Comments on: How to Sell Your Art, Your Brand, and Yourself at Shows https://jewelrymakingjournal.com/how-to-sell-your-art-your-brand-and-yourself-at-shows/ free jewelry tutorials, plus a friendly community sharing creative ideas for making and selling jewelry. Fri, 02 Sep 2016 00:48:00 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.7.15 By: Karen https://jewelrymakingjournal.com/how-to-sell-your-art-your-brand-and-yourself-at-shows/#comment-472046 Fri, 02 Sep 2016 00:48:00 +0000 http://jewelrymakingjournal.com/?p=9460#comment-472046 What a great pick-me-up for all of us!

]]> By: Rena Klingenberg https://jewelrymakingjournal.com/how-to-sell-your-art-your-brand-and-yourself-at-shows/#comment-378483 Thu, 25 Jun 2015 15:50:14 +0000 http://jewelrymakingjournal.com/?p=9460#comment-378483 In reply to Janet.

Yay Janet! Best of luck with the wine tasting show – I’d love to hear how it goes for you!

]]> By: Janet https://jewelrymakingjournal.com/how-to-sell-your-art-your-brand-and-yourself-at-shows/#comment-378474 Thu, 25 Jun 2015 15:34:02 +0000 http://jewelrymakingjournal.com/?p=9460#comment-378474 Super truth here. These are thoughts/observations I have had and it it so good to be validated! I have a nitch, I can hold my own, I won’t do well at every venue, I make what I like……these are such positive attitudes! Thanks for putting it in writing. Ps, I’m doing a wine tasting show for the VERY FIRST time this Saturday! And I’m excited!

]]> By: Melinda Downey https://jewelrymakingjournal.com/how-to-sell-your-art-your-brand-and-yourself-at-shows/#comment-7494 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:57:04 +0000 http://jewelrymakingjournal.com/?p=9460#comment-7494 This I like…
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“Be creative, and do what you love … there will be a market for it. You just have to be patient until you learn where that market is. Don’t try to please everyone. You’ll never do it.”

“Create what comes into your mind and let it go at that. Forget the trends … forget what people tell you you should be making. Just do what comes naturally.”
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And I have never had a good experience trying to go the “custom jewelry” route. I always ended up doing something I really didn’t like – and sometimes making and remaking the piece three or four times. So, if you see something you like, buy it. If you don’t see anything you like, thanks for stopping by, and have a lovely day anyway. Maybe my jewelry wasn’t meant to go home with you, but its owner is out there. We just haven’t found her yet. 🙂

]]> By: Jody Lanham https://jewelrymakingjournal.com/how-to-sell-your-art-your-brand-and-yourself-at-shows/#comment-4865 Tue, 04 Sep 2012 18:09:45 +0000 http://jewelrymakingjournal.com/?p=9460#comment-4865 Hello Cat and everyone,
thank you for the article and all of the responses. For this all has been at just the right time, for I had a couple of shows I did recently that flopped, for the first time I did not make my booth fee. Like so many of you have shared, people would stop and say how beautiful and unique my jewelry is, pick it up, try it on perhaps, put it down. Even say they’d be back (yeah, right) and then I see them purchasing jewelry a few booths down!

I wonder what did I do, or not do? Was it my prices, was it the piece itself, was it too far out that they didn’t want to risk a personality revelation? I see so many people buying very simple silver and the add-on beads and non-unique very standard design stuff. And I wonder why would someone want to buy something that is just the same as what lots of other people have? My things are one-of-a-kind, no mass production, all unique.

And then I question myself and wonder (I wonder a lot!) if I should change my style, make lots of all-the-same items, do simple chain and pendant pieces, stuff that, indeed, almost anyone could do. Not that my stuff is so different no one else could do it but it does come from inside me and from so many other inspirations, that is what makes it unique the combined inputs that result in the output! I think, like many of you, I have not yet found my proper venue but I have been looking and trying lots of new shows, spreading out some and have been very disappointed of late. I do get discouraged and tend to take it personally, which I know doesn’t help any.

I really appreciate all the feedback, to know others of you out there go through the same thing. Good luck to all of you, keep doing what you love and never second-guess yourself!

