In the fall, I’ll normally do a few craft shows in my local area to try out small products. I pretty much know in advance that I will not sell any large items, like boat portraits, and I don’t even try. But every year I work on three or four simple items that might hit on the crafts show circuit. The shows are not expensive, and they are not too far away from home. I don’t bring a lot of big items like chests, eagles, and such, so my pack-in and pack-out are fairly limited.
This year I’ll be selling some hair sticks, bookmarks, and a line of laser-engraved signs with ( what I hope will be) witty sayings inscribed. None of these will be high-priced. I hope that some of the items will be popular enough that I might be able to take them to bigger shows and make some sales.
I’ve been selecting the sayings for a while, and over the next few weeks, I’ll work on typography and design. I’ll make four to seven of each design, so there will be a good selection. I’ll be glad to custom laser what a customer orders. Yes, I am a custom carver, but most of the more expensive items I carve will only garner praise at these shows, not commissions. One or two larger works will be along just in case, but I pretty much know that they are way above the “sweet spot” in terms of sales costs for these types of shows.
It was fun to pick out sign sayings. Some are a bit risqué. More appropriate for a boat show are some of my favorites. Let’s just say that the sailorly activities they talk about are not squared away, and ship shape for the type of shows I’ll be doing.
Some of the ones I picked out are a bit whacky, and some are sarcastic. The one I took a liking to was one that read: The chains on my mental mood swing just snapped. Run Away!!! This one will probably have a little length of broken chain on the bottom. I can picture it on the door of an office or on a desk.
Doing this type of product development is like being a farmer; some crops thrive, and others do not. I wish I had a dime for everything I thought was a dynamite product that dive bombed, and on the other hand, ones that I was surprised did well.
Come on…you know you want the one about the broken chains!
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