It's a popular show and well attended. I went every year as a visitor for 4 years before getting in the business, and found it to be fun and reasonably high quality.
The staff is friendly and well-organized. Setup is either the night before (8-10 PM) or early on Saturday morning (6-9 AM). It went smoothly enough, but you'll want to be on time. :-)
My sales were OK but not great there last year. My show notes mention that it was such a large show (280 artists, packed in tightly along the main drag, ) that some visitors seemed a bit overwhelmed by the number of choices they had, and may have delayed purchases because there were so many other booths to visit.
I'm going to make sure all my business cards have my booth number and a nearby landmark printed on the back, to make it easier for people to find me (again).
Two other things to note:
* When you apply, you write a single check for $326 that covers booth fee, local taxes, and jury fee. They cash it upon receipt. If you don't get in, they say they'll refund to you all but the jury fee, but they don't say by when.
* Cape Coral has been really hard-hit by the recession, and lots of real estate is in the tank. Not to say there aren't buyers out there, but that fact can't be ignored if your market includes new home buyers and redecorators.
Lisa Hartmann > Geoff CoeOctober 28, 2009 at 10:27am
Hi Geoff. That's really helpful. Thanks! And they cash the booth check before you get in?? That's bizarre & is certainly a consideration in applying.
Diane Wright > Lisa HartmannOctober 28, 2009 at 4:43pm
Lisa,
I have found that with many shows. They cash the check keep the money for awhile and then return the the money minus the jury fee. Meanwhile your money is tied up. That recently happened to me for another show. They have had my money since mid sepember, just emailed me a day ago that I did not get in and will reimburse me minus the jury fee (and this particular show I know doesn't pay any jurors) sometime mid November. Great racket
Lisa Hartmann > Diane WrightOctober 29, 2009 at 10:57am
So in the end you pay a jury fee and provide the show with an interest-free loan. Yes, that sounds like a racket. I'm not an attorney, but couldn't they get into legal trouble?? -- either for not paying interest on a loan or for implicitly "accepting" an applicant by cashing the booth fee check and then rescinding the offer later. Maybe that's taking it too far, but it doesn't seem like good business practice.
Replies
The staff is friendly and well-organized. Setup is either the night before (8-10 PM) or early on Saturday morning (6-9 AM). It went smoothly enough, but you'll want to be on time. :-)
My sales were OK but not great there last year. My show notes mention that it was such a large show (280 artists, packed in tightly along the main drag, ) that some visitors seemed a bit overwhelmed by the number of choices they had, and may have delayed purchases because there were so many other booths to visit.
I'm going to make sure all my business cards have my booth number and a nearby landmark printed on the back, to make it easier for people to find me (again).
Two other things to note:
* When you apply, you write a single check for $326 that covers booth fee, local taxes, and jury fee. They cash it upon receipt. If you don't get in, they say they'll refund to you all but the jury fee, but they don't say by when.
* Cape Coral has been really hard-hit by the recession, and lots of real estate is in the tank. Not to say there aren't buyers out there, but that fact can't be ignored if your market includes new home buyers and redecorators.
I have found that with many shows. They cash the check keep the money for awhile and then return the the money minus the jury fee. Meanwhile your money is tied up. That recently happened to me for another show. They have had my money since mid sepember, just emailed me a day ago that I did not get in and will reimburse me minus the jury fee (and this particular show I know doesn't pay any jurors) sometime mid November. Great racket