It's Time for the Harvest Festival!

 

Woo Hoo!  It's the first craft show of the season...the Harvest Festival is coming to Las Vegas this weekend, Sept 5-7!  This show brings lots of excitement for vendors and customers alike.  

Don't forget to bring your discount coupon or non perishable food donation for Safe Nest to receive $2 off your entry fee.  The Country Register has a discount coupon on the cover, the newspaper has been running coupons as well.  

I've seen TV commercials every morning this last week and this week during the news on Channel 8.  Billboards are up too.  Let's hope it brings in lots of excited buyers.  

This year, I sucked it up and spent the money to get a double booth so I can feature Christmas as well as Harvest and Halloween.  With that being said...please...come shop with us!  We've moved locations within the show to do this, you can find us on the first row in space 128. 

The show will be at Cashman Center and runs Friday and Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday 10 to 5.
We'll see you there!

Saving you some $$$$

 

We'll be selling our wares at the Harvest Festival is weekend at Cashman Field. 

It opens at 10am on Friday.  Print or take a picture of this discount card and show it to us to get 10% off your total purchase at Harvest Festival.  It's also good at Art in the Park, The Great Craft Festival, and Doodlbug Bazaar. 

You can also save $2 off your entry to Harvest Festival with the coupon on the front of the Country Register of Southern Nevada  Don't forget to bring a couple of canned goods for Safe Nest as well.

We'll see you there!



New Postcard

Well, here it is...a postcard with my big shows, photos, and logo and other details just for you.  

Latest Postcard

Please mark your calendars for the events at the bottom. 

I'm here for so many of your needs.  Please call if I can be of service to you.

Fall Show Schedule

Here it is...my schedule for the fall.  I'm teaming up with my friend Diane again this year.  Autumn will be at Art in the Park with us as well.  I finally talked Diane into a name and she followed mine.  Twiddlebugz is what I've called my kids forever.  She called hers Doodlehoppers.  Together I think it makes a fun name...we even had some business cards made with Twiddlebugz & Doodlehopperz for this season.  We hope to see you out shopping at our shows. We've got some fun and unique stuff for you this year. 

This week's topic...Publicity

Yes, this goes hand in hand with signage, but I wanted to cover a few other options as well.

