Handmade Triad

May Market Photos

Handmade Triad — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:39:41 +0000

In case you missed the awesomeness, here are some photos from the May market. Please join us June 1st for the next First Friday Indie Market!

May Indie Market

Handmade Triad — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:08:52 +0000

April showers bring May flowers…

Help kick-off May to a great start at the First Friday Indie Market, this Friday, May 4th. Meet us at S. Elm and MLK from 4pm – 9pm! Hope to see you there!

The Nuts N’ Bolts of Craft Fairs

Handmade Triad — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:00:06 +0000

Every show can be such a learning curve on preparation. Can we all agree that every fair is different in some way? Different crowds, various layouts, new neighbors, unforeseen weather… It’s always something new!

Whatever the change may be, the necessities are always needed! I took some time to construct a list of bare essentials hoping to enlighten new crafters, curious cats, or even the veterans preparing for another craft season ahead.

The Vendor’s “Nuts and Bolts”:

·   Tent
·   Weights
·   Table
·   Chair
·   Petty Cash
·   Packaging
·   Business Cards
·   A Sign

NOTE: This list can vary and become more specific to those who are deeply rooted in the business.

Tents
Take Cover…

This is a big investment; one that will serve as the gathering place for your customers. For the first time buyer, I recommend looking for a canopy tent on Amazon, Ebay, Academy, etc.

Keep in mind, just as the tent is important for cover – so are the walls. Don’t buy a tent that can’t attach walls. You WILL need them!

Lastly, for those looking to break into heavy traveling and full-size craft fairs, see if any shows on your list require a fire retardant tent. Not many shows require this; but if they do, I would hate for you to miss out because you have the wrong type of tent.

Weights
Girls can pump iron too…

Often not thought of, you WILL need weights to hold down the fort. Each leg needs to be weighted down with 20+ pounds. Popular online, the EZ-UP and King Canopy have fair ratings. But, if you’re looking to save cash, here are some nifty ideas from fellow crafters: cinder blocks, gallon milk jugs full of water or even cement, sandbags, gravel, barbells, 5 gallon buckets, cat litter… the list goes on!

Whatever option you consider – get weights!

A Chair
Your throneI believe it obvious why you would want a chair. So perhaps some rules on what NOT to do:·      Do not leave your chair at home
·      Do not throw the chair at customers when enraged
·      Do not share your chair with 3 or more people
·      Do not pose, jump, stand, or sing loudly on the chair to attract clients

Table
For All to See

Think of the table as your creative space. It’s your attempt to draw people into your tent. Be unique, be different, clean, rustic, hodge-podge, whimsical, etc. Know your style and go with it. Most importantly, let your station reflect you and what you sell!

Oh, right – I’m blogging about “The Esstentials”. You can buy a table at Home Depot, Amazon, Ebay, Craigslist… Ask around, maybe you have a friend who owns one!

Petty Cash
Cash or Credit?It’s said, “In order to make money, you have to have it.” Petty Cash. It can be a hassle to carry the “old fashioned” dollar bills around, especially with the online world booming at our fingertips. However, even if you accept credit you still need cash. So, here are a couple of tips:· Take out anywhere from $50-$70
Keep in mind how expensive your items are. If you sell higher priced items, have bigger bills and vice versa)

· Focus on $5’s and $1’s
You will never regret having too many ones. Lower bills make it easier to give change back to clients!

Having a credit machine is not a must-have; however, accepting credit is a key form of payment. It’s preferred by many and usually wins the buy when the shopper doesn’t have cash! This could be a huge selling point to your business.

Packaging
Make it feel like a gift, not a purchasePutting a newly bought item into a bag is crucial! One, the shopper may not have their own bag to carry items and two; it’s a great way to complete the sell. Once an item is placed in a bag and handed over, it sends a silent yet satisfying gesture to the customer – it’s yours, enjoy!You can find packaging/gift bags in just about every store. Big, small, tissue paper, no paper, ribbon, brown paper sack, plastic cellophane… it’s everywhere – it’s just a matter of providing it.

Business Cards and A Sign
A name goes a long wayBoth of these items are more than imperative! Here are a few suggestions on where to start…Business cards – the two most popular places that come to mind are Vista Print and Moo.com! Vista Print is fast, easy and cheap; while, moo.com is a little fancier but just as easy to make. Also, never rule out your local print and copy stores. Typically, those are the places you find the most help with affordable pricing!

Signs… Anyone else want to sing, I saw the sign, it opened up my eyes, I saw the sign…? A sign, poster, symbol or even icon can be just as important as business cards at a craft fair. Already luring people to your tent, the goal is that the sign becomes fixed in the customer’s memory.

This can be a pricey expense if you don’t explore your options. On the contrary, if you’re looking for low-cost, my advice would be using your creativity! Try to stand-out! Look around for ideas on Pinterest or maybe find something you like on Etsy. One lady in Handmade Triad shared that she took white muslin cloth and painted on her name! It can be THAT easy and more importantly that inexpensive!

