Popular Post Iguanadon Posted April 30, 2017 Popular Post Report Posted April 30, 2017 My first major event is now history and for me, it was one for the history books. A little background first... This was the 24th year for the Cary Spring Daze Arts and Crafts Festival. My first time as a vendor 170 vendors, food, music, kids activities, etc, etc Avg attendance 15,000 No rain in the forecast which was great. But... forecast high of 91 degrees which would tie the record high set back in 1914... and it was rather toasty. Not sure if it hit the record. I saw it hit 90 on the weather app on my phone, so close enough. Since it was my first time I couldn't tell if attendance was normal or low due to the heat The good news though is that previously my best 1 day event record was 46 pieces sold and yesterday I sold 96 pieces! Holy cow what a day. I had set a goal of 75 with a stretch goal of 100 for myself. During the 8 hours of the festival I sold 1 piece every 5 minutes when you do that math. I chuckled and told my wife that when we stopped for dinner on the way home when I calculated that in my head. It was a whirlwind day. I had my usual "Oh my gosh, those are so cute", "These are amazing", comments with no purchase and I had to replenish my business card holders twice during the day. Wait and see if I get any lingering sales. I'm not counting on it, I rarely do. Very much an impulse buy. A little more info, I now have 3 price point items: My signature lettered puzzles - $25 - Sold 69 Kid dinosaur puzzles painted - $15 - Sold 10 Kid dinosaur puzzles unpainted - $10 - Sold 17 I just started selling the dino puzzles unpainted and they're a big hit. While it brings my average sale price down, they're so simple to make I don't mind making them and having them on hand for folks that don't want to spend much money. Overall I'm obviously thrilled with how the day went. I must also add that the organizers of the event did an amazing job. They have it down to a science as far as scheduling and choreography of getting 170 vendors setup, in place, then tearing down and loading. Kudos to them. I now have to review my list of sold items and start cutting. I have another big event in 3 weeks, fortunately it's just 4 blocks down the road. Another potential 75 puzzle day if the weather cooperates. Pictures attached of my new "U" shaped setup that I used for the first time. Using two 6' tables and one 4' table. I was very pleased with the look. Let me know what you think. I was able to spread things out a bit more than usual and I liked it. Thanks for the continued support by all of my friends here at SSV. I seriously wouldn't be as successful as I am without you guys and gals. Iggy 125 CSL, jollyred, stevan and 8 others 11 Quote
Iguanadon Posted April 30, 2017 Author Report Posted April 30, 2017 I was just looking at the pictures I took and remembered trying to snap a couple from my perspective behind the tables as well as the setup in my area before the gates opened. Lucky2, Scrolling Steve, lawson56 and 2 others 5 Quote
Phantom Scroller Posted April 30, 2017 Report Posted April 30, 2017 Iggy sounds like a fun event and good sales what's not to like. love it. Roly Quote
meflick Posted April 30, 2017 Report Posted April 30, 2017 Wow Iggy - congratulations to you on a great day with awesome sales. I really like your U shaped setup for the tables under the T - it gives people the ability to come in and look on all sides so lets people really have an opportunity to "browse" your full selection. I love your work, it is amazing and no wonder it sold so well for you. While you may make a little less on the unpainted dino puzzles - just thank of the time it saves not having to paint them so a win both ways in my book! Look forward to hearing about your next event. 3 weeks time - 100 replenishment pieces to cut - not sure we will see you much here before then! Good luck. Iguanadon 1 Quote
NC Scroller Posted April 30, 2017 Report Posted April 30, 2017 Congrats....That is a day for the record books. Iguanadon 1 Quote
hawkeye10 Posted April 30, 2017 Report Posted April 30, 2017 Man what a day. I am so happy that you sold so much and I love all the pictures you took and posted. They are so much fun to look at. I have only one question. Have you turned in your notice at work? Iguanadon 1 Quote
Iguanadon Posted April 30, 2017 Author Report Posted April 30, 2017 Well, I just received an order thru my website for 2 Koala's... the result of the event yesterday. Someone asked if I did Koala's and I said yes, but I didn't have any with me and to look on my site for a picture. I hadn't sold one before so I gave the one I usually had on display to a friend. I guess I'll be making an extra one for display again. Quote
Iguanadon Posted April 30, 2017 Author Report Posted April 30, 2017 19 minutes ago, hawkeye10 said: Man what a day. I am so happy that you sold so much and I love all the pictures you took and posted. They are so much fun to look at. I have only one question. Have you turned in your notice at work? I really wish I could. LOL I crunch the numbers all the time and it just doesn't work out. And I've also thought about whether I'd continue enjoy cutting if I knew I had to do it in order to pay the mortgage. Probably not so much. I'll keep enjoying my "hobby". ;-) Scrolling Steve 1 Quote
