Dave Cohen
11-24-2008, 9:33 PM
I was in my first craft show this weekend and I did OK
considering the bad economy (as long as I don't calculate all the time/labor...maybe even materials that went into the projects)
I sold all 8 cutting boards - two end grains, a bunch of edge grain boards made out of purple heart, maple, paduk, cherry etc, and a couple of cherry bread boards
I sold an asian garden bench to a banker
Sold a purple heart, maple and cherry chess table to a friend right before the show
1 pair of salad tongs (made 8, they didn't move too well)
And I did not sell any of my photos of travels through SE Asia that I had matted and made handmade splined hardwood frames for...there were some pretty nice shots there got lots of compliments on them, but no sales not sure what went wrong there.
Still have another garden bench made out of oak left over and a couple of portable outdoor white oak chairs.
I also got two orders for cutting boards after the show and an order for a chess board, because someone saw the chess table....
I pulled in about $1200 gross, but have to pay out sales tax and credit card commissions, and craft show fee still...looks like when I take all that and materials out I will have netted about $500. I worked for months part time in between kids and full time work building up inventory from nil, so looking at it realistically not ready to quit my day job, but possibly could develop into a good part time gig and help pay for my hobby.
Would welcome perspectives from other more experienced folks.
Thanks
considering the bad economy (as long as I don't calculate all the time/labor...maybe even materials that went into the projects)
I sold all 8 cutting boards - two end grains, a bunch of edge grain boards made out of purple heart, maple, paduk, cherry etc, and a couple of cherry bread boards
I sold an asian garden bench to a banker
Sold a purple heart, maple and cherry chess table to a friend right before the show
1 pair of salad tongs (made 8, they didn't move too well)
And I did not sell any of my photos of travels through SE Asia that I had matted and made handmade splined hardwood frames for...there were some pretty nice shots there got lots of compliments on them, but no sales not sure what went wrong there.
Still have another garden bench made out of oak left over and a couple of portable outdoor white oak chairs.
I also got two orders for cutting boards after the show and an order for a chess board, because someone saw the chess table....
I pulled in about $1200 gross, but have to pay out sales tax and credit card commissions, and craft show fee still...looks like when I take all that and materials out I will have netted about $500. I worked for months part time in between kids and full time work building up inventory from nil, so looking at it realistically not ready to quit my day job, but possibly could develop into a good part time gig and help pay for my hobby.
Would welcome perspectives from other more experienced folks.
Thanks