Quick report back on the Chicago Artisan Market at Ravenswood. This was my first indoor market, and definitely a learning experience for me in many ways. For example:
– I had totally inadequate lighting (before the next one of these I do, I plan to invest in clip-on LED battery spotlights). The vendor next to me felt so sorry for me that he actually turned one of his spotlights onto my booth (see third pic) — very kind.
– it’d be good to figure out a way to go higher in these warehouse spaces, especially to take better advantage of hanging space for my resin pieces, which look great with light behind them. That may involve a little construction and thought.
– I was very slow making up my mind about doing the market, got the last and smallest booth, and I think that’s probably just not worthwhile for me. It meant I had to use my resin tables for displaying other things, and that meant most people didn’t even notice them. A larger space would let me set up a few different displays:
a) one for tables, probably stacked for efficiency and visibility,
b) one for the resin charcuterie boards (which were my best seller), cheese knives, wine bottle stoppers, and tea towels
c) one for cookbooks and curry powder
d) one for jewelry (also sold well)
e) and if there’s room, one for soaps and/or candles, but I didn’t sell any of those at this fair, so this may just not be the place for it
I basically broke even on immediate costs — $500 booth fee, about $700 in sales, but I had to pay Izzy to cover my shop Sat / Sun, so that was $160. No payment for me, my time working the fair, my time making the items, or the supply costs. But you expect losses when you’re getting a business up and running, and if just one person comes back to my store and buys a $500 table (one couple was seriously waffling about the rose table), that would start heading it well into the profit direction. Or if I book a few people to do their wedding flowers — there was lots of interest in that.
Overall, great foot traffic throughout the weekend (I was busy enough that I couldn’t really go see most of the other booths), well run market with clear instructions and communication, help from sturdy young teens with load in and load out (much appreciated). I’d happily do it again, if they have me back, and do a bigger booth.
*****
And a shout-out to The Red Maple by Vaiju Saraf, a mosaic artist making these really adorable trays. They’re out of my personal price range, but I think they’d fit in so nicely in my store. Maybe I can find room for them, if she’s interested in selling on commission.
https://www.theredmaple.online
