It’s been asked before and will likely be asked again: “Do you have a brick and mortar?” “Do you do consignment?” “Will you be at x show?”
And the answer is a)no b)no and c)probably not.
All of these are followed with: “But why?”
Why no brick and mortar:
I especially get asked about this first one by people who also live in the Twin Cities. They shop on Etsy, but balk at shopping on Etsy for something local (though they frequently make noises to the contrary.) Instead of working out a delivery arrangement or what have you, they usually ask me for where my retail shop is. Retail shops are expensive and require debt. I’m on a shoestring, so I have zero business debt – and I’m not willing to go into debt for my business. I realize that this runs afoul of this weird psychological quibble, and I suspect it’s also about an attempt to get free samples, something which, because of the materials I use, just isn’t possible.
I realize there’s resistance to paying for shipping when you’re local – although, since I do first class USPS shipping, it would cost less than the gas for a delivery, and probably less than it would cost to drive out to a show to look at my goods. It’s just a point of frustration – I do a good chunk of my shopping online, including from local businesses, so to me, it’s no big deal.
This is not to say I don’t have plans for a retail space in the future. Just don’t get too fixated on it being a boutique where you can open product right and left – what I have in mind bears no resemblance whatsoever to the boutiques you see throughout the Twin Cities right now, and for that to happen, I need folks to buy from my Etsy store, first.
Why no Consignment:
As for consignment – I’ve found it’s jut not worthwhile. I have to put money forward on making up product that may or may not sell, and then I provide it to a shop for nothing beyond the honor of having my goods gracing their shelves. And sometimes those goods are put on bottom shelves and other places where small objects like perfume vials can’t be seen. So I’m giving something for nothing, and people are opening and playing with my product as they shop until the quality degrades, and then I’m forced to take home perfume product that never sold and is now unsaleable, leaving me out the money I had to spend to make it. Pass.
Why I probably won’t be at the next show
I would like to do more shows, but I have an additional problem beyond the whole shoestring and product investment issue: I’m a bit clueless as to what I need to present to actually get in to the juried shows. Also, booth fees for the good shows are expensive and sometimes cost more than the product I have on-hand. I’m still recovering from a big show that went badly back in 2007. This is partly because my product photography is weak, but also because jurors naturally assume that perfume comes with soap – and I don’t make soap. Any help someone has to offer on this would be quite welcome, as I continue to work out the kinks with my craft show presentation.
