Hello!
Yes, I still have this blog....have not been here in a long time. Life gets crazy, and I'm crazier than ever! We have moved into our new home (6 months ago) and still trying to sell our other home. Still running Sew Frivolous which had the best year ever last year! Along with taking care of my four beautiful daughters, to say the least I've been busy:)
What's new you may ask?? Why am I back....I have got some new plans in the making!
In a previous post..(somewhere back there) I told you about my dream of one day open my own shop, where I would sell all handmade items. I even had the location picked out which of course has now sold. sigh..but I'm a firm believer in Karma and when the time is right, it will happen. But...I just can't seem to let this idea go.
I have had an idea in the back of my mind for some time now about doing home shows. This idea seemed fun, but I never did anything about but tell a couple of other artisans. Then of ocurse, life would get crazy and I'd push it to the back of my mind. Then I read a post on etsy and a lady was looking for artisans for the same reason, and all of a sudden I realized, why not me? Why not now? (Don't worry this lady is in Oklahoma, nowhere near me).
So I put my idea on paper. Gave it to my husband Gary (who is the level headed one in our partnership) to look over and give me feedback. He knew about my desire to open a local shop and while he never called me crazy, I could tell he also wasn't on board. He actually thought it seemed like a good idea. No overhead (except inventory), no property investment, a good way to test the local market. His only concern is the time it may take away from the family. Which is also a concern for me as well, but I don't think it's not something we could figure out. I would book no more than 2 parties a week and I can do it on my own schedule and do all other work that would be associated during the day while they are at school and work.
Anyway, the idea is this:
People would book a scheduled party with me (I'm thinking open house style), and I would bring a wide variety of handmade high quality items to set up and display beautifully in there home. Their guests can shop and carry that night. I would purchase items wholesale and or consignment. I would like at least 75% of my handmade items to come from local Indiana artisans and still offer some items that are original from non local artisans. Each artisan featured would have a display with a bio of the artisan and their items. So you know who and how the artisans make the item you are interested in. Of course host would recieve some type of reward (discount, free product) for hosting an event. Hopefully each party will lead to new bookings:)
I will constantly be rotating inventory and artisans, so no two parties are the same. (Which I think is the problem with a lot of home parties, same stuff, same catalogue) Which I would hope would keep people interested, and want to see what's new.
So that is the general idea for now, as with all new adventures, I gotta roll with the punches. I'm setting a goal to host my first open house in May/June. Gotta make money to buy inventory (promised DH not to touch family money and use only my Sew Frivolous account). This was my idea...so I feel it should be my neck on the line:)
Step one:
Establish a name, and website.
-probably going to have to hire someone to do the website as I have no computer skills...any suggestions?
Will update progress, as for the idea, what do you think? Would you attend a show of this type if invited?
www.imaginist.com - my dad is a website developer
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, and GO FOR IT! We have local home shows in Lincoln, NE where I live and they are very successful as far as I know. Plus they are an excellent way for etsy sellers to get to know eachother and create new friendships.
ReplyDeleteWhy oh why don't I live closer! What a brilliant idea! As for your web designer, I work non profit at a place that prides itself on all raised $ going back into pt care so when it comes time for online stuff we turn to the local community colleges, trade schools and even the high schools. They all have classes in web designing and those kids are always eager to get their name out. They have the access to latest technology, professors, labs and teachers to assist and enthusiasm someone in the industry just might not have after the age of 21. They have done a beautiful job for me in the past. If you have a school hook up perfect, if not, Craigslist is your best friend. Offer to promote them on your flyers (which they can usually bang out in 10 minutes where it takes me all afternoon) naturally your website and where ever else. Often times they have people in your works that will become your best clients and supporters. Good luck girlie, leap and the net will appear!
ReplyDeleteThanks Brynna! I will look into it!
ReplyDeleteI would SO attend! I am such a sucker for anything handmade, especially for my girls. I wish you the best of luck in this! Lexie has worn your dresses for years now! We bought them as dresses & they turned into tops as she grew into them. I think we need some more...now! :)
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