Art at the Glen, Glenview
Show was at the site of the old Glenview Naval Airbase which is now an upscale community with condos, shops, etc. Set up is generally easy although some exhibitors had store customers parked in their booth space which presented a problem for those few. Otherwise set up and tear down is quite easy. Typical of any show, many did well and others not so well. Quite hot and humid which tried the paitience of many exhibitors there. We had a significant increase in sales, almost double of last year. Great response from customers to our work.
Gold Coast
New location at Grant Park this year. City would not allow the show to be in the old location on LaSalle Street, so it had to be moved. Chicago Bears scheduled a preseason exhibition game after show date was set. Chicago Police initally would not let to show open at all on Saturday. After intense lobbying with the mayors office, show was allowed to stay open only until 3:00PM on Saturday. Attendance and sales were slow on Friday and just getting started good on Saturday when we had to close. Sunday attendance and sales were excellant. Will take a year or two for the public to get used to the new location. Total sales were not as well as expected but still acceptable. All exhibitors had to be out of the park by 11:OOPM Sunday or there was a fine. Thought tear down would be "NIGHTMARE" but most artists and security personnel worked well and everyone was out well before the deadline. Always a hot head or two around who didn't want to follow the rules but they were quickly quelched. All in all show went well. Some problems with mud and standing water from the rain Friday night. Amdur was limited by the park commission as to the remedies (no mulch, hay ect). Put down topsoil and plywood and made the best they could of the situation.
Port Clinton
The name says it all! Attendance was great both days although Sunday was very hot and humid. Public still came out and spent. Again many exhibitors did well and others not. Tough competition in two dimensional work. Many in my opinion overpriced their work. Don't know if this was their regular price or raised them because it was Port Clinton. Many well known high end artist did well while others sold very little although their work was of excellent design and execution. We had our best show of the year and both days were our best selling days of the year. Sales started at show opening both days and continued after closing time. May have been the fact that were are the only toymakers in the show and our price points are in the $50-175 dollar range. Poster for the show was a play on the tortist and the hare theme and we were the tortist when it came to teardown as we were one of the last to pack out. Show lived up to its' reputation and looking forward to next year.
Ed Schmidt
Toys 'N' Stuff
Wooden Toys
Comments
BTW, Nels and Ed, it is tortoise. ;)
Good Luck
Your toys are such fun. I am glad you are having a successful summer.