How to Find Places to Vend Your Art Jewelry

Heather is a Top Rated eBay Seller and has been an active member of the eBay community since 2008. Her specialty area is clothing.

Colorful Craft Evidence Displays Draw Buyers Into Your Berth

Fall Craft Shows Mean More Money for Artists

So, you've made handmade jewelry and given loads of it as presents to your family, your friends, and just about everyone you know. You've been thinking of selling your work, merely how do you lot get started? Start locally. Sign upwards for a local arts and crafts testify. I recommend picking a craft testify with a berth fee nether $100.

If possible, pick a fall evidence or craft festival. Fall festivals and December craft shows are the nearly lucrative because buyers are ready to buy handmade gifts. If you have quality pieces, you will do well at pre-Christmas shows.

Juried vs. Nonjuried Arts and crafts Shows

Juried craft shows require an application process. Vendors are screened by the jury (which can be i person such as the craft show organizer or a group of people) to brand sure that the creative person'southward work is appropriate for the type of show. In some cases, juried shows may place a limit on the number of crafters allowed in a particular category, such equally handmade jewelry. Jewelry making is an art class, even though the designers may make different types of jewelry such every bit leather bracelets or spoon rings. Your application for juried shows will require a written application, including a description of your work plus price range of pieces plus photos of your booth and artwork.

Nonjuried shows generally take much lower booth fees. Booth fees are based on fine art/craft show quality. Small shows that are not juried attract fewer customers. While paying loftier berth fees does not guarantee that you will brand more money, it can mean the organizer has spent some money promoting the show. If the booth fee is very high ($500 or $k and up), you can expect excellent advertising and larger crowds. Ask other vendors which shows they recommend.

When you are kickoff starting out, I advise start with a nonjuried craft show. Local churches oft concord craft shows on weekends. Avoid flea market place sales unless you tin cost your work dirt cheap. Table fees at flea markets are super low. But buyers are non looking for handcrafted designs. They desire cheap goods. It is possible that there are better flea markets in your area that would be worth checking out. When I sold my jewelry in Traveler's Rest, SC, I met another creative person who made high end wooden piece of furniture he sold out of a berth at the Barnyard Flea Market. Check out the market place get-go and ask other artists about their sales.

Juried Arts and crafts Shows with Long Waiting Lists for Vendors

Some arts and crafts shows are so successful that they have waiting lists for future years. Returning vendors indicate quality craft shows and good coin making potential for artists. Listen to feedback from other artists when planning your craft show schedule.

Seasoned crafters plan their bear witness schedule many months in advance and ever notify their buyers. Keep a mailing list and allow fans know your schedule by sending out emails. That way, even if a particular evidence is deadening, you will have guaranteed sales.

Think Vertically for Craft Show Displays

My Beginning Arts and crafts Show Was in a Equus caballus Befouled

Craft shows are very popular. My first prove (equally a seller) was the Cotton Ginning Days Festival in Dallas, NC. My friend Candace asked me to join her and split the booth rent. For the three day event, the booth hire was very cheap. Information technology was $30 for a 10-by-10 booth in a horse stall. Those three days taught me a lot about what to pack, what to expect, and which items sold the all-time.

Start with a one day show. 3 days of selling crafts is a lot of fourth dimension that could be spent marketing your work to shops, teaching or taking classes or working your solar day job to fund your passion.

Nowadays, I've got a lot more sales experience and would have asked more questions. What type of crowds volition at that place exist? How many other jewelry artists are signed up?

Accept Lots of Change at Craft Shows

Bring virtually $sixty in minor bills and change with you. Be prepared to make change for customers. Write down how much modify you start with and record sales every bit yous go so yous will know how much coin you lot made during the show.

Keep your money box stored out of sight. Use a cigar box or apple crate to hide your cash box.

