"DEAR OLIVIA"
Dear Olivia,
I'm relatively new to lampworking, I've been doing it since March of 2007, and now I'd like to try selling my beads at a bead show. I've never done anything like this before, never even been to a bead show, where should I start? What do I need to take with me? How many beads/focals should I have on hand at my first show? What should I expect my first time out? Do you have any tips/tricks for a bead show newbie?
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Bonnie
Dear Bonnie,
Yes, I can help you a little with your first bead show. Not knowing any details about the show itself, it’s hard for me to tell you how many beads to take with you, what I would suggest is that you have enough stock to set up your display at least 2 times. It’s always better to have more than enough rather than not enough to keep your table stocked throughout the show.
How you display your beads is very important, right down to the cover you have on your table. Make sure your cover enhances the beads – keep it simple, a solid color so your beads do not get lost in it. Take along some boxes or other items you can use to make various levels on your table to create some interest. You’ll want to drape the same material over these items and then put your beads out for display. Many people use baskets and other found bowls, etc. with rice in them to lay their beads on. If done properly, this is a very effective display.
The day before the show, you’ll want to be sure everything is priced. There are several ways to do this: use wire to have your sets together and put a tag at the end; on smaller beads you can actually put one of the string tags through it; some people use white out – just a dot and then write the price on it; others have their beads separated into different areas with one price for each area. This is up to you and really depends on the variety of beads you have. (If you use the white out, be sure to either bring nail polish remover with you so you can clean the bead as you sell it, or tell your customers how to remove it from the bead).
One or two days prior to your show, get yourself a table (or a flat area) the same size or as close as you can get to the same size as the table you will use at the show. Set the area up the same way you want to set it up at the show. This allows you to arrange and rearrange until you have a pleasing display. This will also help you the day of the show since you will already have an idea of how you want it set up and will cut down on your set up time.
Don’t be discouraged if people do not buy your beads right away. Most people want to make their “rounds” at the show before purchasing anything. Stick to your prices – many times bead makers are tempted to lower their prices thinking this will help sell their beads. This is not the case. Most people who attend the bead shows are there for that reason, to buy beads! They know what kind of prices to expect for quality beads and most are actually prepared to pay it when they find the bead they like. Lowering your prices tells people you don’t feel your beads are worth the “going” rate, and does not guarantee that they will buy them. In fact, I’ve found that people buy the higher priced beads before buying the lower priced beads. (Unless they are simple spacers – then they go crazy over a good deal).
Are you able to take credit cards? I have found that credit card sales are 80%-90% of my total sales at shows. If you don’t have a portable credit card machine or some other way to accept credit cards on the spot, upgrade your paypal account so you can manually enter the information there after the show. Be sure to get an imprint of the card (put the card under a piece of paper and “color” with a #2 pencil to capture a legible image of the card). Write down the expiration date and the 3 digit code as well as the billing address associated with the card, then write the amount of the sale and have the customer sign it. You can enter the credit card sales after the show. If you are lucky enough to have wi-fi available at the show; you can bring your laptop so you can input the information as you make the sales.
Lastly, you’ll want to bring a small book with you. Ask your visitors if they would like to be on your mail list, and have them put their name and email address down in the book for you. Should you decide to do another show later on, you can send an email to these people letting them know you will be there. This puts your name in their mind before the show and more likely than not, they will come looking for you. Like any venue, even the bead show circuit takes a little time to get your name out. Don't give up if you do not make what you expect at the first show or two. Keep in mind that some shows are simply better than others. As you meet other sellers at the shows, ask questions about the shows they do, and which ones they do well at. Their responses will help guide you for future shows.
I hope this information is helpful. Good luck on your first show!
Olivia
Hi Olivia:
I would like to sell my beads and some jewelry made with them at
a local art show. It is in Cary, NC and has a very large turnout. What I
would
like to know is this: will it be OK to accept cash only, or will it hurt
sales.... I have until August to get everything ready but would like to hear
form
someone who has sold at shows if I should get a merchant account to accept
credit cards, or if most people pay with cash at art shows these days. Any
advice
is golden, thank you so much:)
Jenelle
Dear Jenelle,
Taking only cash transactions will certainly affect your sales. Most seasoned
show attendees know to carry cash, and the really savvy customers will use their
credit card with the vendors that offer that option - saving the cash for those
who don't. However, we are seeing that credit card sales could equate up to 95%
of total sales at art shows (if you accept them). If you don’t accept them,
then expect your total sales to be reduced by at least 40% or more. The shows
in Cary, NC, particularly Spring Daze and/or Lazy Daze, are certainly events I
would accept credit cards at.
If you have a website or you plan on doing more then the one show, I would
recommend you get a merchant account. If you decide on taking credit cards
there are numerous types of accounts as well as different machines from the old
knuckle busters to the GPS instantaneous approval machines. You can also get
an account through your paypal account (if you have one), accept the cards at
the show then enter the information once you get home.