· Business Cards: Every item that is sold at your booth should have your name, business name (if you use one), and contact information on it. The simplest way to do this is with a business card. Be sure to place one in every purchase. Have them available in your booth for customers to pick up also. You can order business cards easily at local office supply stores and printers or you can order them on line. They don’t have to be expensive; in fact, there are several on-line websites that offer them for free in smaller amounts (+/-250) and all you have to pay is shipping. Vista Print is the one I use and have been very pleased. If you ‘google’ “free business cards” you’ll find many websites to choose from. Every website has hundreds of designs to choose from. One company even has a smaller card they call ‘moo’ cards. These would even make good tags.
· Postcards: These are great if you are doing several events. You can list your schedule of where customers can find you and your products. Mail them to your customers if you have a mailing list. I’m always excited when I get one in the mail for a craft show. It goes right on the fridge so I don’t forget. Hand them out at shows also to pick up new customers. Just be sure to include all your contact information on them as well. These work great for sales, promotions, open houses, parties, etc.
· Flyers: Often with the same information as a postcard. I normally have a list of where customers can find me next. You may want to add a coupon to the flyer on a future purchase. This will also help see how well they work.
· Magnets: Yup, you can have your business card made into a magnet. Maybe you want to create a cute little promo item with your contact information to hand out to customers. People keep these things.
· Pens and Pencils: How many times have you gotten a pen with business information imprinted on it? I think I have 3 in my purse right now. One of them is mine. These are great, inexpensive gift items to hand out to your customers as a thank you. Leave one at the doctors’ office, supermarket, etc when you fill our forms and checks. Google sites to have them printed, there are many to choose from.
· Calendars: Another great item to print your contact information on. Customers will see it all year.
· Vehicle Signage: Today, it is so much easier to obtain vinyl lettering for your vehicle windows than ever before. Home based businesses with websites make it quick and convenient to order on the web. Etsy and EBay have many to choose from. It is easily applied and removable. Another option is magnets that stick to the door. Again, these are available at sign/printing shops and on the web. These may be a better option for you since you can pull them off at a moments notice. Painted signage can also be applied by a professional. Which ever method you choose to use, keep the information short and simple: Name, phone, website, a very brief description if needed, and your logo is you use one.
· Websites: Basically there are two different types; one that provides information only and the other that offers products for sale. If you are creating items to sell then the second one is yours. You may want to consider Etsy, Artfire, Crobbies, ShopHandmade, etc. to get started. There are many of these selling sites where you can list your items for sale. You set up your own little site within their site. They are easy to operate and inexpensive. All have links to contact you directly. Customers can purchase 24 hours a day and an email will come to you with the sale inform. You may also want to have your own website. One can be built for you or you may opt to build it yourself. The second is much less expensive and you can change your photos and information yourself or have someone do it for you.
· Blogs: These are kinda mini sites if you choose them to be. Most of them are personal journals of some sort. Most creative people I know use them to promote themselves, get their items on the web and direct customers to their selling sites. It’s a great way to keep your friends and customers updated on the latest project or event in your life. I love blogs. You can visit mine at http://TwiddlebugzDesignz.Blogspot.com. Blogspot, Blogger, Typepad and Wordpress are all very popular places to create your blog.
· Twitter: It’s all the rage at the moment. It’s basically a few short blog. Just a sentence or two. (Updated my blog. www.TwiddlebugzDesignz.com for example). You can follow someone on Twitter just like you can on a blog. It can be a great way to stay in contact with your customers. You can access Twitter via you computer and cell phone (if you have internet on it).
· Facebook: This is another way to share your new products, activities, photos and events as well as your personal life. Many businesses are now using it to help promote themselves. You can even create a fan page. You can also have separate accounts for your personal and business activities.
· Word of Mouth: This is almost always the best way to advertise because most of it will come from your customers. A third party talking about your product, service, and you can be far more influential than if you tried to do it yourself.
· Free Product: This is another way to promote yourself and your product. A simple little gift item with each sale, of course with your contact information, is a wonderful way to get your name out. I’ve used a mint matchbook for the last couple of years. I put them in each purchase and also place a small basket of them in my booth for potential customers to take. It has started many conversations and made sales as well.
· Raffle Item: If you want to build your mailing list you may want to offer a raffle drawing for a larger item of yours. Just be sure to keep that item separate from your sale items. Maybe place it behind your check out area. Print out a sheet that can be cut up into separate tickets that customers can write down their information. Be sure to get their phone and email information as well as a mailing address to you can reach the winner and build both your mailing list and your email list.
· Evite: If you have an email list of your customer base consider using Evite. It’s a basically a postcard you email to your customers to notify them of your shows, partys, open houses, events. etc.
· Email Blast: Send your family, friends, and customers a quick update if you have something going on they might want to attend. Just be careful not to SPAM your customers. You want them to be curious and excited to get email from you.


Ideas for publicity are almost endless. If you have more ideas, post them in the comment area if you'd like to share.

Today's topic...Signage

You got your booth up and your display is looking good now let everyone know who you are and what your products are. Signage is an important part of your booth that is often overlooked. Whether you sell jewelry, food products, or knitted item you should have some signage. You don’t have to go overboard and plaster your display with it but do let customers know who you are. They may want to contact you after the event for information, products, etc. Signage and publicity go hand in hand but I am planning on breaking them up into 2 parts.

