Bridal Show

This Saturday, I have the opportunity to display my jewelry.  The event started out as an open house for a church that wants to promote their facility as a wedding venue.   As the organizer has been planning, she has been approached by several vendors who also wanted to display their products, and last week it was opened to vendors.  A local gal who makes wedding cakes will have samples and a florist will do some decorating ... and I will be there with a display of my jewelry.  So my BIG project for this week is to prepare for this open house.

I have no idea what to expect, really.  We have no clue how many brides-to-be may attend.  I do know that I'm not planning to sell "off the rack", but do plan to take orders.  So now I need to figure out what my display should be like -- I don't think my craft show set up it quite the right thing.  And I'm working on developing procedures and policies.   Because everything that I've done before was direct selling, I haven't had to worry about deposits, cancellation policies or payment plans.  I've created a worksheet form for taking orders and I definitely need to remember to take my credit card machine.  I'm working on a brochure -- this will be a bit experimental so I'm not having it professionally printed -- may need tweaking before I do that.  And I still need to decide exactly which pieces (and which colors) of jewelry I should take -- right now, I'm thinking that I'll take one of everything in white/clear to look bridal and take a second of everything in colors to show what things would look like for a bridesmaid.   I'm thinking that the whole display will fit onto one of my little tables (2x4' -- that I use 3 of at craft shows) but I should also take a second table where I can sit with a bride to plan her designs.  I'll bring the fabric samples I have from David's Bridal -- they could come in handy.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed .. and hoping for a successful day.  We'll see what happens!!!

Not This Time

I wasn't able to go to the bridal shows this weekend ... but it seems to be show season and there are several more coming up over the next few weeks.  I have some second chances!

I continue to think about the pros and cons of doing bridal shows ... and what I would have to do to get prepared for them.  Some of my questions will be answered when I can attend a couple more shows ... and some answers may just be within me.   I don't feel very confident sometimes and need something or someone to give me a nudge ... once I'm doing it, I'm fine ... it's just uncertainty that holds me back from trying.   I am blessed to have some brave people around me who have confidence in me when my self-assurance fails.

The next show I attend, I do need to talk to the hair stylists there.  I've been wanting to add crystal and pearl hair adornments to my product line.  I'm wondering if they have preferences about things:  do they prefer combs or pins?  do they prefer metal or plastic combs?  do they prefer the old fashioned hair pins or bobby pins?  do they prefer attachments wired on or glued .. or both?  I haven't done a lot of these things yet, but if I'm going to put the effort into practicing, I want to use products preferred by the people who will be using them.  It's weird sometimes what I lay in bed and think about!!  :)