Sit down and figure out the numbers on having a merchant account. Whether or
not this will be worth it, you will not know until at the end of
your show. Good luck at your first show!
Olivia
Olivia,
What am I doing when trying to achieve the iridescent colors from the dark
and light silver plums? I have tried different combinations of O2 and
propane, a neutral flame .... and still no effect. I have a minor torch and
I am so discouraged when I see what the color can actually do.. any
suggestions?
Kelly
Kelly,
If you are trying for the iridescent tones to the plums then try just a little
propane higher then neutral. Finding the right flame for colors varies not only
by the torch but the gas and oxygen sources. I was talking to another artist
who explained the difference in propane gas from one area to the next - how it
was mixed and why - I was really surprised but it made sense that the mixture
put with propane took into account the time of year, the elevation of the area
and the humidity or lack of humidity. The propane mixture will effect your
torching. I have found that I get the silver sheen when my propane is slightly
high but not a lot; while others obtain the effect in a high oxy flame. If you have a moment make a set of spacers and take the
flame from high oxy to very reducing and see where the silver will react for
your torch.
Olivia
Hi can you please help, I have only been making beads for a few months, have a
kiln with pre-set program for annealing. Anyway, I am finding at times
beads just in half in my work box, that have been annealed. I am not
sure if I am doing something wrong, or if it is the way I make the things??
I am self taught, can I be doing something wrong, or does this happen
at times??? thanks for your help.
Puzzled
Dear Puzzled,
There are two types of cracks that are obvious – one has to do with
compatibility when you use different glass that is not compatible – this
generally is an uneven crack or crackling where the different glasses touch.
The more frequent crack is from one hole to the other and is an even crack that
generally splits the bead in two. This is caused by your bead cooling
too fast. The programming of kilns depends of the type of kiln and
the type of glass you are working with.
First, I turn my kiln on when I first sit down to torch. It ramps up
to 950 and holds until I am finished working then I switch it to the pre-set
program. Do not start the pre-set program if you are going to be
working a few hours – do it after you turn your torch off. If you
immediately set the pre-set program and your last bead is 2 hours later then it
never gets to soak at 950.
Second, once your beads lose that glow place them right into the kiln. If
you are batch annealing then the problem is probably at that stage or when you
are ramping up to batch anneal. If you are putting them right into
the kiln then it is possible you are admiring them too long. Try
bathing them for a few seconds, lose the glow and put them in the kiln. I
frequently have breakage if I try to do too many spacers on the same mandrel
without remembering to bath the other beads as I am working.
For instance, with soft glass the pre-set program soaks the beads for 2 hours at
960/970 – ramps down slowly to 750 and holds for 2 hours then ramps down to
about 90 over another 3 or 4 hours. If your kiln is doing a program
similar then it probably is not your kiln breaking your beads. If
none of these help then watch the temperature of the kiln as it goes through the
program to make sure it’s doing to proper steps and then check with the
Manufacturer.
Olivia
Warm greetings...Does anyone have a speedier method of cleaning bead release? In
my soft glass beads, because I work them cooler, cleans easily with the diamond
reamer, but the Boro beads are a bear to clean {snivel}.. has anyone
found a way to expedite this necessary task? or should i just settle down, take
a deep breath and some good music and go at it? my appreciation for
suggestions...I just discovered this site and am so pleased to see such gorgeous
creations.
Dear Snivel,
Cleaning your beads has more to do with the type of bead release then it does
with the type of glass. There have been many suggestions from putting
Downy Dryer Sheets in your soaking water to dish detergent and really the only
way to find the easiest method is trial and error. I like to soak
mine while I am at work in water and oxiclean but I found it works well with one
type of release I use but not so well with another. I think the
dremel with a diamond bit is the easiest and most efficient. You can
buy the diamond bits made for the longer beads in all sizes and you can get the
manual diamond reamers. Another trick is to have pipe cleaners around
to use between reams.
I guess what you need to do is put on some good music and hope that those who
invent the releases will now work toward something that will remove the release
in a soak bath!
Olivia
Dear Olivia,
I am young in the business of selling jewelry to people that I don't know.
It has always been to friends and family mostly. This week I had my
first experience with making 2 custom orders for someone I did not personally
know. I felt so restrained by the customer. I knew what would
look better but the suggestions went to the wayside. I spent several
days frustrated over this bracelet because I was so uncomfortable selling
something that was not up to my standards of "style". Finally
a fellow designer on the forum convinced me to just take a chance and let her
see what it would look like with my ideas instead of what she wanted. I
just crossed my fingers and hoped she would like it because I did my own thing! The
point of all this is it really has soured me on taking custom orders. I
am hoping to have a website soon so I will be able to direct people there and
say this is what I have available. But am I really biting myself in
the bottom by not taking requests? The restraint nearly dove me
insane. I would appreciate all advise you have for me. Do
designers ever request a non-refundable fee for this kind of work just incase
she can't please the customer?
