Hi,
For all those who craft their own items to sell at craft shows: I sympathize with you!
I've been crafting at shows for over 25 years now and I have seen such a drop off of quality at the shows I have attended that I have come to the conclusion that is why the customers have dropped off also. We have to deal to weather, slow sales, lousy "neighbors", buy/sell vendors, lousy promoters, and set-up issues. Seen it all, done it all, so over doing craft shows. Although I have two more this year - August 16th and November 28-29th. For the first three shows, I only sold about $200 of my stuff - I split the tent with my sister and mother usually, and our sales work out a percentage of the show fees. But seriously, I sold more online this past December than I did all year at the 5 shows we did last year, so...
The last show of the year the I am doing is St Gregory the Great the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. I went to it last year to check it out customer wise, and found lots of shoppers enjoying the sales. I contacted them right away and got put on a waiting list and finally got my application and sent it in right away. We will see where they put me, hopefully not in a hallway or I will be totally upset!!!!
Doing an Art Gallery show this August 16th at 308 Oliver Street in North Tonawanda! Going in on a spot with my etsy friend Molly, hope lots of shoppers come!!! Going to make a few new items that the artist in attendance may want like a brush/pencil roll up case, and some camera strap covers, and some new cell phone stands just because I want to make some. If you are in the area and want to see a nice artist displays, crafters, music, and dance come on down Saturday August 16th from 11-4.
Coleen