Hi Rick I think you are right on with your new ideas. I have done yard art sales in my yard with things arranged so people don't have to "imagine" how they will look in thier yard. They have gone very well.I put signs up in the neighbor hood and on bulletin boards at local business.Something else you could consider which I have done is workshops at your place with a simple project . I have also done the Green house, and garden centre thing and had okay success also. Good luck and sell lots,
Cindy

I've been doing craft shows for many years.
If you are selling heavy items be very close to the exit and make it VERY clear you can deliver the item to their car the moment they are ready to leave. Many folks are wearing their best clothes as well and fear soiling them.
A sign that says "Our items can be very heavy so for your convenience we will deliver the item to your vehicle when you are ready to leave the show"
You would be surprised how sales can increase when the customer doesn't have to lug the heavy item out themselves.

I've had such bad luck with the consignment route that I won't be doing it anymore. Stores that said they'd be interested suddenly weren't when I showed up with the artwork. Places that used to pay well nowadays can be difficult to get my money out of - either they don't seem to be able to mail me the check or the manager is never there when we have a prearrangeed appointment. After putting pen to paper and crunching the numbers it just isn't worth my time and gasoline to drive all over town for no pays or slow pays. Its not all gloom and doom but things sure work slower than before.

Instead I am investing heavily into the local flea market. We have a large one with up to 10,000 visitors per day in the summer (if the weather is nice). It only cost $18 per day to have a drop in spot. I can stay all day if I like or go home whenever I want. Even though many of the customers are regular attendees there is a mix of incomes and interests and some people attend every other weekend or only once a month. So for my advertising money - a decorated spot at the flea market is gonna reach more potential buyers than anything else I can think of.

Thanks all for your comments.Because we live in a small community(about 3500 people)we have a very small flea market,mostly for the"crochet grannies".We're going to work with a gallery not far from us that artists recommend(and,they do get paid!)and a couple of other locations elsewhere.
Cheers from here!

FWIW -- I've made a couple dozen leaves that I'm donating to an arboretum's plant sale next year. The plan is to loan/display some of them in advance to local gardeners who have frequent visitors go through their gardens. We may also be able to get a small sample in an art gallery for a week or so. If our arboretum had a gift shop, we'd probably place some there too.

Do you have garden tours in your area? Perhaps you could place some in the gardens on the tour. Or if you have a botanical garden nearby, you might check to see if they have a gift shop. A friend just saw some for sale at Buchart Gardens. Perhaps they'd be interested if your things vary from what they already have. I saw pictures of one mask and a number of leaves that look to be cast from the same mold. I could email you pics if interested.

Triangle John - I had similar experiences some years ago. I was making small garden sculptures in granite, and did what every experienced business person advises against - gave them out 'sale or return' to various garden centres and craft shops. I did OK with the craft shops, they paid up for sales, but the garden centres (as I'd been warned!) pushed all the stuff that they'd had to pay up front for, my work was put at the back, other things were thrown on top of it, it got damaged etc. - they didn't care because they hadn't invested anything in it. Plus I made very little money per item, by the time the shop had doubled my price, and taxes went on top of that.

This time round I'm going the Farmers' Market route. There are at least a dozen Farmers' Markets at the weekend, within twenty miles of where I live (Dublin). They sell organic produce and fancy cheeses and breads, so are likely to have more affluent customers. Ireland is very prosperous, people have money coming out of their ears, maybe I can corner some of that money for myself lol.

Dont let the craft shows discourge you. I have been doing them for a few years and they have been horrible this year. The turnouts have been low and most people have been browsing and not buying. A lot of the people doing them have been very disapointed this year. Your ideas for a yard gallery sound great. Hope it goes well for you

carey

running dog--Our farmers Market here in Iowa(USA)(small town 8000 people) are mostly produce and plants. I set up most of the Summer and while it improved as the Summer went on I used it mainly to get my name out there. Sounds like your neighborhood will appreciate original art more. Good Luck.
Paws

paws - the Farmers' Markets here (because it's a big city) are mostly stands of expensive organic vegetables, specialty home-made cheeses, organic meat, organic & exotic breads, all that kind of thing. But I don't think there's anything to stop people taking a stall to sell stuff they've made themselves.

You can get a hawker's license as well, to sell by the side of the road, again as long as it's something made by the seller. Prefer to sell at a market, though.

I think we are all underestimating our abilities here. The scope of the work I have seen exhibited on this forum is so far beyond "crafting". My experience with "craft shows" is that most of the attendees are looking for craft crap. Santas made of pipe cleaners, beer-can airplanes, i.e. Cheesie stuff.

The last show at which I exhibited made me seriously consider tossing my creativity and concrete aside and start selling greasy Turkey Legs, as the food booths had endless lines whereas our booth with items priced under $20 that took in excess of 3 hours to create, didn't. There was even a booth with a guy that was selling ping pong balls covered with a bit of gauze, hung from a string. I think they were supposed to be ghosts or something but I can't remember because we were trying to remove all the turkey fat off our items, that had been handled but not sold, to notice.

My point is - what we create is fine art. NOT crafting. We are missing our market. Refine your techniques, finishes. Enter juried shows. The creations and creativity that you all exhibit is exceptional! Think about it!

The ART at good shows demands good prices from people that appreciate the effort and work that went into the piece. The stuff at flea markets demands flea market prices.

A LOT of the work I have seen here on this forum would make L&L proud, and jealous ! You don't see them at flea markets, do you!

C'mon tufaneers and concrete artists! Arise and be proud of your work! Crafting it AIN'T!

Merry Christmas!

Amanda

Yes but - the flea market in my city is HUGE! and one of the largest antique markets on the east coast (used to be THE largest). With all those designers, decorators, and Martha wannabe's cruisin the aisles looking for something unusual. The $18 per space and 20 minute commute is a lot easier to swallow than the distance and fees associated with a glutted art event. From what I hear "they" aren't pulling in the money they used to either.