clay lover Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 This is my first time to try matching sets of chili mugs and serving plates, oil bottles and garlic- evoo dishes, etc. I have a show this Sat. should I put all the oil bottles together Even though they are different colors,, all the big soup mugs together and all the garlic plates , so forth, or should I pair up the items and colors in sets? All of the items are in several different glazes. I also have a variety of serving pieces done in the same glaze combo, but many different sizes and shapes small to medium. All together by color? What looks the best? This is a new glazing approach for me. More planning. I have had booths with a color theme through out, but not matching items in sets and different color sets. Also have plenty of thing that don't match anything else, ie not sets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeU Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 Strictly from the viewpoint of a potential customer, I'd be more attracted to seeing the sets (assuming they are still priced individually) rather than by type. I'd probably buy more pieces that way. Personally, I'd probably sprinkle the "non-matchers" throughout, here and there, just for added interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 Just my opinion ... I would definitely show them in sets ... Some of the same glaze and some mix and match. You might even bring some cutlery or place mats to highlight how they would look. Take your cue from catalogues where they definitely show customers all the ways to present the pieces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clay lover Posted November 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 Cutlery, placemats, what a good idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 If you are bringing multiples of the same item, it's more important to group like items together than like glazes. Then display one example of each set you had in mind, to suggest to customers how the items can be put together, but without making them feel like buying the set is required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 I display like items in one area (sponge holders-soap dishes -spoon rests-french butterdishes-lotion bottles-baby bowlsyada yada yada)-while at the same time grouping like colors in another area-say bowls and a few other forms -people get the idea of like colors then pick the other forms to match. If I have a set I will show that as a unit-say a 3 piece bowl set or cannister sets. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavy Fire Studios Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 I arrange my items by species, since all my stuff has different animals painted on it. That way, when someone asks, "Do you have cat pottery?" I can just nod and point. I think in your case, though, arranging by sets would be the best way to go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 I think you need some of both. Sets, by colour and mixed colours, some small groupings by item, and some groupings by colour. But, I also think not to display everything you've got. Leave space around groupings, so the eye has somewhere to pause, and can move from group to group. A full shelf can make deciding which one to buy too hard, so it's easier to not decide and to just walk away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugaboo Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 I also do some of both. I group by color scheme but have also got baskets of small items like mini dishes and spoon rests that have a bunch of different colors in them. I have found people like browsing through these baskets seeking their color treasure. For my sets I try and "frame" them with my display so that just looking at them they look a bit like a still life. I guess that is the painter in me. I also think grouping like colors together makes for a more peaceful set up for the eye and makes its easier for your eyes to settle on one area before moving on the the next. I have attached a couple pictures as examples. One is my display which is a very basic set up since I tend to do mostly one day small town/country festivals and the other is of one of my color sets. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pattial Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 Having done up store displays the trick is to color block,,,gives your display flow. Go for different heights as well. When I sell my mugs at craft shows I tie a spoon to the handles with a small raffia bow,,,, dip dishes have a small pate knife tied on,,,,salad bowls have wooden tongs added etc. I collect these utensils all year around. It's not a new idea but it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 Just a note abbout placement. Last year at my big Dec. show my helper put all my candle holders together on same shelve. The 1st day I sold ZERO. I spread them around the next am in pairs and in the next few days we sold most of them. So groups work but do not group them all as folks like to find pots on thier own to some degree. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlCravens Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 So groups work but do not group them all as folks like to find pots on thier own to some degree. I spend a lot more time in a booth that gives me a reason to explore. There's a big difference between, "Candle holders, check. Bread bakers, check. Salt pigs all in a row, check," and "OMG! A treasure trove of wonders!" It's like the difference between a department store with everything neatly arranged in place and category and a bazaar full of who knows what you will find. I have a little green lidded jar by Peter Arensdorf of Topeka, KS. At this show, his stuff was all mixed up on several tables and shelves, and I'd seen that he had more than one of these pots in this style... I wanted one, but I wanted the *right* one for me. I searched every square inch of his display, finding every one of the green lidded jars so I could pick the right one. It was like a treasure hunt. Having it all mixed up made me take the time to really look at his work. It let Peter know I was more than just casually interested, and he struck up a conversation and we talked about pottery for awhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 Carl, we on the selling side really appreciate customers like you (seriously) who are willing to spend enough time to look at every pot. But unfortunately most customers are not like you. They are scanning and trying to see an entire show in a few hours. They need the pots to be organized. Though I do agree with Mark's example that some pots do better when organized in groups, and others do better when displayed like individuals. But still there needs to be structure behind these decisions. Can you clone yourself and send a few Carls to every show? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rae Reich Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 Clay lover, since you're presenting items that can be combined to custom-make sets for the buyer, try to leave a little space for them to build their own collections - an area that is not in the way of your sales table would be good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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