows out and seeing if they have the right audience for me.  I had been thinking of doing a fall or Xmas show but given how stressed out and crazy I became before the show I think I"ll wait until I'm done school in April.  Cuz I was one scary chick last week! :)

Here's a pic of my setup. 

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Alvin]

marketing is a business in itself. I find that watching what people are willing to pay on ebay gives me some idea of what people want most at the time and what they are willing to pay based on the number of bidders. I did shows for years and learned that by the time you pay off your real expenses with your net profit and not your gross sales, you have to sell a lot of product to actually make money. business plan 101, if you do not count your time, you are not making a profit. (does not apply if you are having fun and do not plan to live off of the profit). What you might do is check your local government to see if they have some type of promotion for businesses. Also check your state to see if they have a promotional program for items made in state. best of luck.

[stonesthatrock]

oh jenn i'm sorry to hear the show didn't go well......................... After the first year of ralph and i doing show we learned which ones were good for us, and which ones sucked.....    The gem and mineral shows is all we do because most of the others don't do lapidary and who gonna buy slabs and rough when they don't know what to do with it......  lol
Its a learning experience but i think the quality of your jewelry you should look into the  JURIED  shows.   It cost more, but the customers are the higher end.  They know when they go to a juried show its the "one of a kind"  pieces and are willing to pay more.
Even before you try one, go to a show and look around, talk to the vendors,  etc......  you will learn so much from them.

Also, one last thing..........  THE ECONOMY SUCKS...   this has hit everyone very hard at all the shows.   So it may not be your jewelry,  its just they have no money to spend right now.

Good luck and keep a good attitude.  We have show in sedona and we are keeping our fingers crossed.

mary  ann

[johnjsgems]

WOW! What a topic.  I do between 20-25 shows a year (one is 30 days long).  I mostly sell tools, supplies, equipment but my wife makes beaded jewelry and we sell some beads and lower end fossils.  We have pretty much given up on outdoor shows.  Indoor shows cost much more but you get a better clientell and bad weather helps rather than drives away customers.  I sell to many jewelers and heard last year sales down 50% to 70%.  Like Mary Ann said, bad economy.  My wife has found she sells easily things like earings and bracelets in the $15-$20 range.  Necklaces $45 - $60.  More expensive stuff travels a long time before the "right" buyer comes along.  We get invited to many shows because not many vendors carry tools, etc.  We really bomb at shows that are mostly walk in non-lapidary customers. W e do great where there are no lapidary suppliers around.   Picking the right shows is a real challenge.  If you can find arts and crafts or juried arts shows where people have money you would do better. 

[MrsWTownsend]

Well, I'm sorry you didn't sell out but I like your positive attitude about chalking it up to a learning experience and moving forward unabated!  It does make a difference who your buyers are and in what setting you show, that's for sure.  In today's disposable world it can be tough to appease everyone; I can't tell you how many times I've heard someone say "Oh I can just go to so and so and get something like that for way cheaper".  To that I say [think in my head] "Pffft~ no you cant 'cause my stiff is one of a kind, quality merchandise, not cheap costume crap" and deem them unworthy to own my art anyway.  =D

It will come so don't let them get you down!

[jennjenn]

Well the sad thing is - it was a juried show!  Although I really have to wonder how "tough" their standards were.  Because it certainly did not look like they were very high.

No biggie - onward & upward!!

[Bentiron]

Your work is wonderful, I think it is more about the current economy than anything to do with your work. I have a friend that is just sort of packing it in for awhile until things improve. He has a day job doing jewelry repair and only did shows for extra money but when he wasn't making what he was getting the same as his hourly wage in the jewelry shop he said it was time to get off the road. It was a waste of his time and gas. He can always get extra hours at the jewelry store around the holidays. You work is very good and with right show will sell and never put it on sale it is to good to discount it for the public.