Closing Down Early?
Sunday July 2, 2006
Several years ago we were attending a street/craft festival in Mississippi. The customers were there for one thing and one thing only: food! We literally made one sale during the 2 day event and shut down a few hours early the last day. I felt that since people were not appreciating our work, then they should not get to see it. Looking back, we should probably have toughed it out and stayed the full time. If, for nothing else, to be considerate of other crafters next door. Who knows, that big sale may have come the last few minutes of the show. (Though I doubt it!)
Comments
We did what appeared to be a REALLY slow show last winter. It was a 3 day show. In the room we were in were only 8 vendors. One left the first night, 2 left the second day. We had paid and were there so we stayed - SUNDAY was a WONDERFUL day, We spread out, played music, had a good attitude and made $$$!
As proffessional Crafters when we obligate ourselves to a show it is like signiing a contract. We pledge to stay for the entire show… good or bad. Folks who paid to enter the show or who have made the effort to come there deserve to be give the benifit of the entire show … right down to the closeing bell
in the summer sun it gets really hot so many people left a festival but since i sell western items after the rodeo people come out i finally sold many of my merchandise thank gosh! so Just stick everything out and just pray that you will get all your money back. you just need to choose the crowd, pay attention if people pass out flyers. do it to since they might know something you dont know or go around telling everyone. the big ticket is advertise!
I have been during art and craft shows for over 20 years and never left a show early until this year. We were at an outdoor show and the wind was so strong that it took down two canopies. Of the three day show we were there two and chasing down our products (all fabric). There were maybe 20 people even came to the shows in the two days we were there. I never suggest people leave early but no one at the show even made the booth fee.
The only time we have ever left a show or closed early was due to extreme weather conditions. As a professional, you need to meet your commitments. Even a “bad” show can prove to be a learning experience, and give you the opportunity to network with other vendors.
I agree with all the comments about breaking down early. The one thing I have noticed when a vendor or vendors start breaking down early….it gives the impression the show is over and customers begin to leave. In 25 years I have managed to “stick” it out…good or bad till break down time.
Marilyn
We had a show like that this past season very slow and it was one girls first show, she left early very discouraged and another crafter said to me “Doesn’t she know leaving early hurts us all”, something to think about. I do shows to not only make money but to have fun meeting new people both customers and crafters alike.
I am new to this and am so discouraged. My last show was in May at the Iris Festival in Dresden, TN. I didn’t make my booth fee. I feel like giving up. I probably wouuld if I didn’t have all this stock. I paint on glassware and other things. I’ve got so much invested in a canopy, tables etc that I know I can’t quit. Darn it!!
Need so encouraging words, please.
We mostly do indoor shows and have never broken down early. We have found that, in almost every show, we will make sales in the last few minutes, often because we were the only vendor left open in our area of the show. Also, because we repeat at shows, usually in the same space #, prior customers often come “at the last minute” because they know we’ll be there and be open.
Although I have been crafting for more than 20 years, I just started selling. I have had two craft show, the first quite successful, the send not bad. My first craft show I was a newbie and though that since the day was winding down no one would come. To my surprise, many people can’t get away until later in the day and that’s when I made my best sales, close to the end of the day. Although my second craft I did not sell as I though I would the first, the same thing happened, many people were at the show, however, much of the sales were later in the shows end, because many crafters had packed up and left. Giving me all their potential sales. I recommend staying till the last customer leaves. You never know.
having been on both sides - As an organizer, its really aggravating to have people leave early. As a seller, I made many a good sale as I can be “slow” in packing up, thus getting those sales the other vendors left behind in their rush to leave. Some time people just cant be there at the starting bell to make all of their purchases and come late. They came to spend money and they can gladly do that at my booth. I will agree - you’ve made a commitment to do the show - so do it until the posted time - the organizer definately remembers who the better vendors are.
Have sold at craft shows for 15 years. I will not leave early unless it is related to very bad weather, or unless promoter gives permission for all crafters to breakdown early.
When crafters break down early it looks as though the show is over. Shoppers see boxes, trailers and vehicles being loaded and they leave. That affects the traffic and sales for those of us who do stay until the event is over.
Most (not all) of the time the promoter sends out an application which we complete and return with our payment. This application states the hours of the show, the show policies, contact info, etc. When I sign this and mail my check to the promoter, I am committing to this event - to all of the event - to the good, the bad, and the ugly. I have signed my name confirming that I will abide by these policies, dates, times.
I do just that. I owe it to the promoter, the shopper, my fellow crafter and myself to follow that committment through to the very end.
I have left early. One time the police came to the park and told us of very bad storm headed our way. They wanted us to leave or to go to the police department so we would not get hurt. Another time my daughter in law had a car accident and I had to go to the hospital to resuce my three grandchildren. I talked with promoter and got permission to leave. Fellow crafters helped me pack and load car. I was out of there in minutes. Ya gotta love your fellow crafter. They are always there for you, so I feel we should hang in there and support each other - right up until the bell rings.
Debbie
As the Director of an arts and crafts festival, I want to add these comments: When you sign my application, it states that you will follow the rules on the accompanying sheet. This is a contract. Anyone who breakes the contract is banned from ever returning to our show. And I won’t hesitate to tell other shows that this has happened with such-and-so exhibitor. If you are there for the first time, don’t forget that people will remember you next year and try to find you IF your product is what they want. Please, be a good, considerate exhibitor.
I have found that if it says festival or there are rides for kids and lots of food that’s what people spend their money on. If the whole family is there they spend their money on junk, food, and rides.
I have been involved as a crafter & show organizer for over 25 yrs.
The reasons to pack up early are few and far betwee (weather, illness, emregency). It is very unprofessional.
From an organizer’s point you have signed and agrrment (contract) to abide by the show rules. If we have a problem with someone they don’t came back.
I very rarely break down early at any show. Sometimes the best sales come as we are packing up. We have two products and always pack the lighter objects first. I tell people that I will be there for the entire show. Customers seem surprised at that.
There is plenty to do to get ready to leave without taking product out of your booth. My inventory is finished by the close of the show. Just a little modification is needed to keep it accurate.
It hurts everyone when a few vendors leave early
I have often wanted to break down early because of a slow show, but stuck it out. Sometimes it pays off, and sometimes it doesn’t. If it does, great. If it doesn’t, you should try to have a good attitude for all the browsing customers, but maybe you should think about not coming back the next year.
If it’s a slow show, try to figure out what’s going on — is the economy bad? What are people buying, is it just the low-end stuff or are just a few people spending a lot of money on one luxury type of item? Or is it just too hot or too cold? What else is going on that weekend?
Ask other vendors (discreetly!) if they have done that show before. If so, ask how they are doing in relation to previous years. At some shows, I will do really well, an improvement in my sales over the year before, while other vendors are doing worse than previous years. If I notice that the big ticket things are selling well, I will work on selling more of them. If it’s the $1-5 things that are selling, I’ll get those out in front.
A slow show can be improved somewhat by juggling your items so that the “right price” things are in front. For me, the past several shows would have been complete losses if I had not had my 10 for $1 incense and $1 “dragon eye” pendants (flat marbles done up into pendants via stained glass techniques). This year in particular I have done $300-800 of sales in just those things at shows, while the higher priced things just sat there collecting dust.
If a show is poorly attended, try to get into the show that’s attracting more people next year.