AboutShasta McLaughlin Expertise I can answer many questions about the art and craft show industry. I can help with booth setup, advertising and marketing, increasing sales at shows, where to find shows, how to promote an art or craft show, and much more.
Experience I have always been an artist/craft person since I was a child selling crafts at shows with my mom. I have also promoted several craft shows, and publish a newsletter for artists and crafters.
Publications EzineArticles.com
Education/Credentials Salutatorian of my graduating class. Associates degree of Graphic Design.
Thanks for your responce on these the last week! Here is a picture i took last week! Do you have a place to go you refer people to! That want to learn more about marketing or selling them! You ask if we were making the sticks! Yes we hand paint them! the art drawings is not ours! We did not make the drawings or design! We go to free drawings, tattoos or coloring books and get pictures or designs! Then we cover them with polyurethane! We are interested in getting the stick out in the public! to sell! But don't want to get in over our heads with work! Do you have any places to read or learn more on marketing them! An what price to put on them! Took them to an art gallery in a near by city! Ask what price she would put on them! She picked one up and said $250 right away! I think i about fainted when i heard that! I am all ears just a common worker hoping to make some side money! If at all possible! But very unsure of a lot of things! Any advice for me! We enjoy doing them is very relaxing and calming! Lots of love goes into each one as we are thinking of folks, family and friends. Well now you are busy will let you go! Thanks for your very kind words the last time! It means a lot to us hearing that! Take Care! Have a good 2009! Thank You so much!
Answer Wow Tim,
She said $250?! Did you ask her if she would like to carry them in her gallery? I would suggest offering to sell them to her for $100-$175 so that she can easily make a profit on them at the $250 price.
I would also suggest submitting photos to a juried art and craft show. Usually they require a jury fee and the price of the show up front. They usually refund all but the jury fee if you're not accepted to the show. The reason I suggest a juried show is because your items will sell best at shows where the average price is closer to the price you will be charging.
Local and cheaper craft shows are good places to hear lots of opinions on them but maybe not sell as many at that price. Ask show promoters what the average price of items sold at their shows is. Use that information to help you decide which shows to do.
Remember whenever you attend a show take a notebook and write down what is said about them, good & bad. Don't take criticism personally instead see it as a compliment. They were interested enough in your product to criticize it, possibly helping you to make it better. Look at the comments overall how many people said that the price was too high or even too low, how many said the colors were out of style, how many said they would like it as a table and shelves, how many said...
Be very careful using art that isn't your own even if it says it is free. The reason is sometimes they allow you to use things for free but only for personal or charitable use, as gifts etc. Some people will just ask you to stop using their designs but others will actually sue you and want monetary compensation. You are obviously very artistic so it shouldn't be hard to come up with your own designs.
My blog is located at http://extravaganzacrafts.com/Blogs and has more information on where to find shows, how to market items, how to price items, how to create a web site, etc. I will be adding more information to it as I'm able.
Of course I would recommend reading every post there, ha ha. But seriously even the posts written for jewelry artists etc. might have tips that you can use. So read with your business idea and business in mind but read outside the box.
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