I am currently in the middle of my busiest show schedule of the year, but thought I would take a few minutes to address some questions people have been asking me over the past few months.
I am constantly getting asked if I am selling enough to make a living. The answer is yes, and no. the reality is if you are just starting out don't quit your day job. It takes a while to find your niche and to be able to start making a realistic income. Don't expect to just jump in with both feet and start making huge sums of money. You may be doing what you love, but if you don't treat it like a true job you will be in big trouble when its time to pay bills.
I have had no less than 10 people ask where I get my patterns because they have a show coming up and that item would sell so well. Hello, do your own research, not to mention most patterns are my own design, or redesign of a paid pattern I purchased. I am not going to give you my bread and butter patterns. You can sit down and do the hours of work and research I did. No one said this was going to be an easy get rich quick business.
I get asked where I sell often. That I don't have a problem sharing. Most shows are booked months in advance. You may get lucky and get in at the last minute, but chances are, at least for the better shows, you will end up on a wait list. And be ready to fill out an application. Don't get discouraged if you are turned down. The show may already have their limit of people doing your type of craft. But if you do get in, you will end up getting first chance at a booth at the next years show.
How did you decided what to sell? This is a question I am asked often. I started with what I liked to create and went from there. There are a couple of good shows I don't do, because the items that sell well are items I hate to make. And lets face it, if you hate making it, you are not going to enjoy your crafting, you will get burned out, and you will end up procrastinating. And of course you can't be afraid to evolve, and change things up. Also keep in mind that certain things sell better at different shows. That is why I have a wide variety of merchandise in all price points.
Other things to keep in mind. Don't undersell yourself. Just because you only have $5 worth of materials in that item, doesn't mean you should sell it for $6. You want to be able to support yourself, and a one dollar profit margin is not going to do it. You need to take into account the cost of materials, the time it takes you make it, and how much your overhead costs are (rent, utilities, insurance, etc). And if you decide to sell the hat at $25 and can't keep up with the orders, raise your price. You are worth it.
So these are just a few questions I get asked, I may try to go more in depth on some of them at a later date. Until then, I have a busy show schedule I need to prepare for.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
The Sassy Crafter: Busy Season
The Sassy Crafter: Busy Season: So this is the busy season for me. I have several Craft Shows coming up between now and December 14th. So I will be MIA for a while. I am...
Busy Season
So this is the busy season for me. I have several Craft Shows coming up between now and December 14th. So I will be MIA for a while. I am currently working on replacing stock from a very successful farmers market last weekend. This is a free market hosted once a month by the local Tractor Supply Store. I almost didn't go, but decided I could use the fresh air. I only took a small amount of stock, but what I did take was flying off the tables. Luckily I had more at home for the next show coming up this weekend in Farmersville, but I still want to replace some of the toys. Luckily they are are quickly made, unlike a blanket or garment which can take a few days or even weeks to create.
I did find a new pattern for a small dragon. Years ago, when my youngest niece and nephew were little I made 2 large dragons for them as Christmas presents and they were a big hit. They also took a couple of weeks to make, because there were a few errors in the written pattern that I had to figure out (2 single chains in each of 6 sc chains around does not equal 15 no matter what math you use). These take only an hour or so to make and use up very little yarn (just under a 388 yards). If I can remember to do so, I will take a picture of some of the toys I make this weekend at the show, and post it, along with the links where you can find the patterns.
So, back to work for me. Will try to catch up even if its just to say a quick hi/bye next week sometime.
I did find a new pattern for a small dragon. Years ago, when my youngest niece and nephew were little I made 2 large dragons for them as Christmas presents and they were a big hit. They also took a couple of weeks to make, because there were a few errors in the written pattern that I had to figure out (2 single chains in each of 6 sc chains around does not equal 15 no matter what math you use). These take only an hour or so to make and use up very little yarn (just under a 388 yards). If I can remember to do so, I will take a picture of some of the toys I make this weekend at the show, and post it, along with the links where you can find the patterns.
So, back to work for me. Will try to catch up even if its just to say a quick hi/bye next week sometime.
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Rude Customers Rant
Okay, so I had to wait a few days before I posted this, then I had to rewrite it to make it less vicious. But I have a few pet peeves when it comes to customers, and I had three of those happen Saturday at Two Sisters monthly Swap Meet.
