blabstr.com

Here’s a new innovation for all you modern craftspeople out there! Craftspeople can now use websites such as virtual craft shows so that they can offer and promote their ware online. These virtual craft shows are the perfect venue for artisans who do not have much money to spend on advertising their handcrafted products, but need extra traffic for their online shop or website.

I have always been skeptical about the concept of doing and selling pottery at shows and at fairs.

Winter has now passed, and spring is here. The warmth of the summer season will very soon make us all want to go outdoors and have some good quality fun. Outdoor fun is defined differently by different people; while some would much rather go into sports, there are others that would want to spend time with their families and friends with barbecues.

Over at the Oak Valley Plantations, our hardworking event organizers are doing their job organizing the 19th festival for next year; and we’re fresh off the 18th Annual Arts and Crafts Festival just a couple of months ago. In fact, they already have a date for it; it will be held on the weekend, specifically from March 20 to 21, 2010. And as our usual schedule, we will start at 9am and go on ?til dusk.

Remember, there will be a whole lot of people there aside from you who will be vying for your customer as well, so be on your toes and keep yourself alert and in tip top shape. Keep in mind that all your fellow artists sans competitors will have products equaling or even exceeding the workmanship of your own. Think of ways for your own product to stand out, and by that I don’t mean making your table as gaudy and brash as possible. Advertise, but do it subtly, and do it with consideration. It is also considered rudeness to muscle in on your fellow artist’s space.

With regards to craft shows, there has been a bit of confusion going on these days. Seems like a lot of people come to these events expecting it to be nothing more than a glorified flea market. And I’ve actually had experience wherein some of the visitors would try to beat down the price of my handcrafted masterpieces. I wish to remind those who attend these craft shows that these things are considered to be bad form.

Have you asked yourself if you are made for selling?

The Ethnic Heritage Council presents the 19th Annual Cultural Crossroads Festival, which will be held at the beginning of November 2009. The venue will be at Crossroads Bellevue, at ME 8th at 156th Ave. NE in Bellevue. An international bazaar and a craft show will be there, along with the ethnic entertainment featured in the festival. Admission will be free.

There are certain strategies to be employed that can help ascertain your position in the local and global market. These are called business strategies, and they usually work by drawing in customers, preventing loss of profit, strengthening assets and securing your liabilities. There are tons of resources out in the market and there is but little of the real deal when it comes to guaranteeing all of these results.

An all-important factor that craftspeople shouldn’t forget in figuring out the success of a craft show would be the crowds that plan to attend and shop there. No matter how well-prepared their booth is or how well-organized the whole event becomes, it will all be in vain if the people in the area are just not that interested in it. Instances in which a person will simply experience something bad with a craft show should be avoided, lest they won’t want to go back anyomore.