Where I've been

**lynnzop**[$] · #1 06-13-2006, 09:37 AM

Wow, what an extended weekend!

Saturday outdoor street festival - super busy, had some folks actually TRAVEL to come to order things from me and see my new stuff. For a "questionable" part of town (it's really not bad, just has had some bad pub the last few months), I did really, really well...even with some higher end jewelry! Learned that in super windy conditions, I must adjust my display and have sides (i.e., tarp quickly wired up to my canopy) to block the wind.

Sunday another outdoor festival - this one was like a Parade of Homes, but for gardens. Weather was very cool (we had on gloves and winter jackets in the a.m.!) but it was nice. Decent sales, mostly sets of things. Ladies were picking up necklace/bracelet/earring combos, so I learned I need to work on more coordinating pieces...not just "matching" but things that can be displayed together that complement each other.

Monday (after working my real job!) I was invited to have a table at a Mary Kay Before/After Revive meeting. Many of the attendeees told me that they had expected to have Premier or some other "manufactured" jewelry but were really excited to see custom, artist-designed work (their words, not mine

). The guest speaker was super inspirational, and told me that I have a lot of potential for my business. She also mentioned that she does a number of events that would be perfect for me to showcase my work.

So Monday, while I didn't get any hard $$ in my pocket (wasn't supposed to "sell" per se), was a great experience. I'd love to do home shows, events like this where I get invited, as opposed to having to pay to be there! Plus the more intimate setting is just more relaxing and fun.

I'm pretty damn tired (got home late last night, chatted with the boys a bit and went to bed...didn't even clean up the kitchen, if you can believe that, I LEFT IT!) but feel energized and have some good marketing and artistic ideas.

How long until I can "retire"?

*emeleel* · #2 06-13-2006, 09:46 AM

Yay for you!

**hadassahchana**[$] · #3 06-13-2006, 09:50 AM

Lynn's things really are incredible. I took bracelets to England for all of the little nieces, and the sisters-in-law were jealous! The bracelets were just beautiful. I've also bought a...thingy for my glasses, and people off the street have come up and begged me to sell it to them on the spot.

Lynn, do you have business cards, btw?

frazzledspice · #4 06-13-2006, 09:57 AM

Congratulations! It sounds as if your jewelry business is really taking off.

**theworm**[$] · #5 06-13-2006, 10:42 AM

soon you can quit that day job!

**lynnzop**[$] · #6 06-13-2006, 10:54 AM

Quote:

hadassahchana said

Lynn, do you have business cards, btw?

Sure, you want me to send you some?

I would really, really love to quit the day job and do this full time. My brain even did the math on Saturday and figured that I made more in one day of selling than I do in one day of "real work".

Of course, however, that doesn't include material cost, taxes, retirement, benefits, stock options, and the joy of getting up every day at 5 a.m. to drive into town.

I'm still dreaming and scheming, however.

**theworm**[$] · #7 06-13-2006, 10:56 AM

I know that your house is small, but can you set up space in the garage or somewhere where you can teach classes? Or maybe at one of the stores that sells your goods? That will help.

**lynnzop**[$] · #8 06-13-2006, 11:00 AM

House is tiny, not really any space in the various buildings (believe it or not) that would be good for that type of thing. And Jeanie's shop is incredibly small too. But I've thought about checking with the local cc to see what their policy is on teaching classes...it's just up the road from me and I have not seen any beading or other types of jewelry making classes.

I have a business plan (see George, I have one!) but I need to be able to implement it.

**hadassahchana**[$] · #9 06-13-2006, 11:02 AM

Yes please, business cards would be more professional than me scribbling down EA and your user name to get them to look for your link to your stuff.

How incompetant am I for not asking earlier?

**theworm**[$] · #10 06-13-2006, 11:04 AM

I really think that you need to teach. You would like it, and the revenue is good.

**lynnzop**[$] · #11 06-13-2006, 11:51 AM

Quote:

hadassahchana said

Yes please, business cards would be more professional than me scribbling down EA and your user name to get them to look for your link to your stuff.

How incompetant am I for not asking earlier?

I'll send them your way.

I'd love to try teaching. I managed to teach a bunch of drunken women in Florida one time, so maybe I can branch out to sober.