First, was a low-baller. If you have ever sold anything you know the customer of which I speak. They pick up an expensive item, then offer a ridiculously low amount. Now keep in mind I sell both vintage, and handcrafts at the monthly swap meet. In this case the customer picked up a vintage piece of glass, one that regularly sells online for 50 dollars or more depending on color, time of year, and how many people want it. When I find this piece (and it is getting much harder to find) I can sell it easily for 35 bucks at the swap meet, and it is usually one of the first pieces to sell. This person picked it up, looked over carefully (it was in mint condition) then turned to me and said I'll give you 5 dollars for it. I kept my cool and said thanks but no thanks. Then they said I'll come back near the end of the sale maybe you'll be willing to sell it then. Thankfully it sold for full price a few minutes later, so I had the privilege of looking them in the eye and saying, oh I sold that for full price a few minutes after you walked away. (sometimes you get to see karma in work).
Second was someone who picked up a 1 dollar item (I think it was a card of buttons), and pulled out a 100 dollar bill. I did refuse to take it, usually when people do that it is because they forgot to get change the day before. When they said the only other thing they had was a credit card, I said that's okay, I'm set up for cards. Of course they decided they didn't need them that badly and walked away.
And one of my favorites. The three guys who were friends, hadn't seen each other in a few days, and decided standing in front of my booth blocking the entrance was a great place to visit. I let it go for a couple of minutes, then asked them politely to move to one side. They acted like I wasn't even speaking. It took me almost 30 minutes to get them to move. I just kept saying excuse me, your blocking my booth, please move to one side so customers can get in. And actually it was a customer who finally got them to move. The guy was shopping with is kids and the kids wanted to see the toys I had on the handcraft side of the booth. When it was obvious the three were not going to let the kids by, he just walked up and pushed them out of the way, saying my kids want to get in here to shop and your blocking the entrance. I think he actually shocked them into moving (my hero). Although I was thinking, they were lucky I did not have a two by four handy.
So that brings me to my pet peeves that customers do (some on purpose, some don't even realize they are doing it) These are not necessarily in order.
Low ballers - offer tiny amounts of money for items that are already priced.
The I need change people - they will find the cheapest thing in your booth and pull out a large bill, it happens at every show I do. Sometimes I will break the bill, sometimes I say no and offer to take a card. It depends on the time of day. If its late in the day, chances are big bills are all they have left, early in the day, they were just too lazy to get change.
The on my God I haven't seen you for at least a day (month, week, year) and proceed to catch up while blocking the entrance to your booth. Most will move to one side if you ask politely. Some just ignore you and continue "catching up".
The person who picks up the handcrafted item you spent hours making (in some cases days and weeks perfecting the pattern), and taking detailed notes on construction in order to go home and make it themselves. I have started offering the printed patterns for the items I have designed myself for sale, and pointing them out. Most end up purchasing the pattern, a few get upset that I dare suggest they purchase a pattern when they are quite capable of making it themselves.
Then there is the one who runs down everything they pick up. They could make it better, they don't know why the rare piece of furniture is priced so high, when the seller probably picked it up for next to nothing at a yardsale, or my favorite what makes your stuff so special, anyone can crochet, knit, make pottery, or jewelry, or whatever your craft is. These people you just have to ignore, there is nothing you can say or do that will change their minds. Just smile and say nothing.
Then my favorite when it comes to hand crafts the customer who says well I know the materials only cost you x amount, why are you selling for that much. Excuse me, I have time invested into the item, as well as things like rent, utilities, insurance, food, etc to cover as well. All of that has to go into the cost of the item. (these are usually the people selling at the church craft shows and charging only enough to by more materials to make more of their items, you know the ones that make it harder for the rest of us to make a living with our hand crafts)
And I get this one, but for some reason they only tend to show up at vintage shows (I don't do as many of these anymore, but still....)Well I can get it cheaper elsewhere. I actually had a customer tell me they could get a certain depression glass pattern that has not been made (or even reproduced) since the mid 1930's) new for a cheaper price at a department store in town. I suggested that if that was the case they may want to visit that store, because I could not possibly sell the pieces I had in that pattern that cheap, as I had paid more than that for them. It was the first day of a 3 day show, they came back on the 3rd day, waited until I walked away from my booth (not realizing I was in the booth next door paying for a piece of furniture the dealer had put back for me) and bought all the pieces I had left in that pattern (my cousin was running the booth for me while I was doing my shopping). I walked in just as they were walking out. They turned a nice shade of red, I just smiled and said hi, beautiful day isn't it.
