Questions About Display at Event 5-18 Update

[fernwood]

As some here know, I am one of the artists participating in an annual ArtsWalk on Friday.

Struggling on how to set up my display. After speaking with my daughter, she let me know that I have a prime location for an outside display. In the past, the sidewalk was lined with displays in front of each business.  That some might not go inside to view my display.  The business sponsoring me, suggested both indoor and outdoor displays. Said that if I was outside, they could keep an eye on my indoor items.



Some of my jewelry will be added to displays of clothing they offer.



What I am considering is having an outdoor, 8’ display of mostly smaller items, such as pendants, cabs, etc. There would be some larger ones, such as a few necklaces/bracelets and my build a necklace, bracelet, pin outside. A case containing more larger/smaller items to replenish displays when something sells.

A sign letting those walking by that there are more items inside, and some items displayed with clothing offered by the business. Something like: “Check out how my jewelry compliments Bria Bella ”. Would also be letting potential customers know that there are more items inside.



Indoor display areas would be a 4’ table, items on some of the businesses displays and some items in a front window area.



I will be bringing the tables and larger display pieces to the business on Thursday, as I have to work prior to the event. Will also be bringing some necklaces that compliment the clothing. The event does not allow any cars to be parked on the street after the start time and the business has no off street parking. Am hoping that there is a close space I can park upon arrival to unload. It would take about 2 trips from my car. Then drive a few blocks away and park.



In total, between unloading and moving my car, I should have about 30 minutes to create attractive displays, both inside and out.

Have no idea what my pain level will be after working prior.



I am trying to develop a plan of action, have everything needed loaded into a couple wheeled suitcases and a pre-designed layout.



After the ArtsWalk, there is a Mass Guitar Incident, less than a block from where I will be. Will need to take down everything outside at 5:00 PM, when the Guitar event starts. Will be unable to move my car near the business, so will need to haul everything to where I am parked. Have no one to keep an eye on my outside items while I am moving items. Am planning on about 2 hours for take down and hauling items to car.
I would need to leave a table, tall display item and a few display items about 2' in size on the sidewalk while moving smaller items to my car.  


Another potential kink in this plan is weather, but as of now, all looks good.



I might be over thinking this, but I need to have everything planned in advance.



An added bonus is a strong potential of the business purchasing my jewelry in the future.



Would appreciate any comments. What did I forget? What do you think of my plans?



Thank you.

[miket]

I've never done anything like that so I can't help much.
But what you laid out sounds great.
Way more organized than I would be.
Good luck!

[rockjunquie]

Sounds like you have it covered and you're just stressing, which I would be, too. The only thing that bothers me is leaving stuff on the sidewalk to go to the car. Maybe the store will let you leave it in there? 

I hope it all works out for you- weather included. I hope you sell so much that packing up will be easier.

[fernwood]

Thanks. Yes, I am stressing. Have never done a set up in 2 locations in 30 minutes before. Most of the transport to my car will be the larger items. Everything smaller, such as jewelry, cabs, etc., can be thrown in something I will take to car first.
I hoping the business will allow me to briefly take the larger items in the store for a while. Need to find out when they are closing that day, as it is usually 6:00 PM.

[opalpyrexia]

I think that your plan sounds solid.

I'm sure that you do this anyway, but making connections with the people selling on either side of you is a good idea. You can keep an eye on eachother's tables if one of you needs to step into the store for a couple of minutes. You may also be able to cover each other during setup and tear-down.

[rockjunquie]

May 11, 2019 13:15:20 GMT -5 opalpyrexia said:

I think that your plan sounds solid.

I'm sure that you do this anyway, but making connections with the people selling on either side of you is a good idea. You can keep an eye on eachother's tables if one of you needs to step into the store for a couple of minutes. You may also be able to cover each other during setup and tear-down.

... and potty time.   

[fernwood]

rockjunquie

I was just going to post about potty time, lol. Fortunately, there is a bar a couple doors down.

[Pat]

Take photos of your setup and post. Much easier to judge and make suggestions.

Bring water to drink, and maybe a sunshade/hat.

Remember to enjoy this time. Good luck!

[fernwood]

I have no place or time to do a mock set up. Everything is in my head, lol. Trying to utilize an indoor space of about 8' plus part of one storefront window. And, about 8' of outdoor space. Both spaces are 6' deep maximum.

Will have a small cooler of water, juice, cheese, bread and fruit, plus a hat. A comfy lawn chair for my daughter to rest at, as she plans on bringing her 8.5 month pregnant self there, if all goes as planned.

[stardiamond]

My only experience with selling at a show was sports cards and it's a pain. I have a few questions:

1. Does it cost more to have two displays than one and if so is it worth it?
2. If you are the only person taking care of customers, you can't be in two places at once. A person at each location would likely increase sales; more than what would be produced at one location.

I've gone to quite a few lapidary shows in the past including some larger local shows. I'm a targeting shopper and will go to where items are interested in and check inside and outside displays. Most people seem to be wandering around looking at a lot of things.

[Pat]

😀. I meant to take photos of the actual setup on sale day. Forum can make suggestions for next time. You will probably have some ideas for changes as well.

[Rockindad]

Sounds like a lot of work! I hope it pays off for you not only now but also with an arrangement with the shop as well.

Al

[taylor]

A friend to help with set up and tear down would be a huge benefit, otherwise if the business would store all of your stuff from Thursday to Friday that would save walking and give you a little more set up time. I hope it goes well!

[fernwood]

May 11, 2019 16:23:40 GMT -5 stardiamond said:

My only experience with selling at a show was sports cards and it's a pain. I have a few questions:

1. Does it cost more to have two displays than one and if so is it worth it?
2. If you are the only person taking care of customers, you can't be in two places at once. A person at each location would likely increase sales; more than what would be produced at one location.

