Things I learned from my first craft and trunk shows

About a week ago I was a vendor at a craft show in Danville and a few days later I threw my first trunk show (I've been busy...). I learned a LOT from these events that I would love to pass on to my crafty fans :)

1. Word of mouth is key. Tell your hair stylist, the grocery checkout person... everyone. They will be more likely to show up (and potentially buy something) if they feel like they have

personally been invited by you.

2. pull your car up as close as possible to the set up site. I parked my car about two blocks away because I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to find parking closer to the event. It doesn't seem like a big distance, but five or six trips back and forth to the car lugging ladders and displays was hard work!

3. Get potential customer's names, email address, and at least two phone numbers. The email address that a customer gave me bounced back... thank goodness I had a couple of phone numbers to call.

4. Signage is key! I had plenty of compliments on my banner ($60 at Fedex). I'm sure that it brought in a couple of people :)

5. Bring a lot of change. I didn't run out, but that's only because my customers gave me exact change.

6. Upsell! I had a treasure box with inexpensive-to-make one and two bead earrings (one pair for $20, two for $35, three for $50). A customer bought a pair of regularly priced earrings and a pair of earrings from the treasure box. It looked like she was having a good time digging around the box :)

7. Family and friends are wonderful when it comes to business.... a lot of the time they will spread the word about your product and may even become customers!

Good luck with all of your future shows XOXO

Ros

A craft show, a trade show, and a shabby-chic display

I've been a busy lady...

In between taking care of an almost one year old (who loves to open up all of my cupboard doors and drawers and pull everything out) and taking care of the house (nothing beyond the norm of laundry, dishes, and feeding our two cats), I have been making tons of jewelry for my upcoming shows.

Tomorrow is the start of my crazy schedule. It goes like this: from 5:30-8:30 Summer Serenade in Daville. We then fly out to New York (for a visit with family). While out in the Big Apple, I have a trunk show in the morning on Sunday the 18th and my son's birthday party in the afternoon.

I get a bit of a break until I am scheduled to go back to Danville on August 5th for the Summer Fest (5:30-8:30). Two days later I am heading to San Francisco for the Market SF show from 12-6 (this looks AMAZING btw!!)

At the end of August is another craft show on the 29th in Berkley called Last Sunday's Fest. This one looks really lively... music, food, lots of handmade goodies.

I decided to only have two events in September (a trunk show in SF and a craft show in Danville early in the month) as I am turning the big 30 (gulp) on the 24th and I have no idea what my wonderful hubby has planned for me.

I'm sure that I am going to have something planned for October, but nothing yet.

November 21 is another craft show in San Jose (1 1/2 hrs away...) and I am thinking about doing a booth at the local farmer's market every Sunday in November and December, too.

So, of course I have to have a display that matches my jewelry, looks fairly professional and put together, and is easy to set up and break down. After lots of trial and error (the Elfa system was a thought), I decided to buy two 6' wooden ladders and put pieces of plywood on the top four steps. My displays were items found on the internet, in thrift stores, and a fortunate trip to Michaels.

I'm, to say the least, a bit nervous about participating in my first show, but I know that it will turn out well :)

I will post some pictures of the show shortly and tell you all how it went (fingers crossed!!)

It's time for another addition of Match This Jewelry!!

Happy 4th of July, Everyone!So I have created some more jewelry since April, when I posted the first blog article of "Match This Jewelry" and have been searching for more amazing fashion designer's clothing to go with the new pieces. Please take a look at my talented Etsians :)

This beautiful summer seersucker bubble dress by tortillagirl (www.tortillagirl.etsy.com or http://www.etsy.com/listing/49951125/seersucker-bubble-dress for the listing) goes well with...

The Cherry and Grapefruit circle frame earrings in 14 K gold filled (http://www.etsy.com/listing/49345601/cherry-and-grapefruit-circle-frame)

The geometric shape of this top by Outofline (www.outofline.etsy.com or http://www.etsy.com/listing/48850901/cotton-jersey-necklace-top-in-silver for the listing) would pair well with the long and lean cluster of...

The Aqua and fuschia sterling silver long cluster earrings (http://www.etsy.com/listing/49727435/aqua-and-fuschia-sterling-silver-long)

I would pair this beautiful ruffled top by necessityisthemother (www.necessityisthemother.etsy.com or http://www.etsy.com/listing/47077746/the-peachy-keen-cinch-dress for the listing) would be great with...

these simple Peaches and Cream studs (http://www.etsy.com/listing/50786259/peaches-and-cream-stud-post-earrings)

I hope that you have enjoyed this and feel more comfortable accessorizing :)

Please be sure to check out Etsy's talented designers!

Soren playing with the Peach Tree earrings

I have to be really careful about what earrings I wear! My 11 month old (happy birthday, Soren!) has just discovered that they make a really nice sound when they are fiddled with. Here are some blurry pictures (sorry) that I took of Soren. I will have to switch to studs from now on (could be worse)

Finally! A decent looking banner!

When I first joined Etsy as Designs by Ros, I did my homework.... learning how to upload an item, how to write a great product description, and so on. The very first thing that I did was make up a banner (I had read on the Etsy forum that it was very important to have a banner).

Having absolutely no idea what I wanted the banner to look like, I took my camera outside, in direct sunlight (all of you who know anything about photography will probably agree that it's very difficult to take clear pictures in direct sunlight) and took a picture of a bunch of beads on a neutral-colored tile... with the flash on the camera (yikes!). I threw on a "Designs by Ros" logo and was finished with it.

When I opened Scottishlilyjewelry on Etsy, I was making (and remaking) jewelry, and retaking my photos, I started to contemplate what I wanted and took my time with the banner. My thoughts were: have to have pictures of my jewelry, the new and improved logo, and hot pink (as that's the color on my business cards) somewhere on the banner.

Here's what I came up with:
www.etsy.com/shop/scottishlilyjewelry

Beads, beads, beads!!

I'm always on the look out for new and amazing beads; be it semiprecious or lampwork glass. I usually have colors in mind, but sometimes I just can't help myself and pick amazing beads that have nothing to do with my current seasonal color scheme (an example would be the Earth Collection hammered earrings).

I have found such amazing artists and suppliers on Etsy, and try to shop there as often as possible to support my fellow sellers. I also really enjoy going to my local bead stores and chatting it up with the wonderful ladies there (free advice and jewelry tips, too!). In the Bay Area I go to House of Beads in Walnut Creek and Beaded Bliss in Danville.

Whenever I go to either of these two places I feel like a kid in a candy store and always walk out with more that what I originally went in for.... I may have to take another trip tomorrow!

Change is coming....

I love networking... meeting new people; expanding my contacts throughout the world is wonderful (and vital in gaining more customers in this day and age)

I am always looking to improve Designs by Ros (handmade jewelry) and Scottish Lily (jewelry making parties) and have had many of my friends through networking tell me that I have a lot of different online personalities (mainly Designs by Ros, Scottish Lily, and this blog). So... what I have decided to do is to bring everything under Scottish Lily to make it (drum roll, please) 

Scottish Lily Jewelry Making Parties and Handmade Jewelry Inspired by Nature!!! 

What do you think?? It has a nice ring to it...

I will still have an Etsy store, just under the name "Scottish Lily". I'm hoping to update my website, add jewelry pics and descriptions to Etsy, and move this blog to an internal blog on my website in the next couple of months. 

I'm really excited about my new business improvements, but would absolutely love to hear any suggestions or comments that any of you may have... I truly value advice from my networking friends from all over the world :)