Hey craft showers! Inventory?

[sachbvn]

Hey guys - so - I'm still planning on doing a flea market/little bit of everything show in February. I'm just curious what kind of inventory you guys like to take to your shows. Obviously all shows are different, and most that you guys do are probably much larger than this thing, but still - just curious how many you try and bring...... do you lay them all out?

So far I've got about 24 pens, a handful of key chains (or pen woopsys as I like to call them,) a couple pen lights, and about 7 bottle stoppers.


I plan to make some more pens and bottle stoppers - I have some more bullet pens and I'd like to make another slim or two - but I was just wondering at what point you are putting.... "too much" out on the table to choose from.


Thanks!

Zac

[TDHofstetter]

I dunno, having never made one... but I'm told that bottle stoppers move quicker than anything else. I've got a stopper mandrel in my pocket right now, but that doesn't count.

[maxwellsmart007]

Bottle stoppers sell like hotcakes...everything else uses up valuable table room!

[sachbvn]

Well - if the stoppers go well.... there is a wine store in town I may approach about seeing about putting some stoppers in their store. It's a real small area so.... it would probably fly with them.


Zac

[Doug B]

I usually have 60 - 70 pens and fifteen stoppers. I sell about the same number of stoppers as pens.

There is a fine line between having so much stuff that it is overwhelming and having enough so that if you sell a bunch of stuff you still have something left to offer. And, every show is different...

[Ruffnek]

I say have as much as you can get made, Zac. You don't have to display it all at the same time.

I have covers for the folding show tables and plastic rubbermaid boxes that I carry my wares in. I just put whatever I don't want to display in the boxes underneath the tables. They aren't seen but if I need to replace an item that has sold, I just retrieve another piece from the hidden stash.

Boodrow sells bottle stoppers like they are hotcakes. People just gobble them up so I'd be prepared with enough that you don't run out...15 or 20 at least.

[sachbvn]

Well I suppose I need to order more stopper kits Anything wrong with having one "style" of the kit? I like the Vintage Low Profile kit that PSI has, plus you can't beat the price....now - I know there are nicer kits out there, but right now - I'm just a baby!

Cody - I have some Sterilite plastic cases with the folder lids that stay attached to the case - that is what I'm planning on using. I like the system pretty well so far - I have one for pens and key chains, another for bottle stoppers. I have a baggie (hobby lobby had a ton of bags for real cheap) for each item with the business card/item info in each bag. I won't display them in bags, but it helps keep the card with the right item until display.


Zac

[monty]

I always have a range in stock from pens, bottle stoppers, key rings, magnifying glasses, letter openers, mini necklace magnifiers etc. What sells at one show one year can sell squat the next. As for the bottle stoppers, I would highly suggest you go with stainless steel ones. The acids in the wine can pit and peal the chrome ones if left in contact with wine too long.

[sdb777]

Was wondering what the demographics are for those have purchased from you already? And what did they buy(if you even keep those kind of records)

I keep records on those that have bought my shooting sticks(I know it's not even close to what you are making). Those that have purchased are mainly 30-40, male(with more being 38 then anything so far). Had only two women that bought them as gifts for their husbands(no age known).

Guess what I'm trying to say is, "Bring what sells the best for your demographic your facing." And being that you'll be near a wine maker....lots of bottle stoppers, maybe they have already visited the winery??




Scott (probably didn't help at all) B

[boodrow]

Zac th last show me and Cody done , I carried 92 bottle stoppers , 30 pens and 50 or so fan pulls. Best I can recolect I brought 55 stoppers home, 19 pens and maybe 15 fan pulls , also sold some bowls and hollow forms , I think 2 bowls and 2 hollow forms. But carry as many different varietys of wood as u can , women go nuts over the zebra wood and palm wood then purple heart the cocobolo. I carried other woods bocote, bois de arc , hack berry etc. Again the ladies love the palm and zebra. U wont be able to do a lot of fancy cuts with the palm , its brittle and dont like to be turned very well, the zebrra is excelent to work with , sept it smells like a wet dog whilst turnin it. If I can find a pic I will post one of the palm incase uve never seen one.
Boodrow