I've gone to quite a few lapidary shows in the past including some larger local shows. I'm a targeting shopper and will go to where items are interested in and check inside and outside displays. Most people seem to be wandering around looking at a lot of things.

No cost at all. 
Local Main Street businesses contact the sponsoring organization to express interest in hosting an artist.  The organization recruits artists, based on if their items compliment the business.  Often, multiple artists are competing for one location.  It is up to individual businesses to select their artist.  
The selected artist sets up in front of and/or inside the business.  The main business district is lined with outdoor tables for about 4 blocks.  In the past, there have been about 50 local artists participating.  

My outdoor table would be within 12' of the indoor one.  This is a pretty small boutique, maybe 30' by 80', offering clothing and accessories.  They recently added locally made   hand creams and other beauty products.  

I was fortunate to be selected by a great business in a great location, so I want to make the most of the opportunity.  

A side note is that my daughter has been a model for them during fashion shows and is friends with the manager.  I did not know this when I applied to be paired with them.  

[MommaGem]

Wising you the best!  I am also considering craft fairs and gem shows in the future, so I've been pondering a set-up and display, too.  I look forward to hearing about your experience and please do post pics

It's great that your daughter will be there - she can mind the booth if you need to take a bio-break. 

[fernwood]

Will try to post some photos later.

Lessons learned:
-Try not to be scheduled for work until 1.5 hrs before start of an event. Not only did I need to drive in "rush hour" traffic on Commencement weekend at the local UW, but also had a keg kick at work. For those who do not know, sometimes when a keg kicks, beer is sprayed. So, I might have smelled a little like beer, but it was a fruit beer, lol.
-Parking was at a premium. I drove around for about 15 minutes. Then a prime parking space opened up about 1/4 block away.
Only had about 45 minutes to set everything up, inside and outside.
-The sidewalk slants downward, away from the building. Made for some uncomfortable standing.
-Need a small table to put money box on.
-Try to incorporate more of transport containers into display.
-Go back to more vertical displays. I did not have time to use the small, lightweight one I have and did not bring the larger, heavier ones, due to space constraints.
-Need to get a couple 6' folding tables.
-Someone to help with set up and take down is a wonderful thing. This is the first time I did it all on my own.
-A person can be constantly drinking coffee for 3 hours and not need a "bio-break". MommaGem I like that term.
-Only accepting cash, not having a card reader for phone, prevents sales. Had about 10 people who were interested in purchasing items, but they did not have any cash. Some customers selected their items and handed me their credit card.
-Lower priced items sold better than higher ones. Everything that sold was $12.00 or less.
-$200.00 of change to start (which is my norm for indoor shows), is not needed. Started with about $35.00 and it worked out fine. Think having $100.00 might have been better.
-Being down wind from someone doing doing air brush paintings makes it hard to breathe.
-I can take down displays on two tables in about 45 minutes and pack everything in my car.
-Having a wheeled suitcase makes transport to car a whole lot easier.

The event was a great experience. I had never participated in an arts street walk before. I learned a lot for the future and made some sales. More important than the sales was the connection with the shop and the number of people who took business cards.
Met a lot of great people and had some nice conversations.

Today, when there are brief periods without rain/storms, I have to unload my car before going to work.

All in all it was a great event to participate in and looking forward to next year.

[HankRocks]

fernwood Sounds like good learning experience. A few thoughts;

I purchased about 14 different sectioned hard plastic trays of various counts for my crystals and for un-corded pendant stones. In about 5 minutes I can either unpack and set up or packup about 10 foot of table space. I use Copy Paper boxes cut down so that the lid fit's nicely over the bottom of the box and I can store 2 to 3 trays in each of these. Built a simple display board that holds 32 corded pendants. I have some heavy duty bubble wrap that is used to secure the display with the cords left on the board, 2 minutes, set up or 2 minutes take down. Most of the Shows I do are about 5 miles from the house and I have my system down such that if I closing down at 4:00pm on Sunday, I am sitting in my chair at home by 5:30 enjoying a cold beverage. I am always looking at improving(simplifying) my setup. Geode pairs and polished pieces and slabs take the most time.

I started bringing a chair, standing on concrete for long periods is not good for these old Knees!!

Usually bring $150 cash to the Show. Have never run out, usually $10's and $5's have been close so I bumped them up a bit.

I was looking for some recent pictures, which might be on my wife's phone.

Good Luck
Henry

[fernwood]

HankRocks Thanks for the suggestions. I was thinking about getting some of the Plano tackle box inserts. Some have adjustable section inserts.

Oops. Forgot to mention that there was only about 7' from the edge of my table to the street curb. At times people were about 4 deep. Sometimes people utilizing wheelchairs, strollers or bicycles were waiting to go through.

It was more of a "look down on the table" than a "lure customers in from a far" event.

[fernwood]

Here are some photos.

Outside display:


Inside display.


View across the street.



The left area of photo shows where the Mass Guitar Incident was held. It was fun to hear the expanded performance of so many talented musicians of all ages.

View to the right. The display area for the air brush artists is shown.



I love the character of all the old buildings downtown. There is also a mix of newer construction. Lots of murals add to the charm. The one pictured is a newer one. It says: What the Lion cannot manage the fox can. Many of the murals depoct the heritage of the area.

[hummingbirdstones]

Glad you had a decent show.  Sounds like you seriously need to get yourself a Square for those credit and debit card purchases.  We use it at the few shows we do and wouldn't be without it.  Everybody is so used to not carrying cash anymore, it's really a necessity in order to make sales.  Definitely worth it, IMO.