But I think the type of customer that annoys everyone, is the person who lets their kids run wild. They don't keep an eye on them, and don't try to stop them from picking up anything and everything they can. And heaven forbid if you say something to the kid. You are the one that gets yelled at. Even if all you said was please don't handle that, its very fragile. I have even had to ask kids not to run in my booth I did hear the best response from a vendor at a show I was shopping at though. The kid kept grabbing expensive glass items off the vendors table. Her husband would quickly take the item and put it back on the table, while saying please don't touch anything, (the child in question was standing on tip toe, and reaching up and grabbing the item off the table, so you can't say the stuff was at their level) After about the 4th or 5th time his wife turned to the mother and said "If your don't stop your kid from grabbing my stuff, I'm going to kick your ass" (that was a direct quote). The mother grabbed the kid and took off. Next time I saw them she still had a death grip on the child's arm.
So those are my biggest pet peeves for rude customers. I'm sure others could add to this list easily.
Maybe next time I'll do a pet peeve for sellers I have encountered over the years.
First, was a low-baller. If you have ever sold anything you know the customer of which I speak. They pick up an expensive item, then offer a ridiculously low amount. Now keep in mind I sell both vintage, and handcrafts at the monthly swap meet. In this case the customer picked up a vintage piece of glass, one that regularly sells online for 50 dollars or more depending on color, time of year, and how many people want it. When I find this piece (and it is getting much harder to find) I can sell it easily for 35 bucks at the swap meet, and it is usually one of the first pieces to sell. This person picked it up, looked over carefully (it was in mint condition) then turned to me and said I'll give you 5 dollars for it. I kept my cool and said thanks but no thanks. Then they said I'll come back near the end of the sale maybe you'll be willing to sell it then. Thankfully it sold for full price a few minutes later, so I had the privilege of looking them in the eye and saying, oh I sold that for full price a few minutes after you walked away. (sometimes you get to see karma in work).
Second was someone who picked up a 1 dollar item (I think it was a card of buttons), and pulled out a 100 dollar bill. I did refuse to take it, usually when people do that it is because they forgot to get change the day before. When they said the only other thing they had was a credit card, I said that's okay, I'm set up for cards. Of course they decided they didn't need them that badly and walked away.
And one of my favorites. The three guys who were friends, hadn't seen each other in a few days, and decided standing in front of my booth blocking the entrance was a great place to visit. I let it go for a couple of minutes, then asked them politely to move to one side. They acted like I wasn't even speaking. It took me almost 30 minutes to get them to move. I just kept saying excuse me, your blocking my booth, please move to one side so customers can get in. And actually it was a customer who finally got them to move. The guy was shopping with is kids and the kids wanted to see the toys I had on the handcraft side of the booth. When it was obvious the three were not going to let the kids by, he just walked up and pushed them out of the way, saying my kids want to get in here to shop and your blocking the entrance. I think he actually shocked them into moving (my hero). Although I was thinking, they were lucky I did not have a two by four handy.
So that brings me to my pet peeves that customers do (some on purpose, some don't even realize they are doing it) These are not necessarily in order.
Low ballers - offer tiny amounts of money for items that are already priced.
The I need change people - they will find the cheapest thing in your booth and pull out a large bill, it happens at every show I do. Sometimes I will break the bill, sometimes I say no and offer to take a card. It depends on the time of day. If its late in the day, chances are big bills are all they have left, early in the day, they were just too lazy to get change.
The on my God I haven't seen you for at least a day (month, week, year) and proceed to catch up while blocking the entrance to your booth. Most will move to one side if you ask politely. Some just ignore you and continue "catching up".
The person who picks up the handcrafted item you spent hours making (in some cases days and weeks perfecting the pattern), and taking detailed notes on construction in order to go home and make it themselves. I have started offering the printed patterns for the items I have designed myself for sale, and pointing them out. Most end up purchasing the pattern, a few get upset that I dare suggest they purchase a pattern when they are quite capable of making it themselves.
