monkeysalwayslook

my renegade craft fair experience

 

A few weekends ago was my first ever craft show! And is a word, it was a total success! Never having done a craft show I wanted to write a very candid post about my experience in an effort to help others who, like me, had never done a show before. 

The show was more of an experiment for me rather than a full frontal money making opportunity. I wanted to experience a show and evaluate whether I would continue to do them. Yes, I did want to make money but my sales goal was very low - $500. Which was the amount I spent on everything related to the show hotel, food, display pieces, show fees, etc. I also put a number in my head that was the I WOULD BE SUPER DUPER INSANELY HAPPY if I made this much. That amount was $1500. Why $1500? Because of this insightful information from Sara. How did I do? Hold tight and I will tell you. 

I'm the kind of person who gathers as much information about what I'm going to do before I do it. I read numerous craft show check lists, booth conduct articles, customer interaction tips, and anything else I could get my hands on about craft show. Even though I read and read and read there are things that no one tells you..

1. You will NEVER feel ready no matter what. I could have spent another 2 months creating items to sell but at some point you have to stop. Be happy with that you have finished and get some sleep, you are going to need it (see #2). 

2. It is exhausting! Time and time again I read that you should stand the entire time. But what they don't tell you is that it gets exhausting. I consider myself in pretty good shape and by Saturday afternoon my legs were so swollen they felt like sausages in jeans. 

3. People are mean. I overheard people say things like... 

"I could make that"

"I can't believe she is charging so much for that"

"Oh I don't like that at all"

I wanted to say, "you know I can HEAR YOU!!" But I just smiled and kept standing (did I mention my sausages in jeans legs?) Everyone is entitled to their opinion but it would be nice if the artist didn't hear your negative opinion about their work. 

4. People take tons of pictures of your work without asking. Most photographers don't take photos of people within hearing distance without asking. My work is very personal so I felt like they were taking photos of me without asking. After the second or third time this happened I just ask people what their were shooting for. Most people had a blog and wanted to post about my work or some people really, really loved the work and just wanted a picture. Which was wonderful on many levels; making blog author contacts and starting a conversation with an admirer of my work. Double bonus! 

5. Children can ruin your merchandise. I LOVE kids and very often I have my 6 year old niece help me in my studio. I would take any opportunity to take my niece and nephew to a show like Renegade to expose them to the awesomeness, so I think the kids should go to shows. But more then once kids came into the booth, grab items and handle them in such a way that one kid actually damaged a piece. So it is something to keep that in mind when you do a show; don't hessitate to politely ask children be careful with your stuff if it is fragile. 

Now on to the positives...

1. Oh hi, that's what you look like. You really get to know your demographic in a way you never get to when you sell online. I really had a particular "girl" in mind when designing the jewelry. What I found out was that "girl" was even more tattooed, more pierced, and had more black clothes then I had envisioned. This will help me in marketing and helping me take the line further now that I know better who the lines appeals to. 

2. Lot of metaphorical high fives. You get a lot of instant positive feedback which is a great boost. 

3. Ca-ching. There is a total rush when people are handing over money to you all day long!

4. You make craft show friends. Kind of like camp friends but the friendship lasts only two days instead of all summer long. 

5. Craft show are addictive because of all the reasons above.

So how did I end up doing? $1850 in two days, many new newsletter subscribers, and some potential new wholesale accounts! And the conclusion? I will see you at the next show, so come say hi!

 

a new studio

Today marks another little milestone in my tiny little business, I rented a studio. I'm so excited to move in and have a little space all to myself. No more working at the kitchen table. Move in date, January 1, 2010.

monkeys in da anthropologie house!

