| About the only thing I enjoy more than
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| | dollars on the fly, based on the type of
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| creating my bead jewelry at home is
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| | audience, the size of the crowd and
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| selling my bead jewelry at local craft
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| | whether or not I really want to sell the
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| shows and fairs! I've attended hundreds
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| | piece. And, yes, my prices sometimes
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| of craft shows and partipated in fair
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| | change throughout the day. Some people
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| number myself. I am always dismayed,
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| | come to craft shows expecting to haggle,
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| however, to see beautiful jewelry and
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| | so it's sometimes wise to quote a price a
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| pieces that don't sell at shows simply
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| | few dollars more than you might normally
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| because the artisan forgot some very
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| | ask so you have some bargaining room.
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| basic rules of working at craft
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| | Though you may be uncomfortable with this
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| shows.Here are some of the helpful pieces
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| | at first, I find it to be very helpful.
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| of advice and tips I can offer to the
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| | I can't tell how you many pieces I've
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| beginner bead jewelry artist and anyone
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| | sold only after talking with the customer
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| else who is just starting out selling to
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| | and chatting about the price. One of my
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| craft shows:1. Know Your Audience: Try
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| | favorite methods is to sell a pair of
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| to get a sense of what sort of crowd you
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| | earrings with a beaded bracelet for only
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| are going to encounter at your upcoming
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| | a few dollars more. The customer likes
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| craft show and cater your inventory to
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| | getting a "bundled" deal and I like
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| that crowd. While visiting the show each
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| | selling two pieces and making a little
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| year is the best way to learn this, there
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| | extra profit.4. Accept Checks and Credit
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| are other methods you can use. Is the
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| | Cards: Cash is obviously preferred, but
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| town where the craft show being held
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| | checks are easy to accept. In all my
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| largely upper class or middle class? You
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| | years of going to craft shows I've never
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| might want to adjust your pricing
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| | been cheated by someone bouncing checks.
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| accordingly. Are the customers going to
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| | Many people bring cash to craft shows,
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| be children or older people? If the craft
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| | but sometimes there are just so many
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| show is near or in a school I almost
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| | great things that by the time the person
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| always bring along a few "Kid Displays"
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| | gets to your booth she might not have
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| where I place all my small plastic bead
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| | anything left! Credit Cards are a little
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| jewelry. I've had more than one child
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| | trickier. If you're going to verify the
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| drag her parents over to my table to see
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| | credit card then you'll need an electric
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| the pieces I put out especially for them.
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| | source and a telephone connection of some
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| If you're going to be showing in or
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| | sort. A lot of people, myself included,
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| around a nursing home you might want to
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| | will often just use a manual credit card
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| consider changing your inventory. Older
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| | swiper with carbon paper. No electricity
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| customers love beaded eyeglass chains,
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| | is needed, you just enter the numbers
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| bracelets with large, easy clasps and
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| | into your computer or electronic machine
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| "smoother" beads that aren't sharp on
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| | when you get home. To accept credit
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| when laying against bare skin.2. Use
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| | cards you'll probably need a merchants
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| Business Cards: Every time I sell a piece
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| | account and I've found that most local
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| of jewelry at a craft show I package it
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| | banks can help you out or point you in
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| in a neat little bag with my business
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| | the right direction. It really isn't
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| card inside. I do this because even
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| | very expensive to do. I set up my first
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| though I already sold a piece of jewelry,
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| | account and bought my manual swiper and
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| I often have people contacting me weeks,
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| | carbons for less than $50.Selling your
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| months and even years later to see if
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| | bead jewelry at craft shows is an
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| they can order the same or similar pieces
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| | amazingly fulfilling experience and a
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| for friends and relatives. I also list
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| | great ego booster, not to mention a fun
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| my website on the cards to people can
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| | way to make some extra money. Following
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| browse and by my items in the comfort of
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| | these basic tips will help you sell more
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| their own home!3. Be Flexible with
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| | jewelry and have fun at the same
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| Pricing: This also goes back to knowing
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| | time!Laura Kay runs a Bead Jewelry
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| your audience. I generally do not put
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| | Resources Blog that highlights bead
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| price tags on any of my pieces. This way
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| | jewelry resources, supplies, artisans,
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| people need to ask about pricing and I
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| | design ideas and more!
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| can adjust my price up and down a few
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