Well, that concludes the nut and bolts of craft fairs! I hope this blog, has found its way to the screens of new crafters. I trust that the content has been helpful for those looking to start their own journey! And, for any veterans reading about this fearless trade they once started, please, feel free to leave a comment or any helpful advice. I know there is so much to add to this blog and we would love to hear it!

First Friday Indie Market

Handmade Triad — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:14:44 +0000

As of last week, the First Friday Indie Market is now in full swing! We were delighted to see old and new faces among the crowd as we kicked off the first Indie Market of the year! Here are some pictures from the big event:

Click to view slideshow.

Come join us next month, May 4^th, at the corner of South Elm and MLK!

First Friday Indie Market: It’s a Community

Handmade Triad — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:00:27 +0000

Caring more than others think wise…

Lets be honest… What’s First Friday Indie Market really about!? A profitable sale? A great deal?

No. It’s about community!

First Friday is a community of friends who reunite once a month to share in the “local experience.” The love and appreciation that both vendors and customers have for one another stands out. A community of people who care is what makes this experience so remarkable.

It reminds me of a book by Howard Schultz called, Pour Your Heart Into It, How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time. (If you like business books, this is a great read!) The brilliant Schultz, President and CEO of Starbucks, said, “Care more than others think wise.”

This is it. This. is. First Friday Indie Market.

These local vendors care more than is sometimes wise for their own businesses. It’s also these vendors and their customers who desire to see the community grow and flourish - even if it means being unwise or risky. As a vendor myself, I may sometimes take a risk and price my product at a price that is slightly below it’s value. However, I have also seen customers spend a few extra dollars on products because the customer values not only the product, but also the experience of doing business with small, local vendors. At First Friday Indie Market, both the vendors and customers care! This care, and perhaps compromise, is what sets this event apart. It’s all about the idea and intent to support the local community.

Without this care and “risky” business, you don’t have this extraordinary local community. It’s considerate people, both vendor and customer, who make First Friday Indie Market so exceptional. It’s a gathering you don’t want to pass up!!!

So, if you’re looking to get out on your Friday evening – Come – Come join the crowd as we unite this month! Join us in caring more than others think wise and be a part of our risky business!

First Friday Indie Market – April 6th

Handmade Triad — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 23:11:43 +0000

The weather is finally looking bright and Handmade Triad would love to invite you to the “First” First Friday Indie Market of 2012!

When: Friday, April 6th
Time: 4PM to 9PM
Where: Downtown, Corner of South Elm and MLK

Hope to see you there!!!

New Website

Handmade Triad — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:56:39 +0000

Please pardon our dust as we work on re-doing our website. I likely won’t have much time until the weekend to get to it, but hopefully soon it’ll be bigger and better than before!

Social Networking List

Handmade Triad — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 23:42:00 +0000

“Every individual directory that you submit to is another chance to get found online so it’s important to make sure you’re listed in every directory possible.”

Here’s a blog post that completed a list of the top 50 social networking opportunities, along with lists, pages, etc. all of which can help get your name out there and really increase your inbound linkage (people finding your site).

While it’s not quick, or really easy to complete all of them, it is free–mainly. So, take advantage as you can! & thank you Hubspot, for sharing this information!

Check it out here.

info shared by lacey‘s husband of Eyes & Ears, Sound & Security, Inc.

March Treasury Contest Winner ‘Pattern Recognition’

Handmade Triad — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:03:00 +0000

Thank you PopRocket for this fantastic treasury! View the treasury here & click around!

Congratulations on winning the February Contest. Thanks for entering.

Want your chance to win front page on the blog & get extra promotion? Enter our March contest–no theme required. Make sure to tag your treasury with ‘HandmadeTriadApril’ & comment on our Facebook Fan Page with a link!

One Minute with Lisa Snedeker

Handmade Triad — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 06:30:00 +0000

Our Handmade Triad group is proud to welcome social media consultant, Lisa Snedeker to our April meeting where she will take us through a social media bootcamp. Currently serving as Director of communications, public relations & social media at Wake Forest School of Law, Lisa is fascinated by the growth of social media applications like Facebook and Twitter.

A teacher of journalism and even French, Lisa now helps businesses take advantage of the power of social media. “One of the biggest misconceptions people have about social media is that it’s a fad” Snedeker says.

ONE Minute with Lisa…

ONE time when I was little my parents left me with their friends in Japan for two weeks and I didn’t want to go home when they got back.

ONE day I hope to return to China.

ONE movie I would never tire of watching –’Field of Dreams’ and ‘Out of Africa’.

If I had to create with ONE color for the rest of my life, I would pick sage green

ONE of my best strategies for fueling my creativity is running.

If I could add ONE hour to my day, I would read.

ONE thing I hope to gain from teaching this course is new insights.

ONE thing you really need to know about me is I like good conversation.

ONE thing I know for sure is that prayer works

Find Lisa on Twitter: lisa_snedeker

Photo credit: divadea