I need to pinch myself big time! My garden markers are now available at Anthropologie! FREAKING!!! EXCITED!!! PINCH PINCH! (yes, I wear glasses now... so sad)

why i married my husband

 

When my professional lizard hunting husband or (Dr. P.L.H.H. as he is known in professional circles) travels for work I always say, bring me back a present I would like! The, "I would like" part is the real problem. Especially since most of his traveling for "business" sends him to far off deserts in the middle of nowhere Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico and anywhere else where you just can't readily buy one or 6 of these or even one of these. I certainly don't need another, "my over-educated husband went to the Sonora desert and all I got was this lousy t-shirt" emblazed addition to my wardrobe. So when he came back last trip and said he got me something, I was intrigued. Could he actually please the world's most snobby gift receiver whos taste circumnavigates the impossible to find, the not legal to own, and the costs over a million dollars realm of gifts? The answer this time was YES! Out of his dust covered totally gross bazillion year old duffle bag came this lovely gift. It looks to be a bone from a cow, whale, or dinosaur, we can't decide. The one thing that I did decide is when I saw this special gift I knew that this man "understood me", "he got me" and I needed to marry him. And I did. I love you bug, and happy 2 month and 16 day anniversary.

dooot daaaa da doooooooooo

That's me tooting my own horn! I had my silk screen class today and we did our first two color project and I LOVE what I did. It is a pattern of birds with a larger bird in gray. I have been wanting to do a line of cards or art prints using silk screen, and this is my first attempt and again I have to say I LOVE IT. dooot daaaa da doooooooooo. Tooting my own horn again! Here is what I did.

sneak attacked

Last week I was happily minding my own business being an anonymous esty seller with only a couple sales to my name and then bam!!! I exploded onto the esty scene of "a store with multiple sales!" Did the entire esty buying population finally realize that my store was packed with everything and anything that they now could not live without? Well not really, but close. I was sponsored by Tennekka of MODNAROS by Tennekka on the site handmademovement.com as a "victim" or featured seller. What's a Sneak Attack? Every weekday at an appointed time, an Etsy shop with few or no sales is announced on the site. As many people as possible then buy items from that shop, resulting in a frenzy of surprise business to the unsuspecting shop! A frenzy and a surprise it was. I want to extend a huge hug and thanks to all that participated. It has already created momentum for my little shop and I have had two additional sales since "the big day" as we call it around here at monkeys always look headquarters. As well it has made me super motivated and my brain hasn't shut off since then, resulting in many sleepless nights and headless chicken running as I scurry around creating more goodies to stock the shop. Check back soon on the monkeys always looks etsy store.

the plunge

I did it! I took the plunge into the deep pool of crafting full time. Who needs paid health insurance, 401ks, and Folgers coffee when I can eat crackers and iced coffee all day long, turn Fridays casual day into Monday through Friday pajama casual week and let the phone to go voicemail when I am watching Oprah.

I won't miss the high school employee gossip, wearing a jacket to work everyday in the summer since the office was so cold, or the florescent lighting. But I will miss the Sparklets Water and the automatic ice maker. We don't have those luxuries here at Casa de Monkeys Always Look but I did put Water Cooler Service and Automatic Ice Machine purchases in the business plan. Gotta dream big and stay hydrated!

I am very excited to be self-employed again and sharing my workdays with these guys. These trusted co-workers will be examples to follow with their discerning eye for detail, never letting even the tiniest of fallen food scrap lay on the floor for more than 1 nano second and the discipline of daily naps of at least six hours I can only hope to achieve the same level of commitment to their "jobs." Plus these guys take more bathroom breaks then I ever do, which always MADE me so self-conscience SINCE THE BATHROOM DOOR WAS IN VIEW TO EVERYONE IN THE OFFICE. Now I can go pee with the door open AND not wash my hands. Living life to the fullest!

Look in the coming months for exciting new creations from me that you can't live without, or shouldn't, since I do need to pay for my health insurance!

Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive and encouraging though this. Monkey ON!

monkeys always read

Nigel is a very earnest monkey who takes his studies very seriously. In between his Multivariable Calculus class and preparing for his second summiting of K2 he maintains an active social life; managing to get at least a match or two of cricket in with his school chums before the week's end. A real heart breaker, Nigel is currently single and looking for that right primate who can let him be him, enjoys his zest for life and eatting just barely ripe bananas.