Come and Join Us!

Another First Friday Indie Market is here!  Today from 4 to 9 pm, come on over to the corner of S. Elm and MLK to shop for some excellent handmade items. 

Mother's Day is almost here!  Are you ready?  If not, don't worry, our artists have you covered. 

Start with some amazing soap from Donna's Delights to pamper Mom

 

Steampunk Cellars has fun and funky jewelry to bring out Mom's inner-geek

 

Twisted Cork has interesting things crafted from upcycled wine bottles and corks

 

And it's hard to go wrong with jewelry from Grace & Elegance

 

So come shop for Mother's Day or just for yourself on this lovely May evening!  You won't be disappointed.  Don't forget to enjoy some tempting sweets from Savor the Moment and the delightful music of Stained Glass Canoe.  Bring a friend and enjoy the evening!

 

Keeping Track

I admit it, tracking inventory is a pain.  I am a master of procrastination when it comes to it.  However, I have learned that is a very necessary evil.  Without keeping track I wouldn't know so many important things!  What items are selling best?  What items aren't selling at all?  How long did it take me to sell that special piece I knew would be snatched right up?  How much do I owe for sales tax?  Oh so many questions I'd never be able to answer without inventory tracking.

Everyone has their own system.  Here's what I do: 

I assign each item it's own inventory number.  I write that number on tag attached to it and enter it on a spreadsheet with a name and description.  That way I know what it is if I need to make more items like it due to demand.  When I'm at a show, I write the inventory number down in my little receipt book (purchased from Wal-Mart for about five bucks).  When I get home from the show, I note on the spreadsheet the date sold for each item.  I take an envelope, write the date and total sales amount on the outside, stuff all the receipts inside and file it away. 

Sounds like a lot of work, but anything worth doing is worth doing right and inventory is definitely worth doing right!  It doesn't matter what system you use, maybe you want to work with special software like QuickBooks or the like.  Just find what works for you and make sure to keep track for continued success!

Another Year of First Friday Indie Markets!



We're off and running, folks. The weather cleared up and it's a great day to go shopping! Lots of talented vendors this month. . .

 

Candle-loupe has beautiful soy wax candles for any occasion

 

Robert's Birdhouses has all a birdhouse for the sports fan in your life

 

Beka Butts Illustration has some truly awe-inspiring artwork

 

If you want a sweet treat Savor the Moment has cake pops, whoopee pies, and more for you sweet tooth

 

Clara Marie's Southern Bakery has the best banana pudding, so get some quick before they're out!

 

Wash those yummy treats down with some great coffee from Beans Boro

 

 

Even Fido can get a treat from Running Dog Bakery

 

If the crafts and vintage finds aren't enough to peak your interest, listen to the Travers Brothers Band and you'll have to stay for more! 

 

 

And that's just the beginning!  There's still some time left to walk through and see everyone.  So what are you waiting for?  See you at S. Elm and MLK!

Be Set-Up Ready

After you get your tent ready, it's time to work on your product displays.  Obviously, everyone displays their wares in a different manner because we all sell very different items.  You can't expect what works for someone selling paintings to work for someone else selling afghans.  For that reason, I'm not going to be too specific on displays.  This post is just meant to give you some things to think about and some things that have worked (or not) for me.

Think about your aesthetic.  What sort of customer are you selling to?  For me, my work has a slightly vintage feel to it, so I cover my tables with vintage thrift store table runners and doilies.  It helps people identify fairly quickly whether what I'm selling is for them.  This does mean that not everyone will come into my space, but that's okay.  It's better to have people pass me who won't buy and free up space for my perfect customer.

Be mindful of weather concerns.  If you make lightweight things, try to have a "windy" plan.  Selling earrings and pendant on card stock displays means that I'm stocked with things that take off like little kites in a good gust which means hanging them on shutters only works on a still day. 

Look around online and when you go to events to see what other people are doing.  You won't want to recreate someone's complete set-up, but certain elements might speak to you.  Make mental, or even written notes, of things you might want to try or adapt for your own space.  There is a certain amount of trial and error.  If something doesn't seem to be bringing attention to your items, you can always try something else.

Once you have an idea of what you want to do as your set-up, practice.  Set your tent and displays up in your driveway.  Set it up and take it down a few times.  The more you do it, the easier and faster it will become.  As your friends to look at your displays and see what they think.  Where are their eyes drawn?  Is it to the items you want to market most?  Get some feedback.  It will help determine what works and what doesn't.  The better your display, the more likely you are to have a good show!

Get Your Tent Ready

The first thing you want to set up in your space is your tent.  Your tent will not only provide your shade on hot days, but it clears marks the boundaries of your space.  It's important to be able to clearly see the space you've been provided with.  First Friday Indie Market, like many craft shows, provides a 10' x 10' tent space, so you want your tent to be a 10' x 10' straight legged tent.  You may be thinking "Why does it have to be a straight leg tent?"  There are a number of reasons.

1. Straight legged tents are more stable.  You don't want your tent to have any excuse to tip over.   Tent weights are another big part of that.  Remember tent weights, that will come up again later.

2. Straight legged tents have a true 10' x 10' footprint.  That gives you a better idea of the space available to you.  You want everything to fit within your space.  If you have to walk around the outside of your tent to get from your sitting spot to help a customer or leave your tent to walk around, you need to change your layout.  Remember it's important to be courteous to your crafting neighbors as well.  You don't need to be tripping over each other to get around your set up.  It's an invasion of personal space and reflects an unprofessional attitude. 

3. That true 10' x 10' footprint also provides the most shade for you and your customers.  It also looks more professional and inviting. 

As soon as you have your tent up, you want to weight it down.  Tent weights are a MUST.   The last thing you need is a runaway tent causing chaos.  Many companies sell sandbag attachments for tents, but, if your like me, you really don't want to hand over any more money to them.  There are plenty of ways to make your own tent weights.  A quick Google search will provide loads of ideas.  In my case, I used a quick and dirty method.  My tent weights are simply milk jugs filled with sand and sealed with duct tape.  They may not look pretty, but they work.  Besides, whose going to looking at your tent weights when they're so busy perusing your lovely wares?  Just make sure you have about 20 lbs for each leg.

 

My sexy tent weights

 

 

Just remember that step one is setting up your tent and step two is putting on your tent weights, and you've got a great foundation for an excellent show!

Ready Yourselves!

It’s about that time again. The days are warmer (occasionally), the birds are returning from their winter vacations and this year’s first First Friday Indie Market is almost upon us! It seems like it was New Year’s yesterday and Christmas was last week, doesn’t it? Ready or not, here comes the season!

I don't know about anyone else, but I'd rather be ready than not. That means lots of planning, checklists, and failsafes. All that preparing doesn't mean I don't forget anything. It never fails that as soon as I sit back and look at my set-up, I remember something that never made it into the car. The good days are the days when it's something small, like glass cleaner for my mirror.

Throughout the month, I'll blog ideas to prepare yourself for craft fairs with special consideration to what you'll want and need to have for First Friday. Whether you set up with us for the April market or not until the holiday craft fair season, I hope this will be helpful to you. Let's all be ready and make this the best year of FFIM yet!

May Indie Market

In case you missed it, here are some photos of the awesomeness. Come join us on June 1st for the next First Friday Indie Market!