Monthly Archives: October 2014

New Products Get Great Response

Octa Mini Tool™ Cutting head

Octa Mini Tool™ Cutting head

We’ve had a great response to both new products that we’ve introduced this week! The Octa Mini Tool™ and the .45 Caliber Bullet Click Pens flew out the door as soon as we announced them. We thought we had enough in stock to meet the early demand in our online store – but we were wrong. The “Out of Stock” message popped up for a couple of people.

We took some of each of these new products to this weekend’s The Woodworking Show in Houston. If the response on the website is any indication, we won’t be bringing any back to the office.

.45 Caliber Click Pen

.45 Caliber Click Pen

Just wanted to let everyone know that more of both the Octa Mini Tool™,  and the .45 Caliber Bullet Click Pens will be delivered on Monday, and shipping out on Tuesday.  They are now available to purchase in the store.

How have the craft shows been for you?

Let's Discuss!We just completed back to back shows at Paradise City Art Festival & Morristown Crafts Marketplace.  Both of these shows are upscale Art & Craft Shows with the booth fees in excess of $700. I was speaking with many of the artisans at these shows to see how they felt about sales & attendance. I did not get answers to any of my questions, instead it  just raised a few more.  From my experience at these shows, they have been trending down slightly for the shows that I have attended for several straight years.
Have you seen the same trend?

What is the definition of a  bad show for you?
If you have a bad show, and everyone’s definition of a bad show will differ, but mine is a reduction in sales from the previous show by more than 15%. That is what I consider to be a bad show.  I am not complaining, because some of the venders did not even make their booth fee and travel expenses back – now that is a really bad show!
No matter what the reason,  if you have a “bad” show then you have to really take a global look at some of the reasons and not simply say “the other venders did not do well so I am okay.”  This is like he old adage “misery loves company” I never want to have that attitude!  Honestly, I don’t care how the other venders did, I want to do better!  I take a look back at the show and try to evaluate what I  think went wrong. Do you do the same?

Did the promoters not get the crowds there? 
For example, the other night at our show there were only 790 people that came through the door! That simply is not enough people!
Were your prices too high?
I have seen some pen makers charge $200 for a Baron made with a very nice burl – but $200?  I sell them for around $100  depending on the material.  That is what my market will bear – is your market the same?

Did you have something different that no one else has?

Did you have some different items that would attract a crowd?
One such item that I sell a LOT of is the old style pepper grinders (PSI204) made with the color blocks – I sold 10 of them last weekend for $65 a piece!  Everyone that went by my booth loved them.

Are you seeing a trend for your sales going up or down?

Traffic is lower, but are they buying?

What do you think are the reasons? Economic, saturated market, too much competition?

I would love to hear some feedback from other turners who attend shows. What’s it been like in your area?

Use the comments section below to chime in. I’d love to discuss it with you so we can help each other do better!

NEW! 45-Caliber Bullet Pen with sound

This is a special announcement just for my blog subscribers. You’re the FIRST to know.

.45 Caliber Click Pen

You’re the first to see the NEW 45-Caliber Bullet Pen. This  .45 Caliber Click Pen has a realistic sound and feel!  Slide the clip forward to advance the refill, and hear the “click” sound as if you were chambering a round into the pistol.  The clip looks like the side of a 45-auto slide, and the upper barrel replicates a 45-caliber grip!  This is truly a unique NEW pen kit! Be the first to offer it to your customers!

Just added to our store!

Available in Antique Brass & Antique Copper  (too new for an Antique Copper photo)
(Click the name of the finish above to see the product on our website)

 

Be Prepared!

Barry trying to keep warm at his booth in Paradise City

Barry trying to keep warm at his booth in Paradise City

The Boy Scout adage of “be prepared” never held so true like this past weekend at the Paradise City Arts Festival.  I always check the weather before I head out to a show. I did check the weather, and it was to be in the mid 60 degree range, and dry.  Setting up on Friday it was in the low 70’s, and dry – and that was it for the warm and dry weather!
Saturday morning was a constant deluge of rain, and the temperature was in the low 40’s.  To say that I, along with all the other venders, were freezing, was an understatement!  All the customers were dressed in hats & gloves, and here I am in a single long sleeve shirt.  A quick trip to the local store, and a borrowed fleece from a fellow vender, and I look like “Nanook of the North” –but I was warming up!

Today I am heading for this weekend’s show at the Morristown Craft Market (NJ). I am very thankful that this is an INDOOR show!

Marketing Your Work – Part 1

By Barry Gross / Arizona Silhouette  ©2014

How do you get started in selling your pens?

Barry's personal Cast Resin Clock Parts pen

Barry’s personal Cast Resin Clock Parts pen

The first step is to carry your OWN pen! This may sound silly but I cannot tell you how many pen turners do not advertise their own work by showing off a pen they have made! How do you expect to sell something if you do not have an example of your craftsmanship? Whenever I sign anything or write anything down I always use a pen that I made. By me using my own pen, it will lead a person to ask about the pen I am using, and if they don’t ask, I make sure that I show it to them and tell them about it. Be proud of your creations – show your work to anyone and everyone, and make sure they know that you made that pen. Hand someone your business card – always have them available to hand out!

The internet and bookstores are loaded with books and articles on how to market and sell your creations. (This very brief introduction is by no means going to give you all the answers to success. Please consider subscribing to my blog. I will be posting more marketing articles and tips in the future)

Finding a market for your work…

I was a sales manager with over 30 years experience training sales representatives on how to “sell,” the first objective for any good sales representative is to listen. We have two ears and one mouth, so why do we talk twice as much as we listen?
Listen to what your customer is telling you.

Every market is different, what sells in New England may not sell well in Texas, and conversely, what sells in California may not sell in Minnesota! So, take a moment and conduct your own market research. Visit local galleries, attend craft fairs and join a local woodturning club for ideas on what may sell in a particular area.

EMT Star of Life Laser Inlay Pen

Getting Established –

A fast way to establish yourself is to offer your work for local fundraising. The local ambulance squad was having a fundraiser and I offered to split the proceeds of the sales of my pens as a donation to the ambulance squad. This accomplished three things. First, it was good to give to the ambulance squad. Second, it established my work in the area and exposed me to many people. And third, as a result, many other orders were taken for special pens to be delivered at a later time.

Part 2 will be published early next week. Please subscribe to my blog so that you don’t miss any future articles – click here to subscribe