My First Craft Show

Well I attended my first Craft Show yesterday!  I would love to be able to tell you that it was a raging success and that I sold every item that I showed.....but that is not what happened.  It was a great experience and I learned a great deal but there just weren't the number of people coming through that I or any of the other sellers would have liked and of those that did come through most were yardsale shoppers and not people looking for real Arts.  I sold 3 pieces, and at least the pieces I sold were my good copper, brass, hammered pieces.


That said, I met some fabulous vendors and some very nice people. And I learned a lot about myself and my business.

The main thing I learned was that I need to focus.  If I really want my business to be successful, I need to focus first on making what makes my items uniquely me and stop trying to run the gamet of price ranges and styles.  Do what I love and stay focused on that.

I am going to take a quick diversion here and explain something.  For those of you who don't know, about 14 months ago I began a slow and very painful divorce after 18 years of marriage.  It shocked me and left me shattered emotionally.  Through the process I went back to jewelry making and eventually opened my shop - which has been a true blessing and a saving grace.  At the time it all began I was unemployed and have been struggling in a down economy to get back to the workplace but interview after interview left me still unemployed and took its toll on my ego. Age plus the fact that I hadn't been in the workforce for 10 years was proving to be a major stumbling block. I found the hunt for work also left me constantly thinking of my business as secondary.  So I truly didn't  have a business plan since it was not supposed to be the main focus.  Well, the need to survive and make money to live on and having done my first show has made me realize that it is time to think of my business as number one.  (end of diversion) LOL

So, the second thing I realized is I need to sit in a quiet place and think through my game plan.  Everything from what I am making, how I package it, presentation and then how to market it.  GAME ON!

I know that it will take a few months to get it all on track but what is a few months when we are talking about my future and the rest of my life?  It may seem like 2 steps forward and 1 step back but I think the step back is a worthy one and will give me 3 steps forward when completed! :)

Upward and onward as they say!  Thanks everyone for your support during this process and our journey into the world we call ETSY.  I will keep you posted as things progress

Dotti

STAY TRUE!