Yesterday, I showed my soaps for the first time at a local craft fair. Unfortunately the shopper turn-out was quite disappointing. You really can never tell how something like this is going to go, but I learned a few things anyway. I think it’s important to ask certain questions before deciding to participate as a vendor.

For example:

Is this the first year for this event?

Have you organized other craft fairs?

How many vendors will be there and what are they selling?

What is the expected attendance for this fair?

What kind of advertizing will be done?

Jon said he searched for info online about this fair and it wasn’t even advertised on craigslist! I’m sure there are other things I could do to research fairs. Something I thought of was to contact previous vendors and find out how the event was attended last year.

Jon and I stayed up nearly all night Friday setting up and printing the product labels, labeling everything and making signage. I finally crashed out at 4:30 am and Jon was up till 5:30. We had to be up again by 7:30 to go get set up for the fair. You know something? I really have the most wonderful, loving and supportive husband. He came along with me  yesterday, helped me set up, kept me company, went to get me lunch, helped me take down and pack up and then got me home safely so we could crash again. We went to sleep at 6:00 pm last night!

There were only about 15 vendors there. It was very low-key, with the tables widely spaced in a very large hall. The thermostat controls were locked up in the morning, so they weren’t able to get the heat turned on until the afternoon. Luckily I’d worn a hoody jacket, but it wasn’t enough to keep me warm. All afternoon I kept dreaming about getting home and into our heated waterbed. The lady who ran the event was apologetic, but what can you do? We probably sold enough to cover our table fee and lunch, but that was it. Many customers were  interested in my solid shampoo and conditioner cakes and  solid lotion bars, and I sold quite a few.  Some customers mentioned how they would be great for travel, so I would like to try to find some reusable storage containers for the shampoo and conditioner cakes. Maybe something like the lotion bar tins, or maybe something plastic and water-tight.

I met someone who might be interested in doing a fundraiser with my Scrabble tile pendant charms, that would be fun to do if it works out.

Here’s a few more photos of some of my products on display. These wooden display shelves were made by the husband of a soapmaker who sold me a bunch of her supplies when she sold her business. I think this shows off my soaps really well.

These are the shampoo and conditioner cakes. I think these are my favourite product. Made from shampoo and condtioner ingredients (they aren’t soap!) but without all that water and extra packaging. Great for camping or travelling. No water, so you can take them in your carry-on luggage for flying.

I got an email, then a call from a customer who had seen my bags at a craft fair recently. She picked up my card and ended up making a big order!
(Including a big beach tote like this one)

I just re-ordered my business cards today:-)
They really are great to have. When I’m out and someone asks about my wallet or my coin purse, I always have one of my business cards to give them. It’s fun to see the hits to the website and where they come from. Really gives you the feeling that your cards are working!

Today will be spent going to my fave thrift shop that sells the $1 blue jeans to get more denim to make bags, then dropping off the above-mentioned customer’s order. Then I’ve got to spend lots of time sewing. It’s so hard to know how the craft shows will go in terms of traffic or sales, but I guess if I make lots of things and bring them home again I’ll have lots of things to list in my Etsy Shop. I’m not listing any new items this week. No time! Next week– listing frenzy:-) depending how things sell at the show this weekend.

I picked up my business cards at the shipper today across the border in Point Roberts. Why doesn’t overnightprints ship to Canada? So annoying! After paying the “user fee” at the border, the shipper’s fee and the gas I used to get there, I would have probably done better just ordering them from the local Staples store after all.
Anyway, they are perfect and I love how they turned out. Thick card and very shiny on the front. Now I have an easy way to tell people about Juicybags when they ask about my bag or wallet.
I’m already planning for a discount I can stamp on the back for my craft fair customers. Perhaps 20% off their first purchase from my Etsy store….hmmm, will have to discuss with all the other Etsians about how best to do that.

Off for my pre-nightshift nap now.

Jon helped me make this graphic for my business cards. The background is part of a picture I took last year of my stargazer lillies in the front garden. It just needs some more small tweaks- I’m not thrilled with the font for the information text. The ‘juicybags’ font is fun, but it doesn’t work for the rest of the card- not easily readable. I need to find something prettier and not so bold. I also need to move the text a little closer in towards the middle to make sure nothing gets cut off. I was planning on printing them at home, but our inkjet had other ideas. I printed one page and they came out with bands of alternating light and dark colours across them. So much for that. Jon tried a few fixes, but no luck.
So, as soon as I can figure out how to do the tweaks it needs, I’ll be ordering a batch of these from overnightprints.com instead.

I’m recovering from my 2 night shifts today, so didn’t get much done. The garbage and recycling has been taken out for pick up, I went out to get dog food, we ate leftovers for dinner and I’ve made a clutch wallet and one coin purse. Not a totally wasted day anyway!
Jon is out at a class tonight and he’s got a mid-term. He’s been working so hard on these courses. I hope it goes well.

Later: Well, it’s all tweaked and sent for printing now. Jon is a genius…I love the new version!