I did an event at our local food Co-op yesterday (12/21). Everyone that spent a minimum of $20 could enter a drawing for a gift card to use at the Co-op. I bought three $10 gift cards and had the cashier pick 3 names for me so it would be unbiased. I put those gifts in the mail last night and let the winners know they were coming. My promotion encouraged a few to spend more on my stuff and the Co-op will get customers that will probably spend more money than the gift card value. The customers earned an immediate savings on what they spent on my things. It will probably increase my word-of-mouth exposure too.
Great to see an honest review of a craft fair. A couple of pointers that will encourage more sales - show potential customers what things are used for, e.g. the note paper holder add some pieces of paper to it, if you do a recipe book holder add an open recipe book to it, also, add height to your display, with everything at one level it's not very inspiring for customers, make a couple of small foldable shelf units that can display some of your smaller items will help, you can also hang things from the sides of the displays like the note holders.
I give a free can of board butter with every board. I'll sell a can for $$10 to people that already have a board. I tell them that if they return the empty can, they can get a new can for $5.
Thanks for sharing. So, when you are employing and paying Chris as your assistant for the show, are you having to deal with payroll taxes (state and federal) and workers comp deductions, etc., when paying him? Seems like those could make it complicated for a small woodworker.
Well, it was not a great craft show. Whenever you go to a new show, it is always a bit of a gamble. Couple of factors that helped…. 1. I did not pay for the booth. 2. My material costs are much lower than other woodworkers. 3. I was discounting products to make room for new year builds. Thanks for watching!
Can I just say Wooden Coasters are just a bad idea? I mean, lets break this down. Why do people use coasters? To not create dampness rings on WOODEN furniture. See the key word there? Dampness rings are ugly, no one wants them, that's why most coasters are PLASTIC. Plastic does not absorb moisture, this means no rings, wood does. Wooden coasters just means I am paying money for something that will have ugly little rings on them eventually? No, sorry.
I love cash or Venmo. No sales charge like with Square. However, most people don't carry enough cash to buy what I want to sell. Therefore, credit card is king.
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I did an event at our local food Co-op yesterday (12/21). Everyone that spent a minimum of $20 could enter a drawing for a gift card to use at the Co-op. I bought three $10 gift cards and had the cashier pick 3 names for me so it would be unbiased. I put those gifts in the mail last night and let the winners know they were coming. My promotion encouraged a few to spend more on my stuff and the Co-op will get customers that will probably spend more money than the gift card value. The customers earned an immediate savings on what they spent on my things. It will probably increase my word-of-mouth exposure too.
Great to see an honest review of a craft fair.
A couple of pointers that will encourage more sales - show potential customers what things are used for, e.g. the note paper holder add some pieces of paper to it, if you do a recipe book holder add an open recipe book to it, also, add height to your display, with everything at one level it's not very inspiring for customers, make a couple of small foldable shelf units that can display some of your smaller items will help, you can also hang things from the sides of the displays like the note holders.
All great points! Thank you for the feedback. I can absolutely up my game when it comes to craft shows.
I give a free can of board butter with every board. I'll sell a can for $$10 to people that already have a board. I tell them that if they return the empty can, they can get a new can for $5.
I like this! They can be good promo products, and I have used them this way before. Thanks for watching!
I carry about $1500.00 of product to a show. I average $400.00 a day.
Making $230 is better than making $0.00
Helpful info! Thanks for watching!
Your boards look great, was shocked that you were selling it for 60
Thank you! I had them marked down a bit
Thanks for sharing. So, when you are employing and paying Chris as your assistant for the show, are you having to deal with payroll taxes (state and federal) and workers comp deductions, etc., when paying him? Seems like those could make it complicated for a small woodworker.
Since you were in Georgia, if you had Auburn branded stuff for sale, you probably would have sold out. Or gotten your booth destroyed...
Yeah it would either be awesome or terrible lol! Thanks for watching (and War Eagle!)
I’ll never understand this business model. There’s no way with labor and material costs that that show didn’t end up costing you money.
Well, it was not a great craft show. Whenever you go to a new show, it is always a bit of a gamble. Couple of factors that helped….
1. I did not pay for the booth.
2. My material costs are much lower than other woodworkers.
3. I was discounting products to make room for new year builds.
Thanks for watching!
Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t from anything you did wrong. It’s just the whole economics of it. I know because I’ve tried. Enjoyed the video!
Can I just say Wooden Coasters are just a bad idea? I mean, lets break this down. Why do people use coasters? To not create dampness rings on WOODEN furniture. See the key word there? Dampness rings are ugly, no one wants them, that's why most coasters are PLASTIC. Plastic does not absorb moisture, this means no rings, wood does. Wooden coasters just means I am paying money for something that will have ugly little rings on them eventually? No, sorry.
They don’t soak up water if they have a waterproof finish
Not sure how that’s much different than a cutting board or wood countertop or even wood floor. Keep a finish on there and you’ll be ok.
I hear ya....I guess I would say a plastic coaster is more ugly than a wooden coaster with a moisture ring. Thanks for watching!
Your tables look to cluttered,to much to see all at once😮
Cash is no longer king. I hate it
I love cash or Venmo. No sales charge like with Square. However, most people don't carry enough cash to buy what I want to sell. Therefore, credit card is king.