Yeah, I know, I haven't been around much. I wish I could say it was because I have so much awesome stuff going on that I couldn't even sit down to write, but unfortunately that isn't the case. But, it could be worse! When it comes to certain aspects of life, no news is good news.
I've been working a lot on my crafts lately, making jewelry like crazy. I'm working on the website, erasing stuff, adding new stuff, erasing that, adding different stuff...it's never ending. I've tried different ways of promoting my work on Facebook, having a business page isn't always the best way to reach everyone I want to reach, but it's the best I can do on there. Of course, I can pay money to them to have better reach. I don't think so! So, I continue to plug away trying to get more Facebook fans. Plug time!! www.facebook.com/beadness There it is! :)
I've also joined up my jewelry business to Twitter, not sure if it's going to help much, but time will tell.
I made up a Pinterest account to promote my work too, in the hopes that getting some photos out there might direct some traffic back to me, and hopefully some sales!
I've also been looking into more local craft shows. I've got an application in to a local art school's new show this summer, so I'm hoping that works out. I have also looked into setting up a table at a twice-weekly free concert put on in my city, lots of people show up there for the free show, partly because its free, and partly because they get some great acts, and partly because there isn't much else to do here. One good thing about vending here is that I can walk there, and I don't have to rely on someone to drive me. I hate asking people to drive me places.
I've been wrestling with the idea of keeping a stockpile of jewelry on hand at all times. In the past, every single thing I have made has gone into my booth space in the store Craftworks. I pay a monthly fee to exhibit my work there, and for the past 9 years, it's been the only place my work has been on display. Besides that, the past 2 years I have participated in a local weekend long craft show that's been in operation for over 35 years, so there's a good turnout there.. If there's one thing about Peterborough, people sure like their traditions.
Anyway...off track a little. My struggle has been with having it in my head that it can't sell if its just sitting on a shelf in my room. It needs to be on display!! It can't sell if nobody can see it. So, every item has gone into the store. Being that the store is out of town, if a craft show came up at a local church or something, it was too much hassle to get someone to drive me out there, pick up my stuff, then after the show, get them to drive me back out there, wait 2 hours while I put it all back on the shelf, then drive me back home. All for a 4 hour show in a local church? No thanks. Further to that, working in a retail environment means that my weekends are never my own, so I had to turn down offers for shows because I was always working. Now, I'm doing a new job, which has a little bit of flexibility on weekends, so I can actually book some days off here and there, and actually get approved for them!! One more hurdle cleared in the quest for more shows. I have also 95% convinced myself that it's OK to have stock on hand, just sitting on a shelf. I post every item I make on my personal Facebook page, my business Facebook page, and my website. None of these have a direct option to buy right from the page, but I'm getting there. This helps me feel better about having my work "on display" and "sitting on a shelf" at the same time!!!
So, with this in mind, everything I have made since November is still here at home with me. For one thing, my space in the store is pretty full, and I don't want too much stuff in there, nobody likes clutter. Even though I have been working like crazy for months, all of my stock could likely fit into a shoebox. It's funny when I see it all in one space like that, I'm like, "That's it??" But in truth, some of my things are so small, I could pile up the whole item on a dime, and not have any of it fall off the sides!
My first cool thing I am doing in Operation Sell-More-Work-in-2013 is an open house jewelry sale in my home. I'm simply setting up tables, and people can stop by at any time during the day to have a look, and see if they want to buy. It isn't costing me any money, just my time, and it's fun for me, so I don't mind spending time on it! If it's a success, I might do it monthly.
On that note, I still have some last-minute things to prepare for the sale, so I'm off for now!! Toodles!!
Ness
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