This weekend took me to two holiday craft fairs where jewelry makers were selling their wares. I was very interested in picking up some new pieces and scouting for inspiration for my own pieces.
However, I was somewhat disappointed – not in the jewelry, but in the way it was presented. Many of the jewelry makers I saw did not have their work displayed in a way that was conducive to browsing (and hence buying). Many necklaces were simply laid out on a table, which just didn't make them pop. Bracelets were often piled in plastic containers, a jumble of color that turned my eye away. And some of the designers I wanted to know more about did not have business cards or flyers listing their future shows. Needless to say, I walked away empty handed.
Don’t let this happen to you! A few simple tips will ensure that your jewelry shines its brightest, capturing the imagination of potential clients.
Etsy.com recently published an excellent blog – Seller How-To: Craft Fair Tips – that makes a lot of good points. I encourage you to read the whole article (you won’t be disappointed), but here’s an overview:
• Display your jewelry in a new way. Many people are making jewelry right now, so yours needs to stand out in the crowd. I found some good ideas at www.jewelry-display-ideas.com.
• Print business cards on your home computer, attach your info to every piece of jewelry, and make flyers about your future shows. Some people might not be ready to buy today, but they’ll want to know how to find you in the future.
• Develop a mailing list of past, present, and future buyers by collecting business cards for a raffle or having clients write their contact info in a guest book.
• Once you’ve established a mailing list, send out thank you notes, newsletters, show invites, and coupons (which will help you find out how effective your mailings are).
• Network with your competitors (or rather, think of them as your business partners). They might just become your next client. Plus, you can learn a lot about what’s been selling well for them, what display techniques work, etc.