Then there is the one who runs down everything they pick up. They could make it better, they don't know why the rare piece of furniture is priced so high, when the seller probably picked it up for next to nothing at a yardsale, or my favorite what makes your stuff so special, anyone can crochet, knit, make pottery, or jewelry, or whatever your craft is. These people you just have to ignore, there is nothing you can say or do that will change their minds. Just smile and say nothing.
Then my favorite when it comes to hand crafts the customer who says well I know the materials only cost you x amount, why are you selling for that much. Excuse me, I have time invested into the item, as well as things like rent, utilities, insurance, food, etc to cover as well. All of that has to go into the cost of the item. (these are usually the people selling at the church craft shows and charging only enough to by more materials to make more of their items, you know the ones that make it harder for the rest of us to make a living with our hand crafts)
And I get this one, but for some reason they only tend to show up at vintage shows (I don't do as many of these anymore, but still....)Well I can get it cheaper elsewhere. I actually had a customer tell me they could get a certain depression glass pattern that has not been made (or even reproduced) since the mid 1930's) new for a cheaper price at a department store in town. I suggested that if that was the case they may want to visit that store, because I could not possibly sell the pieces I had in that pattern that cheap, as I had paid more than that for them. It was the first day of a 3 day show, they came back on the 3rd day, waited until I walked away from my booth (not realizing I was in the booth next door paying for a piece of furniture the dealer had put back for me) and bought all the pieces I had left in that pattern (my cousin was running the booth for me while I was doing my shopping). I walked in just as they were walking out. They turned a nice shade of red, I just smiled and said hi, beautiful day isn't it.
But I think the type of customer that annoys everyone, is the person who lets their kids run wild. They don't keep an eye on them, and don't try to stop them from picking up anything and everything they can. And heaven forbid if you say something to the kid. You are the one that gets yelled at. Even if all you said was please don't handle that, its very fragile. I have even had to ask kids not to run in my booth I did hear the best response from a vendor at a show I was shopping at though. The kid kept grabbing expensive glass items off the vendors table. Her husband would quickly take the item and put it back on the table, while saying please don't touch anything, (the child in question was standing on tip toe, and reaching up and grabbing the item off the table, so you can't say the stuff was at their level) After about the 4th or 5th time his wife turned to the mother and said "If your don't stop your kid from grabbing my stuff, I'm going to kick your ass" (that was a direct quote). The mother grabbed the kid and took off. Next time I saw them she still had a death grip on the child's arm.
So those are my biggest pet peeves for rude customers. I'm sure others could add to this list easily.
Maybe next time I'll do a pet peeve for sellers I have encountered over the years.
Monday, September 9, 2019
Busy Times
So I have been very busy trying to get ready for the next two craft shows I have coming up in October. Just a few more items to make, then I am going to turn my attention toward making Christmas ornaments for the shows I have coming up in November and December. It helps that I did most of the craft items I need early in the year. After my last show in December I will take a month off to just breathe, try to pick out the new designs I want to try for the following year, decide which of the older tried and true designs I want to keep, and start looking for Spring 2020 shows that I may want to sign up for. Oh and I need to complete three wedding ring afghans in that time. One should have been done already, but a couple of shows I wasn't expecting to get into slowed that one down to a crawl, and I still have to purchase the yarn for one of them (thank goodness it doesn't have to be finished before next October, got to remember NOT to schedule a show that week.)
Oh and I also need to get my online store stocked. So this is going to be a busy busy season for me. Better busy that bored though. Although it would be nice to actually be able to see the floor of my craft room instead of open boxes of raw material, in this case yarn, ribbon, buttons, burlap, and t-shirts and funky sweaters waiting to be upcycled into rag rugs and pet beds. Oh well, after Dec 14th I can take a week to clean up and take stock, then I need to make sure all the Christmas gifts are done and ready to deliver. (hopefully that will include one of the above mentions afghans.)
