I've been accepted!

[Iguanadon]

Great news!  I’M IN!  … Oh crap… I’m in…   Today was notification day for a huge event coming up August 26 and 27 in Cary, NC.  It’s called Lazy Daze and has been going on for four decades (50,000 attendees each year).  They turned it into a 2 day event last year.  350 vendors will be there.  I did their smaller version of the event (170 vendors) called Spring Daze last month (15,000 attendees), 1 day, and I sold 96 puzzles in 8 hours.  It was insane and I’m trying to wrap my head around what to expect in August.  Other than the fact it always seems to be the hottest weekend of the summer.

I’d appreciate thoughts and feedback on the following… I now display 120 unique various animals and dog breeds at every event.  I enjoy having a little bit of everything on display and yet I get the most unusual requests sometimes like this past Saturday “Do you have an otter?  How about a platypus?”  Really?  LOL  No, sorry, not with me, but I can make them for you, is my response.

Anyway, I have 120 on display and in addition, I have over 200 duplicates of the most popular 25 items with me.  Anywhere from 3 to 12 of various ones.  3 Yellow Labs versus 12 Elephants for example.  But for this major event coming up, that won’t be enough to help guarantee I have what folks will want.  If I sold 96 at the smaller 1 day event (I had 7 Rescue dog puzzles with me and sold them all), I could easily sell 200 at the big show.  My “fear” is that in the first hour of the first day someone comes up asking for and buying a Dalmation for example.  I usually don’t have duplicates of Dalmations, or many of the dog breedsSo, let’s say I sell my one Dalmation in the first hour and then have 2 or 3 people come asking for one over the course of the remaining two days… Missed opportunities.  I always offer to take an order and ship it, but my puzzles are truly impulse buy purchases and if folks can’t walk away with it in their hand they don’t really want to order it.  I make them take one of my cards anyway hoping they’ll decide to order online.

So, should I make 2 or 3 of EVERY SINGLE item that I make?  In addition to the 200 duplicates I already keep on hand?  I’d end up with about 400 duplicates, a total of over 500 puzzles on hand.  That seems a bit insane to me.    But I am insane... Oh and let's see, I have numerous events between now and the end of August, so I also have to be able to make whatever I decide to stock and carry while maintaining inventory for all of the events I'll be attending the next 3 months.

Yes, I know I can’t possibly know and have exactly everything I’ll be asked for, but I want to be as prepared as possible.

Here’s a nice article about the event as well as a link to a video news story prior to last years.
 

http://carycitizen.com/2017/02/03/lazy-daze-permanently-extended-to-two-days/

http://www.wral.com/lazy-daze-festival-expands-to-two-days/15951331/

What am I doing typing when I need to be cutting!  

[trackman]

Just my 2 cents worth. I would make as many copies as I could. This isn't going to be your last show, you will sale the copies sometime before you hang up your saw.  Good luck & if you need help spending the money I am your man LOL 

[WayneMahler]

Iggy

Really good and exciting news for you.  I would make a lot of extras and have them in boxes waiting. More of what sells the best for you of course. Congrats on getting accepted. 

[JOE_M]

Make 2-3 copies of everything. It's a puzzle, not cottage cheese - if it doesn't sell at one event you can stick it in a box for the next one, it won't go rotten and stink up the workshop.

[Rob]

Congratulations Iggy.  I would concentrate on the top sellers.  Then if you have time, maybe make some duplicates of everything else but remember you will have to store them and transport them all.  You might end up carting around the less popular breeds for some time.  If someone desperately wants a lesser spotted thingamy then they can always request a custom order.

Rob

[Fab4]

Iggy:

Always have good quality pictures of the things you don't have many of

This way if they ask for a Dalmation or anything else and you don't have any

show them what they would get if they order it

As mention above, cut cut cut and cut, it's not going to rot away and sooner or later

you will be ahead of the game - To try to do it all at once you will burn yourself out

and take the fun right out of what you so enjoy now

Good Luck - 

Fab4

 

[Scrappile]

Congrats!  I hope it is a great success.

 

[hawkeye10]

Iggy you live in a prime spot and it's great. Take advantage of it while you can.  

[Iguanadon]

Having given this some thought for the past hour and discussing with Mrs. Ig over dinner at the local Mexican restaurant, I've decided I'll be sure to have 1 duplicate for everything I have on display, plus, based on what I know my popular items are, and what I sold at the similar event last month I'll have lots of multiples for the popular items.  I just printed off 91 patterns that will be in addition to the 200 extras I currently have on hand.