· First thing I must say, make your signs look good. Make them on the computer, have them made professionally, look to scrapbook techniques, paint them if you have that talent, etc. I don’t personally recommend hand written signs that are done in haste with a Sharpie. Take the time to make them look fabulous. Remember, they represent and speak for you!
· A banner of sorts is wonderful to have in your booth. Sign shops can make a professional one for you if you choose. But if your product is handmade you may want to consider making one yourself. With all the craft technology there is today why not. Look to scrapbook stores and supplies for ideas. Pennants are really popular currently. Die cut machines make everything neat and crisp looking. Machines like the Cricut will cut paper, fabric and vinyl…all of these will make a great banner or sign. Signs and banners can also be ordered through many of the vinyl wording websites.
· Maybe just a small sign is all you want in your booth. One that can be attached to the wall or table front with safety pins or tape.
· Another option is to place your information in a picture frame. It can be set anywhere in your booth or at your checkout table.
· Your computer is a great resource to create a sign of many sorts with the various publishing programs available.
· If your product has rare, complicated or interesting processes include a sign of sorts that has photos of you working on your product and how the process works. Wool felting, ceramics, metalwork, etc come to mind for me.
· Sale signs are great attention getters. Make them a bright color is you wish to really draw attention. As with almost all signage…don’t just scribble something quick and hang it up. Think it out ahead of time; make them look neat and professional. Have them ready and use when needed. These could include a percentage off, buy one-get one, free gift with purchase, etc. or just a simple ‘SALE’ may be enough for you.
· Office supply and display fixture stores have a variety of items to hold signage including metal frames that stand above a product, acrylic holders that stand or hang, floor and wall mounted fixtures as well. Go explore them, you may find something that really fits your needs.
· Consider laminating smaller signs so they can be used repeatedly without wear and tear on them.
· If you are placed in an aisle format (or any layout) you might consider have a sign that sticks out into the aisle so folks can see it before they get to you. Just remember to place this high enough so no one hits their head on it. PVC pipe and joints could be used to create a pole that can be attached to your side wall with tape or zip ties, etc. Your sign could be made of fabric, wood, plastic, vinyl, etc. and hang from the pipe with rings or slide over it. Wood could also be easily used.
· Price tags: Make them easy to read for your customers. WRITE CLEARLY! That is so important. Don’t confuse customers with trying to figure out if it’s $15 or $5 ‘cuz the dollar sign is confusing or loosely written. If you pull your tags at the sale counter, you may wish to place a description on them so you can tell what they were later. If you leave them on consider making them on the computer and include your contact information. But again, make them legible whether they are small or large.
· It’s okay to put a sign in your booth stating that no photos or sketching is allowed. You work hard on your product. I often will make them on the computer so they can be folded and stand on their own. Sometimes I tape them to a wall or basket. Don’t get obnoxious in your wording or actions. There will still always be someone that wants to take a photo so they can recreate an item. Simply be polite and ask them not to take photos, if they continue you have the right to ask them to leave your booth…again, politely.
· Payment forms: Let customers know if you accept credit cards. It will boost your sales 9 times out of 10. If you only accept checks and cash, that’s fine. Let them know who to make the check payable to, this way you don’t have to spell it out all day.
· Business cards: You really should have your contact information available. These will be discussed in the publicity segment next week.

I'm in ME's Home Companion!

I love Mary Englebreit and her magazine. Besides an actual crafting magazine, it's my favorite. I actually took out an ad in the current issue. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time but there is a story behind it so let me tell you.

This year I was again accepted and invited to attend and show my work at the Candy Dance in Genoa NV. It's a huge show and I have traveled the 8 hours to attend it for the last 2 years. It's a cute little town at the base of the mountain filled with gorgeous Victorian homes, quaint little shops, and more. Shoppers come from all over to come shop including the Lake Tahoe area, Reno, Carson City, and more. Cars are literally lined up for miles to come into Genoa. Last year, I went to sell my wares and I did really well. It was awesome. The horrible thing was that I drove home on my 25th wedding anniversary. I cried over it about half the way home. Now Timm isn't normally a real sensative or romantic guy but this was a straw that about broke the camel's back...and I must say I can't blame him. So even though the whole event ends before my anniversary, I decided not to particpate this year. It was a difficult decision to make but I am trying to be a better wife and person when it comes to these kind of things.

So...anyway, instead of spending the money for the booth space at the Candy Dance, I spent it on an ad in Mary Englebreit's Home Companion magazine. Here is my ad, I put it together myself and I like how it turned out. Hopefully it will pay off. Look for it in the Artist's Gallery on page 127. Please consider my website when doing your holiday shopping this year, I'd like to continue to advertise in a few national formats this next year. ;)