The Emergency “Nearly No Cost” Booth Set Up
by Terrie Marcoe.
(New Paltz, NY and Joshua Tree, CA)
A friend of mine, also frustrated with our seemingly lack of online selling ability, said “We should do shows.” She had a short timeline for action – like, that weekend….
Shop Signage!
For me, this was absurd, since I was so close to broke I knew I’d have trouble financing even the fee for the space. But, her partner offered to make a few displays from scrap lumber, and how could I decline?
We did that show, and got a very warm reception, although my friend wasn’t able to do shows in the upcoming weeks, since she was headed off to hike the Appalachian Trail.
Closer view of the “Earring Step Display”
Buoyed by the sales I had made, I decided to go it alone. But, the displays we already had weren’t going to do it for me solo. The biggest problem was wind! My lightweight earrings had taken wing from the easel-style boards and I knew that if, on a day with the light breezes we had that they were swept away, I needed a fix.
Luckily!
The next day I found several 2 x 6 boards next to a dumpster, and the stain color was a very close match to the current pieces! I pieced the boards together(no glue or nails, just …pieced, and created a series of steps. I set each earring card into the slot made between each rise.
Incorporating Commercial Display Elements
These still would not withstand real wind, and of course earrings should be displayed in a vertical position, but was okay for the “small time” shows I was doing,
The good news is that the concept gave me an idea for “real” earring displays, which I will be designing to have made this summer. When I head to California for the winter of 2015/16, my friend and I are again intending to do shows, but ones more apt to bring in a better chance at making money. We need professional-looking displays to get past the jury selections.
Overal view of my “Nearly No Cost” display set up
Nonetheless, I though that the set up I am showing for this post were pretty darned okay, considering the biggest cost was fabric for table covers!
Terrie Marcoe
Talisman Too at Etsy
WhileAway Blog
