Memorial Day craft show results

[Doug B]

Well, it was my best show so far. I had good sales all 3 days. I am really tired, but really happy. A 3 day show really is draining, but this one was worth it.

I have not really sat down yet and figured out all the details, but I sold something over 30 items in the 3 days. That does not sound like a whole lot, but most things sold were at the upper end of my goods so it was terrific! And I am expecting some follow up business from some of the customers.

Once again, it seemed like folks at this particular show were either looking for a bargain or for something unique. I don't have many bargain items.

Anyway, here are a few pics of the weekend.

I finally got a pic with me in it that did not break the camera



A perspective pic that I have never tried before, but is kinda interesting...



Another angle showing the side table.



A close up of the stoppers...

[sdb777]

Very nice, neat, uncluttered set-up! Must have taken awhile to come up with that formula?

Three days...sounds like a lot of sitting in the heat? Regardless, glad you had some sales! Hope you came out way ahead!?!?!?



Scott (I break cameras...your okay) B

[maverick31]

glad to hear you did so well. Your set up looks awesome. I gotta get my next show set up. Do you find people asking for pen display boxes? I was thinking about making some of the ruffneck flip up style boxes to test out at the next show I go to.

[Ruffnek]

Congratulations, Doug. I hope the show success was enough to salve your (and your wife's) worries about the out-of-town expenses. It sounds like you undoubtably came out in the black.

What were your best sellers? The Pine Cone stoppers, the Antler Pens? I'm curious as to what people are buying.

[fredbelknap]

Glad you had fun ;D and made money ;D ;D ;D . You and your spread look great.

[boodrow]

Doug very nice presentation on the set up. Congrats on the sales , like to hear how u came out. Also did u sell any of the fan pulls , and like the others ask what sold best for u.
Boodrow

[sachbvn]

I can write more later, but this weekend I was thinking "hmm, wonder how Dougs doing at the show."

good job man, thanks for the display photos too!!


Zac

[rdabpenman]

Way to go Doug!
Your set up looks great.

Les

[Doug B]

Jun 1, 2010 5:15:43 GMT -6 sdb777 said:

Very nice, neat, uncluttered set-up! Must have taken awhile to come up with that formula?

Three days...sounds like a lot of sitting in the heat? Regardless, glad you had some sales! Hope you came out way ahead!?!?!?

Thanks Scott! I'm lucky that it was not too hot in Ruidoso. Elevation is over 7000 feet if I remember correctly, so it was a nice cool change for us. When we left home it was 96 degrees and was only 81 degrees when we got to Ruidoso. Then it got cloudy and rained just a tiny bit and it really cooled down. Very, very nice weather for us crafters.

And yes, I more than covered expenses...luckily the Texans who came up for the baseball tournament and horse racing don't seem to know that the economy is bad I think Texas may be the only thing keeping our country from a depression right now.

[Doug B]

Jun 1, 2010 5:30:43 GMT -6 maverick31 said:

glad to hear you did so well. Your set up looks awesome. I gotta get my next show set up. Do you find people asking for pen display boxes? I was thinking about making some of the ruffneck flip up style boxes to test out at the next show I go to.

Thanks Mav! I have not quite figured out the display boxes just yet. I think that maybe people who are buying a pen or desk set are influenced by the wooden boxes since that makes a nice gift, but those who are buying for themselves are only concerned about the pen they want and everything else is just icing on the cake. I like to have them in my display because I think it looks more professional.

I think if you have hand made boxes like Cody's it would be even better. Several folks asked me if I made the boxes too...it is important for some people that they get unique hand crafted items and that would include hand made display boxes too I am sure.

[Doug B]

Jun 1, 2010 6:04:37 GMT -6 Ruffnek said:

Congratulations, Doug. I hope the show success was enough to salve your (and your wife's) worries about the out-of-town expenses. It sounds like you undoubtably came out in the black.

What were your best sellers? The Pine Cone stoppers, the Antler Pens? I'm curious as to what people are buying.

Thanks Cody! Yes, the accountant is happy But, now the inventory control manager is wanting to make sure that the production replaces what got sold.

