Attracting people to my craft stall

[jazzactivist]

Hi all! I am just about to buy the items that I think that I need for running my craft stall. I am planning to go for natural linen and wood effect stall 'furniture' to show off my silver jewellery. However, I am also thinking about how to attract customers to spot my stall from a distance and want to approach it. I thought about having a garden umbrella in a bright colour or retro design, to create some shade as I will be outside on the Prom all day during the summer, but thought that it might work quite well indoors too for creating a sort of 'room' where customers can try on the jewellery and look in the mirror while not standing amongst the throng. What do you think of this idea? Would you be attracted to a bright umbrella, or do you think a plain calico one would be better to match the stall furniture and allow the jewellery to be the brightest bit? Or no umbrella at all...

[dragonfly]

It would be nice to have an umbrella to shade you from the sun (hopefully) or rain if you are outside. I think a calico one matching the stall will look more classy than a coloured one but if you are trying to attract the young then a coloured one will probably be more attractive. So I'm not much help I'm afraid.

[souter girl]

I like the idea of calico, too, could you perhaps paint a logo on it to catch the eye?
Either that or choose a "signature" colour which people will come to associate with you. Where will you be exhibiting/selling? Good luck anyway!

[franbee]

yes, jazz, give us the dates. I for one will certainly pay a visit or 2.

[Crocus]

Hi Jazz, a calico one I think will look more classy - isn't possible to have some of your designs printed on the umbrella - or your trade name or something? I suppose time is a factor here..

[Primrose]

Hi Jazz - I too like the calico idea.

Just reading these threads is already making me excited! I do not want to be a pessimist but what if it rained - is it possible to buy a garden umbrella that is waterproof? Maybe even spray on something to make it waterproof as I am thinking it is somewhere for you to also be protected.

Maybe you can have a stiff flag that mounts on top with your name on....

[jazzactivist]

Thanks all, a calico umbrella it will be. That sounds the most sensible option to me, and I think that I will also take up your suggestions for putting my name on the umbrella in some way. Maybe on some bunting around the edge, or a sign or flag on top. I could make one out of felt and stiffen it... I think that I will just be trading as my own name, but could go for "Jazz Jewellery" - what do you think? At the moment I am only booked for Prom Art in Grange-over-Sands, but will try other craft events elsewhere if space is available. It is on the last Sunday of the month, all day, from April to September 2010. If it rains then I'll just have to pack up and sit in the car, but lucky for me I live nearby so if the sun comes out I can be back out again! It is a lovely Prom and in a relatively lesser known area of the Lake District, so there isn't as much jostling with huge packs of tourists, and is just as pretty. Just in case anyone is thinking of a day trip or holiday...

[eleanor2]

jazz jewellry sounds really good jazz.so do your ideas for your stall.you are selling top notch jewellry so need top notch stall.i think designer jewellry is all the trend at the moment.silver seems to be the in thing too.best wishes for you business venture.will you have some cheaper products like rings etc.i know i feel more comfortable approaching a stall if they have items easily affordable.then i see the dearer items for sale when i get closer.

[jazzactivist]

Yes, eleanor, I will have some rings and earrings priced at around £10-25 up to small silver boxes and large and intricate items of jewellery at around £200. I want to keep my prices affordable for women like myself who enjoy buying from designer-makers but have an average income. So I am envisaging that most items will be in the £35-£80 price range, with just a few on each stall more expensive. I have to work the prices out carefully to take all costs into account, but I don't believe in pricing very extravagantly just because an item has a 'designer' tag. I also thought that I would have a small basket of odds and ends on my stall - items that aren't perfect, but that I have made as prototypes or have turned out a bit wonky, and these would just be priced at the weight of the silver. To give you a guide, I recently bought a silver ring with moving parts from another silversmith and paid £120, which I thought was a reasonable price, but I couldn't do it every week! At the other end of the spectrum, I tried out making a ring using a blade of grass as a template, and because it was quick to make and thin silver I would charge about £10 for similar ones (See pic).

Another thing that I was going to ask you all about is that I am thinking of adding a bit of felt on my stall, and thought that an easy to pull on, glamorous hat made of silk or fine cotton with a felt design on for warmth / shade along with a pair of striking, lightweight silver earrings would make a nice set for women who have lost their hair through chemo treatment, or as a present for a woman going through treatment. I want to try to make items to suit all women's transition stages. What do you think of this idea?

[Crocus]

I think it's a lovely idea Jazz! x

[eleanor2]

jazz that is a good idea about the hat.sadly this sort of thing is needed.i was wondering jazz.i know it takes away some of the craft side to your jewellry.selling on line.my hubby bought me 2 pieces of jewellry for christmas.one a lovely silver broach with a lage piece of amber in the middle anothe r was a 9ct gold bracelet all seperate links with 4 small diamonds in each.now i know they were second hand.but he also paid out quite a bit for each item.i think because of the easy access of ebay and the way he is comfortable buying off ebay.where you would never get him to go to a craft show.

[jazzactivist]

I think that craft markets and design shows are more women's domain, although my OH likes to go to them. He buys his own hand crafted items and Art, and has a monthly supply of hand-tooled leather notebooks made to his specifcations made for him by a woman in Nottingham. I will get a website up and running once I have enough items on the go and my stall up and running. I don't think that eBay is the right sort of place for handcrafted items, as most people are there looking for a bargain, but there is Folksy and Etsy, the British and American craft websites. They are worth a good look, as all items are things that people make themselves, and at a range of prices. Men shopping online for craft items reminds me of that joke card where the dog is using a computer and the caption underneath says "Online no-one knows you're a dog!" (or man!).

[sheddie]

All sounds very interesting Jazz and you have lots of really good ideas. I do hope you do well.I too like the name Jazz Jewellery, that's if you intend just sticking to jewellery in the future of course. I always have used business cards a lot in the past and think people maybe don't buy on the day but get in touch afterwards, so that may be something to think about eh? X

[jazzactivist]

Thanks for all your feedback and advice so far. Another idea that I have had is a Jewellery Club. The idea would be to subscribe for a year, as you would a magazine, at a cost of about £10 per month and in return you receive the handcrafted silver jewellery item of the month unique to club members, and each one handmade by me so each would be individual.

I thought that this might work well for women who want to treat themselves every month (instead of cakes / chocolate perhaps?), or have a steady supply of nice little presents for other people. Membership for a whole year would also make a very special present for someone close. What do you think? Would you join a club like that?

[Crocus]

Another lovely idea Jazz! Go for it! I'm sure once your website is up and running and people can see what it is you produce, they will like to join the club as well. xx