Artist Toolbox - Essential Kit for Craft Fairs

This week on Artist Toolbox we are focusing on what to take to a Craft Fair.  You have made your body of work, thought about how to sell, practiced your salesperson patter - but what should you take with you on the day to make your life a little easier?

Here's our little guide...

• A float - stallholders always seem to run out of change best to have a mix of coins & notes.  
• A card reader? We have been using one in our shops for the last few months and they are really useful & easy to use bits of kit. Maybe time for a little investment?
• A table & chair - check whether these are supplied at your event and assume not unless stated.
• Business cards - essential for insuring future sales. Have these out on display for people to take.
• Water (or a flask of caffeine) - talking all day will make you thirsty, don't miss sales by not bringing supplies with you (it will be cheaper too.)
• Lunch and snacks - you will get peckish - maybe choose something smell & mess free though.
• A pen & notebook - jot down any comments or feedback you overhear at the time, it will be really valuable but harder to remember later. Write down your sales too.
• A emergency toolkit - plaster, sticky tape, clamps, spare labels, scissors etc etc. Anything you might need to fix any last minute niggles.

• Wrapping supplies.  Bubble wrap, tissue paper, paper bags, tape.  Always add a business card with your sales too & maybe even a flyer for your next selling event (event organisers will be happy to give you some of these.)
• A calculator & cashbox or a money belt (both is probably best)- for totting up all those sales &  keeping your takings safe (we recommend using a belt to hold notes and a cash box for  change.)
• A smile - look engaged and welcoming.  Try not to bury your head in a book, always greet customers with a friendly hello. Pop your sandwich down if it is busy too!
• Think about your clothes and footwear. If you are standing up all day make sure you wear comfortable shoes.  If the stall is outside, wrap up warm, layer up and wear your thermals! Our top tip is to find some cardboard to stand on outside as this will insulate your feet from the cold floor & fingerless gloves help you keep warm whilst wrapping up sales & making notes.

The first of the two dates for the Made in Bristol Gift Fair at the Colston Hall is this Saturday 30th November!  We can't wait!  For more information please visit our Facebook Events Page.  See you there!

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Artist Toolbox: The Art of Display

Today on Artist Toolbox, we are talking about the art of display.  During the working year most artists, craftspeople and designers will step up and sell at a craft fair.  We have come up with a few pointers that should help you find the best way to display your work....

• Height - Eye levels, you want people’s eyes to roam all around the space you have so don’t lay your items flat, use furniture, props, boxes and shelving to create height. You could also consider lifting the entire height of your table to allow people to view your items without stooping. You should consider the overall impression you are giving to potential customers. Ensure that your display is still approachable and not too intimidating for customers to interact with you or your items. 

• Table cloth? Think about your table covering. Perhaps use brown paper, graph paper, wall paper in the place of a table cloth to stand out from the crowd. You could echo this material in your labels to draw the whole display together. Make sure whatever you are using is clean, smart and looks professional. A creased table cloth will only detract from your beautiful stock.

• Props - Use interesting props to display your items and give height as well as to indicate how to use them and who might use them. Placing an old mobile into one of your phone cases will help customers instantly identify the function for example. Use objects to fit your theme and attract a certain demographic. For example displaying an expensive ceramic bowl filled with inexpensive sweets would not be as appropriate or effective as filling it with fresh coffee beans, chillis or peppercorns.

• Price Labels – Clearly label items and display a price list if possible (if you have masses of different types of items a huge list will be far too difficult to read). Customers may not want to ask how much an item costs for fear they cannot afford it. Take time and effort to match your labels with your display and the type of goods you are selling. Beautiful labels will add to your overall presentation, shabby labels will detract from it. The most important factor is legibility. If you have terrible handwriting print out you labels. Ensure your spelling and grammar is correct! 

• Banner - You want people to remember your stall but also your company name. It’s important to display a banner or sign on your display. 

• Space - Use all your available space – “Think outside the table”. Is it possible to add a stand to the side and use a smaller table? – especially useful for selling cards or accessories. It may be better to remove your table completely so people can walk into your space and see your stands/racks up close. Perhaps use a packing cases or a dresser in place of a table to create height and support your branding, selling homewear in this way can help a customer imagine what your product will look like in their home. Also be flexible so you can adapt to the space you have been given at an event.

• Safety - If you make fantastic props, stands and banners be sure that they are sturdy not only to prevent your goods being damaged but also to ensure nobody gets hurt. Keep wires out of the way and ensure your table covering is not too long causing a trip hazard.

Why not have a mock up - ask your friends and family what they think.

Next week we shall be discussing what to bring to a craft fair or market, if you are a seasoned pro, please share your tips below, we'd love to know what are your must have essentials....

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Artist Toolbox: Social Media

Following on from last weeks Artist Toolbox, this week we are going to tackle Social Media (or at least the very basics.)  We live in a world where information is immediate and where mobile phones are used for much more than just phoning home.  We have the world (or at least the internet) at our fingertips.

Nowadays, to get yourself noticed you really do have make song and dance!  Know how to market yourself in the right way.  The quickest and easiest way is to use Social Media.  We will be looking briefly at the main three tools: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Hope this helps you get your work to a new market & spread the word about the festive selling events you are taking part in.