Sales Tips For Selling Your Work at Craft Shows

• Be friendly: Greet customers with a grinning and permit them know yous can answer questions only don't talk too much. Customers similar to shop in peace.
• Answer questions: As a vendor, you lot will get all kinds of questions, even stupid ones. Exist overnice. Proceed your sense of sense of humor. Most people are genuinely interested in what you make. They wan to know about the process. Indulge them. Let them encounter y'all working on your designs if possible.
• Be available: If you lot are then engrossed in your book or playing on your phone, you may be sending a "Stay Away" message to potential buyers. You lot can go a bite to eat or sneak off for a bath break, but do it earlier the crowds hitting.
• Stage a sit-in: If you tin can, program ahead and set bated a fourth dimension for demonstrating 1 of your techniques. I apply antique and vintage buttons in my jewelry making and love to show others how I create my button bracelets. Brand signs so people know what yous volition exist doing.
• Accept a raffle: This is a slap-up way to abound your mailing listing. Require folks to fill out their contact information and add them to your e-mail list and so you tin let them know about futurity events. People dear the idea of winning something for free. Offer a bully necklace or matching necklace and earring prepare if buyers enter your drawing.

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As an artist, your mind is constantly pumping out new ways to add to your existing business. When I met local soapmaker Amanda Sefton, owner of Simply Divine Darling!, I knew her handmade lotions and body scrubs would sell well locally. She was selling her homemade products at The Strawberry Festival in Fort Mill, SC and they smelled amazing. Like food. I contacted her subsequently the festival and added several of her products to my inventory. People loved the delicious scents like Sweet Orangish Chili Pepper, Buss Me, and Coconut Dream. Think of teaming upward with a friend to boost your sales or expand your line of products.

Bring a Friend to Help at Craft Shows

Share booth space with some other artist whenever possible. It helps to have someone to talk to when sales are irksome. If yous need a break or want to get a seize with teeth to eat, it's slap-up to exist able to pace away from your berth for awhile. If the show requires a tent, it helps to accept a friend to assistance unload our vehicle and prepare the tent.

Artists are helpful people. When I am past myself struggling to get my tent ready, I always get other artists who offer to help out. You will exist very surprised how generous folks are. I've done lots of shows on my ain and have had no problem asking some other creative person to keep an eye on my booth. I'd much rather accept an extra set of hands to assist set up upwards my tent, unpack the auto and set up displays, and help pack information technology all up at the cease of the twenty-four hour period.

Vintage Typewriter Key Locket

Vintage Typewriter Cardinal Locket by Heather Walton of Artful Antiques

Inside Craft Show Show or Outside Outcome?

Inside shows tin can be more than expensive for booth rent, simply are easier to pack for. Ask if a table and chairs are included in the booth fee. If so, you volition be able to focus on your displays. Employ color when selecting pieces for your displays. If you take a mannequin to brandish your jewelry, bring her. People love to touch mannequins so go along an middle on this. My favorite way to display necklaces is to hang them on a vintage ladder that I painted. Yous will need signage to distinguish your berth. My first large sign was an old board that I painted with the proper noun of my store. I installed middle hooks at the top and hung it off the dorsum side of my tent using sturdy S-hooks from Home Depot.

Outside shows generally have lower berth fees but artists are responsible for providing their ain tent,tables, chairs and displays. If y'all're new to craft shows, borrow a tent from a friend or neighbor. Higher end shows require white-acme tents only. The best size tent is 10 by 10 ft because that's the most common berth size. Exercise setting up the tent prior to the show and effort to find an "easy up" style that sets up rapidly.

Being Organized for Arts and crafts Shows Requires Advance Planning

The night before the show put all the items you lot will need in your car or nearly the front end door then you won't feel rushed the day of the testify. Make a listing of items yous demand to bring.

