Oh well. The Gilmore shows sound a lot like the Buckler shows here in Florida. Well run and probably lucrative for some but a lot of teddy bears dipped in wax. I did one and it was not my market at all.
The Gilmores are a classy operation who know how to please the customers who follow their shows. These are primarily southern shows with very traditional conservative buyers. The ONE time we did their best show it was pretty telling that we wouldn't be returning. I'd say half the women had the same haircut, same Reeboks, pastel golf shirts and "add a bead" necklaces. The right people can make money here but will reiterate Holly's point about knowing your market.
Don Mabry > Connie MettlerNovember 26, 2010 at 3:24pm
Connie,
As I said before, I sure am glad I asked! Everyone seems to pretty much share the same opinion. I'll be directing my efforts elsewhere and I thank you for your comments.
Can you tell me much about the Huffman's shows in Shakopee and Villa Park in the Spring? I know both of them are very good shows in the Fall but, do they fall off drastically in the Spring? I did their Omaha show this Fall and, although it wasn't the best show I've ever had, it seemed to be well-run and they seem like very nice people.
Would appreciate your (and anyone else's) comments on these.
Thanks again for your help.
Don
Peggy Whitson > Don MabryNovember 26, 2010 at 4:03pm
if you've done Huffman , you have pretty much done Gilmore .
they are very much alike .
same style, same customers, .really nice promoters,,,,.different states.
yes, Huffman's spring shows drop off ---alot.
prob. by hafe , of what you might make in the fall.
I have had a good spring show - in MN.
that was 2 or 3 years ago though .
I hear their economy is much better - than a lot of places (I'm from MI......so pretty much
anyplace is better).
I would say , MN. is their best show,,,fall or spring. If you do it , make sure to ask to be on the main floor - in the main building . The lighting is good there ,,,and just over all "nicer". ...otherwise, you may get stuck upstairs,which is hard to get to, or in an attached "tent like" area....that leaks when it rains.
Villa Park , is prob second......and again , ask to be on the main floor ..(they have an up stairs here also).
Villa Park draws in alot of the $20 crowd.
I did the Omaha spring show a few years ago .
it was slow. I heard it is prob their lowest end show.....
if you did ok there , you would do better at their other shows.
hope this helps.
Don Mabry > Peggy WhitsonNovember 27, 2010 at 1:19am
Peggy,
Very good info. Thank you. I appreciate your input. I'm trying to line up 3-4 decent shows in the Spring that I can do back-to-back. I hesitate to drive a long distance for just one show - especially in the Spring with the economy the way it is. The MN/Villa Park shows seem to fit and I'd like to find another to do with them. Just trying to do some planning for 2011. I'm about finished for 2010 and I'm already getting restless!
Hi all, I have an artist/fine arts/painter friend who did the Christmas Classic show in Richmond. Her words to me were, "Jen, I was across from a piggy bank salesman!" Needless to say, it was not a great show for her- a lot of small country-style craft stuff. Shoppers were there for the low end stuff.
We did Roanoke a few years ago and after being there just a short while we knew we were in trouble.
There are a few artist with the word "fine" that were there and rest was a lot of country crafts and all kind of food stuffs. We were set up across from someone who had ping pong ball shooters. Made for a long weekend.
The shows are very well run and the Gilmore's seemed to be nice but we wouldn't do them again. Just not our venue. I don't know about other any other locations. We did visit Columbia, SC and it looked like Roanoke. Everyone has the right to sell there stuff but it was not good for us.
Don Mabry > Gordon EkbackNovember 26, 2010 at 3:17pm
Hi Holly,
Your points are well taken and I certainly appreciate your comments. Thank you. It sounds like I was getting close to making a huge mistake. Think I'll change courses and look for something with a bit more 'promise'.
Thanks again.
Don
Don Mabry > Gordon EkbackNovember 26, 2010 at 3:14pm
Gordon,
Thank you for your comments. Boy, I'm glad I posted this question. It sounds like I would have made a grave mistake and I can't afford too many more of those! Been there and done that ! Matter of fact, I did a show in the Spring and had a ping pong ball shooter across from me so I have a clear picture in my head of what you're talking about.
Replies
As I said before, I sure am glad I asked! Everyone seems to pretty much share the same opinion. I'll be directing my efforts elsewhere and I thank you for your comments.
Can you tell me much about the Huffman's shows in Shakopee and Villa Park in the Spring? I know both of them are very good shows in the Fall but, do they fall off drastically in the Spring? I did their Omaha show this Fall and, although it wasn't the best show I've ever had, it seemed to be well-run and they seem like very nice people.
Would appreciate your (and anyone else's) comments on these.
Thanks again for your help.
Don
they are very much alike .
same style, same customers, .really nice promoters,,,,.different states.
yes, Huffman's spring shows drop off ---alot.
prob. by hafe , of what you might make in the fall.
I have had a good spring show - in MN.
that was 2 or 3 years ago though .
I hear their economy is much better - than a lot of places (I'm from MI......so pretty much
anyplace is better).
I would say , MN. is their best show,,,fall or spring. If you do it , make sure to ask to be on the main floor - in the main building . The lighting is good there ,,,and just over all "nicer". ...otherwise, you may get stuck upstairs,which is hard to get to, or in an attached "tent like" area....that leaks when it rains.
Villa Park , is prob second......and again , ask to be on the main floor ..(they have an up stairs here also).
Villa Park draws in alot of the $20 crowd.
I did the Omaha spring show a few years ago .
it was slow. I heard it is prob their lowest end show.....
if you did ok there , you would do better at their other shows.
hope this helps.
Very good info. Thank you. I appreciate your input. I'm trying to line up 3-4 decent shows in the Spring that I can do back-to-back. I hesitate to drive a long distance for just one show - especially in the Spring with the economy the way it is. The MN/Villa Park shows seem to fit and I'd like to find another to do with them. Just trying to do some planning for 2011. I'm about finished for 2010 and I'm already getting restless!
Thanks again for your help.
Don
There are a few artist with the word "fine" that were there and rest was a lot of country crafts and all kind of food stuffs. We were set up across from someone who had ping pong ball shooters. Made for a long weekend.
The shows are very well run and the Gilmore's seemed to be nice but we wouldn't do them again. Just not our venue. I don't know about other any other locations. We did visit Columbia, SC and it looked like Roanoke. Everyone has the right to sell there stuff but it was not good for us.
Your points are well taken and I certainly appreciate your comments. Thank you. It sounds like I was getting close to making a huge mistake. Think I'll change courses and look for something with a bit more 'promise'.
Thanks again.
Don
Thank you for your comments. Boy, I'm glad I posted this question. It sounds like I would have made a grave mistake and I can't afford too many more of those! Been there and done that ! Matter of fact, I did a show in the Spring and had a ping pong ball shooter across from me so I have a clear picture in my head of what you're talking about.
Thanks again.
Don
They have one in JUNE and one in OCTOBER at the Gatlinburg COnvention Center i believe.
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