Learning Curve

Here is an incomplete list of the things I learned at the Philadelphia Buyers Market two weeks ago.

• Hooks are your friends
• If you have to, make your own hooks!
• Need more of those cool hooks from the signs? Who doesn't! I got the down low on the coveted hooks from two experienced vendors. Many people leave their sign and their hooks, once they are gone snag the hooks! I did that and I felt very silly but I now have a couple dozen hooks! The more sensible and much more dignified way to score the hooks is to ask for them at the begging of the show. Too easy, right?
• Lighting is not to be forgotten or done at the last minute. Trust me, I learned that the hard way. Thank goodness that there is an Ikea 11 minutes away from the convention center! Even better to know is that Tony Lukes is close to the Ikea!! But wait, even better than Ikea and Tony Lukes, you get to see this crazy Titanic ship while at Ikea!

• A second layer of drape is good for hiding cords and not getting you neighbor all hyped up! Oops, sorry about that! This is where you need all those cool hooks! You can grab some fun curtains at Ikea, the ones with grommets then use the hooks to hang them up.
• Easy-Peasy!
• Mats-Mats-Mats! I hear that is the place to go for fun and functional flooring. For me it is all about the Flor carpet tiles. I just love that concept. While we were wonderfully gifted with free carpet, I would have skipped it if I had the chance since the carpet fumes gave me the worst headache. TIP: You can air out the Flor tiles at home before the show!!!

• My booth lay out was tricky. Going in to the show I had a clear vision for my 5 x 10 section of the booth. But, it was obvious that wasn't going to work at all. So I changed it up and I was very happy with it But then I was told to move my loot up to the front of the booth, I was told that I had a 'dark tunnel of death' going on. NICE! I wasn't sure I was going to take the experts advise but the next morning I got in early and moved the bakers rack and squish up the dress forms. It was a good idea after all. What I really liked was how I tidied up the merch on the bakers rack. It was less craft show, it was cleaner and easier to see.

• Philadelphia is great food! Reading Market is a must. Next time I am eating lunch there every day.
• Pack the hand truck first so that it gets in the van no matter how full the van gets. Who cares if you have to unpack the entire van to get to it at least you have the silly thing.
• Teamsters are cute! On Monday while I was moving the forward two big burly guys chatted with me about my first time experience, the economy and sales. It made me miss the gaffers from my movie set days.

I wish I could share with you every little bit of information and every pearl of wisdom that I gleaned from the other exhibitors and The Rosen Group. Everyone was open, giving and kind to share with us what they knew. I couldn't agree more with another Etsy Street Team gal when she called the weekend Trade Show Boot Camp!

Thanks for having us! I hope that you keep offering the program to Etsy Street Teams, it is truly an invaluable and eye opening experience!

my thinking place

Today I went to Forms and Fixtures looking for display pieces I realized I really wanted to be at Caravatis. This has always been my most favorite place to think. I can wonder the warehouse undisturbed amongst the old doors, claw foot tubs and iron gates and problem solve. I started doing this when I was renovating our 1920's home. There is something about being surrounded by architectural salvage that gets my creative juices flowing. As always, I left inspired.

If these were not 3 and 5 hundred dollars, (yes, your heard right) a piece

I could see them having a great hook and displaying Modern June aprons.

Now this is what I am talking about!

My dream trade show booth involves one of these bad boys for display!

I can see June standing next to it now in show room glam!

Ever since my college days I have loved tin ceilings. I see a back splash in this pile.

Here is a cool display idea for a B&M shop, frame the tin tiles with

salvaged trim and place a fancy hook near the top to showcase an apron on an hanger. FUN!

Imagine the oilcloth Stocking hanging on one of these pretties.

While, I won't be doing any of this for this show it is very fun to dream.

Maybe next time, with a booth of my own and a lot more lead time!

As I left someone asked me I found what I was looking for and I said yes... "I found inspiration".

Trade Show Prep - Signage

I woke up this morning thinking of Booth Signage, I love that about myself, the old unconscious brain problem solving while I sleep the night away, that must have been the cause for the killer head ache I woke up with.

I have always wanted to DYI a banner that looks like my business card and banners, the Blue Forever Oilcloth with the logo and stitching. To do this wouldn't be hard but it would be time consuming, too bad time is not a luxury I have right now. Plus, I worry about it being to crafty looking, for this show we need polish!

So now what? Big printing company, on line indy or local? Again, time is my enemy, I really don't have time to sit and search all day. So off to my crafty peeps for the 411. A quick call out on the Richmond Craft Mafia, a look around The Switchboards and the Etsy forums for some opinions.

So far I like Empire for it's easy to follow form, it made me realize that I liked the idea pole pocket instead of Grommets.

Buyers Market!

I just received some terrific news! Modern June and some other members of The Richmond Etsy Street Team are going to be showing their wholesale lines at the Buyers Market of American Craft! This is the big time peeps. WOW! I am pretty nervous but totally excited! My very first Wholesale Market!

Did I mention that it is only 17 days away? Yah, sit on that for a minute! Well, the line sheets are nearly ready for professional printing, a press kit is researched but not underway, and product samples now have a rack of their own. It's gonna be a wild ride so wish me luck!!!

What'a Week

Wow, what a week it has been! I haven't been blogging cuz I have been working and playing crazy-hard! A wonderful opportunity may have dropped in my lap last week, a chance to show in a massive handmade trade show. It was great - and massively stressful - just to do the application. I took it as a chance to tighten up the Modern June Line Sheet, create a Holiday Line Sheet and to start a press kit. I also took a few days to fine tune my accounts. It was an insane few days of computer work but it is good to have all this in the works, it makes it easier the next time.

But it wasn't all hard work, we played hard to0. On the Fourth we went to a party where kids of all ages shoot off fireworks for hours and we got some good grown up time too. The next day we enjoyed a locavore meal and bon fire at our BBFF's country home. What made this evening so incredible was the weather, misty and cold, we were all wearing jackets if you can believe it.

Well after a few more days of intense application work, the kids and I had a fun day out. We rounded up a some friends and hit the Movie Land for a free showing of Surf's Up. Afterwards we headed over to the gardens of Maymont. I have a little tip for you, do not wear your super cute red patent leather sling-back platforms to the gardens. Let's just it isn't a pretty sight when you fall into a stream near the waterfall. Not pretty at all! I'm just saying! : )

I then got to end my day with crafty girl date! Deanna, Dawn, Ono, Erin and I met for dinner down town. Popkins Tavern makes a mean hamburger! It was great to catch up with everyone, we laughed out crafty butts off! Me thinks that needs to be a monthly gathering!

Well, I can honestly say that I am exhausted! My goal for the day is to stay in my jammies as long as I possibly can! Wish me luck!