Profile of Another Successful Home Show
This year I was able to attend Alix Mikesell’s annual home show, despite freezing rain. This year she held her show on two non-consecutive days, a Thursday evening and a Saturday afternoon.
She really transformed her house into a gallery — I didn’t feel like I was in a house, I felt like I was in a gallery, and the atmosphere was one of “people are here to shop.”
The dining room was the main display area, with the check out area in the next room — I thought that was good, a very clearly defined check out area that says, “yes, we expect sales.”
Alix served wine and cheese, another decision that contributed to the “gallery” feeling. She created a full color oversize postcard and distributed it to 300 people. Attendance was about 55 people over two days.
She had multiple display areas, one area mounted on the wall, and three areas on tables, which is a great thing to consider for traffic flow. If one area was crowded, I still had other things to look at.
Going to Alix’s home show, and another one the same day, I was surprised how exciting it was to be in the artist’s home, to see their entire line, to be near their creativity. And this is what I do too! I thought I was immune. (The only thing that could make that even better would be large photographs of the artist at work on display.)
I was surprised to experience first hand that that that “feeling of something special” is greater at a home show than at a craft fair. There’s an air of exclusivity and urgency because you were only invited because you’re a friend or a friend of a friend, and there’s a time limit! If you don’t buy now, you might not be able to!
Both of the artists whose home shows I visited mentioned working non-stop for a month or two to prepare for the show, not to mention the disruption to the house itself.
“Was it worth it?” I asked them, Alix replied,
“Absolutely! The bad weather on Saturday affected turnout somewhat, but Thursday night went very well. Next year I may add Sunday afternoon hours also. As long as the house is set up, what’s another day? I couldn’t have done it without the help of two friends. One helped me with pricing everything the day before the sale. Both assisted with displays and setting up the day of the sale and both worked the sale with me, greeting customers and processing sales. They get free jewelry for all their time and help.”
If you’d like to host your own home show, plan now for next year’s holiday season. Schedule in the time to make enough jewelry, and plan backwards for how much time you will need to have your postcard printed and get it mailed.
Will you try it? Have you? Post a comment and tell us about it! Thanks.
(c) 2007 Elaine D. Luther All Rights Reserved
Image is (c) Alix Mikesell All Rights Reserved
Technorati Tags:
jewelry sales, handcrafted jewelry, home show
What a coincidence ! I just read your post on this artist’s home show today and I myself did my own on the 8th- only one day. I have to say that you describe it so well! I think people had that EXACT feeling while visiting mine (one day, around 30-35 people from 100 direct invitations. I also sent out some other 600 fliers- but I think it served more as publicity). This was a first home show, and I consider it a big success! I still have people who couldn’t come ask me if they can stop by because they feel they’ve missed out on something special. We had pouring rain all day and yet many people came … and bought! I too sensed that people felt special being there and knew they were here to shop on an exceptional occasion. I set up a neat cozy atmosphere too with good lighting, so once they walked in the door they felt special, sort of “artist’s show-room” type. Only my work on the stands, photos of jewelry on the wall, a nice table near the entrance with a guest book for people to leave their contact info for other shows. Special chocolate niblets, fruit juice, a special area for gift-wraping and checking out. I even had an assistant ( my 7 year old !).
It was a totally different, much more positive, experience than art shows.People weren’t here out of curiosity, or shopping for something else and happened to bump into me. They knew it was jewelry, and they knew from my invitations what style and price range to expect too (I had photos of different styles and price range on it). I’d been hesitant for a long time, but now I definitely recommend home shows. great post !
I love your idea of photos of the artist at work ! That will be next. At shows in the past I’ve put up a DVD on a lap-top with photos and that is cool too. Love your blog !
I strted a craft and canlde business last year. I found craft shows to be long and boring for the amount of sales. So I talked my mother and sister each into having home shows. I sent postcard invitations to their guests and the hostess providided refreshments. I advertised it as a cash and carry party. They were a great success. There was a lot of work involved in getting ready for them because i didn’t know what to expect, and I had to carry a lot of inventory but they could also place orders. I sold over half of my jewelry and bath products and got orders for more.
My sister and I are already planning a spring show. I made more doing these two shoes than I ever did at a craft fair.
Wow! Congrats! Thanks so much for sharing your story!