Over the next 12 weeks I will re-make whatever I sell at each event, plus squeeze in these extra 91 duplicates. It's very do-able as I average selling 25 each week at the farmers market.

Let's see... that means 120 on display + 300 duplicates + 100 kids dinosaurs = 520.  Goal is to sell half during those 2 days LOL ... I better look into renting a Uhaul... 

Oh, and I wondered something while discussing at dinner.  The smaller event last month, I sold 96 in 1 day with an attendance of 15,000.  This upcoming mega event is 2 days with 50,000 attendees.  Will I sell double the number since it's 2 days or will I sell triple the number since the number of attendees is triple?  Curious minds want to know...

Or, will it rain the entire weekend and I don't even get a chance to set-up and lose my $245 booth fee.  

[tonylumps]

Iggy I sell a lot of pens.And i ask if they would like a custom pen stand .An initial ,A name or military theme I show them a picture or email one Most of the time i end up shipping one out.So i don't think it is an impulse.They see your puzzles and love there pets.I just made an English Bulldog and a Boxer puzzle by word of mouth site unseen I would be prepared to take some orders if i were you.

[Scrolling Steve]

Congrats and good luck , Scott !

[Lucky2]

Iggy, this is becoming a job, it's definately not hobby work. I used to sell on a weekly basis at a farmers market, sales were pretty good and steady. It was a pain though, I didn't enjoy my time at the saw much. I decided that I didn't want to ruin a hobby that I love, so I quit selling there. Sure, it was nice to get a couple of hundred every week to cover expenses and any new tools, but, it wasn't worth ruining the hobby. I'm very happy for you that you've found a successful selling product, I'm wondering how long it will be before you burn out though. I hope it will be a very successful sale for you, I'd hate for you to be stuck with a bunch of pieces you can't or don't sell. 

Len

[Jim Finn]

WOW!  Sounds like you will be busy.  I do about 20 sales a season but none as large as the ones you are anticipating.  I have been doing this for over 9 years now and I keep records of what I sell and have a printout in my shop so at least I know what sold best in the past.  Two of everything is a good idea and more of more popular items .  Every year I add new items and drop slow sellers.  I have almost two hundred patterns but drop many of them each year so I only use about 70 of them now.  In my experience the second day of a two day show produces about 25% in sales as compared to day one.  Sales volume is all about how many people attend and see your stuff.  I have found that many folks that ask for something I do not have, will often just choose something else to buy.  Good luck at your sale.

[Ron Johnson]

Quote

Congrats Iggy on being accepted into the big show. All the best.

 

[jbrowning]

Congrats Iggy. But I'm thinking you might want to look into buying yet another back up saw, just in case.

 

Jim

[wombatie]

Scott you are going to have a nervous breakdown before you get to the event, the way you are going.  Just remember you are NOT going to have what everyone wants.   By the way Congratulations.

 

Marg

[lawson56]

A Great Big Congrats!!.I have done several Big shows,over the years,I have learned the hard way.My Most Popular items.make several off.This wknd' Memorial Day I will be setting up. 2day event.so I have been doubling even tripling up on some of my more Popular items.The Best of Luck to ya.

[Iguanadon]

8 hours ago, Lucky2 said:

Iggy, this is becoming a job, it's definately not hobby work. I used to sell on a weekly basis at a farmers market, sales were pretty good and steady. It was a pain though, I didn't enjoy my time at the saw much. I decided that I didn't want to ruin a hobby that I love, so I quit selling there. Sure, it was nice to get a couple of hundred every week to cover expenses and any new tools, but, it wasn't worth ruining the hobby. I'm very happy for you that you've found a successful selling product, I'm wondering how long it will be before you burn out though. I hope it will be a very successful sale for you, I'd hate for you to be stuck with a bunch of pieces you can't or don't sell. 

Len

Hey Len, it's definitely keeping me hopping.  However, I spend only about 2 hours a day at the saw, spread throughout the day.  I work full time, from home and I go into the garage in between conference calls or emails, cut an animal or two, go back in, do some work, sneak back out again... My mission is to cut 5 puzzles a day.  That's it.  If I have the time and feel like it, I'll cut a few extras.  I don't cut in the evenings as that's my time with Mrs. Ig relaxing and watching TV.  If I have the time on the weekends I'll put more time on the saw.  But it's never a burden, I never dread having to go out and cut.  I don't want it to get to that point.  

