Survey #1 Results – Highlights & Tidbits!

Administrator — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:59:00 +0000

So, are you ready to get your stats on? Let’s talk about the basics…you, how much time you spend at shows, what makes it worthwhile for you, and your best (and worst) experience and advice.

Who are you?

The majority of crafters who answered our first survey identify themselves as full-time crafters. The average age of responders was 34.

So how much time are you devoting to craft shows, anyway?

The highest number of shows per year was reported by a full-timer at 30 shows per year. The lowest number reported was 2 shows per year, by a part-time crafter. Part-timers do somewhere around 4-5 shows per year on average, full-timers are doing at least 1 show a month.

What kind of shows?

Participation in shows by type:

94% Indie

73% Farmer’s Market

50% Art Shows

33% High School shows

28% Neighborhood Events

28% Boutique

28% Trade Shows

6% Home Shows

Cost: It looks like $75 is an average booth fee, by the way…we had a couple answers as low as $25, and an answer as high as $399, but on average, $75 is a typical participation fee. STL locals, this is something to think about – consider the shows offered and what you pay to participate.

And here’s something interesting: 88% of crafters take custom orders. Did you know that? I was very surprised by that; anecdotally, I hear most crafters say that they hate doing custom orders (you know why…difficult, flaky customers, it’s more time-consuming than assembly-line-style production, the occasional non-payers, etc). But, it appears that you accept custom orders anyway!

It’s all about the Benjamins! Well, kind of. Our surver-takers overwhelming indicated that profit was the major motivation for doing craft shows. Well, we knew that already. But I also found it interesting how differently you define “profit.”

I love the quote by Paula Picard…

Firstly, profit…….but “profit” cannot always be measured by the shows sales- I personally combine profit with networking and contacts- Of course, the money in my pocket is a big indicator of how well I did at a particular event- but, I often pass out many business cards- and I usually see an increase in my Etsy sales/views after I do a show.

I also pride myself on offering excellent customer service at events- I engage with my customers- I try to make myself memorable- so, later- when they see my business card- they remember me. The value of a business card is increased when the person knows who it is from! I try to make each interaction very personal and treat each customer like they are my best customer- whether they spend $2.00 or $200.00.

With each sale- I tell them I have an etsy shop and that I offer very low cost shipping. I also inform my customers that I live in the area and would be happy to meet them somewhere to deliver purchases should they need something in the future.

What a great viewpoint – talk about maximizing a craft show! Many of the responders indicated that making connections was important, but making their booth fee back was VERY important. As you might expect, a crafter’s years of experience seems to affect their response to the question about what makes a show worthwhile. Elizabeth Hahn-Lawrence sums it up nicely…

At this point in my business, a successful show is measured in profit made. When I was first starting out, though, I was very happy with socializing, making contacts and passing out business cards.

I think it’s safe to assume that a “dead” craft show with low sales and low promotion is a horror story that every crafter has experienced at least once…so let’s hear your stories!

BAD NEIGHBORS: (by anonymous)

…at a show, the shared booth behind us had been paired up randomly by the organizers. One of the vendors was horrendously rude and uppity to other vendors, especially when asked about her metal casting process. She also had a gremlin looking dog she carried like a baby and acted very irritated whenever people asked what kind of dog he was. But everyone wants to know if it really is a gremlin or not, right? We had to sit by her and hear her make sales all weekend while we conspired what we could do to make her dog disappear.

MORE BAD NEIGHBORS: (submitted by Paula Picard)

…I was next to a woman who decided to spend the day bitching and complaining all day- by the end of the day I wanted to tell her to shut the hell up. I was not happy with the show- I had spent days getting ready- hours setting up etc. And I was frustrated as much as anyone else- but…..listening to this woman complain was the worse part. Negative energy is contagious and by the end of the day- I was infected and could not wait to get out of there.

POACHING: (submitted by Samantha Ballard)

I was once in a show where my booth was catty-corner from another photographer who spent most of the weekend popping over to my booth to compare sales and even came over a few times while there were customers in my booth trying to get them to come look at his stuff.

I’ve also had shows rained on, and nearly had my tent blow over once, even with 40lb weights attached, but the killer of any show for me is a bad sport.

SMELLY NEIGHBORS: (by anonymous)

Sitting next to dirty hippies selling patchouli oil all day for 2 days. It smelled so bad that people were smelling my felty things to see if they stank!

ACTS OF AN ANGRY GOD: (submitted by Courtney Chesley)

Earth Day in Forest Park a while back was a complete nightmare! A group of us Mafiosos shared a booth in the windiest non-tornado weather I’ve enountered. My entire tent (covering us and our wares) flew across the park sending our stuff crashing to the ground. The tent had been weighted, tied to tables, and physically held down by a few of us before it took off. To add to the fun, we all fried like taters in the bazillion degree sun.

Cocktails might have helped…

TENT MISHAPS: (submitted by yours truly)

…that time that my tent squashed all my plush in the mud.

Kids, you’re not alone! Everyone has had a major disaster at some point, usually having to do with things beyond a crafter’s control…weather, attendance, and neighbors.

But, you all had some very sound advice, so cheer up!

Heather-Holland Daly: Be positive , no matter what and avoid ANY crafters that aren’t. No good standing around with other vendors at a show talking about how awful everything is! You got to work at it to make it better! DON’T LET THE TURKEYS GET YOU DOWN!

Anonymous: Not sure if anyone gave me this advice but in life and at shows- you can’t judge a book by its cover! The person that walks up and looks like she would have no interest in your work -different tastes, age, clothing, etc.- will be the person that loves it and buys tons of it and spreads the word.

Always weight your tent.

