The rotten thing about having high hopes is when you see your high hopes plummet to the ground and go splat!
That’s what happened this past weekend to me. I dared to dream the dream.
Well, a dream…
Silly me. I should know better. It’s me I’m dealing with here.
I’ve been spending a lot of my time, talents and money on sewing handmade items for a local Artists’ Market. It’s the one event I do to show off my needle-and-thread magician skills to the public and hopefully sell some stuff to fund my other hobby–writing books that don’t sell well.
Since the Artists’ Market is part of a weekend-long hoopla in my little city that brings in locals and tourists to the usually sleepy downtown area, I thought it was worth the $50.00 fee to rent a space and spend countless hours to make a cornucopia of colorful, fashionable, yet practical, items for all the people who would surely be looking for a unique gift for themselves or others.
Wrong.
If I value my time at even $1.00 an hour (no, I don’t live in Haiti) and figure in the cost of the materials I used, I figure I lost about several hundred dollars last Saturday. I’m such a great business person. Maybe I should write a book….I’ll call it The Idiot’s Guide to Going Bankrupt. No. Wait. That’s one not-so-self-helpful book most people don’t need. It probably wouldn’t sell well.
Sure I sold a few things.
My older sister, Tina, came to sit with me for a few hours. She ended up being my best customer. Sister love. You can’t beat it.
Most people who wandered by told me my work was beautiful and just went on their way. Two promised to return but never did.
But there weren’t that many people who came around. Or as they say in the Biz, “Traffic was light.” And I was closest to the building with the bathrooms, so I should know.
I’ve been trying to figure out what went wrong.
1. It was a gorgeous day, so weather didn’t keep people away.
2. There weren’t very many vendors. Maybe ten. I was the only fabric artist except for the person who made two-headed stuffed dragons. I wonder how well she did?
3. The live music and junk food vendors were several blocks away from us starving-for customer artists. I think that’s where most of the people were.
4. People seemed to be looking for free or really cheap things. Maybe they thought it was a Flea Market, not an Artists’ Market.
This was taken at the beginning of the day when my hopes were still high. Do I look like a flea or an artist?
I think I’m going to skip next year’s Artists’ Market. Or maybe I’ll go and see how the lady with the two-headed dragons is doing…
Lorna's Voice 
Jul 27, 2014 @ 14:47:13
Having been in the art & craft world for over 28 years, you learn there is no real reason why things go the way they go.
Sure, there are some things to do to avoid this type of heartache.
One hint I can give you …. when applying to a show such as one run by a promoter or organization …. find out how many years the event has been put on.
With only 10 other crafters, I can tell you that no one wants to do the market because if they’ve done poorly and didn’t want to return. There’s a science to it. I can tell you there are a lot of things that go into the whole dynamics of selling handmade items.
I know I haven’t helped to make you feel better. I’m sorry.
But, to say keep on going is foolish. I am a judge at art shows so I know from where I speak. If you’re serious about continuing please e mail me and I can guide you.
Huggies ❤
Jul 26, 2014 @ 15:29:53
Yes, I like your book title better. Maybe that’s why my book isn’t selling well…
Jul 25, 2014 @ 00:52:13
You make me laugh, Lorna. Your bags may not sell well (other than to your sister – I take it you gave them to her for free) but your words are selling to me like hot cakes.
However! I will rival your book’s title of “The Idiot’s Guide to Going Bankrupt” with “The Intelligent Person’s Guide to Going Bankrupt”. May the best bankrupt win.
U
Jul 24, 2014 @ 09:33:03
Yes, that, too! 🙂
Jul 24, 2014 @ 03:41:54
You’re forgetting the main thing. It was a good hair day 🙂
Jul 23, 2014 @ 14:22:04
Yes, I have to focus on what lovely weather we had and the nice chats I had with some people. Booze…never thought of that… 😉
Jul 23, 2014 @ 14:19:43
No chance of me ever getting on face book. Had an account and closed it. I’m too busy to maximize its potential and I try not to do anything part-way. But thanks for the compliment! 🙂 ❤
Jul 22, 2014 @ 21:43:52
I really wish you liked Facebook because there is a group called We Love Memoirs that really needs you. There are about 1300 in the group so far and it’s a good mix of readers and authors. I’m reading your book right now and you crack me up. I’m loving it so muck I put it down to look you up. If you ever get on Facebook, look us up. You’ll fit in so well there. ❤️ Bambi
Jul 22, 2014 @ 08:25:30
Oh Lorna, I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you. I did a wine and art festival this past weekend and did pretty okay. I don’t want to rub any success in your face though. I’ve found that when I have a booth at an event that features alcohol I do much better. Imagine that!
