BeadStyle : craft fairs

You still have the weekend to apply for the American Craft Council's shows "AltCraft" segments

Cathy Jakicic — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:09:00 GMT

The American Craft Council is still accepting AltCraft applications for its flagship show in Baltimore and its show in Atlanta.

This section celebrates the innovative techniques and materials of the burgeoning handmade movement. This is an opportunity for talented artists and indie designers to gain national exposure at a well-established show.

The ACC will be accepting 15 artists for Baltimore and 10 for Atlanta.

The deadline has been EXTENDED to Monday, October 19.

You must submit:

(3) low-resolution images of your work
a brief description of your work (materials, dimensions, techniques)
contact information (mailing address, email addresses & website)
if the application is for the Baltimore, Atlanta or both
Finalists will be announced in mid-November.
Send submissions and inquiries to Erika at altcraft@craftcouncil.org.

As part of the Council’s commitment to indie crafters, the cost of participation includes pre-setup of a skirted table, seating, electricity, lighting and trusses. Plus, there’s no application fee!

More than 700 artists present their work at the American Craft Council Show in Baltimore , attracting a crowd of 25,000 people to the largest juried, indoor craft show in the nation. This year, the retail show will run four days, from Thursday to Sunday, Feb. 25 - 28.

The American Craft Council Show in Atlanta will be celebrating its 21st year. Atlanta show dates are Friday to Sunday, Mar. 12- 14, plus an evening event on Thursday, Mar. 11.

Applicants are eligible only if they have NOT shown in an American Craft Council show previously. Embellished commercially-bought items (such as t-shirts and notecards) are not eligible.

Holiday craft fair tips

Stacy Hillmer — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:04:00 GMT

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.

Craft fair tips

Stacy Hillmer — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Summer is here, so craft fairs are cropping up everywhere. If you’re planning to sell your beautiful handmade jewelry at a fair, etsy.com has some great tips for making your booth visible, inviting, and efficient. Take a look at the pictures of booths that have these qualities in abundance, and ask yourself, “Would I want to go into that booth? Why or why not? What does that mean for my booth?”

Does anybody else have tips for selling jewelry at craft fairs?