[Jewelry making - Article 00345] - Re: [Orchid] Show display improvements

[Roseann Hanson]

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    Hi Elizabeth. You are asking the same questions I just went through
    for my first show. Here are some interesting things I learned and am
    still (and I guess always will be) learning! (There is a photo of my
    booth on my website, under Galleries and Shows. 

    - I decided not to have a table across the front of the booth with
    me on the other side, as in my retail store experience the
    salesperson's ability to work with the customer and be 'friendly' and
    inviting seemed better to me. I figured I could also hand them the
    work and help them better. 

    I went to a lot of shows for research, and for myself, I found this
    open plan more inviting. I based my layout on one in particular which
    I found appealing because I could stand with the jeweler and chat.
    The ones where the jeweler stood behind the table, behind the glass,
    seemed snooty and removed. I never struck up a friendly chat with
    them. 

    However, experienced jewelers at the show complimented my booth and
    then said that I'd have more sales with the stuff all out
    front....people just respond better. 

    I still am personally fighting this but I guess I should try! I am
    thinking a modified L with a smaller table across the front and then
    another down the side so I can also have people in the booth but it
    DOES get crowded. 

    - I had gorgeous posters made (www.bigposters.com -- fantastic
    quality on foam core mounted for $40-45!!). They ARE hard to deal
    with. I used monofilament suspended from the side rafters, and velcro
    so the length could be adjustable, which did not work, so we're
    figuring a better way. They blow a bit in the wind. If they get
    spattered by water, they are ruined, so laminations would have been
    smarter. I would think framed would be smarter if you can secure them
    well, as they would not bounce around as much. 

    - Having the inviting chair was good for men and tired companions,
    and ME occasionally when it was slow. Though I HATE when I come into
    someone's booth and they are seated and doing sometthing other than
    pay attention to customers. 

    - Having the small table with "SHOW SPECIAL" earrings was a good
    draw but the sign should have been bigger. 

    - The mirrors are imperative. 

    All in all I learned a lot. I like my booth aethetically and I can't
    figure out how to do it the other way without losing some of the feel
    of the booth but it IS all about selling.... 

    I am thinking of trying this arrangement in one more show. At this
    first show it was slow sales all around anyway, I was in a TERRIBLE
    location, and the clientele not necessarily my kind of customers
    (they were more "cruise ship rich" looking not for art jewelry but
    for whatever is  popular on the shopping channels, like gold chains
    and tanzanite -- ack!). 

    Hope that helps. Tell me what YOU think! 

Roseann Hanson
Desert Rose Design Studio
www.desertrosedesignstudio.com
Tucson, Arizona
520-591-0508

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