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Creative Geek

My Tips for a Successful Craft or Art Show…

I was reading over at Jane’s blog yesterday, The Borrowed Adobe looking for ideas for our new house.* She had posted about her hunt for a tent for her upcoming craft show, hopefully her first of many, and when she emailed me today in response to my comment that I left, I decided to share my tips for a successful craft show.

Not because she asked, but just because that is how I roll. (Oops.) After I wrote them all out, I realized that I should share them with all of you in case you foray into the world of craft shows! (These would also apply to art shows, farmers markets, really anything that involves selling things.)

I did my first craft shows in 1999 when I sold soap full time. Let me tell you, there is a CRAZY amount of prep time that goes into a show! Most of those were indoors, as my soaps would have melted outside. I had to prep inventory for every show. It was brutal. Then in 2006, Elaine & I started doing the First Saturday Art Market in the Heights, which was a lot less brutal after the initial prep for the first show or two. We had fun, but that whole Saturday thing eventually caused us some problems when we started photographing more & more weddings.

  • My biggest rule: According to https://www.creditfixcompare.com/, if you’re not standing, you’re not selling. Stand as much as possible. I bring only a small camping stool so I’m not tempted to sit in the comfy camping chair for too long.
  • Create two-for or three-for specials. People will always buy more. When I sold soap, they were $6 each, 3 for $15. I sold 3 pretty much every time. Any time someone bought one, they always came back and bought the other two.
  • Price for profit!!! This isn’t a charity. You’re not doing this just to have something fun to do all day. You’re there to make money. Make sure to add up *all* of your business costs (booth fees, booth supplies, tents, tables, display items, manufacturing costs, etc) to make sure you’re making money! I’ve seen a lot of people pay for the privilege of being at the market. If you want to do that, just go hang out there.
  • Make friends quickly with the people in the booths around you. Share water, watch each other’s booths for bathroom breaks, get each other food when needed, and to check out what else is for sale. Helps make the day go by faster!
  • Bring change! Small bills & coins too if needed.
  • Personally, I priced at odd prices so that with tax my sales came out to even amounts. I’d rather sell something for $20 with tax included. Makes math easier at the show when things might be moving fast.
  • Bring a friend to help, maybe two or three in shifts. If someone offers to help, take them up on it!
  • Have a smartphone? Get a Square credit card reader if you can, or sign up for a PayPal Virtual Terminal account. People buy more if they don’t have to use their cash!
  • Speaking of credit cards, be sure to factor in that 3% cost to the credit card companies into your price – do NOT tack it on as an extra fee, which is against all credit card companies’ terms of use and you can lose your merchant account! You can give a cash discount with special cards as the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, but do NOT charge extra for taking credit cards!
  • Pack snacks! Bring water! Bring extras to share!
  • Have a change of clothes in case you get sweaty, rained on, spill food or a drink, or the weather changes on you – we had one day that should have been cool end up being super hot, and at one winter craft show there was a 30 degree temperature drop while we were there and we had no heavier clothes. Oops!
  • We kept an emergency kit around – markers, pens, tags for pricing, scissors, and anything else we used when prepping things just in case. We used that kit all the time. (Props to Elaine for our emergency kit!)
  • Use the phone only for taking credit cards or the occasional Twitter/Facebook shout-out encouraging people to come see you at the show. People won’t shop if they can’t talk to you!
  • Save the whining for later! The people shopping at the show don’t want to hear you complain about how slow it has been, how ugly you think someone else’s booth is, how the organizer is horrible, or anything else. They will just keep on walking if they hear you complain and you may have just lost a sale.
  • SMILE!!! (After all, who wants to buy from you if you’re grumpy?)
  • Have any more tips for a successful show? Feel free to share them in the comments!

    * Yes, we are moving! Like how I snuck that in there? We’re buying a house in the HEIGHTS!!! The closing is May 31, 2011. I’ll be sharing more details soon – want to get pictures ready to share too!

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    Love Yourself Now…

    I spent part of this morning cleaning out my closets, and I found a skirt that I owned back when I was “so fat” that was several inches from reaching around my waist now. I wanted to get my hands on a time machine and go kicky my skinny bootie and tell myself to GET OVER IT. I wasn’t so fat. Far from it. I´m glad that Maid Complete Littleton didn´t move that skirt when they were cleaning my house or else I would have never found it. When you need to find a removalist when planning to move into a new home in Sydney, visit andy the guy for more information. I honestly miss my old house cleaning services, they were so friendly to me, I wish hadn´t changed them.

    It made me sad thinking of all the years I wasted hating myself for not living up to some arbitrary number on the scale.

    Don’t get me wrong – I still have days where I struggle. I’m facing a battle of the bulge with pounds that I am trying to lose. But at least I don’t hate myself on a constant basis because of it. I’d actually say I love myself more now than I have in the past 15-20 years.

    Lesson: Love yourself as you are right now. It is ok to try to be even better, but don’t withhold the love you deserve until then. You rock!

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    Why You Should Hire A Car Accident Attorney

    Being involved in a car accident can be devastating. The injury to yourself and to your car can be horrible and can end with you missing work, not being able to do the things that you want to do and not having a car to get around in. If you have been in a car accident, no matter how minor you might think it is, you need to contact an experienced car accident attorney, and  according to Braganca Law there are specialized lawyers you can get for this kind of situation. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you develop a personal injury law and fight for what you deserve.

