I just returned from my first time at Cherry Creek. It is a
1000-mile drive for me (over $400 for gas) but the quality of work
at the show was very high. Not many jewelers-- 24, I think, out of
250-- and none got awards.
I sold pretty well, though not as well as I’d hoped, given the
show’s reputation. Too soon to say whether there will be
after-orders, of course.
Here’s the thing, though. I didn’t sell a single one of my signature
pieces, the titanium and silver work with imagery, such as in my
Orchid gallery. If I can’t sell them at a show like that, where can
I sell them?? I’m very disappointed about that. I also hoped to pick
up a gallery out there, but none approached me. I had no time to
seek them out, with a show the week before here in my home area
(Chicago) and one next weekend in Cleveland.
Well, I’ll find out what it’s like to do a show without a lot of
"little stuff" (pieces under $150), because I sold almost all of it
out there, no time to make more. I leave tomorrow for Cleveland.
Hello Noel; is there an art jewelry show in Cherry Creek Colorado?
That would not be too far for me? I wasn’t aware of one there? could
you tell me what the name of the show is or the promoter or web site
or?? also how do you find out about your shows I think there are
sites for shows I just need to find them?
I have been in the production jewelry world for so long I only know
about those shows and the bead shows, I noticed that you were
teaching at Milwaukee.
Noel I don’t know what your show schedule is as in geographically;
But it’s been my experience that you can show a piece in one
location and it’s totally ignored. You can show that same piece in
another location and it’s the first thing that is noticed.
You might check an astrological calendar for mercury in retrograde -
just kidding. Although, I’m convinced of the moon’s influence on when
I get work finished.
Well, I'll find out what it's like to do a show without a lot of
"little stuff" (pieces under $150), because I sold almost all of
it out there...
pretty much sums up my shows lately. Good traffic, lots of lookers,
few big purchases but many small sales. Overall total sales are as
good or a little better than last year, but people seem to be buying
lower priced pieces. Much admiration of the one-of-a-kind work, but I
still own it! (At least that’s what I’ve observed.)
Oh well, there’s usually more profit in those lower priced pieces.
Judy in Kansas, who looks for that silver lining…
Well, I'll find out what it's like to do a show without a lot of
"little stuff" (pieces under $150), because I sold almost all of
it out there, no time to make more. I leave tomorrow for Cleveland.
wince Best of luck to you but I kinda hate not having the bottom
end well padded as that usually turns out to the bits making the
bread and butter for me. Keep us posted though, maybe it will work
out well for you after all. There is always much talk about needing
to be brave enough to raise prices, maybe there should be some
bravery had about having more high end.
I would hazard a guess that areas that have been hit hard by the real
estate bubble and a loss of tourism (high gas prices) may not have as
much money to play with as before.Your work was probably admired and
appreciated, but the disposableincome just may not have been there.
I’ve noticed that the credit crunchhas, unfortunately, spread to
student loans, as well. It has got to get better. I’m relocating
myself and the kiddos to a slightly more prosperous area (not Texas.)
Good luck at your show, Noel - here’s hoping you sell out completely!
Susannah Page
Yes, the divorce is final, and I’m free to move about the country.
The show is in Denver in the Cherry Creek area, next to the Cherry
Creek Mall. It is a very well-known high end fine craft show. If the
link doesn’t work, just google Cherry Creek Arts.
There is always much talk about needing to be brave enough to raise
prices, maybe there should be some bravery had about having more
high end.
Well, I’m back home. Cain Park (where I didn’t have much little
stuff) was a complete washout. Both in the actual rain sense, and
the people not buying sense. I raised my prices a little for Cherry
Creek, mostly didn’t lower them back for Cleveland, and sold almost
nothing of any sort. My whole total on Sunday was one $52 necklace
to a Russian woman who beat me down to $50-- then walked away for an
hour before she came back and bought it. Guess she saw everybody
else’s prices.
That show gives an award to 25 people out of 152 but I’ve never
gotten one. I didn’t mind quite so much the last two years when I
made a nice little pile of money…
It wasn’t the rain, and it wasn’t the selection (I didn’t sell most
of what little stuff I had)-- it’s the economy. Gotta be. I made a
tenth-- really, a tenth-- of what I made at this show year before
last.