Looking around a big Craft Market on the weekend made me think about “crafting” and “marketing“.
All the crafts on display were topnotch. I wasn’t really interested in a lot of them, but I could appreciate the “craftmanship shape quality of all the vessles and other crafts present“.
The real difference was in the presentation/marketing.
Some artists displayed their stuff like cakes at a bake sale, while others thought a garage sale type layout might best attract attention and buyers.
These things were cool and reasonably priced, but they looked like crap just lying there. Having them on little stands would have been a lot better.
Maybe the artist wanted people to pick them up, but you could barely see what they were if you were just walking by.
Other artists really had a handle on the presentation situation.
There were many good techniques:
Cool Display Units
These would still look good sitting on a table, but the display unit made everything so much better.
This one triggered my curiousity. There were lighting fixtures/lamp things inside. Yes, I did look in all 3 holes.
Expensive Cool Stuff Out Front
I don’t think this person sold too many funky hats for $80, but they sold out of all the felt belts and pin-on corsage things that looked like flowers.
Grouped Things
Somethings just look better in numbers; lined up, grouped together, lying in bunches, or spread out.
United we stand, divided we don’t sell … or something like that.
20 together look cool, but maybe the effect will be different when you buy one and put it on your apartment balcony. These were the 2nd most photographed thing at the market. Having 10 people constantly buzzing around your display with cameras can’t be too bad.
Being colorful always helps.
Nicely lined up never hurt sales.
User friendly grouped musical things are begging to be looked at and played. (played term used loosely)
Things made for kids can’t be too bad.
Craft Market people are crafty … sometimes.
note: the jury is still out on this one.
These people were selling coat hangers made of twine or something. I guess they knew that their product wasn’t so visually stunning.
I think they sold them all though. (the coat hangers, not the chairs with lemons on them)
double note: ahhh! The most photographed thing at the Craft Market was …
The Pinky Girls working for Matsumoto City selling “2 Day Bus Passes“.
I was going to buy some … until I was reminded that I drove to the Market.
triple note: How not to sell your stuff …
don’t sit behind your wares in total despair.
quadruple note: I never mentioned the ring/jewelry people because really they don’t need any presentation skills or other help to make people look and buy their stuff.
quintuple note: “location, location, location” didn’t work at this place. The best located stand was a rogue shop on the way to the Craft Fair that 75% of people walked by to and from the Fair.
They were selling crappy factory laquer ware stuff and didn’t get too many sniffs, bites, or second glances.
sextuple note:
a craft market could be a boat show
a carafe market sells vessles too!
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