I am leaving this note as a reminder to myself..........

This entry is more just a reminder for me than anything. I just got back from two days of vending at our local Metaphysical Faire, in Eureka. I did not make one sale, got barely any notice of my work and although I didn't think much of it at the time, I can look back and see what I need to do differently in the future.

1. Don't crowd your booth. That was one large flaw of the entire show, there wasn't enough room to wander through without bumping into other people and tables. In our booth, we were hidden by two racks full of clothing, therefore my small display of leather goods was eaten alive, never to be seen by anyone (yes, I am a little peeved about it but I will get over it.)

2. Sit closer to the foot traffic path, not in the far reaches of the booth, otherwise the patrons of the show can not see you and talk to you as easily. You definitely want to be "out there" when you are displaying your work. You don't have to jump on people, but you need to be available, not hiding in the background like you don't want to talk to anyone.(Although, that was truly the case yesterday, as I was feeling horrific, and just wanted to be home sleeping.)

3.Use lighter, brighter colors to display your work on. I have used a large black cloth for years at these shows because it brought out all the wonderful qualities of my metal work and drew customers in. With my leather work, the black cloth overpowers everything around it, and the colorful leather pieces just sink into one another and disappear making it harder for the customer to really observe each piece. I think I will be going with a white cloth for the leather in the future, that way it will make it a little easier to see the true colors of my work, not mixed and muddled mud.

4. Clearly label prices. Make it as easy as possible for your customers to find the prices for your work. It cuts down on the confusion, and in the past, has made for more successful sales.

5. Get your name out there! Make sure to have easily readable signage and promotional materials out there. I didn't sell anything this time but at least I had some potential customers take cards.

6. If you are sharing a booth with someone, make sure you sit down beforehand and really design your space before you set up. It saves on annoyances and resentment down the line.

I am sure there is a ton more I could do, but that is my start. I think my whole theme for this particular show was to un-clutter and lighten up and don't agree to do a show at the last minute if you have been sick for months and still don't feel that hot. No one wants to buy from a grouchy lady sitting in the corner that only wants to be home sleeping, and I don't blame them.