Helpful items are:

• A small cooler for drinks
• Change or money box
• Sales slips/receipt book
• Notebook and pens
• Foursquare credit card reader
• Fully charged cell telephone
• Tools (hammer, scissors, tape, rope, nails, Southward-hooks, wire, etc.)
• Camera
• Shelving
• Tissue paper
• Plastic or paper bags to place sold merchandise in
• Price tags
• Business Cards
• Folding chairs
• Tables
• Signage
• Tent
• Stepstool
• Ladder
• Zip ties
• Water
• Nutrient

Get Prepare For Your Craft Show

Follow Prove Rules

• Earlier the testify, you will receive a list of rules from the craft show organizer letting you lot know what fourth dimension to arrive, where to park and what you may need to bring.
• Follow the rules.
• Be on fourth dimension.
• Do not tear downwards your booth before it is fourth dimension to pack upward.
• Move your vehicle immediately after unloading. Show organizers put lots of time into creating great events and y'all should exist respectful by obeying the rules.

Jewelry Design Gallery

Sundance-inspired Gypsy button bracelet made with freshwater pearls, crystals, seed beads, leather, gold chain and a vintage push button clasp.

Stage a Craft Show Sit-in to Attract Attention

Stage a Live Demo Showcasing Your Technique

If the show permits, information technology'southward a great idea to stage a demonstration. Make a simple sign to let customers know when you lot'll exist doing your demo. If you demonstrate how you make a leather wrapped bracelet, wrap wire in the shape of a bird'south nest, or create any unique blazon of jewelry, you have a marketable skill. Showcase your talent.

Go on Excellent Records of Craft Bear witness Expenses

Record all your expenses including mileage, supplies for your booth, display props, and booth fees. These can all be deducted. Tax laws change constantly so read up on which deductions you tin can take.

Offer a Freebie at Craft Shows

Passing out a unproblematic freebie like a pair of inexpensive earrings or a wrapped wire amuse attached to your concern carte is a great fashion to get attention and to be remembered by customers.

Pack Calorie-free For Arts and crafts Shows

Use inexpensive, lightweight containers which double as display props. Try a suitcase, wooden boxes, colorful baskets, apple crates or a vintage ladder and shelf display. Look online for colorful artist displays which will become attending and stand out in a ocean of white craft tents. To carry your craft show tables and displays, yous may want to invest in a collapsible wheeled cart. They make unloading a breeze.

Create Colorful Craft Bear witness Display

Allison on May 17, 2018:

Thank y'all then much for all the info! Btw, your jewelry looks beautiful! My husband & I do crafts, mainly me...& I'one thousand thinking we will start doing this at craft fairs, etc. Merely I wanted your opinion, what would be a good way to display of yous do more than one craft? Nosotros do wreaths, woodburning (signs,etc), lap/twin blankets, glassware, handmade jewelry (fishing jewelry & bullet), bullet crafts & sometimes simple crochet....

LindaSmith1 from USA on October 22, 2011:

I was thinking of getting into jewelry making, beading and beading art. In many cases, glue is needed. I tin exercise beaded art if I apply beads that I can sew together to sail. It depends on chaplet used, not all accept open up ends that can be attached by stitching.

Heather Walton (writer) from Charlotte, NC on October 22, 2011:

I rarely e'er apply mucilage in my designs. In the typewriter key locket design, I use a very strong jewelry glue to secure the typewriter key. Once dry, I use my flat nose pliers to squeeze the bezel against the key, making sure it is completely secure. Never sell pieces you lot are not 100 percent proud of. I always stand behind my work. If a slice needs repair, just bring information technology to me. No charge. That keeps customers happy.

LindaSmith1 from U.s.a. on October 21, 2011:

I have considered starting doing this. Thanks for information. I simply might exercise it. Only one question though, what exercise y'all practice if you lot need to use glue and don't know when item will sell. I accept done crafting where glue dries out, and of course, pieces fall off.

lilleyablity.blogspot.com

Source: https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/Start-Selling-Your-Handmade-Jewelry-For-Extra-Cash

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