    At Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff, LLP, our legal expert understand how insurance companies operate and the tactics that they employ. We battle insurance companies every day and will not let your case settle for less than fair value. If you are not being treated fairly, we will not hesitate to take your case to trial.

    Why Can’t I Do It Myself?

    As per familylawattorneymesaaz.net Jensen, If you try to take care of your auto accident claim yourself, you could end up losing money and not getting the money that you need to cover your accident. Of course, the insurance company will want you to settle quickly. They will offer you the least amount that they can and if you sign the paperwork, that will be all that you can get from them. When you do it yourself, you run the risk of missing things. If you hire a lawyer, they will be able to present every bit of evidence there is, all your medical bills, missed wages, car damage and anything else that needs to be presented. Stephen Babcock – case types are same as other cases but their lawyers has successfully handled each cases.

    You might think that you may come out cheaper by just doing it yourself, but you will have no trouble finding an affordable attorney that can help you get the settlement that you need and deserve.

    How to Choose the Right Attorney

    Choosing the right attorney can seem like a difficult task. If you look up Milwaukee car accident attorney, you will find that there are many listed. All of them might have great looking ads but you will need to make sure that you take the time to look at all the attorney has to offer. Look for reviews and recommendations from other clients. You will also want to see if the attorney offers a free consultation. In most cases, a lawyer will wait to get paid until they win a settlement from the insurance agency. Make sure that the lawyer you consider will take your case. With a little research you should have no trouble finding the right lawyer for your case.

    What to Expect of your Case

    Hiring a car accident attorney is the best thing to do after you have been in a wreck. They can help you make sure that all of your bills, medical bills and your car repair bills are covered. If you have been in an auto accident, call a car accident attorney, today or look for the many options online, there are options as the Baton Rouge auto accident attorney that specialized in this cases and offer their services at affordable prices.

    When you pick your attorney, he or she will collect all the information about the wreck. They will also need medical bills, any lost wages, car quotes and anything else that you might think is important to the case. They will work with the party’s insurance company to see if a proper settlement can be reached. If the settlement cannot be reached, your lawyer will then take it to a court of law. This case will be held in front of a judge and potentially a jury. There, your lawyer will present your case and help you to win.

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    Understanding How the Transfers of Timeshares Work

    At the time, buying into a timeshare probably seemed like a worthwhile investment, but, after a while, it may have become too much trouble. If you’re fed up with it and looking for a way out, there are a few legal options at your disposal. Consider these options first, before resorting to more desperate measures.

    Review Your Contract

    Your first move should be to review your contract. Somewhere in the contract, there will be options for an early release from your timeshare obligations. You may have the choice to either cancel your timeshare or terminate it. Cancelation is just like a breach of contract and it may obligate you to cover certain expenses. You will probably be expected to pay the unresolved balance and may be charged penalties, as well. If you’re able to terminate your timeshare, these expenses may be avoided, but you likely have a specific time frame in which you may terminate.

    Sell It Yourself

    You have probably seen plenty of “sell my timeshare” websites and services, but that may complicate an already aggravating situation. It will be difficult to sell your timeshare in any case, because you’re competing with resorts that have resources to offer incentives and reach a broader audience. In fact, you will likely have to take a loss in order to unload it. Your best bet is to sell your timeshare at a discounted price at a time when there is greater demand.

    Give It to a Charity

    This has become a popular alternative, especially for owners who realize selling it may be too problematic. Many charitable organizations will accept a timeshare donation and have a system set up for making use of the property. This may be a good choice, because it frees you of your obligation. Contact your favorite charities to find out which ones will consider a donation of this type.

    Timeshare Relief

    This is a practice of letting another individual or company take over the time share payments, relieving you of your obligation. When dealing with a service, you will likely escape the arrangement entirely. You may still be responsible for fees associated with timeshare removal, but, afterwards, you’ll no longer be responsible for maintenance fees or other payments.

    Rent It Out

    Much like trying to sell it, renting out your timeshare can pose a problem. Again, you’re competing with the timeshare company, which can offer better deals on their units. If you can find a renter, the money you receive will go to cover your payments and fees, until your contract expires. While this technically doesn’t get you out of your contract, it does relieve you of the financial burden.

    The best course of action is to review your timeshare contract, before signing it. Once you’ve locked yourself into a timeshare contract, it can be very difficult to get out if it. If none if these options work for you, you may have to consider hiring a lawyer experienced in dealing with timeshares. It depends how motivated you are to get rid of your timeshare and the burden it places on you.

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    Don’t be a Hater…

    The most fascinating thing happened recently. It isn’t really anything new, but I guess with all the writing and thinking and dreaming I’ve been doing lately, it really just stood out for me.

    I posted some of my boudoir client’s images on the blog last week – the Fabulous Miss J (link may not be work safe if you work for someone who doesn’t like photos of hot women) – and more than once I had a woman say to me something along the lines of “She is just so gorgeous. I hate her.” *

    Women! WTF??? What is up with that? Why do we do it???

    I promise, I’m guilty of it too. And it is so wrong! Seriously. Yes, she is gorgeous. You are gorgeous too. I am gorgeous. None of us are not without flaws, but our beauty just shines to the world. It just requires someone to see it.

    Why do we have to tear each other down? Do you really hate someone because they are beautiful? What does that say to our kids when they hear us talk like that? Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we lifted one another up and supported each other?

    I’m all about the love … don’t hate someone because they are beautiful, or because of the things that they have. They worked hard for those things. You can too. I’ll be here to celebrate your awesomeness!

    * I heard a lot of people say how beautiful she is. But those negative comments just jumped out at me.