Craft Mall booth

[bearfretworks]

Thought I'd post a pic of my booth in the local craft mall. Tourist season is starting so sales are beginning to climb as well. Hope to pad the "new tools for the new shop" budget this year so I'm loading it up. Any idea's/thoughts on good selling items would be appreciated!

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[Trout]

now is that something your going to have to man yourself or is it in a shop where they'll sell it for you?

looks good, if we were on vacation in Alaska we would buy a souvenier from you...

Trout

[Charlie_1]

Very nice work and selection


Charlie,

[bearfretworks]

Thanks Charlie and Trout.

Trout - space is available for rent. Rent is based on how much space. You pay a fixed amount regardless of how much, or little , you sell. You lso sign a 6 month lease (thats why I started SMALL!!!)The owners provide staff, handle payments, run credit cards, etc.... You receive a printout of sales, and check, once a month, less credit card fee's. It is a real great deal and this shop has a wide variety. They like to stay away from duplicates. There is one booth of scrollsawn clocks - the guy does a nice job with GREAT finishes. So I don't display or sell any clocks here.

Later.....

[lucky788scroller]

I agree, you have a great selection. To grab tourists wallets, I think anything that says Alaska, either in words or in form would be good sellers. Like a moose design , say fretwork style,with the shape of alaska as the border. And as well as having things that can remind people of their trip to Alaska,you already do seem to have things in a wide price range . I think you would sell a lot of smaller low priced items to every larger item,but again, I still think whatever screams Alaska would sell good. Ill try attaching a moose picture. Try imagining that design cut out of the alaska shape. Dale

[Charlie_1]

Sounds like you have a nice little setup there




I know the last time I was up in Alaska we lived in Tok and they had a shop there and most people that I seen would buy the smaller trinkets and little gadgets and as well anything that had to do with AK with the name in it or the wildlife there , but youve definetly got a great selection there


Charlie,


LOL Dale you read my mind

[bronco]

Bear your booth looks nice and organized,my wife has a craft booth in a small town (she does not sell wooden items) but the thing that gets her sales up is a clean and organized booth and it needs looks full. Good luck and let us know how you do.
Bill

[bearfretworks]

Thanks!

You are right lucky and Charlie, lower priced items sell much faster.... I've found that "functional" sells well also - like the coat racks in my gallery. High end stuff looks "pretty" (and is more fun to make) but stays for a LONG time. FWIW, my prices range from $5 to $125 per, with 80% of the items in the $10 - $35 range.

Enjoy this last day of the weekend!

[lonepine]

Bear; I like your setup and the variety of your projects,and also your pricing information. It give me something to go by being somewhat new at this.
Are there popular items that sell more than others? Just curious. Thanks for sharing...Bob

[bearfretworks]

Bear your booth looks nice and organized,my wife has a craft booth in a small town (she does not sell wooden items) but the thing that gets her sales up is a clean and organized booth and it needs looks full. Good luck and let us know how you do.
Bill

Well I took down the booth today getting ready for the drive south. Overall, I was very pleased with the results. Given that I didn't put as much time into scrolling this past year (with the lathe purchase, retiring, moving, etc...), I didn't expect to nor did I make as much as the previous year.

Totals (rounded to nearest $100) for the 14 months I was in the booth were:
Rent: $900
Sales at store: $1800
Orders from cards picked up at booth: $2200

Best selling item: ornaments $5-$8 each
Best selling pattern: Lora Irish moose (18 sold @$35 each) sorry I don't have the pattern name handy, the book is in a box inside a container somewheres in the Gulf of Alaska at the moment.

I also sold a little over 100 pens for a total of $2300 gross.

My total net is enough to buy a brand new PM 3520b lathe for my new shop.......plus some "needed" accessories.

All in all, it was a great time. I made some money, learned a little, and made some good contacts!

[Steviegwood]

Congrats Barry, sounds like it was a good setup and thanks for posting the pics and info. Hope everything goes smooth with your move. Steve

[PuzzledMoose]

Nice looking booth, and variety of work Barry. I assume the Lora Irish book you meant was North American patterns for the scroll saw? Curious which moose pattern you were talking about - there are 3 in there. The one I like personally is the moose head ..

Have a safe trip down from Alaska.