I keep an inventory in an Excel spreadsheet, check off what I sell
at each show and gather the sold pieces up after the show to paste
into another document where I note what show it is and what the
total sales were.
Janet Kofoed
Don’t forget to smile. Fair booth attending is exhausting work. If
it’s slow and there’s no one at your booth, it’s easy to relax and
retreat. When I attend a Fair and pass a booth where the person
attending is glum, obviously not selling and has retreated to a
chair in the rear, I hesitate to stop at the booth especially if I
know I won’t be buying anything, and I keep walking. Customers
attract customers. In your notebook, on your list, mark a reminder
to stay busy and cheerful. Bring a companion if possible and chat
amiably.
Just one note for a specific type of show. Years ago we used to do
an outdoor show that always was on the hottest days of the year near
the ocean. so humid AND beastly hot. We kept a cooler for our
bottled water, filled with ice. When the heat became unbearable, I
would sit on a chair and put my bare feet in the cooler, also
sliding ice cubes up and down my arms and around my neck, while
drinking copious amounts of water. Needless to say, we alternated
doing this, so that one of us was available to talk with customers.
Oy!
Linda Kaye-Moses
Hi all
(A) All the stuff you forgot to bring, so you can put it in the booth box for next time.
I have done stalls for decades and still forget things at times. Try
to have all things in one area of the shed so I can pack it easily.
Still sometimes get moved and not packed.
OK It is hard on your own you need food breaks etc and need a the
stall next door to watch. Not always good.
But it is amazing how we support each other at our stalls.
So where is the geek to write an APP?
It would be great to be able to order from the food stalls via a
smart phone and have it delivered. Could even pay by smart phone.
“Hi stall 31 needs a coffee and a hot dog.” And then it arrives in a
while.
Having enough change is also very important. You can run out fast.
Also if in a big market and the customer tells you they will think
about it and have a walk around. Guess what they hardly ever come
back.
So you have to be able to discount on the spot to close the sale. I
keystone (at least) all prices. So if it is $50 I will offer it for
$40, this closes 90% of sales. If I sell it today I make a profit
today and replace it for next market.
I also sell in a small market, my competition is low grade Asian
jewellery. This guy has so much stock it looks like a junk stall.
And wow does that sht tarnish and glued in stones don’t last. I
have 10% of the stock he has, all finished to the best of my ability
and most my original designs. All metal thicknesses are made to last.
Say a solitaire set in.7 mm sterling bezel and ring shank is 3 mm by
2.1 mm. Bend that out of shape, good luck. If they know their
jewellery they walk around and come back to me. My jewellery makes
his look like sht. Because I polish it very well. Better settings
and stones.
He sells Larimar jewellery, according to him his brother is an
expert in semi-precious gems. So he puts the Larimar in full sun on
hot days. Well guess what “The blue color is photosensitive and fades
with time if exposed to too much light and heat.” So he is ruining
his stock so much for expert advice. Also his prices are far too
expensive. In Australia anyone with more than 2 brain cells can smell
the BS from a long way away.
He will end up with a lot of stock and his sales will drop as
customers find out what the quality he sells is really like. Word
travels in a small town.
Also you need a range of stock. I have earrings pendants and rings.
I made 10 5 mm wide reticulated rings.
Thought these don’t sell sold none the first day. 3 markets later
have only 2 left.
Also you need to know how much the customers have to spend. Most of
my sales are between $25 and $50 yes I sell a few items for much more,
but most come to the markets with $50 or less to spend.
Also having eftpos is a must being able to take plastic ups the
sales. But nothing less than $20 because of bank fees.
Also I have an appointment only showroom, bricks and mortar give you
credibility.
all the best
Richard
Ha Ha!
I agree this is a great thread. I always take one of those small
lunch sizecoolers that holds about two gallons of ice. Fill it with
ice in the morning. This cooler is for your feet only.
Whenever you or your feet get hot or tired stick them in one at a
time. Do this as needed. I wear nice flip flops for easy access.
Your feet are likea car radiator and will cool your engine right
down.
Those will be some rank ice cubes at the end of the day but you will
have some happy feet.
Sessin Durgham
Rio Grande Technical support
800-545-6455
I was so tensed that I forgot to take a notebook:) I took some
numbers on the brochure.
I had also no clue how to take account of stock. Now I get some
ideas. I will plan my next exhibition better.
So you have to be able to discount on the spot to close the sale. I keystone (at least) all prices. So if it is $50 I will offer it for $40, this closes 90% of sales. If I sell it today I make a profit today and replace it for next market.
I am closing a retail store I have had for 24 years. It is the
economy where I am, no one is buying jewelry, and I cannot live on
$30-50 repairs, so Richard, I might be in the next stall.
You would have to try this on a few pieces, I would mark your pieces
Up 2.5 times. When someone shows interest, if you are sure they will
walk with out buying, say “Would it help if I give you a 20%
discount?”. I make a lot if sales that way. Regardless of your
politics, every other fracking thing is on sale. It may be a game,
but the public is hypnotized by this. You can have your morals and
ethics, or you can make sales.
I have some consignment pieces that I do this with. I still get
keystone. There are things that are not price sensitive about,
sometimes it is the piece of jewelry that a customer has in their
hand. If you got that far, do not underestimate their interest.
I ask, do you like it or love it? If they say like it, I tell them to
wait for something they love. People appreciate that. Then they will
be loyal customers, you are not trying to sell them. If they say
love it, close the sale!!! If you do this, and there is interest, but
resistance, then take another 10% off. Velvet hammer…
Richard Hart G. G.
Denver, Co.
For all of us too hot for our own good (pun intended) what we need
is a jeweler’s version of this devise.
http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/ep81by
Orchid people remember I’m the luddite that doesn’t know how to make
links into orchid format please fix for me.
Aggie
Hi
I make a lot if sales that way. Regardless of your politics, every other fracking thing is on sale. It may be a game, but the public is hypnotized by this. You can have your morals and ethics, or you can make sales.
where I live chain stores often, think every week, have some items
on sale for 50% off at least. The public expect to get discounts.
I discount my silver to close a sale. But my gold prices, made to
order only, are so good I just tell the customer to get some quotes.
They always come back when they find I sell 18 kt for the price
chain stores charge for 9 kt. $150 a gram.
Times are tough and we need every edge we can get. I am about to try
Argentium. If it is as good as the promotion it will give me an edge.
It costs about 10% more than sterling but fabrication is much faster
so labour being the main cost I will have a better product for a
lower cost to me. I just can’t wait to have the flying unicorn in my
adds.
As usual I will follow the directions, it seems you do need
silversmithing skills to work this stuff. My dinosaur torch should
be perfect.
Also as it takes less physical effort to move than sterling my
“little darlings” should be able to make things they cannot
physically move the sterling for. Of course if I can work it
following instructions I will Frankenstein the sh*t out of it to see
what it can do.
It needs support at annealing, so what if I put a hole shape in a
soldering block and slump the Argentium into it? There will be
curses, tears and screams of course. I am good at that. But hey love
a new toy. Also if I reticulate it can I cut a washer and then hammer
it into a ring. See this done on Rio Grande site with sterling.
Reticulated sterling would just crack.
How cool a reticulated ring with no join. Also can’t wait to see
what happens when I cook the Argentium with a lab grown ruby or
sapphire set into it. Could be cool could be sh*t.
all the best
Richard.
Richard
Keep us abreast of your experiments with argentium. Curious to see
what you do with the material. I just bought some - have done some
fusing to make some rings, earrings, etc. Have done a little bit of
soldering with it. Isn’t it fun to experiment! Debbie com