Market Burn Out
As you all know I had a wrist injury that prevented me from going to my last craft fair and unfortunately my first event was postponed due to rain. My first official events for the year were both on the same day. I had the Hatboro Community Market in the morning and the Hatboro Sip n’ Shop at night.
When I first started doing events for my business, I jumped in full force signing up for as many craft fairs and farmers markets as I could. So many that by the end of the season I was burnt out and disappointed. You see I am not a born saleswoman. Selling products came about from my love of creating. I was making so much and experimenting with new techniques and molds and colors that I ended up with piles of items I really couldn’t use. Some I gave as gifts and some I still have but at the end of the day if I wanted to continue making, I needed to clear some space. That is when I started looking for in person events.
For the last two years I have done over 20 events each year. The problem I came across having so many events was that I stopped creating because I really wanted to make something and started creating just so I would have enough to sell. It drained the fun out of it. Of course, each project also gave me content for my social media as well so it gave me the opportunity to make the most out of each project. But honestly, I have never made a ton of sales and so many times people would come into my booth saying I want to learn how to do this and have questions. And you know what, those were my favorite people to talk to because I absolutely love teaching people how to make the items I make and give tips and I am doubly excited when they come back and see me and tell me they tried it and it worked.
I have always enjoyed showing my process and giving tips about working with resin and even though I love creating for myself it gives me purpose and so much more satisfaction showing someone else how to create and see them succeed.
This year I am doing things a little bit differently. I have only signed up for some local shows this season and not nearly as many as before. I am making it my goal to be more consistent adding my items to my Etsy shop and taking the steps to be able to teach. I am reinvigorated having decided the path I truly want to go down and am excited to pursue some other avenues so that I too can succeed.
