Chris Campbell Posted May 30, 2014 Report Share Posted May 30, 2014 I myself cannot believe it, but after about thirteen years exclusively in wholesale, I will be manning a rented pop up tent at a garden/craft sale this weekend. Of course, I have long ago sold my booth, the lighting, the pedestals and shelving, so I will be using the good old tables and shelves like your basic newbie. This is a beautiful garden/artisans show that I have been attending for about twenty years. I have been missing the one to one contact with customers and decided this was the perfect place to re-connect. So here I go .. I will try to do as tell others to do, behave myself with snippy customers and have fun with the lovely ones who attend year after year .... and just hope that the nightmare ones stay home and watch tv or play video games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted May 30, 2014 Report Share Posted May 30, 2014 Good luck and have fun, don't let the snippy or difficult customers get to you. Just roll your eyes as they walk away and remember it takes all kinds of people to keep life interesting. Denice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted May 30, 2014 Report Share Posted May 30, 2014 Knock em dead, Chris! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JBaymore Posted May 30, 2014 Report Share Posted May 30, 2014 I'm in the same boat booth-wise, Chris. I finally got rid of my booth (more like a 'portable gallery') since I don't do fairs anymore ..... but still do have the Abstracta shelving units and all the track lighting from it. There is a local home-town fair that I am considering doing for PR purposes now. Might have to buy a basic pop-up tent with sidewalls for it. "What goes around comes around." Good luck. best, ...............john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted May 30, 2014 Report Share Posted May 30, 2014 have fun Chris, shows at garden related venues tend to have more upscale customers who are usually knowledgeable. at least they are not as "Snippy" as other places. tables can be good bases for risers, old clay boxes covered with cloth work well to alter the look of one loooonnnnnggg slab top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted May 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2014 Well, the rented EZ up tent was really easy to put up ... Bonus! I don't have to deal with payments at all ... Another Bonus! Good location ... Nice again. Bought a six foot banner sign from Vista print with my artwork on it and contact info on it ... looks great. All good omens in place. Bring on the crowds!!! ..... Or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 Sure you haven't got that piece in a different colour"out the back ??" Have a great day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted May 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 Educated clients, nice people .... Decent sales ..... Tired legs and sore feet ... Ego intact .... So far! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlCravens Posted June 1, 2014 Report Share Posted June 1, 2014 Yay! After recently reading the thread on "worst art fair stories," it's great to hear that you had a succesful re-entry into the scene. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted June 1, 2014 Report Share Posted June 1, 2014 Thanks for the report Chris. Your display looks really sharp, and love the banner! I remember thinking a few years back that I needed a "fancier" display, with hard walls and pedestals and things like that, but am so glad I never went that route. My display consists of folding tables, shelves and risers too, all designed for lightness and speed. In recent years, I have streamlined it even more. "If it doesn't impact sales, it stays home." On a regular basis, other artists tell me at shows "I'm very envious about how easily you set up." There is a large show producer that does not accept any booth that contains folding tables. Shelves and pedestals only, they say. One of their shows is in my area. I would like to try it, but I'm not willing to change my display for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted June 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2014 I agree totally Mea ... easy break down is key. Tonight we were gone in about one hour and a half which was about 45 minutes too long for me! I picked a great show to be in ... I had attended it as a customer for fifteen years and knew the background of the people. Low key, home town and a great focused crowd. I did not have any rude customers at all which is truly a bonus. For whatever reason I needed the connection to the real end users of my work ... I am going to let the experience percolate for a bit and find out why I had to do it. On a new twist ... I have already had two emails from people who bought my work ... One with images of where they put it in their homes ... That's new for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JBaymore Posted June 2, 2014 Report Share Posted June 2, 2014 She has survived! Yay! best, ............john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted June 2, 2014 Report Share Posted June 2, 2014 (For whatever reason I needed the connection to the real end users of my work) ​This point is what keeps me going. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted June 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2014 So sorry I missed you! I had a really hectic time from about twelve to two ... would have enjoyed meeting you. Next year will be the 20th year for the show ... amazing gardens and property. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted June 3, 2014 Report Share Posted June 3, 2014 chris, congrats first, second does the venue have a gift shop? if so, you know what the third thing is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted June 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2014 chris, congrats first, second does the venue have a gift shop? if so, you know what the third thing is. No gift shop ... It's a private home with a lovely garden they open to the public once a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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