Do you enjoy meeting the buying public?
Do you enjoy talking about your work?
Do you enjoy educating consumers about the intricacies of your craft?
Are you prepared to defend your prices?
Can you handle comments from people who question the difficulty of what
you do?
Can you make enough items to keep your booth well stocked for the
duration of the show?
Do you handle stress well?
Do you have the energy to interact with people for several hours a day
and for one or more days in a row?
Do you have the stamina to exude a positive persona when business is slow?
Do you enjoy making new designs and products frequently?
Wow. Yes of
course this set is about doing retail shows, but think about what these
questions aren't just asking, but what they are implying, how they challenge us to
think about ourselves in new ways. Defending our work, our prices, and really
being able to articulate the skill involved to someone without similar experiences?
Ever have someone pick up a piece, interested, ask the price and put it down
and look at you like you are running the biggest scam clown show on earth?
Yeah, me too. Not easy, dude. I love my pieces like little babies. And I have
human babies, so I know the difference, but still!
Here are the questions for
you future wholesales:
Do you prefer to be away from home
only occasionally?
Do you enjoy taking
orders and making many of the same item?
Do you prefer to let
someone else sell your work to the public?
Are you prepared to offer
credit terms and minimum order requirements?
Can you provide product
sheets and price lists?
Can you meet deadlines
and commitments?
Do you have the stamina
and personality to be businesslike and professional several hours a day for
several days in a row?
Are you serious about your business?
Wow again. Let somebody else represent you? Your BABIES? And this is when you begin to see the tradeoffs -
less $ per unit, but you're also not having to deal with the sometimes indifferent and/or hostile and/or low-information
craft show attendee (funny to say but we’ve all had ‘em) and you are also able to
batch your work and the stranger interaction. Wholesale
feels good in the way it always feels good to be wanted, but to make it work
you can’t go off at will and tinker with the newest cool idea that comes
into your head. You have to organize, create a collection, have it ready, cohesive, a materials and technique list in case you require employees, and everything must be designed so it can be remade many times in the exact same way. Lots of
streamlining. With retail, particularly
through the web and the show circuit, you have a lot more freedom and control in terms of
creativity, but you are personally going to have hustle your butt off and take a lot of hits for much
less of a sure thing.
You know,
most people who get serious and get the opportunities try to split the difference it seems. A little of both. And maybe that
works. Whatever the case, this whole business of crafting is a whole lot more
than making stuff. Who knew? Ha, ha. I’m sure you guys and gals all already do. Not me,
though. I’m a newbie to the big show. And just in case there’s anyone else out there as
excited and anxious and confused as I am, was, and most likely always will be, at least a little, well then, here you go. Here are some
questions to get you to start thinking about how to take yourself seriously.
Serious in a serious way. Serious like if you will.
Okay, okay. But, seriously, folks, I hope all is
well and that you all had a great holiday season. Take a breather before you
gear up for spring. Ask yourself the questions and really listen to the answers. You aren't always what you think you are - sometimes you're even better. So there!
All The Best,
Melissa
Prairiefunk
2 comments:
Thanks for posting this info!
Great questions!
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