I have gone through the details of what sold. Colorgrain was really popular...I had 4 colorgrain pens, 1 colorgrain cigar pencil, and 1 colorgrain bottle stopper, and they all sold. I was wishing I had more colorgrain stuff.

Pine cone pens and stoppers were real popular too, which I expected. I sold 3 pens and 4 stoppers.

Cartridge pens were real good sellers too - I sold 8 of them, including 2 that were made with rattle snake.

Slimline pens continue to be what I sell the most of - 14 of them, some of which were part of pen/pencil sets.

I had 2 BOW pens with cross clips and they both sold.

The things that did not sell very well were Gatsby pens and Classic Twist pens, and I was surprised that none of the fountain pens or roller balls sold. I was also surprised that none of the Elk bottle stoppers sold and only 5 pens with antler sold. I thought those would be a little more popular.

I think it helped that it was close to fathers day...several people bought for that reason and commented on how hard it is to find good gifts for men.

So, the final totals when I count both items in a set, came out to 38 items sold and 2 that I traded for some deer antlers. Sunday was the best day for sales at 17 items sold, followed by 12 items on Monday and 11 items sold on Saturday.

That's about all I can think of to report on, but I probably missed something important...

[Doug B]

Jun 1, 2010 6:10:22 GMT -6 fredbelknap said:

Glad you had fun ;D and made money ;D ;D ;D . You and your spread look great.

Thanks Fred! The setup is all due to LOML - she did a great job on that.

[Doug B]

Jun 1, 2010 7:20:47 GMT -6 boodrow said:

Doug very nice presentation on the set up. Congrats on the sales , like to hear how u came out. Also did u sell any of the fan pulls , and like the others ask what sold best for u.
Boodrow

Thanks Boodrow. I had 4 light pulls, 3 of them were pine cone, and I sold one of them and traded another one. Lots of folks liked them and seemed close to buying one, but I probably had them priced too high. But they are almost as much work as a stopper so I'd rather have them on sitting there looking pretty than to sell them for less. I'm definitely going to try to have more of them for the next craft show.

[Doug B]

Thanks for the comments Zac and Les. I really appreciate that.

[Ruffnek]

Jun 1, 2010 14:44:48 GMT -6 Doug B said:

Jun 1, 2010 5:15:43 GMT -6 sdb777 said:

Thanks Scott! I'm lucky that it was not too hot in Ruidoso. Elevation is over 7000 feet if I remember correctly, so it was a nice cool change for us. When we left home it was 96 degrees and was only 81 degrees when we got to Ruidoso. Then it got cloudy and rained just a tiny bit and it really cooled down. Very, very nice weather for us crafters.

And yes, I more than covered expenses...luckily the Texans who came up for the baseball tournament and horse racing don't seem to know that the economy is bad I think Texas may be the only thing keeping our country from a depression right now.

When I saw your picture I was thinking that it was straw hat weather but that's really cool for this time of year. Sounds wonderful since it's been in the mid-nineties with ~70% humidity here lately.

Yeah, Texas is keeping the economy going. We have to spend our oil well royalty checks somewhere. ;D

Thanks for going into detail on the show results.

[boodrow]

I have to ask all yall this question , does Doug look more like Alan Ladd or John Wayne in the pic. Im pretty sure Hollywood has a place for him.If I posted a pic the only place for me would be a sequel to the planet of the apes. And id be one of the hairy beast.
Boodrow

[monty]

Congrats on the great show.

[sawduster]

I think a lot of those horse racing folks, from Texas and elsewhere are old deep money, so they don't get as affected by economic down turns like the rest of us.

Glad you done well.

[Mark]

Good job Doug. Glad to see the set-up and read of the results. Those horse racin' types must've had some winnings at the track to share around . .

Boodrow - I'd say Allan Ladd, and

If I posted a pic the only place for me would be a sequel to the planet of the apes.

I seem to remember on the other place that you and Cody did show up in a picture or two at your craft fair adventure. ;D ;D ;D

Thanks and congrats Doug,

Mark

[boodrow]

Mark I agree with u , more the Alan Ladd look.
Boodrow