[Jewelry making - Article 00445] - Re: [Orchid] Outdoor booth set up

[Lisa Gallagher]

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Hello Jean,

    Well, first of all, congrats & good luck! Regarding seated/vs
    standing, I'd recommend standing, unless you're in a bar-height chair
    that is all but standing height. You want to be "ready to go", attend
    to your customers when they come in, not all relaxed & unattentive
    looking, sitting in a low chair. Now, this opinion also goes with the
    idea that your tables are at a good height, too. 

    When I had my last setup, which was based on 3 folding tables of the
    same size as yours, I used PVC pipes on each table leg to bring it up
    to 36" height. Now, I also had a wooden top that was my actual
    "counter" on which sat my 5 cases, and it made a solid sort of Z
    arrangement, but using the tables as separate pieces can work, too. I
    rather liked the Z setup, but with the wooden top I'd made for it, it
    was sort of static, I couldn't arrange it any other way, and it
    relied on the ground being pretty level so they all lined up. I've
    changed it now to improve on both of those points, but I still
    arrange it pretty much that way. To equate it to your 3 tables: One
    to one side across the front, let's say from the left front corner,
    right at the front of the booth space. 

    Second one going perpendicular to that one down the center of the
    booth space. Third one going again perpendicular to that one, heading
    towards the right side of the booth, parallel to the front of the
    booth. So, left-to-right, front-to-back, left-to-right. I had in mine
    about 2' of space behind each table for me, allowing as much space as
    possible for the customers. I'd read somewhere that if anyone should
    be cramped, it should be the vendor, not the customer. Good advice, I
    think! There needs to be a gap somewhere, perhaps at the end of that
    back-most table, for you to get by, too, of course. Anyway, what I
    liked about the setup (and still do, even if I have it created a
    little differently now) is that there is something right at the front
    to attract people, but then there's space to draw them in (if you
    just have everything lined up at the front, they can easily look at
    everything & just pass on by) and there's still enough space for
    several people to be in there. If you have too narrow of a space,
    they will cluster up in it & end up leaving because they are
    uncomfortable & maybe can't see very well. It's only a 10'x10'
    space, so there's only so much room you can provide, but the more you
    can, the better! 

    My other advice to you, is make sure those sheets cover your tables
    ALL THE WAY to the ground. Very important! One way of doing it
    simply, is to make sure you have something long enough to go from the
    table top to the ground plus several inches, and long enough the
    other way to go around at least 3 sides of your table. Put the cloth
    around the table so that it goes from top to floor, with the several
    extra inches lapping onto the table top, and use tape to hold it
    there. It will hang nice & straight, and not look like you just threw
    something onto the table. Now, take a cloth that covers the top of
    the table, plus hangs down evenly around the edges by several inches,
    and use that to cover the top. 

    You didn't have to make a fitted cloth, but it looks nice & tidy. And
    the nice thing with that, too, is that you can use an interesting
    patterned fabric for the skirt part, but then just a solid
    coordinating fabric for the top that won't fight with the jewelry you
    have placed out on it. Another suggestion I have (don't I have
    lots?!) is to also get blown up pictures of your work to hang on your
    booth walls. You can get basic (and cheap) poster frames for them,
    and enlargemnts with the on-line places don't cost a fortune. I got
    mine from vistaprint.com, the same place I happily get my postcards &
    biz cards. 

    Get AT LEAST 16x20 or else they'll look silly. I have two on my back
    wall, one on either side of my banner, and then one on each side
    wall, so a total of 4. I also have other things hanging on my side
    walls, like my "juried Guild Chapter member" certificate, and my
    "gift certificates/custom work welcome/etc" sign. If I've rambled on
    too much (or not) and you'd be interested in pictures, you can see
    different setups of mine at: 

    http://www.lisagallagher.com/GenPics/BoothDisplaySetups.html 

    Please note that the most recent one was taken on a rather windy day,
    so the walls (and the pictures one them) look a bit uneven. I didn't
    have my inside banner on the back wall showing, also, because I need
    to re-figure how to hang them in the tent (the hanging mechanism-
    velcro & ribbon) was designed for my inside walls. I had a banner on
    the outside, but I took it down just in case the photo was
    application-worthy (it's not). Oh, also, I invested in the
    interlocking foam squares for the floor of my booth. It's great for
    both your feet AND your customers. Lots of the customers compliment
    me on my nice flooring when they walk in, and I use that as a funny
    way to suggest they should stay a long time & buy lots of jewelry. I
    got them from greatmats.com. I use them both indoors & for outdoors
    on pavement. 

    It's comfortable, plus it helps to tie the booth together. OK, it's
    the end of a long weekend, I'm a bit punchy, & I've been rambling, so
    I'll stop now. Feel free to ask if you have any other questions. One
    last note... Making a booth setup you're happy with takes a LOT of
    research (going to shows & taking notes), a lot of planning, and a
    lot of tweaking along the way. That first setup pictured I used ONCE.
    The second I used for 2+ years, and I hope this current one (used
    once so far) will last at LEAST a few years, with all the work put
    into its design & creation! Once again, congrats & good luck! 

Lisa
Designs by Lisa Gallagher
www.lisagallagher.com
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