Back in December, I participated in a Holiday Bazaar. It was very exciting to prepare - almost like throwing a party! I felt very official when I got my "Pindseylou Designs" banner from VistaPrint. The Bazaar was in a school's gym and served as a fundraiser for the school. I didn't know quite what to expect since I was a first timer. So, I researched online to get a few ideas about booths and displays. Since I am just starting out, I did not want to put a lot of money into preparing for this, so I used what I already had around the house to accessorize my booth. Two white twin size sheets, leftover green tulle, small white bookcases, ribbon, and frames from my house were very useful for my little setup. I was very pleased with what I managed to accomplish on my slim budget!
The day was very slow, but I enjoyed seeing all the other vendors' items and talking with some other ladies nearby. Like I said, I had no clue what I was doing or how it would go, so I actually didn't set my expectations for a sale very high. Little did I know that I would sell 10 prints that day! Now, 10 may not sound like very many, but it was so much better than none! I was ECSTATIC! I am so thankful for those orders, especially because one of those orders later turned into three more orders (9 prints). Don't they say word of mouth is the best advertising?
One of the biggest things I learned that day is that I need to be more outgoing. I did greet people and talk if anyone came with 5 feet of me, but I should have been luring people in better. I also learned that I should have had better signage with an explanation of what my prints are exactly. Most of the people I talked with at the booth were shocked to see that they contained names or words. It was fun to watch as they tried to figure each one out. It's like art, names, and a brain teaser - all in one! One lady was super excited and she is the one I owe a huge thanks to because she was my little sales person that day and in the weeks after. (You know who you are if you're ready this!)
The Bazaar was a great start to this little hobby/business and I look forward to doing it again. I'll keep you posted!