Jody

]]> By: liz love https://jewelrymakingjournal.com/how-to-sell-your-art-your-brand-and-yourself-at-shows/#comment-3325 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 00:28:17 +0000 http://jewelrymakingjournal.com/?p=9460#comment-3325 Kat-I wholeheartedly agree-how thoughtful and generous of you to speak what just about all of us were feeling! We all need to encourage ourselves and others no matter what is going on. We have been given a special gift from God, all our creativity came from Him there is no competition. Thank-you for reminding us, I can only do me when I try to be like someone else, I become a cheap copy instead of remembering I (we) are Designer Originals!
Thanks so much, please keep writing!

]]> By: Carol https://jewelrymakingjournal.com/how-to-sell-your-art-your-brand-and-yourself-at-shows/#comment-2405 Sat, 21 Jul 2012 21:40:42 +0000 http://jewelrymakingjournal.com/?p=9460#comment-2405 Your peptalk came at just the right time! I was stalled in creating items for my fall shows – focusing on jewelry trends vs. what I do best. I’m back to me now – thanks!

]]> By: Vicky https://jewelrymakingjournal.com/how-to-sell-your-art-your-brand-and-yourself-at-shows/#comment-2328 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 09:49:18 +0000 http://jewelrymakingjournal.com/?p=9460#comment-2328 I love the suggestion that I might need a separate queue for cash payments. I had a little smile to myself as I thought about the events I do, and that I never have more than about 2 or 3 people at the stall at any one time!!!! Baby steps…..

]]> By: Kat https://jewelrymakingjournal.com/how-to-sell-your-art-your-brand-and-yourself-at-shows/#comment-2323 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 00:54:33 +0000 http://jewelrymakingjournal.com/?p=9460#comment-2323 This is SO inspiring… and I really needed a pep talk. Some days it’s hard to face that bench not knowing whether my creations will sell or flop.

]]> By: Antoinette https://jewelrymakingjournal.com/how-to-sell-your-art-your-brand-and-yourself-at-shows/#comment-1190 Tue, 12 Jun 2012 13:06:14 +0000 http://jewelrymakingjournal.com/?p=9460#comment-1190 Hi

Thank you so much for this article. I have been doing a few shows that really flopped and cost me alot of money. I have been kicking myself thinking do people hate my stuff and my prices?

I was told by a fellow crafter to participate in this one craft fair that $200 which I really didn’t have because I am still home with my son. And still just building my business. This person kept telling me that their will be 10,000 people there so I thought wow it would have to be good. So I used credit to get myself in the show. I sold $30 only I was so discouraged I thought if 10,000 people didn’t buy then no one will. They all stopped at my booth and said my jewelry was so lovely but when they looked at the prices they put them back.

I thought the economy is bad no one wants to spend money oh no. I have been making jewelry for a few years now but have only started marketing myself this year. And so far I haven’t had any luck at the shows. Everyone loves my stuff but tells me it’s to pricey.

I did well doing a home show but it’s hard getting people to come back to them or even have a show. Now when they come to my shows they socialize and party because they are glad they have time away from thier kids so instead of focusing on the jewelry they focus on talking and socializing. It’s tough but I love what I am doing and I really want to make a income from it. I want to work for myself.

I felt more positive after reading your article because I see I am not the only one struggling with it and having bad shows. I just haven’t found my venue. I hope I find it soon.

]]> By: Jane Blancher https://jewelrymakingjournal.com/how-to-sell-your-art-your-brand-and-yourself-at-shows/#comment-1018 Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:39:50 +0000 http://jewelrymakingjournal.com/?p=9460#comment-1018 I have worked all winter preparing for my new business venture, “Equine Design: jewelry designed with the RIDER in mind”. I’ve had two ‘shows’ (local flea market) and had lots of positive interest. Your news letter and commentaries really inspire me, and I just had to THANK YOU!

]]> By: Mary Ann https://jewelrymakingjournal.com/how-to-sell-your-art-your-brand-and-yourself-at-shows/#comment-650 Wed, 09 May 2012 16:33:27 +0000 http://jewelrymakingjournal.com/?p=9460#comment-650 Thank you for your timely thoughts. I’ve invested what I feel is a lot of money in quality components and tools, and spent a lot of time making a quality product, only to hear “I could buy that at Walmart” so many times that I’ve thought about giving up.

The small church/firehall shows seem to only draw customers looking for a flea market deal, and the bigger shows aren’t too thrilled about “newcomers”.

I’m searching for my market, but in the meantime I have to pay the bills or this becomes an expensive hobby. I’ve been told by a mentor that I don’t charge enough, so I don’t think price is the only factor here.

I’m so glad to read that other jewelry artist are going through the same thing, and there is light at the end of the tunnel. Please keep the suggestions and encouragement coming!

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