Trade with other vendors.

Bring tape.

Paula Picard: Accept credit cards!!! I was resistant when I first started out- thinking that I did not want to take the “fee hit” at a show- but, once I made the decision to take credit cards- the small amount of fees was insignificant in relation to the increase in the average sale amount. Customers are more inclined to spend more when they can put it on a credit card. Plus, I feel it makes you look more professional and accommodating. I do have a $15 minimum purchase as a “rule” but, I am flexible with that and have taken cards for smaller purchases.

The other excellent advice I received was having attractive displays! A nice display will draw people over.

Anonymous: lighten up, smile, have fun

Have either, or a combination of small affordable stuff, and an eye catcher right out in front to draw people in.

Courtney Chesley: Print a bazillion business cards/promo items to bring to the show and list your social networking sites along with your email and website on them. The more ways you give a customer to access your brand, the more likely they are to do so.

Anonymous: Do not leave your tent up over night.

David Wolk: Plan ahead. Make a list of EVERY possible thing you might need and pack it up a night or two before. Then go over it all before you leave to make sure you’re not missing anything. Don’t forget tape.

So what conclusions can we draw from Survey #1?

We can see that most of our responders view craft shows as serious business, in the sense that they have goals for show profit, carefully consider their investment in participation fees, overhead, & time, and they view making connections as a type of profit.

We can see that full-timers attend nearly twice as many shows as part-timers.

We can see that, according to your answers, nearly all of the responders do custom orders and many said accepting credit cards at a show was the best advice they’d been given.

We can also see that your worst experiences are nearly all due to factors outside of your control – weather, bad neighbors, no sales/low attendance.

We can also draw the conclusion that you place great importance on having a positive attitude, looking for creative and unexpected opportunities to make connections and sales, making the best of less-than-perfect situations, etc.

In other words, you feel that your attitude is one of the main factors that affects your success at a craft show.

What a bunch of smart cookies!

We want to hear from you again in Survey #2, which is coming up soon. In Survey #2, we want to know your thoughts on Craft Show Etiquette – could you be one of those Bad Neighbors we talked about? What are your Do’s and Don’ts? Tell us about your craft show faux pas. We’re also going to ask you some questions about sensitive and even taboo topics…don’t act like you aren’t curious!

Be a Winner! Enter our First Contest for Glory & Prizes!

Administrator — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:56:58 +0000

Who doesn’t love a good contest? It’s time for show and tell, my crafties! Each month, we are having a contest that corresponds with our survey – we know you guys love to show off and we want your submissions! And, hey, prizes and glory!

Ready?

Contest #1: Best Craft Show Display

(accepting submissions from 8/18/2011 to 9/31/2011)

We know you have your craft show displays down to a fine art – they are often as thoughtfully crafted as your handmade wares themselves! Please submit your best photos of your displays to craftbynumbers@gmail.com and join the contest; readers will vote on the best display and the winner will get a prize! Sweet, sweet prizes! You will also get a very special web button that declares your amazing awesomeness.

Please submit no more than 2 high-resolution photos and please indicate in your e-mail your name, e-mail address, business name/website, and the craft show at which the photo was taken. Please only submit your OWN booth displays. We will notify the winner on Oct. 1st!

Survey #1: Craft Shows – The Meat & Potatoes of the Indie Craft Biz

Administrator — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:56:17 +0000

(photo via Flickr, by Mermaid Garden Party @ the Green With Indie Craft Show)

So, who hasn’t done a craft show? If you’re an indie crafter, face-to-face craft shows are the meat and potatoes of craftepreneurship. There’s nothing like meeting customers face-to-face, making friends and connections, and showing off your lovingly created handmade wares to an appreciative audience.

Sure, it might be super-hot, or super-cold, or windy, maybe it wasn’t as well-attended as you would have liked, or maybe you were trapped beside the person selling eye-watering patchouli incense and dreamcatchers, but each and every one is a HUGE learning opportunity for a crafter. And, sometimes, they work out so beautifully! And don’t you love hanging out in each other’s tents or booth during slow moments, gossiping and speculating and talking shop?

That’s what this first survey is all about – learning about your craft show experiences and expectations. Let’s say you make accessories – haven’t you ever wondered how other accessories makers are doing at outdoor shows? Or what crafters in your area consider a “successful” show?

So, let’s get going! At the bottom, there are a few essay write-in questions – please tell us your craft show stories and opinions here. You may give us permission to quote you (either with your first name or anonymously) at the end of the survey. And remember, we’re not sharing any identifying info with anyone else…we require a name and e-mail address for internal identification purposes only. Scout’s honor!

SURVEY #1

Read the juicy and illuminating results on September 31st!

Are you ready to craft by numbers?

Administrator — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:54:43 +0000

Introducing a ground-breaking Indie Craft Stats Project – for the Curious Craftepreneur!

As active indie crafters and craft show organizers, we (Holly & April) are dedicated to strengthening and supporting the growth of indie craft businesses. We have learned the power of shared effort and purpose through our experiences serving a large indie craft organization – sharing resources helps both the sharer and the shared! In helping each other, we help ourselves – this is the purpose of our project.

We’re collecting data about all things craftepreneurial. Everything from crafter demographics to production methods and advertising venues to etiquette and trends. We intend to use this data to draw conclusions about craft business that will help you make informed and smart choices about your craft business.

Through monthly surveys, we will collect a giant database of craftormation that you can use to find your niche in the craft world.

Not only do we want your stats, we want your stories – your personal experiences, anecdotes, and advice. This is about you and your continuing journey as a craftepreneur.

Stay tuned for the unveiling of the live survey and tons of information!