Don’t be too discouraged. I’ve been in the biz for fifteen years and still haven’t been able to get to the point where I can earn a living. I like making the things I make, and spending an afternoon in a festive atmosphere with Husby under the canopy with my wares is just plain fun. I always said, when it stops being fun, then it’s time to quit.
Jul 21, 2014 @ 15:06:23
Yes, I end up giving most of my things away as treasure gifts to loved ones. It’s satisfying and I know they are appreciated. Thanks for stopping in and commenting–much appreciated! ❤
Jul 19, 2014 @ 11:58:07
awrr it’s hard innit? I’ve tried a few of these types of thing and you’re right that people want cheap. They don’t have a lot of spare money but want to treat themselves to something but they won’t pay what something is really worth. Not when you can buy something imported from SE Asia for next to nothing.
In the end I decided that my talents were more suited to making unique beautiful presents for people rather than working my fingers to the bone only to watch stuff sell for next to nothing.
Jul 18, 2014 @ 17:37:34
I was thinking of Etsy as a possible venue. What would we do without the Internet? 🙂
Jul 18, 2014 @ 17:36:09
You’re full of innovate ideas–that’s why your business is going so well. Maybe I should stick to writing books that don’t sell well! 😉
Jul 18, 2014 @ 17:34:44
You’re right, the day wasn’t a total loss. As for cutting prices, they were already rock-bottom in terms of selling them at cost. I’m just not in an area where people appreciate or are willing to afford finely crafted bags. Oh well…
Jul 18, 2014 @ 17:32:55
Well, as usual, Al, you made my day! 🙂
Jul 18, 2014 @ 17:32:31
There is a very popular website for crafters called Etsy. I might try it and see once my novel is put to bed. I can only work on one money-losing venture at a time! 😉 Thanks for the pep talk, Peter. I really appreciate it!
Jul 18, 2014 @ 17:30:18
I know I need to be in a place with rich tourists. They would both appreciate the unique craftsmanship and not hesitate to purchase. I think I’m in the wrong area. But I think we might be moving in a couple of years… Thanks for the insight, Richard!
Jul 18, 2014 @ 17:27:57
I am, too! 😦
Jul 18, 2014 @ 16:59:32
I always buy. Sorry I wasn’t in your area!
Jul 18, 2014 @ 09:54:54
Was it a local event? If it was people around here don’t buy much but steal ideas. Why spend the money when we can do it at home. If it was a bigger city you would do better. Where people don’t have the time and have the income to spend. Don’t let it get you down.
Jul 18, 2014 @ 08:49:30
Al said it all. That is a charming photo of you there, so a nice memento of the event. I’ve done that, sitting at a stall as day while a few people praise my goods and then walk on without buying anything gig, and it can be a bit hard on morale. Have you tried a website. Mind you, if you want good business advice, I must give you my one page wonder sheet, which just says, “If you want to learn good business techniques don’t ask me”
Jul 18, 2014 @ 07:30:20
Look on the bright side, you’re the best looking bag lady ever!
Jul 18, 2014 @ 04:16:33
The sun was shining, you had your sister and the day was beautiful,, enjoying the sun and people watching, and they were obviously watching their purses.. try buy one get one free or half price.. 😉
Jul 18, 2014 @ 03:30:50
Add a small bag of ganje (dagga/weed/good stuff) to each bag and see how fast they go… have a bin near by as the customers will grab the ganje and probably toss the bag in the bin, you can recover them and fill them again… recycling your product, now that’s an enterprising business….
Jul 18, 2014 @ 02:20:54
Sorry to hear your hopes were dashed! If there weren’t many people then it sounds to me like the event wasn’t promoted well enough, and that’s not your fault. When I see craft fairs, I see lots of people milling and admiring but maybe not so much on the sales side, so I think you really need a large volume of people attending in order to make a few sales. Dunno. I went to a music festival last weekend and there was an area with craft stalls, and I have to say there weren’t many people looking around it, not like there were people around the food and beer stalls!
On the plus side, you’ve still got those items, so you can still sell them – online? Etsy or somewhere? Don’t think of the time and money you spent making those items as wasted, it can still be recouped!