I’m beginning to think I picked the wrong week to put my stuff into a Pop-Up Shop. Have until Wednesday and then have to take it all down again, but so far the weather has conspired with the economy against me.
Obviously I knew things were different. Nobody has much money these days. But two days of torrential rain when even I considered going out to be plain daft has not helped my cause. I put out a bargain box – people do like to rummage for a bargain – and that’s where most of the sales are coming from. Don’t get me wrong, I’m delighted to have sold anything at all, and the bargain box is full of things that have been out before, nothing is new or specially made for this event. But if I am to make the week’s rent, then I need a drastic surge of customers.
Some years ago, when I was first running a Gallery, a Chinese painter who was quite well-known (still is for that matter) told me of the 10% rule. Send out invitations to the Private View. 10% will come; 10% of those will be interested in the art (as opposed to the cheese and wine) and 10% of those will buy. His forecast proved to be uncannily accurate.
I have no reason to believe that the same wouldn’t hold true for pretty much everything you care to name, including my felts and probably books too.
But the Weather? My fickle friend, you can be a real nuisance. Too hot and they all go to the beach. Too cold and most shiver indoors, only a few venture out. Rain? Torrential, pouring, sheets of it, coupled with some wind – that will kill it every time.
I have another Craft Fair next month, and a little outlet in town that takes some stuff all the time, but this is my big showcase. I could do with showing it to a few more people.
So wish me luck – here’s hoping I haven’t picked the wrong week!
Related:
https://patwoodblogging.wordpress.com/pats-pop-up-shop-october-2012/
patwoodblogging 
Oh dear, good luck. Is the weather any better today? Foggy drizzle here. I hope it picks up for you. I would pop in myself if I was closer.
That’s very kind of you. Yes, much better today. Bit foggy to start, but brightened up and day proved to be OK. Quite good in fact, so maybe moaning triggered the universe into a response!
You’re probably right about the weather and the economy – but your displays are beautiful. Maybe people need to take a look and then come back to buy? Hope so. Hope the next few days are excellent!
Today was much better. More people so much more sociable and some nice sales. A good moan was lovely – the universe heard and responded!
Oh what terrible luck! Don’t you Christmas Marts similar to the one’s in Germany? Your displays are BEAUTIFUL and I am in such awe of your talent. Hope things improve!!!!! Good luck!
Weather was better today. Many more people so it was a more sociable day (Saturday was so dire) and we had some nice sales too. Think the universe heard my plea and so responded appropriately.
Don’t do Christmas Markets. Most of those (round here anyway) are outside and my stuff just does not respond to wind and damp. I have just one more Craft Fair before Christmas. Then I’m back to selling through my little hairdresser, who is lovely.
Thank you for the good wishes. They have obviously helped!!
I love this!! If you are ever wanting to sell your creations online; I have a website and would love to help.
http://www.myraysmarket.com
Peace to you
How very kind of you!
Used to have a website, but couldn’t keep up the pace needed to sell locally and on line. Someone would buy something and that would be the very thing someone on line would want, so I dumped it. I do craft fairs, sell through a local hairdresser and have this one week in the year in a shop.
Sort of a showcase for my stuff. And it’s on the high street, so it’s usually sociable, people popping in and out.
And it was much much better today. The weather was abominable at the week end and was fine today so did OK. Sold quite a bit. Heaves sigh of relief!!
Thank you so much for the offer. I will go and take a look at your website.
I have a few friends who sell crafts and antiques and they are all saying that it’s hard at the moment. Hopefully things will pick up for you soon. Good luck 🙂
Much, much better today. Weather was better and so the street had people in it! Hooray! The week end weather was diabolical. No one was going to hang around in that.
But much happier today. Quite sociable with people popping in and out and some good sales.
Thank you for your good wishes – think they must have worked!
:-).
I really hope things pick up for you soon (and the weather behaves!) 🙂
The weather behaved – hooray! It was truly awful at the week end and there was no one about.
But today, there were people in the street and we had some good sales. Much more sociable day.
And I’m feeling much better about it. Thank you.
🙂
So sorry to hear that you’ve had such a gloomy week, Pat. I sincerely hope that things brighten up for you.
Gloomy was about right. Where did all that rain come from? There was no one on the street at all on Saturday afternoon. Looked like a ghost town.
But today, the weather behaved and although it was a bit grey and misty to start there were people about, it was all much better and we had some good sales.
Hooray!
Thank you for your kind thoughts.
I’m sorry to hear that the weather affected the Pop Up Shop, what a shame 😦
Xx
The Pop Up nearly Popped Down on Saturday. I was quite deflated. But today the weather was much better, there were people in the street and we made some good sales.
Altogether a much better day. Hope tomorrow is OK and then Wednesday is Market day so that should be fine.
Feeling much better now.
Thank you for your thoughts. 🙂
Awwwww, that’s good to hear Pat 🙂
Xx
Good luck! My sister is an artist and sales are few and far between. They do give her such a boost in her confidence. Keep at it! (Hm…maybe I should follow my own advice.)
Keep at it indeed.
Much better today. Better weather, people about and some good sales, so feeling better about it all round.
We’re just so dependent upon the weather, which at the week end was awful.
The bargain box is nearly empty and I’ve sold some of my big cashmeres too. So a pretty good day today.
Thank you for your good wishes. And yes, keep at it!
So happy to hear you had a good day!!!
🙂
Okay, appease me. What’s a Pop-up Shop?
Er – a shop that pops up and a week later, pops down again.
Done it several times before. Otherwise sell my stuff through a little hairdressers in the town and via a couple of craft fairs. Used to have a website but my things take a long while and I couldn’t keep pace with the website. It was always out of date.
However, much much better day today.
Think the universe was reading over my shoulder as I wrote this morning and took pity on me!
What a neat idea!
🙂
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I’ve been learning a lot about perseverance lately. It’s a concept that seems to apply to both your pop-up shop and the Chinese painter. I wish success was easier. Then again, if it were, it wouldn’t be so valuable.
Very true. And I’ve done some that Chinese painting. You certainly need perseverance for that!
Thank you for coming by and commenting on my post.
Sounds like you should get one of those daylight lamps Pat.
I’m going to get my daughter one, she really struggles in the winter 😦
Xx
It’s definitely a thought. Got the VitD pills to take first and see if that is a help. All this talk about darkness and I bet tomorrow is as bright as anything! Hope so anyway!
Ooooo, lets hope so! 🙂
Xx