Had my first ever stall this weekend!

[ShinyLauren]

After years of procrastination, I finally had my first ever stall this weekend in the E17 Designers marquee at the Walthamstow Garden Party.

Carole, thanks for all the advice on the display - I didn't get to do everything I wanted and ran out of time to do the ring/fishing weight thing so had to do an emergency dash to a jewellery display supplier for a perspex block and some ring clips, but I think it all turned out kind of okay!

We had loads of people visit, so many people said nice things and took business cards, and I even sold some stuff! I was really nervous, but it actually ended up being really fun and I met some nice new people.

Here are a couple of pictures:

[Lucie]

Well done you!
It looks fantastic and very professional. The branding is strong and really connects well with your website.
Do you think you'll be doing more?

[Wallace]

Lordy doesn't that look fab. Well done Lauren

Beautiful creations you make, so it was wonderful to hear that sales happened. Too right they should.

Great start hope it continues so successfully for you xx

[CJ57]

Good for you Lauren, I bet you got a buzz out of showing your work to people actually in the flesh

[Lucie]

Do you guys definitely think these shows are worth doing from a business / advertising / sales point of view?
Would you be tempted to do them more regularly Lauren?
I'm still happily procrastinating on the matter

[ShinyLauren]

Thanks guys

Lucie, that's good to know about the branding - I am clueless in such matters so I think it was more of a happy accident than by design! I'm planning on getting something built to replace the middle shelf as I felt like the display lacked height and depth - the front of the table looked a bit empty and people had to bend down to look at most things.

I think I would do more. It's difficult as I work four days a week as well as running the jewellery business the other three days, so I'm somewhat lacking in prep time for things like shows. I actually wasn't expecting to sell things, I was just looking at it as a marketing opportunity, as no-one will ever know I exist unless I put myself out there doing tada, here I am!

Also, I think it depends on how much it costs to do a show. This one was £65 for the day, which isn't super-cheap, but a lot cheaper than others I've seen in London. It's more of a risk if the upfront cost is high I think. I've applied for an Etsy Christmas one, but think there will be a lot of competition for that one so not expecting to be chosen, but there are also some local Christmas shows near me.

I'm pretty shy in real life, so putting myself in front of the public and trying to talk to strangers about my jewellery doesn't come naturally to me, but I got better at it as the day went on

I also got one of the those card readers (I went with iZettle as Payleven's customer service was shockingly bad) which I think really made a difference. Only one person paid in cash, everyone else asked to pay by card.

[pearlescence]

Once you have done a few of these things you will start to dream of some sort of stall which just puts itself up and puts itself away again. When I was starting out I was doing events every weekend through the summer months and came to hate the in and out.
Keep notes on each event - how much it cost, what you took (proft and loss) plus general notes on whether people were spending or looking generally. I did a huge county show once with an enormous craft tent but it cost families so much to get in that they grimly walked around everything but spent nothing. None of us even covered our costs. general weeping in marquee.
btw trading standards will pick you up on no hallmarking act sign if you are selling precious metal. displaying the things is a legal requirement (HI Stevelao)Happily they are a free download now, used to cost a tenner and I was always losing mine or forgetting it

[ShinyLauren]

I did remember to display the Assay Office dealers' notice

Display took about 45mins to put up and a bit less time to take down, so not too bad. Would definitely love something like Carole's that is super-easy though! I don't have a car, so I needed to keep things small and dismantleable (I know, not a real word) as well.

[Petal]

Once you've done one Lauren, you'll find them much easier. I was a gibbering wreck when I did my first event many moons ago and couldn't stop shaking! ha ha I still always research shows before booking one if I can and love exhibiting. You get to meet new potential customers and see current ones who come along to add to their collection, plus its 'free' advertising and gets you out there, as you say. As to the shyness thing, you just have to 'pretend' that you aren't and just be enthusiastic (I hate that overused word 'passionate') about your work and I'm sure you'll get lots of sales.

Just re-reading your thread ... you didn't have a car to take all your stuff! Good grief, is there any way you can get a cab to the next one, or borrow a friends car, so that you can get a bit more height into the display - it makes a massive difference. The only other thing I'd add is that I like the beautiful frames, but wonder whether having a bit of colour at the back of them would make the jewellery show up more? I'd maybe think about having a bit of blurb on the table about how you make your jewellery, I find it draws people in and they like to find out a bit about you and how the jewellery is made.

All the best and good luck with all your future events!

[Lucie]

Thanks guys. Some really useful information.

I'm purely looking at wedding shows to start with and then the London Baby Show for 2016, as I've had some pretty good feedback from a few photographers I know. That's probably not a fair comparison with jewellery sales though!
That ones £1375 + vat, so I want to make sure I've freed up enough time to deal with it.
I have a few lovely ex-shop display cabinets. They're quite slim and compact, but they're glass & require electric, so I'm not sure whether they would be acceptable for most of these venue's.

I completely know where you're coming from Lauren - I'm really not very brave
You're posters are beautiful. Did you design / photograph them yourself?