Product Reviews Get Your Handmade Items More Exposure

My hanging wine bottle candle hurricane lantern which I sell through my website www.serendipitini.com as well as my Etsy shop Serendipitini is featured in a product review by Tessa Bisson of Tessa Reviews on You Tube.  http://youtu.be/W7qAQ1tsXMw.

Tessa does product reviews at no charge to you. Her focus is on handmade items especially Etsy. Reviews include coverage on how the item is packaged, used, item cost, and how well it is made. She also includes info on links to your products. You can contact Tessa at tbiss13 @ gmail.com or write her at 

Tessa Reviews

237 Salmon Falls Road

Hollis Center, Maine

04042 USA

  

It's best to query first. When sending products for review, be sure and put your best foot forward and look as professional as possible including all vital info on your handmade item, cost, and a good description. You'll also wish to include contact info for where people can buy your product.  

Product reviews such as this are great because they not only get you free exposure but they link back to your website or other locations where you post the link.

Win a Handmade Recycle Glass Necklace

Win this handmade glass necklace made by Teena Stewart of Serendipitini. This necklace is a new design from Serendipitini which features recycled frosted glass and a copper swirl design. 18” Three strand cord with lobster clasp. $15.00 retail value. Increase your chances of winning by choosing several options below. One additional way to enter is to subscribe to our monthly mailing list. Here's the link. subscribe 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get More Milieage from Craft Shows: Part III of the Craft Show Series

Here are a few tips for how you can get the most bang for you buck at craft shows.

First, make sure the collection of what you display is cohesive. Nothing confuses people more than a mish mash of items that seem unrelated. If you do several different types of crafts or art, choose one or two related crafts to display for your show--the ones that will connect best with the types of clientele you expect to be at the show you attend.

 My business Serendipitni Pet carries coasters, and jewelry for pet lovers. I also do mixed media art, creative reuse furniture, recycled wine bottle candles, mirrors, and sun catchers through my business Serendipitini. At a recent humane society show I focused on the pet products. I did include one small area for other non-pet jewelry items I wanted to have on sale but I grouped them by the pet jewelry.

Second, engage visitors to your booth. Talk to them. You don't want to be pushy, but ask them how they are doing or how they are enjoying the show. Tell them a little about your items. The trick is to  friendly but not overbearing. It ads a likeability factor to you and your brand.

Third, have a show special. For instance, you might have a bargain bin of items you want to clear out, or you might have a buy one get one half price deal. People are more likely to  purchase more if you entice them with a discount.

Fourth, consider taking custom orders. People sometimes ike what you have but want a variation. Know your cost, though of what expense and time would be to make up something special. Should you charge a little bit more? Don't let that opportunity to clinch another sale pass you by.

Fifth, be sure and have business cards with your web address and contact info. Try to get these into people's hands before they leave your booth even if they say they plan on coming back. They often won't so they will at least have your info with them if they decide later they wished that had bought from you.

If you have additional advice for making a craft show a success, be sure to leave it in the comments section below. We love to hear your experiences.

Where to Find Good Craft Shows. Part II of the Craft Show Series

In our previous post regarding craft shows, we explored counting the cost of being involved in one. Today I want to talk about where to find good craft shows.

You will have better luck with well-established shows than with new ones, although if a new one is well managed and well publicized they can be a good choice. Avoid opportunities where the marketers say “we still have space left,” especially if the date of the show isn’t far off. It indicates the show either hasn’t been well publicized or it isn't expected to be well attended.

The number one way to find a good craft show is word of mouth. Crafters and craft enthusiasts can tell you which shows to attend and which to avoid. So, if you are looking for the inside scoop, start with the people you know in your area who love arts and crafts.

You can also learn about them on Craigslist.com by looking for shows in or around your area which are often promoted under the Community heading

Local papers, penny savers, and geographic events publications also run blurbs on upcoming events. Though you may not learn about the events far enough ahead of time to book a spot for the current year, you can discover what shows are out there and educate yourself as to who to contact, where the shows is, when it is held, etc. AND get your name on the mailing list for the next year.

A great site for festivals is festival.net which lists festivals all across the nation.

Artfaircalendar.com (http://artfairsourcebook.com/) lists fine crafts fairs. The Art Fair Source Book is a book which features a comprehensive list of juried shows.  

The general rule is, the larger and more well known the show is, the harder it is to get into and these are almost always juried.

