Every show we have at least a half a dozen people ask us for 'buy sell' kinds of jewelry pieces. This week my favorite question was: My mother went to Israel 30 years ago and bought me this star with the word chai (life on it). She got the large one, I got the medium one and my cousin got the small one., I lost it and I always go to these art shows hoping I will find this exact piece of jewelry. Do you have it?
Kick me before sarcasm rolls off my tongue. I politely said that the person who designed those pieces 30 years ago would not be happy to know that I, or someone else, had copied that design. So, no, we don't have that design but we have 15 other designs that you may like.
No, she said, I've looked 30 years for this design and this is the design I want.
Or, last week the lady said: My x-boyfriend gave me a star with a horseshoe on it. When I broke up 25 years ago, I gave him back the pendant. I always loved that pendant. Do you have it?
We don't have it - perhaps you might cookie horseshoe, star and pendant and find it that way. No, she said - she would keep on looking. When we got to the room that night, I googled horseshoe, star, pendant and up popped a piece. i don't know if this is 'the one' but it was easy to find.
We're not gong to have 'plain stars' that can be purchased on the internet. Pieces are designed by me. I want people to 'step out of the box' and look beyond that plain star ... alas, those who say - cute, interesting, nice, very interesting, very nice, different ... just don't get it.
On the other hand, a blog was written about a new piece - Tikva - Star of Hope..
Comments
How very true!
I answer that clip on question at almost every show. I show them the 2 pairs I already have (because a gallery ordered them, then returned them when they shut down). The answer, is “No, not that.” Then offer to convert, on the spot, anything with a french hook. Those comprise about half my earrings. They say, “No, not those.” Then they walk.
No. I'm pretty sure they're being stupid.
Some glass or even clay artists DO make "Pandora" style beads that fit onto a Pandora bracelet, so they may in fact be looking for that. And many shows do include Silpada and the like. Customers probably have not read the details for acceptance into the show and so may not know if that particular show does or doesnt accept non-hand-made work. I confess I really have a problem with the notion that customers are either "stupid" or uninformed, and that artists either ridicule or patronize them. Of course we all are proud of our work and think everyone should prefer art to mass produced things, but its not our customers responsibility to agree with us, or to buy only art, or to understand what we sell, or to understand the difference between what one artist makes vs another. Sorry, but I just had to say this. I think I need to stop reading these posts, as I seem to be in the minority.
When somebody asks a question that demonstrates a lack of understanding about art fairs and what they will find there, I use that as an education moment. "No, I don't have Pandora or Supada jewelry. I am a jewelry artist. I designed and hand made everything you see. All the artists here are selling pieces they made themselves. It's really great to visit and purchase at art fairs because you know you are getting something unique and supporting the arts." If I've had a chance to talk to my art neighbors, I'll introduce them to the visitor. "This is Henry. Check out his amazing sculptures. He uses marble and calcite and makes the most amazing things." Very often that visitor will come back with friends to discuss my jewelry techniques and then leave with a necklace and a story about the art fair.
At least they are looking! I wonder if you could suggest a similar pendant, or offer to convert the earrings into a brooch or something? If they spend 5 minutes staring at earrings they dont wear, they must really like something about them! What really bugs me is people who just walk by with barely a glance, and don't even come in to see what I've got. (Especially at shows with low attendance. UGH! )It gives me a measure of sympathy for the aggressive sales tactics we found in the Caribbean where they practically grab you and haul you into their shop. I confess I've wanted to do that on a couple of occasions...
That's a good one, Christina! We always display a nice collection of loose cabs. We get folks asking what the "Properties" of a particular rock are. My standard reply? "Well, it's pretty hard.....". You gotta have a little fun in this biz now and again!
When I did more jewelry I bought clip on backs since I had so many - "oh I was looking for clip-ons" I only sold one of those pairs! I understand lookers, sometimes when I go to shows (as a customer) I venture into booths to "see" a product because it is different although I may not be particularly interested in buying - I do not hold up the artist with questions that take them away from buying customers.
My answer to the original question is it is the heat. Now that I do plates it has happend at more than one show where a customers will hold the plate over the concrete floor and ask if I drop it will it break. I smile and say "it's glass" while keeping my fingers crossed that they don't try that floor out. Yep, has to be the heat!
How about the 'looker' that spends 5 minutes looking at your earrings, you finish with the customer you are helping, apologize for taking so long to get to them, and you get "Oh, I don't wear earrings", a wave of the hand brush-off, and turn their back and walk away. I love those customers b/c they make me appreciate our real customers.
Sometimes I have to hold my tongue - I've had the experience of wanting to say something really sarcastic to someone who is clueless, like "You are not qualified to buy my jewelry" - and when I manage to keep the thought to myself, sometimes, the person keeps looking at what I have and decides to buy something. LAst week the question was "Do you drill the holes in the pearls?" What can I say? "No, I buy loose pearls from a supplier and use them in the one-of-a kind" jewelry that I design and make by hand." - Ohhhh, do you make everything yourself? Aaarghhh.
Ahh yes the clip on earrings requests. I now have some standard looking pearl clip ons and offer those in these cases and they are shocked I actually have sold a pair or two. But now they've got a perfect excuse to browse as they want something else apart from pearls. Must do it really as I know they'd sell eventually.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
of 4 Next