Monday, March 28, 2011

Craft Fair Booths

I just finished a 3 day event - the Tucson Museum of Art Spring Artisan Fair. Beautiful weather, friendly people, wonderful artists. I love doing fairs, as it gets me out in the public, and I have fun!



However, it is with a very critical eye that I examined my booth this past weekend. I am NOT satisfied. Although acceptable, it doesn't POP, it doesn't really draw people in. I have both of my product lines displayed - Woolies on one side - and that side has color and life to it. I have a few ideas for better displays for Woolies, but on the whole, it's ok.




It's the OTHER side that is pathetic. I sell typewriter key jewelry. Mostly pendants. The keys (pendants) are displayed in a jewelry display. The customer must bend over to examine them. I do have a 1937 Royal Typewriter on display, that draws LOTS of attention. Lots of ohs and ahs. But then they have to bend over to look. WRONG. So I'm going to take away the small table, and replace it with a typewriter stand, if I can find one. All the pendants will be already hung on chains (see, I give the customer a choice of chain, which is why I haven't done this before). So an entire wall of my booth will be typewriter pendants. As well as the other pendants (harmonica, glass pendants, skeleton keys, etc). Each area will have a sign above it, with price clearly marked.




The other thing I'm going to do is have large signs made at Fast Signs. They will hang either from the front of my booth or from one of the sides - haven't decided. And, with that in mind, I think it's time for a name change.




Buster and boo = cute for Etsy. But in the bigger world, this name doesn't describe one iota of what is available for sale. When I launch my website, I want to be able to give the world some clues as to what I offer for sale in my shop.




Which ones do you like? Can you think of more??




Bygone Keys


Keys from the Heart


Antique Key Jewelry


Nostalgia Key Jewelry


Days Gone By Jewelry


Keys and Antiques





Please let me know if you like any of my name ideas, or if you can think of more! Thanks!


Now some pics of my booth for you to LAUGH At! Ugh.

5 comments:

FairiesNest said...

I like Days Gone By Jewelry...or Bygone Keys. Both describe what your making in a nice way.

As for your booth one suggestion I would make is that you need more warmth, the Woolies side is more inviting then the Jewelry...there's more warmth there. Maybe mix them up some? When I used to do shows with a friend who made paper we would mix our stuff all over the booth and people(and judges!) loved it. If you could find a way (wood and warm colors maybe?) to put more warmth into the jewelry side it would definitely help.Right now the two parts almost seem to work against each other.

BirchLeaf Designs - Wendy and Mojo said...

Hi Sara,
I think your booth is pretty. One suggestion so folks don't have to bend over is to put blocks or something underneath the tablecloth to raise it up a bit and give you different levels to the tables. My friend has a jewely booth and she uses tall wood stands with glass cases on top: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bethmillner/sets/72157603525058665/show/

I do like how you hang your jewelry on the side wall...but it looks like folks have to lean over the typewriter to see. Locating the typewriter to the back of you booth will certainly draw people *inside* your booth.

Not sure about the name thingy...I do like Buster and Boo, but you are right, no one knows what you are selling by the name. Same goes for BirchLeaf Designs, but judging by our sales, I don't think it matters much...

prettydreamer said...

Hi Sara ... I haven't done so many fairs myself (I am a little bit shy, but I'm working on it)....

but I can imagine doing some enlargements of the typewriter keys to create a hanging backdrop of scattered typewriter keys ...

also I could imagine dragging along a vintage typewriter or two to help a set a sweet stage for your work ... setting a mood. Perhaps thinking of vintage inspired colors too ... please write me if this isn't clear
pamela:)

mrsbeccijo said...

I like Bygone Keys!

You can use the plastic bed raisers to raise your bed...the table legs fit in securely! You can stack them to get different hights.
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/search/search.aspx/Bed-Lifts/?sstr=Bed+Lifts&grid=20&dim=1&nty=1&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=bed+risers&utm_campaign=Phrase&

I would use photos in the dead space of close ups, kids with your woolies, people wearing your jewelry. I have someone who does this work for Etsy sellers. Them mount it to foam board and it is very light. Put magnates on the back of the foam board and use a metal washer on the other side of the fabric.

What about a fabric bunting with your shop names on them to add color, I got mine on Etsy!

germandolls said...

I am with FairiesNest. I like the Bygone Keys. I am trying to think of others.
I like the idea of mixing both shops' items together. Your knitted critters do have oldtime charme too! Use it! Could one of the knitted bears be wearing a keypendant?

Just an idea.