I hope there are some experienced artists out there who can comment or better yet, set me straight. For months I have been watching attendance stats for craft shows (posted by show promoters and sites like these,) and the people walking down the aisles, and looking up the ages via whitepages.com of the people signing up for my give aways. Talking to other experienced artists at the shows who used to make a really good living and who aren't pulling their costs. It appears to me that the downturn in craft show sales is not only the economy, but the fact that the customers walking down the aisles are now mostly in their 60s, downsizing, and there's few younger people taking their place. I.e. the younger set are attending the indie shows and farmers markets not the high end shows. Are higher quality shows soon to be a thing of the past?
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Eight shows done in 2014, 7 were done in 2013. Gross sales up 13%. Average gross sale for shows up 21%. Two shows this summer were off a couple hundred and will be replaced with new resort area shows to give them a rest. New products will be in the inventory mix next summer.
Why do you think your gross sales were up, Richard?
People spending money on vacation and taking home " a piece of the west". Belts are still the big seller and as long as Wally is selling cheap quality, people are still looking for "a belt that will last". Gun belts, and holsters are also part of the mix. Next year I will have handbag with holster built inside for the ladies, also more billfolds and small cases for business cards, ID, and passports.
I finally got comped by Cavalia to see the North American Odysseo show after building ten saddles for them in 2009. After the show I got to see a couple of my saddles and Cossack trick saddles that the European trick riders use. The other 7 saddles are in Spain, Seoul and Montreal. Our tickets originated in Singapore -crazy. Odysseo closed in Denver today and heads to Mexico City, DF and Guadalajara. I'm starting another white trick saddle for a rider from Australia and have to have it done in a month and before National Finals Rodeo- YIKES!
Don't know why I haven't looked at this discussion before. It can only be my Midwestern bias that reads "craft show" as church bazaar. My apologies to you MaryGwyneth. Of course you are talking about Paradise City so I should know better.
There are so many good ideas in here, and I know some of you are new to the business, but others like Luke have been around as long as I have. I read his comment as one of the "oldies", yep, it's been tough, but I'm keeping at it because I can make it work.
Chris Hoyt has seen it come and go and has adapted and will continue to do that. Looking new at your product, your craft, your art, looking at where your buyers might have gone or are now, reading the WSJ and the business pages, smart. I'm one of those people whose home is full of handmade objects and don't buy as frequently as I used to (although this is where jewelers have it all over everyone else because there is always room for a new pair of earrings). I think about my kids who should be they buyers and who appreciate handmade.
How do we get them to the shows and will they buy? Some of them are just focused on their kids. Hmmm, what about something wonderful for children? My other kids can afford the work at the shows, we just need to get them there and then we need to chat them up when they arrive because they are friendly folks and would take to the outreach.
MaryGwyneth who started this, I can't believe she is having a hard time at the shows. She is making something beautiful AND functional. Maybe new marketing for her. I don't know. But I do know people who are doing well with fiber. Members Barbara Poole just came into the show business a few years ago and is kicking it, having trunk shows, doing all kinds of events, trying new things. Maureen Roberts and Michael Lublin in NYC is designing and selling silk clothing and getting press, Candiss Cole, in the business for a long time for many years made silk clothing and now doing new work.
Love the ideas about the "cons." I think member Barrie Lynn Bryant also has exhibited at those. A whole audience I know nothing about.
It can be done. The better craft shows can work. They can't if we just keep doing the same thing though.
That's Life.
We've been doing shows for 30 years and it's always fluctuated some, though it got super bad in 2009. This year we've cherry picked our shows as we have a more diversified income and can do it. We've averaged over 4 K and it would be higher except for some weather problems. We can live with this. We used to average about 6 K, but even when we did, we knew how lucky we were. I'd say most art fair artists are such because they don't want to be employees. That's our situation and, once again, we can live with this.
I've been doing shows for 15 years now and early in the game realized that I had to watch the economics of each area I was going to. Then noticed that sales had decreased but not just to the lack of "new blood" to the shows but also the nasty swing in the weather.
So in 2010 I looked into other venues that might be receptive to my work. As I do fantasy, dragons, and Celtic so I examined some of the ComicCons (conventions celebrating the love of comic art, fantasy TV & moves and Science fiction). My husband thought I was nuts but it was worth a try. I checked a few out and saw all ages in attendance (yes & even some older people) and they were indoors.
So in 2011 I did 2 "cons" and discovered a totally new market of people who were open and, yes, even excited about finding "real art" I started with a low expectation for the first show and, while I did make a profit, it was acceptable but not huge. I returned the next year and was excited that on the first day I made the same as the 1st show total sales. My sales have increased well past what I use to consider a "good" art show (2014 sales were closer to 10x booth fee).
I will not give up all my art shows but have increased the number of these shows. Now I realize that my art fits this market and so I can diversify in this manner but I am bringing this up so that others can look into other areas that would fit what they do. We need to start looking outside the box, for as I have found, the new generation of art lovers are out there we just have to find them.
This discussion was started a year and a half ago and I would be interested in knowing how things have changed...either positive or negative... for everyone that posted their comments here.
I have only been doing shows for about 4 years...so I never experienced the "good old days" but I have seen a steady improvement in my work and most importantly, sales since starting.
I think the problems that are plaguing the upper mid west and northeast are that the industry has done a "poor" job of luring young people (albeit indie shows are helping younger artisans team with younger clients...but many older crafters find they cannot get into these shows by virtue of the fact that they are "old school" or "established looking".) As the craft fair demographic ages and finds itself on fixed income, the propensity to purchase goes down.
I also think that the younger population shops/works and lives in a very different fashion. It would behoove us to figure out (from larger scale retail marketers) how to target this new group of consumers. (And I do not think that Etsy and FB page only cut it...I think it is how you use "pathways" on search engines to target them...)
Finally, as the above two forces were at work...another regular old force was at play as well....the economy...BUT not in the way that everyone expects....which is that a recession means less money for retail...this notion is not entirely true....
.......My family operated in the pet industry for over 40 years and we used to joke that recessions were good for business. When people were low on funds...they tended to get pets instead of televisions and cars and expensive trips. I have friends in the cosmetic industry who say the same thing...when people's budgets are limited they tend to treat themselves with smaller purchases.
Is it possible that when a recession hits , people buy crafts instead of going for those "big" purchases. Is it possible that the perception of crafts is that they are "value purchase"...a good deal...something hand made and unique with a smaller price tag. Think about it...even in the highest end shows...is any painting fetching the same price as a work in Mary Boone Gallery in New York? is any spectacular artisan jewelry set at the same price as the diamond counter at Tiffanys? I know these two places are not necessarily what we as crafters are trying to emulate...but is it possible that in "high times" our customers are moving on to Walmart, high end department stores, and expensive traditional jewelry counters? Is it possible that the artisan craft industry actually favors recession?
My husband continually pointed this out to me about 6-8 years ago. The mid sized local art shows had good attendance and sales. He decided that it was due to people taking fewer vacations and spending more locally.
Hi Mary,
Well, as a artisan and an antique dealer, I share your concerns. It seems to me that young people today are shopping at mega stores like IKEA and not buying vintage (unless it's mid-century or industrial) or anything handcrafted. I've considered changing my focus but it's very disappointing to think that todays youth don't share our taste in furniture or art. I don't know what the answer is, but I'd sure like to figure it out. Do you think that hipper, trendier venues might help? Even mature adults, who should know better, continue to purchase what we call "future garage sale" items regularly at craft shows in my area. My favorite quote, and I don't know who to attribute it to, is "No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public". That pretty much sums it up...
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