For the next 4 months I have the luxury of doing the farmers market 4 blocks down the street on Saturdays.  I am allowed to show up whenever I want, or not.  I just have to let the organizer know by Tuesday or Wednesday.  If Mrs. Ig and I have stuff going on or friends visiting, I skip a week.  Or if rain is in the forecast I won't bother.

I won't let it wear me down.  And I enjoy the extra cash.  We use it for projects on the house.  Last years earnings paid for 2 small decks to be built.  We just bought the empty lot next to our house, so this years money is already spent.  LOL

I appreciate the warning about burn out.

[JimErn]

Iggy, I am jealous.  I wish my area had as many venues for a sales opportunity as yours does.

Have you considered stack cutting two at a time, if nothing else at least to get the overall outline of each cut out of the stock board?  Slower going perhaps, but the long run it may win out.

I would make two at a minimum of each.

I hope you have some help for the show, congrats and good luck

[CharleyL]

If you are selling that much, it sounds to me like it's time to raise your prices 10 %. You will sell a few less, but make much more. If the sales don't drop, then increase the prices another 10%. Soon you will achieve the best price / sales point where increasing the prices any further will cause too much loss of sales and you will have learned the best price / sales point. There are high paid professionals in large companies who study the markets and set prices this way, but they usually start a bit high and then carefully lower the prices to find this point.  If you are charging too little, you are loosing money.

Charley  

[Iguanadon]

Keep the feedback, thoughts and ideas coming.  I appreciate it.  Who knows what I'll end up with on hand 12 weeks from now.

As the great philosopher Mike Tyson once said... "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."

I have great plans, now we'll see what actually happens.

As far as stack cutting... can't really do it.  3/4" poplar, using a #3 blade.  I'd end up flexing the blade and causing issues.

As to pricing... I feel good about my price point of $25.  I get equal comments of "Oh wow, that's cheap." as well as "Oh, $25, well I'll think about it and come back."  At an event 2 weeks ago I ended up selling several at a discounted price of $20 because $25 was a bit out of reach for the crowd.  I'll see how sales go in my 2nd year and decide on any price increases down the road.  As I tell my customers "Yes, they're only $25, I sell them cheap so I can make more of them, I truly enjoy my hobby."

[meflick]

Iggy - sounds like you have found what works for you as far as time to do it, pleasure from it, and price point that makes you and most customers happy.  Sounds like a win for sure.  Wow - though - lots of work to get ready for this show.  I think you have gotten great advice from much more season pros then me so I will just say good luck.  One thing I had thought was those "off" requests or ones you don't want to "carry" with you - create a notebook of those kind and keep photos of them as you cut them and have it to "show" off when people come up and say - "what about".  It at least gives you a "visual" for them to "see" and maybe more likely to get them to order one perhaps.

[Iguanadon]

Just now, meflick said:

Iggy - sounds like you have found what works for you as far as time to do it, pleasure from it, and price point that makes you and most customers happy.  Sounds like a win for sure.  Wow - though - lots of work to get ready for this show.  I think you have gotten great advice from much more season pros then me so I will just say good luck.  One thing I had thought was those "off" requests or ones you don't want to "carry" with you - create a notebook of those kind and keep photos of them as you cut them and have it to "show" off when people come up and say - "what about".  It at least gives you a "visual" for them to "see" and maybe more likely to get them to order one perhaps.

Ah, thanks for the reminder.  A few suggestions about pictures from folks and I meant to comment about that... I actually have a photo album that contains a snapshot of every unique breed/animal I've ever made and I have that with me at every show.  It comes in handy for the rare times I'm asked about cats.  I stopped taking cats with me because they weren't selling but I have room now on my display of horses (which also aren't selling) and may take them to the big show in August to try again.

[Iguanadon]

I picture of my photo album...

[DWSUDEKUM]

Scott congratulations of being accepted into the members of Lazy Dazes show.  There are several things that you will need to be aware of and that is it is going to be very very tiring but a whole heck of a lot of fun.  There are a ton of common sense things that you most likely all ready know and do like - Make sure that you have plenty of $1s and smaller bills.  Oh do you take credit cards?  If you do your sales will explode in shows like this.  You need mega supplies of your work as well as informing the customers that you make / can make custom puzzles.  The only folks that do not do well in shows like this are the ones that are not outgoing and personable.  You will do well I am sure.  We are eagerly looking forward to seeing pictures and having a report of the event when you get through

 

DW