Painted Mailboxes

[Tuffy]

Red, When you last went to a craft fair or sale, do you remember the fun you had, Well this is no different except this time you are selling not buying. But then you never know , you may find something there that another crafter has done and you can't live without....... Go have a good time, enjoy yourself and hopefully you will sell everything..... Well you may want to save a few things for the next sale LOL..................

[Bummer Knees]

Red

Have fun Saturday, please take care of yourself and do not get to tired.

My sister builds mirrors, pictures, and furniture out of barn wood. Her items sell fast and she makes good money and has fun making her projects.

Her projects are a way for her to support her family as a single parent.

This is my younger sister that worked for a large aircraft company, was injured on the job, and then terminated by the company when she reached MMI.

[red1030]

sparkey Wrote:I think you will do fine on Sat. You will look back at this and say " it was fun and had nothing to worry about". I have been to craft fairs and you will meet alot of people that are walking around or that are sitting at their booths. I think you will enjoy being there and want to do it again the following year. I know also alot of people go to those things and expect people to sell things cheap like flea market prices. So if you do not sell many , do not think it is because you did not have beautiful work. It is because people go expecting to pay very little money for things.

Crafts take alot of time as you know and that is why it is more expensive than what people expect to pay. Keep it at the price you feel it is worth with the supplies you paid for and the time it took you to make them. If people really want it , they will pay it. You do beautiful work and I think selling those mailboxes with the season such as fall and winter will be great sellers if people decorate their mailboxes alot there. Good luck and have fun : )

PS. I would love to see the ones you make that are seasonal when you get a chance to post them. I live in the woods and not to many neighbors around me or I would love to buy one from you. I think if I still lived in Ohio in a big neighborhood I would not hesitate to.

Thanks Sparkey...I know that people do not want to pay for what the craft is worth. I priced everything on a % basis which was established based on research of cost on the net..then I lowered by 20% and even then it seems like a lot of money. At least it does until I cut in the business cost etc. I don't expect to make a lot interms of time in each piece. I just want to cover my cost and have alittle left over to go out and eat a nice dinner or something. Del is going to go and get another mail box for me to paint tomorrow. I am going to do a fall one as you suggested. As soon as get it done I will take and picture and post it... thanks for the idea and your support.

Red

[red1030]

RNvic Wrote:Red- You will do great! Just remember not everyone has your wonderful talent. Many will try to talk you down on the price. Don't go down unless you really feel like it. I think your painting is beautiful. The cookie jar that I brought home, sits on the side board for everyone to see, and me to enjoy. No, it doesn't have cookies in it. I put my pen collection in it. Please let us know how things go.
Tinkerbell

Hi Tinkerbell...thanks for you support ...I truly appreciate it. i am so nervous about this. I am so glad that you are enjoying the cookie jar and that you have found a good use for it..cookies would not be good for your health. I will take some pictures during the fair and post them for you all to see.... Brandi is afraid that I will come down for people and I said no I will not...no negatiation...I will give to my friends before I give to perfect strangers.... lets see if I hold to that...hehehehe..love Red

[red1030]

Tuffy Wrote:Red, When you last went to a craft fair or sale, do you remember the fun you had, Well this is no different except this time you are selling not buying. But then you never know , you may find something there that another crafter has done and you can't live without....... Go have a good time, enjoy yourself and hopefully you will sell everything..... Well you may want to save a few things for the next sale LOL..................

Tuffy...I am a little worried it won't sell because people do not like it, or it will all sale becasue they do like it and then what do I do about the one I am going to in 2 weeks, and the every week after that except Nov3 through the 22nd...I am going to be a busy beaver if I have a good selling. I have alot of stuff done...I have completed 16 large boxes full..plus a lot of extra boxes that the mail boxes are in, cake dishes are in...etc..,. We are going to make 3 car trips to unload it all.... thanks for you support

sweet tooth..thank you sweetie... I will feel your presence.... and everyone else thank you for your support it is appreciated... I will try to relax and just enjoy the day while Brandi runs the booth.... I will let you all know how it goes...love Red

[monster]

Red - I can't even pick a favorite this time, I love them all.

I'm wishing you all the best at your fairs, I know you will do well if the economy allows.

