And here's the Sping/Summer side of the table.
Halfway thru the show I realized that people were more interested in the fall/winter items, so I switched the two sides of the table - placing those items closest to the entrance. Immediately my fall/winter stuff began selling in earnest. Hooray for product placement - or as they say in the real estate business - location, location, location!
Business was slower this year than last year. I was taken aback, because my prices were at or below cost. I really wanted to move my inventory. I'm preparing to sell my house and won't be able to do much sewing and crafting until I'm settled elsewhere - and I don't want to pay money to store all my stuff.
The church has a children's shopping room where kids can buy items ranging from $0.25 to $2.00 for presents for family and friends - all without mom and dad! Gift wrap is free so family won't see the gifts. When I visited that room near the end of the sale, I was saddened to see how much stuff was left. None of it will go to waste - it'll be boxed up and stored until next year - but still, more traffic would have been nice.
The concensus amongst the vendors I talked to was crafting business is down due to the economy. I also learned our sale was not in the newspaper this year. So to be proactive, I took LOTS of pictures of booths. Next year we can advertise for free, with up to 8 pictures on Craig's List. And if the church won't advertise in the paper, maybe I'll do it myself. I'm hoping that will help the church, the kiddies and the vendors! :)
1 comment:
Yes, ads are 'key' and well in advance to customers can plan their budget $$$ for such events. Good idea to take photos for next year. I think people are more careful and less impulsive and there seems to be a higher number of those who have a cottage business. Competition is pretty stiff and, I agree, prices are low!
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