If you know of good sources for craft shows feel free to post them in comments below.  Include links if possible.  My next article will be on ins and outs of selling at craft shows. How to make the most of your event.

Are Craft Shows Worth It? Part I Counting the Cost

Most crafters who are serious about making income from their work have seriously considered participating in craft shows. There are plenty to choose from, but are they  a wise choice? 

I run several handmade businesses. Serendipitini is creative handmade with an emphasis on creative reuse. Serendipitini Pet is handmade pet coasters, pet  jewelry and pet ornaments for pet lovers. A friend, who knew about my pet products, invited me to participate in a local craft fair for an animal shelter fundraiser. Because of my last bad experience at an art show where I only broke even, I had sworn off craft or art shows. However, because of my new focus on the pet industry, I felt this opportunity was worth checking into, especially because it would land me amidst pet lovers, my target audience.

After checking into it I found out the cost for a space for an outdoor spot was only $20. The fee was for the spot only, no tables or chairs. It sounded like a great deal. It was also going to be close by so I didn't have to travel far. I reserved my space.I planned to use a borrowed awning so I didn't have to invest in that, and I had some cheap folding tables inherited from my mom. It seemed I wouldn't have to invest much. I signed up.

Then I found out the true cost of participating. I hadn't counted on was the fact that when selling online, which is the primary way I do business, I only have to have one item at a time ready based on photos I disply. I then create items as orders come in. When selling at a craft fair, I need to have plenty of inventory. With over 25 different dog breeds to offer in merchandise, I was going to have to make a bunch of coasters and necklaces for each breed. I had to buy the tiles, and the bumper feet and the necklace blanks and cords and then get them ready. Then I would to have to find a way to display them which meant I needed display racks.  I would also have to think about signage, business cards, order forms, and maybe even fundraiser forms since I had to consider whether I would sell at a reduced rate to groups who wanted to raise funds for their pet rescue or pet lover organizations--a group I was sure would be there. So, my $20 investment soon stretched to several hundred dollars.
Here's a check list to consider before jumping in on a crafts show:
1.  Cost of registration
2.  What items you will sell and how many you need for display. (Calculate your cost)
3. What display and set up items you need.(tables, chairs, table cloths, displays, canopy)
4.  Promo materials (business cards, flyers or brochures, order forms, etc.) 
5.  How will you take payments and orders? (Check, cash. If you plan to take credit card, is it worth the cost of credit car set up and processing if you don't plan to do craft shows on a regular basis.) If you run out of items will you take orders? Do you need extra forms for this? (Another expense)
6. What will you travel, food and lodging be?
7. Will you be able to set up your booth yourself? How will you haul you merchandise to and from your vehicle. Will you need to pay someone to help you or can you get a friend or family member to help for no pay?

Tally the cost. Add up the cost of all the items in your check list. Include the time involved in preparing. Weight this amount against what you estimate your revenue will be. (Give it your best educated guess.) Be sure to consider the long term impact being present at the show. Even if you don't get as many sales as you wish, getting your info out and your name out might result in later sales or referrals.  One or two referrals at a good show can make it all worth it.

Your comments and insights are welcome. Part II of Are Craft Shows Worth It? will cover choosing good shows.

Creative Reuse, Coffee Table from Recycled Pallets

My husband brought a coffee table home that needed help. It had no "guts" and was missing the inside of the table. I've wanted to make something from old pallets so this was a prime opportunity.  I pulled apart a a couple of old pallets which splintered but soon discovered that I loved that look. Because pallets are made from a variety of scrap woods this provides variable colors. I turned the table upside down and glued these pieces on and then nailed them on with finishing nails. I ordered a new glass piece for the center. If you wanted to, you could actually lift up the glass and put something inside.

The table already has a rough appearance so I roughed it up even more to give it more of a distressed look. It measures 24" x 48" x 20". It's for sale locally in Hickory, NC. Asking $165 firm.

Three Recycled Bottle Candle Holders

I fell in love with these bottles in a thrift store because of their shape and color. I love glass. I thought they would make great candle holders. I embellished them with recycled copper electrician's wire. To each copper swirl, a bead with dangle has been added. Bottles measure 7 1/2" tall and come with their own taper candle. The base of each taper candle was altered to fit the bottle neck.

Grouped together, these make a lovely statement piece for your home decor and are one of a kind.  The are listed on my Etsy shop.