Love ya,
monster

[tweety00]

Red you could build into the price so that you could go down by 10-15 percent ,,, sorry I do this all the time ... If I want to sell at 20 I mark it 22 or 24 .. Ppl like to thing they are getting a deal ... and you never know We sell alot at full price also ..

Dont forget that other venders will want to take pictures or buy items so they can make for themselves ...

Have fun , take some paint and just let her do the selling as you teach ppl about the craft that you love !!! not all the teaching parts just enough to make them go wow .They never understand how many hours it takes to make something or the cost invlolved ..

[sparkey]

That also is a great idea to sit there set up doing a painting for all to see you in action. If you have a way of bringing stuff on top of all the one's you are selling, you could paint in front of people. If they see you painting a picture, they may even contact you to do one.

Maybe think of buisness cards to give out for the Nov. fair. This way you will have them in time for people to contact you to paint them something. You have wonderful talent. Put it to good use : ) It will not only be fun, but rewarding. I will be thinking about you on Sat.


Remember to send us pictures of the fall mailbox : )

[red1030]

Hi all...thanks so much for your support about this fair. It is tommorrow...nerves are still very rapid right now. I am trying to calm myself a little. I am worried also that my family will be disappointed in me if people do not like my painting. I am taking such a wide selection of items and if no one likes my things...not if they don't buy..I am not worried about that...I am worried about the comments. I don't mind critism that is done with an idea to help me do better...you all do that for me occassionally... I don't know.this is putting me out on the shelfs for all to judge... Just nervous....also....I TRULY DISLIKE TAKING MONEY FROM PEOPLE for something I made. What if I did something wrong and someones paint doesn't hold during washing and so forth. Does that make sense..?????.

Tweety, I guess my prices are too low then because I could not go down that much without moving into my actual cost of the item. Maybe I need to rethink all of this in terms of my pricing. I got my sales tax id and business license in the mail yesterday so I am good there. I am taking some acrylics so that I can paint names on mail boxes at the end of the day. I am also taking oil painting because I am going to paint three paintings attempting to have the children paint with me....I think this may gather people attention. We are setting up a table out side of the tent that I bought that will give kids an opportunity to make a necklace or bracelet out of beads. My grand daughter is going to handle this part. Originally it was to give the kids something to do while there parents are in the tent looking at a lot of painted glass. I didn't know that people will attempt to negotiate me down. When I am the buyer I go on what the price is and if I want it enough to pay what is being asked. I guess I better give this more though. My daughter sets up booth all the time at recruiting fairs through out the states of PA, NJ, De, and NY, so she is use to working with people attempting to sell a product. Of course with this there is not money involved...but she is attempting to sell someone on her company.

Sparkey....thanks so much for your support....it is so felt and I feel so not alone...thanks. I don't know why this is making me nervous... I have business cards now. I ordered them three weeks ago. The business name is "LuvmyBrush." I created a slogan for the business and it is "Creating begins with a brush." My thought is that anyone can paint, it only takes knowing the strokes and so forth. The logo is a heart with a Brush going through it. I also ordered a banner to put on my tent. I think I am really prepared...Brandi is coming by tonight on her way home from work to feel up her jeep with my painted goods. Then Del and I are taking 3 6' and 3 4' tables. The tent is 10X10....I bought nice table cloths that completely surround the tables and I fixed some boxes into shelves to be on the tables to show the items better. I am putting some coth on the shelves in an attempt to decorate a little bit. Anyway...I feel prepared just nervous.....but you all have been great.

Monster thanks for looking........

Thanks Red

[tweety00]

Red take something to put items on the floors also ... even a blanket for the ground ... ppl will see it and as you sell you can move other items to the top.

Put notes out that tell ppl that you have more under the tables .. for a 10x 10 tent isnt that big .. will take the 3 6 ft tables with room for 2 card tables on the ends .. not sure if you need to also bring chairs that are comfortable . Maybe you can put your painting table on the outside of the tent . so that your path to the selling doesnt get blocked ... take hats incase of heat .. munchies too
I still feel you will do so great truthfully .. just remember this its not over till you have started to pack at the end ok the first part of the day can be boring as they need to check out everyones items first then decide .

What are the hours that you are set up ?