For kicks and giggles thought I'd include some pictures of some of my stock / sale set ups in this post. Enjoy
Oh and I also need to get my online store stocked. So this is going to be a busy busy season for me. Better busy that bored though. Although it would be nice to actually be able to see the floor of my craft room instead of open boxes of raw material, in this case yarn, ribbon, buttons, burlap, and t-shirts and funky sweaters waiting to be upcycled into rag rugs and pet beds. Oh well, after Dec 14th I can take a week to clean up and take stock, then I need to make sure all the Christmas gifts are done and ready to deliver. (hopefully that will include one of the above mentions afghans.)
For kicks and giggles thought I'd include some pictures of some of my stock / sale set ups in this post. Enjoy
Monday, September 2, 2019
First Fall Craft Show of the Season
So the first craft show of the fall season has come and gone. Not the best, but not the worst show I have ever done. I actually did better than expected. As always my jellyfish, and seahorse plushies were among my best sellers. The mini pumpkins (these were a first time making them craft for me) flew off the shelf. Had requests for other veggies and fruits, so those will be on my to do list for the next show coming up in October. Sold several of the do-rag headbands I make and sell (the pattern is available here). I will definitely be making more of those.
Lots of compliments on the few hats and scarfs I took. I did not expect to sell any of these and took them only to get the responses as to what people thought of them. I did get a couple of baby blanket orders so those need to be completed in the next week or so.
And just for those who say they can't do a craft show because they don't have room in their vehicle for tables, displays, canopies, and finished crafts, I have a small 4-door Hyundai Elantra. granted my back seats do lay down (either right, or left, or both at the same time as needed), but the pictures below are of my packed car, and my booth set up on the day of the sale. So don't say never. Just practice loading your car, and if you can get the plastic crates that Walmart and Target sell this time of year for back to school/college, pack your merchandise in them, and use the empty crates to display merchandise on or in.
booth after set up
view of back seat of car
view from front of packed car
view from back of packed car.
So even if you have a small vehicle you can still do craft shows. The things I took were 5 small 20 inch x 40 inch folding tables (they fold in half, and the legs extend), a 10 x 10 canopy, a 6 foot ladder shelf (purchased at Tuesday Mornings and painted with a coral color stain), a folding metal table type shelf (purchased at Tuesday Mornings) a banner (purchased from vista print, and framed in a cheap plastic poster frame purchased at Jo Ann's, and embellished with patterned duct tape from Dollar Tree), 12 crates of product, 1 crate of bags, tape, tissue paper, price stickers,) A small ice chest with water and snacks, a folding wood laundry rack (purchased at an antique show years ago), 8 mannequin heads (I look for them at yard sales and swap meets because they are cheaper there than buying new), and some cheap 48 inch curtain rods and large 3 - 4 inch S-hooks (I got the curtain rods at Walmart, but you can probably get them cheaper at thrift shops and the S-hooks I got at Home Depot), and a folding plant stand the kind that folds out with 2 stands on each end that stand from 8 - 12 inches tall with one in the center that stands about 18 inches to 24 inches tall (for a total of 5) (I set my mannequin heads on these with one sitting on the table just in front of the plant stand.) And a garment rack that is quick and easy to put together (also purchased at Walmart)
There are some good you tube videos on setting up spaces and thinking outside the box as far as displays go.
I hope to check in later this week or next to give you a preview of some of the items I am making for the next show.
So the first craft show of the fall season has come and gone. Not the best, but not the worst show I have ever done. I actually did better than expected. As always my jellyfish, and seahorse plushies were among my best sellers. The mini pumpkins (these were a first time making them craft for me) flew off the shelf. Had requests for other veggies and fruits, so those will be on my to do list for the next show coming up in October. Sold several of the do-rag headbands I make and sell (the pattern is available here). I will definitely be making more of those.
Lots of compliments on the few hats and scarfs I took. I did not expect to sell any of these and took them only to get the responses as to what people thought of them. I did get a couple of baby blanket orders so those need to be completed in the next week or so.
And just for those who say they can't do a craft show because they don't have room in their vehicle for tables, displays, canopies, and finished crafts, I have a small 4-door Hyundai Elantra. granted my back seats do lay down (either right, or left, or both at the same time as needed), but the pictures below are of my packed car, and my booth set up on the day of the sale. So don't say never. Just practice loading your car, and if you can get the plastic crates that Walmart and Target sell this time of year for back to school/college, pack your merchandise in them, and use the empty crates to display merchandise on or in.