orangeman Posted April 30, 2017 Report Posted April 30, 2017 Iggy, Excellent report! Spring shows can be good, eh? btw, where were you stationed? behind the middle table? bb Quote
Iguanadon Posted April 30, 2017 Author Report Posted April 30, 2017 8 minutes ago, orangeman said: Iggy, Excellent report! Spring shows can be good, eh? btw, where were you stationed? behind the middle table? bb Thank you sir. Yes, I was standing behind the tables with the displays. The table in the background under my big banner held my duplicates so that I could simply reach back and grab a handful of ELEPHANTS for example, show them to the customer and let them pick the one they like based on wood tones. Each one is a little bit different with the poplar. Quote
WayneMahler Posted April 30, 2017 Report Posted April 30, 2017 Iggy what an I say but WOW. Great show so happy for you.Great display and work. Loved the photos, surely you had a great time. Iguanadon 1 Quote
rjweb Posted April 30, 2017 Report Posted April 30, 2017 (edited) Great job, glad everything worked out, out of curiosity what percentage was purchased with a card compared to cash, good luck in your future event, thx RJ Edited April 30, 2017 by rjweb Quote
Iguanadon Posted April 30, 2017 Author Report Posted April 30, 2017 1 hour ago, rjweb said: Great job, glad everything worked out, out of curiosity what percentage was purchased with a card compared to cash, good luck in your future event, thx RJ Hi RJ, Thanks. Good question... $1350 via credit card, $650 paid in cash. And for the record, my Square worked flawlessly as always. rjweb 1 Quote
daveww1 Posted April 30, 2017 Report Posted April 30, 2017 Congratulations, booth looks great Iguanadon 1 Quote
lawson56 Posted April 30, 2017 Report Posted April 30, 2017 Iggy.Doggone Impressive!! WOW.I agree whats not to like.A BIG Congrats on a Fantastic weekend.Some very happy customers. Iguanadon 1 Quote
Rob Posted May 1, 2017 Report Posted May 1, 2017 Congrats on a fantastic result Iggy. Well deserved. Rob Iguanadon 1 Quote
JimErn Posted May 1, 2017 Report Posted May 1, 2017 Iggy, congrats on the great day and the very nice and efficient display space. I do have one suggestion though, change the table cloths to a soft color, pastel blue would go with the canopy and highlight the natural wood cuttings. Jim Iguanadon 1 Quote
Scrolling Steve Posted May 1, 2017 Report Posted May 1, 2017 Wow!.....You knocked it out of the park, Scott !....Congrats on a great show ! Iguanadon 1 Quote
edward Posted May 1, 2017 Report Posted May 1, 2017 Glad you had a nice show and very nice display, you must like puzzles LOL. edward Quote
tuner Posted May 1, 2017 Report Posted May 1, 2017 Great to hear you did so well. You had a nice display and well stocked. Someone's going to be working overtime to build his stock up Quote
jbrowning Posted May 1, 2017 Report Posted May 1, 2017 Wow, congrats Iggy, Sounds like you had one heck of a weekend. Hope your next show is even better than this one. I really like the dinosaurs. I will have to look at making some of them and take with me. Jim Quote
rdatelle Posted May 1, 2017 Report Posted May 1, 2017 Congrats Iggy. You did a great job. Your booth looks great to. I think I would make the center table a bit longer to so more room to look around and more to display. Quote
Iguanadon Posted May 1, 2017 Author Report Posted May 1, 2017 7 minutes ago, rdatelle said: Congrats Iggy. You did a great job. Your booth looks great to. I think I would make the center table a bit longer to so more room to look around and more to display. Thanks Ralph. The trick is staying within the designated 10' x 10' area... usually there is very little wiggle room as they have vendors right up against each other at the bigger events. The way I set up Saturday fit perfectly and I was pleased. I had hoped to "flare" out the side tables a little, but there wasn't room, which was fine. And I only have a narrow walking and sitting area behind the tables and the extra table set up behind the tent with my duplicates. Quote
Iguanadon Posted May 1, 2017 Author Report Posted May 1, 2017 32 minutes ago, jbrowning said: Wow, congrats Iggy, Sounds like you had one heck of a weekend. Hope your next show is even better than this one. I really like the dinosaurs. I will have to look at making some of them and take with me. Jim Thanks Jim. My next event is a bit smaller, so I'm trying to tone down my expectations. ;-) 50-75 pieces sold will be great. The kids dinosaurs are fantastic and they are what I started making when I first started scrolling, so they have a special place in my sawdust filled heart. Here is the pattern book they came from. Dozens to choose from. I make about 7 different ones and stick with them. Let me know if any questions. They're quick and easy to make from pine. I'm even considering selling them unpainted only and giving up the whole pain in the neck painting process... although I'm now paying my daughter to paint them. https://www.amazon.com/Making-Wooden-Dinosaur-Toys-Puzzles/dp/1565238907/ref=pd_sbs_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1565238907&pd_rd_r=DRN4W6NYMH64G6PSY4CX&pd_rd_w=c5tkE&pd_rd_wg=OzFBj&psc=1&refRID=DRN4W6NYMH64G6PSY4CX Quote
wombatie Posted May 2, 2017 Report Posted May 2, 2017 Wow Scott that is awesome. Nice weather and nice crowds who could ask for more. Good luck with the one in three weeks. Go get em! Marg Quote
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