first big craft show

[tynetyne]

Good Luck!

[twinkinkkids]

So I found time to give an update to my first big show. I'm not sure if I did my picture correctly. Here we go. . . We had a heat index of 115 and a ton of smoke from a nearby brush fire, but I was pretty satisfied with the outcome. Thank goodness I had a tent. There were not over 5000 people like that advertised, but still a good amount of people. The pictures you see are not of the finished booth. My husband took my camera before I finished. I totaled $550 without tax. I wanted to do more, but I think mother nature had other plans. I feel more people would have come and bought if there was no smoke and it was a little cooler. $150 in bows and clips and the rest my clothing. The booth fee was $50.00. It was close by so I did not have too much invested in gas. I mainly sold clippies. The best seller were the pink and white pirates. (ribbon from Hipgirl-thanks!) I missed out on a few sells not having more Hannah Montana. Oh well. A few things that helped that I would like to pass along are...
Propay- I paid for the middle range, but only needed the $35? setup. I was going to process over the phone, but what a pain. Half my sales were c/c and I think that increased my sales. The fees were not bad and no one minded me taking their numbers.
Tent- get a good one..mine is an ez up that I got at Sam's for $200.
Take lots of water- my daughters drank all mine when they came to help setup in the morning.
If you have a second person-use them. I was by myself except for setup and breakdown. I wanted to see other booths, but had no chance. I can't even tell you an estimate of number of booths.The few people I talked to said that they would not come back next year. They said the show is selling out. Lots of noncraft items. Knock off sunglasses, etc...
I may do again. My neighbor was great and pointed me in the direction of other local shows. I was surprised to hear I was that there was only one person other than me doing hair accessories. She only had headbands. I never got to see them.
I am now taking my leftover inventory and working on my wahmshoppes. It will be www.twinkinkdesigns.net. I've started, but not far along. I am having my template done by sheandi designs.
If anyone has any questions to help them out-let me know. I know I am getting longwinded here. Thanks for all the good thoughts.
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll165/twinkink/P6076919.jpg

[robynlee97]

best of luck to you!! Let us know how it went.

[twinkinkkids]

Sorry only one picture posted.. I am going to try again.
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/l...k/P6076914.jpg

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/l...k/P6076915.jpg

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/l...k/P6076913.jpg

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/l...k/P6076917.jpg
Thanks, Heather

[hippychick]

Best of luck to you!

[kaneohegirl]

Originally Posted by twinkinkkids

Here we go. . . We had a heat index of 115 and a ton of smoke from a nearby brush fire,

see that coupled with humidity is what I cant handle... UGGGHHHhh I think Id die of heat stroke

[jakey1028]

sounds like you did pretty well!
If you don't mind, what Hannah Montana things did you have that you sold out of? I have a show in less than a month that I am preparing for. It's indoors thankfully!

[twinkinkkids]

Originally Posted by jakey1028

sounds like you did pretty well!
If you don't mind, what Hannah Montana things did you have that you sold out of? I have a show in less than a month that I am preparing for. It's indoors thankfully!

It was just a double layered bow with a bottlecap. Very simple. They sold for $6.50. I was surprised that the bottlecaps did so well. My second best bc was Hello Kitty. Same price. Third was disney princess. I sold out of all too. Let me know if there is anything else.

[polevaulter]

Good luck!!!!!!!! Hope everything goes well!

[Leona]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. Sounds like you did well.