So even if you have a small vehicle you can still do craft shows. The things I took were 5 small 20 inch x 40 inch folding tables (they fold in half, and the legs extend), a 10 x 10 canopy, a 6 foot ladder shelf (purchased at Tuesday Mornings and painted with a coral color stain), a folding metal table type shelf (purchased at Tuesday Mornings) a banner (purchased from vista print, and framed in a cheap plastic poster frame purchased at Jo Ann's, and embellished with patterned duct tape from Dollar Tree), 12 crates of product, 1 crate of bags, tape, tissue paper, price stickers,) A small ice chest with water and snacks, a folding wood laundry rack (purchased at an antique show years ago), 8 mannequin heads (I look for them at yard sales and swap meets because they are cheaper there than buying new), and some cheap 48 inch curtain rods and large 3 - 4 inch S-hooks (I got the curtain rods at Walmart, but you can probably get them cheaper at thrift shops and the S-hooks I got at Home Depot), and a folding plant stand the kind that folds out with 2 stands on each end that stand from 8 - 12 inches tall with one in the center that stands about 18 inches to 24 inches tall (for a total of 5) (I set my mannequin heads on these with one sitting on the table just in front of the plant stand.) And a garment rack that is quick and easy to put together (also purchased at Walmart)
There are some good you tube videos on setting up spaces and thinking outside the box as far as displays go.
I hope to check in later this week or next to give you a preview of some of the items I am making for the next show.
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Okay, so I suck at Blogging
And what else is new. I have great plans, and of course they tend to fall by the wayside. So right now I am getting ready for the first of my fall craft shows coming up August 31st. Dreading the heat, but looking forward to getting a idea of what people are looking for this season.
Trend reports can be helpful, but lets face it, trends vary depending upon where you live, the median income of the people in the area you live in, and even the time of the year. Right now I expect I will be selling a lot of stuff in school colors, since school has just started and kids will want to show their school spirit. But there will no doubt be a lot of people asking for things I either don't have, or don't make. But this is one of my cheaper shows, and always a good indication of what I need to focus on for the rest of the fall season.
I am also trying my hand at loom knitting. I finally broke out that set of knifty knitter looms that had been languishing in the very back of the closet in my craft room. I have to admit, it wasn't that hard to do a simple hat on it. So I may have to play around with some more patterns. Knitted hats always seem to sell faster than crocheted ones, while crocheted headbands out perform knI itted ones, go figure. It takes me over a week to knit a hat on regular knitting needles, with the knitting loom I finished my first hat in about 2 hours, while binge watching the Librarians on tv.
I will try to remember to come back and post pictures of my booth either the Sunday or Monday after the show. (But please don't hold me to that LOL)
That's it for now. If anyone is in the Visalia, California area, near Church and Main Street, on August 31, 2019 between 10 and 4 come out and shop the show. If you find my booth (I have a large framd banner with my name Sharon Griffin, The Sassy Crafter on it) stop in and say hi. Mention you saw my blog post, and you'll get a small gift.
Trend reports can be helpful, but lets face it, trends vary depending upon where you live, the median income of the people in the area you live in, and even the time of the year. Right now I expect I will be selling a lot of stuff in school colors, since school has just started and kids will want to show their school spirit. But there will no doubt be a lot of people asking for things I either don't have, or don't make. But this is one of my cheaper shows, and always a good indication of what I need to focus on for the rest of the fall season.
I am also trying my hand at loom knitting. I finally broke out that set of knifty knitter looms that had been languishing in the very back of the closet in my craft room. I have to admit, it wasn't that hard to do a simple hat on it. So I may have to play around with some more patterns. Knitted hats always seem to sell faster than crocheted ones, while crocheted headbands out perform knI itted ones, go figure. It takes me over a week to knit a hat on regular knitting needles, with the knitting loom I finished my first hat in about 2 hours, while binge watching the Librarians on tv.
I will try to remember to come back and post pictures of my booth either the Sunday or Monday after the show. (But please don't hold me to that LOL)
That's it for now. If anyone is in the Visalia, California area, near Church and Main Street, on August 31, 2019 between 10 and 4 come out and shop the show. If you find my booth (I have a large framd banner with my name Sharon Griffin, The Sassy Crafter on it) stop in and say hi. Mention you saw my blog post, and you'll get a small gift.
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