Facebook.

• Hopefully you already have your own business Facebook Page.  If not, set one up! 
• From your own personalised page you can create lots of other pages linking off. Such as:
• An events page - detailing craft markets, exhibitions etc.
• A stockists page.  A list (with links through to the shops) where the public can buy your work.
• You can also link your Etsy, Folksy and Bigcartel shop to your FB page too.
• Share.  
• Your fans will love knowing what you are doing that day.  
• Inspiration - what is inspiring you? Autumn leaves for example.
• New scarf - show them
• A work in progress piece
• Your favourite mug
• A cafe you like
• A walk in the park
• Your favourite magazine has arrived.
• All of these short posts (always use a photo if possible) will allow the public to build an image of who you are.  What type of person you are.  And can relate to you easily. 
• Hashtag everything & tag. Craft fairs, work in progress etc - it helps new people find you.
• Link your facebook page to your twitter account - what you write on FB will then automatically be shared on Twitter

Remember the more you add to your Facebook Page - the more 'current' it is and stays on top of everyone's feeds.  You will gain more followers and potentially more customers too. However keep your posts to a couple a day so you don't overwhelm people.

Twitter

So Facebook is like your on-line diary, a shorter version and more immediate version of your blog.  Twitter on the other hand is there for quick bursts of information (a maximum of 140 characters to be precise.)  

An example post could be: 'I am at the Made in Bristol Gift Fair today - here's my stall being set up. @madeinbristol @colstonhall #mibgf'  

@madeinbristol is our Twitter handle and when others use this in their tweets we can see this and retweet your message spreading your message further via our followers (and hopefully attracting some extra followers for you.)

So some good practice tips....

• Always @ people in.  Link to who you are with, where you are.  
• Always use a # (hashtag) - this brings new followers, who are also following the # event/subject
• Try to always add a photo (lots of people use apps like TweetDeck and tweets with pictures really show up in the feed. You are creating beautiful gifts so share some sneaky peaks!

Instagram

Lots of us have a smart phone in our pocket complete with a pretty decent camera. Use it to provide a photo log of your adventures. The Instagram App is a free app to download to both Android and Iphones. It is a great way to gain followers, just by a simple photo being uploaded.  Warning!  Like Twitter & Facebook it's highly addictive and great fun too. If you are prone to distractions maybe limit your social media time to the first part of your work day (whilst you get caffeinated ready for some creating!)

• Link your Instagram to your Facebook and Twitter feed.  They will show up in both and save you time uploading images later.
• Cause a stir with new products - show them on IG first, add a link to your online shop
• Build an audience of followers, who will love all that you do!

When used correctly, these 3 Social Media tools can make your self promotion so much easier.  One is always updating the other, building a bigger profile, more followers and more business your way.  You will never know who is liking you - it could be a new customer, a new stockist or a magazine for a feature.

By no means this list is exhaustive - why don't you comment below with your favourite platforms & tell us why this works for you. (E.g. Addicted to Pinterest? Tell everyone what excites you about this tool.)

Also we shall hopefully be holding workshops soon, to introduce this ever changing world to any novices  out there (if that is you, hope we haven't lost you!) And help you all refine your marketing efforts with more helpful tips. Watch this space!

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Artist Toolbox: How to write a Press Release

Like all creative people, you have been doing just that - creating. You have made a beautiful thing. Spent all your time, creating, crafting, evolving your talent.  All those hours of blood, sweat and tears, and now you are ready to set up a stall and sell it to the world.

But how?  How do you get people interested in your hard work? How do the public find you? How do you sell at craft shows? 

Over the coming weeks, we at Made in Bristol shall be sharing some winning tips on how to succeed at selling with our new feature - Artist Toolbox.

This week are starting with, 'How to write a Press Release'.

The Press Release.

• Create a headline based on what best sums up your news. Make it short and punchy.
• WHO, WHAT, WHERE & WHEN. Who are you? What do you do? Where is the event and when?
• Write in the third person. This enables busy journalists and editors to use your work with minimal re-editing.
• Be short and succinct and stick to your main points. Don't try to add everything all at once. You can always send a follow up Press Release!
• Finally remind the reader where & when the event is - and why they should come to it.
• Re-read your Press Release for errors. Re-read it to check you've got your message across. Perhaps have a friend or family member to read it through.  
• Images - It's best not to send any images with a Press Release.  Write a line at the end that High Res images are available upon request.  If they need them, they can email.
• When sending your Press Release try sending during optimum working hours, so that it is seen.  Avoid early morning, lunch breaks or end of the day and the end of the week (Friday afternoon.)

It is not too late to promote your involvement in our Made in Bristol Gift Fair (or Paper Scissors Stone & Made in Britain this Christmas.) The glossy monthly magazine deadlines may have passed for December but online listings, blogs and other media are much more immediate so search for their contact details and start sending!  

Also send us your press releases too and we will forward them on to our contacts if we can.

Remember 'The Press' always need content, so package your news correctly and they will be more likely to share. We will be holding workshops next year to help you refine your press release efforts too so watch this space.

Good luck!

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