| About the only thing I enjoy more than | | | | a few dollars on the fly, based on the type |
| creating my bead jewelry at home is selling | | | | of audience, the size of the crowd and |
| my bead jewelry at local craft shows and | | | | whether or not I really want to sell the |
| fairs! I've attended hundreds of craft shows | | | | piece. And, yes, my prices sometimes change |
| and partipated in fair number myself. I am | | | | throughout the day. Some people come to |
| always dismayed, however, to see beautiful | | | | craft shows expecting to haggle, so it's |
| jewelry and pieces that don't sell at shows | | | | sometimes wise to quote a price a few dollars |
| simply because the artisan forgot some very | | | | more than you might normally ask so you have |
| basic rules of working at craft shows.Here | | | | some bargaining room. Though you may be |
| are some of the helpful pieces of advice and | | | | uncomfortable with this at first, I find it |
| tips I can offer to the beginner bead jewelry | | | | to be very helpful. I can't tell how you |
| artist and anyone else who is just starting | | | | many pieces I've sold only after talking with |
| out selling to craft shows:1. Know Your | | | | the customer and chatting about the price. |
| Audience: Try to get a sense of what sort of | | | | One of my favorite methods is to sell a pair |
| crowd you are going to encounter at your | | | | of earrings with a beaded bracelet for only a |
| upcoming craft show and cater your inventory | | | | few dollars more. The customer likes getting |
| to that crowd. While visiting the show each | | | | a "bundled" deal and I like selling two |
| year is the best way to learn this, there are | | | | pieces and making a little extra profit.4. |
| other methods you can use. Is the town where | | | | Accept Checks and Credit Cards: Cash is |
| the craft show being held largely upper class | | | | obviously preferred, but checks are easy to |
| or middle class? You might want to adjust | | | | accept. In all my years of going to craft |
| your pricing accordingly. Are the customers | | | | shows I've never been cheated by someone |
| going to be children or older people? If the | | | | bouncing checks. Many people bring cash to |
| craft show is near or in a school I almost | | | | craft shows, but sometimes there are just so |
| always bring along a few "Kid Displays" where | | | | many great things that by the time the person |
| I place all my small plastic bead jewelry. | | | | gets to your booth she might not have |
| I've had more than one child drag her parents | | | | anything left! Credit Cards are a little |
| over to my table to see the pieces I put out | | | | trickier. If you're going to verify the |
| especially for them. If you're going to be | | | | credit card then you'll need an electric |
| showing in or around a nursing home you might | | | | source and a telephone connection of some |
| want to consider changing your inventory. | | | | sort. A lot of people, myself included, will |
| Older customers love beaded eyeglass chains, | | | | often just use a manual credit card swiper |
| bracelets with large, easy clasps and | | | | with carbon paper. No electricity is needed, |
| "smoother" beads that aren't sharp on when | | | | you just enter the numbers into your computer |
| laying against bare skin.2. Use Business | | | | or electronic machine when you get home. To |
| Cards: Every time I sell a piece of jewelry | | | | accept credit cards you'll probably need a |
| at a craft show I package it in a neat little | | | | merchants account and I've found that most |
| bag with my business card inside. I do this | | | | local banks can help you out or point you in |
| because even though I already sold a piece of | | | | the right direction. It really isn't very |
| jewelry, I often have people contacting me | | | | expensive to do. I set up my first account |
| weeks, months and even years later to see if | | | | and bought my manual swiper and carbons for |
| they can order the same or similar pieces for | | | | less than $50.Selling your bead jewelry at |
| friends and relatives. I also list my | | | | craft shows is an amazingly fulfilling |
| website on the cards to people can browse and | | | | experience and a great ego booster, not to |
| by my items in the comfort of their own | | | | mention a fun way to make some extra money. |
| home!3. Be Flexible with Pricing: This also | | | | Following these basic tips will help you sell |
| goes back to knowing your audience. I | | | | more jewelry and have fun at the same |
| generally do not put price tags on any of my | | | | time!Laura Kay runs a Bead Jewelry Resources |
| pieces. This way people need to ask about | | | | Blog that highlights bead jewelry resources, |
| pricing and I can adjust my price up and down | | | | supplies, artisans, design ideas and more! |