PS she ended up loving the bracelet
Dear Worried:
The biggest hurdle with taking custom orders is getting over the anxiety of
being able to stay true to your artistic muse while pleasing a demanding
customer - and yes, if they weren't demanding they would just buy a piece
already made. They expect more and want more.
Doing custom orders is an acquired talent that many artist don't have the time
to learn but really it's an exciting way to create jewelry. First,
you have to learn to be more assertive then the customer (as far as your design
ability) but willing to listen to exactly what the customer wants. If
the customer could design, they would not be seeking your help. So,
if you decide to include custom orders in your business, you must make sure you
eliminate as much of the stress as possible.
Write up a contract for custom orders that includes a deposit amount, a
non-refundable amount out of that deposit, the size of the piece, the color
combinations, particular stones, crystals or metal components, a price range or
a maximum that the client is willing to spend, an estimate of when the piece
will be finished, etc. Determine whether or not what the customer
wants can be done for the price range and, if it can not, tell them what price
range it will be so they can make a decision. A customer who doesn't
want to put down a deposit or thinks your prices for custom work is too high
isn't really interested in a custom piece. Your custom pieces should
be more expensive then your normal line of work or your customers will always
want custom work.
Olivia
Dear Olivia,
I would like to know what I can do to prevent my mandrels from bending. It
seems that after I have used them for a while, they get soft- not as sturdy as
when I first purchased them, and they bend very easily. Is there
anything I can do to prevent this?
Thanks!
Bent out of shape
Dear Bent out of shape,
I have worked mostly with 1/16 size mandrels and make my own out of 316L and
308L TIG [welding] rods so I really know about soft mandrels. There
are several things you can do.
(a) find something that will allow you to loosen the bead release you are using
so that you don't have to manhandle the rods a lot. I use small
channel locks to hold my rod next to the bead while I gently roll the bead back
and forth until it breaks away from the release;
(b) buy very good rods [I get mine from Aura Lens];
(c) temper your rods about once a month. You do this by getting them
red hot [only the end that you usually dip] and then dunk them in a pail of
water and let cool.
The 1/16th and smaller are the weakest but I can bend anything given the right
circumstances.
Olivia
Olivia,
I work out of a shop where we have a common area of rented torches so I share
with others. I have gotten to know most of them on a passing basis
since some keep to weekly schedules while others come whenever they have time. My
problem is that even though the area is cleaned up the torch is not. One
of the things we are required to do so make sure the torch is working well and
clean it or ask the shop to clean it if it is not. This isn't a
problem because the shop is great but I have only so much time to be at the shop
and ten to fifteen minutes is used frequently because the other users either
don't clean the torch or don't tell anyone that it needs cleaning. I
am tired of being the only one doing this!
Having a bad torch day!
Dear Bad Torch Day,
Considerate people should not have to work in public places! Why,
because we have this innate uncontrollable desire to straighten up even without
realizing we are doing it - and believe me nothing drives a procrastinator
crazier then someone who can't sit still for two minutes. Talk to the
shop owners and see if they will have each artist sign out and have a place on
the sheet to check the "condition" of the torch they were using. Other
then that there's little you can do except drive yourself crazy and clean the
torch!
Olivia
Dear Olivia,
I am a lurker. I spend a lot of time on the different forums looking
at the eye candy and reading but I am afraid to post. It seems that
there are very close groups everywhere and when someone new [like me] posts they
totally ignore that person. I think am too old to be intimidated but
I just can't seem to break the ice.
Lurker
Dear Lurker,
I look at de-lurking like having to get up at a conference and introduce myself
to 3,000 people I don't know. The best way to come out of lurking
mode and become more comfortable is to post to threads that are not getting a
lot of response. How many times have you seen a post and 100 people
look at it but no one responds? If every lurker would find the thread
with no responses and just do a simple response, your confidence will grow and
soon you will find your own group of bead friends will start blossoming. Do
it in little steps - soon you will be posting your little heart out and people
will be reading.
Olivia
Olivia,
I was wondering if you have any suggestions for color combinations? There are so many colors it is sometimes difficult to pick a place to start!
Thank you.
Dear Color Challenged,
If you are like me you have every color rod sitting in front of you begging to
be used and it is definitely color overload. Most people are amazed
when they stand in front of their closet to realize that they tend to stick with
a limited color palette that is their comfort zone and even though in the store
they are drawn to new and exciting color or color combinations they still pick
from their own comfort zone.
We are surrounded by color combinations everywhere but the best examples are
catalogs and magazines and the most unique is in nature - animals, birds,
flowers. I recently bought the book "The Beader's Guide to
Color" by Margie Deeb. It is a must have for anyone who has
never studied art and color. I have found that having a color chart
in my studio helps me to think outside my comfort zone but the trick I use most
is making a small spacer bead when I try a new color. Then I can sit
with my little box of spacers and slide the beads on a mandrel to see how colors
look with each other. Read the book and start your box of little
spacer beads then I think you will find your color combinations will expand
naturally.
Olivia
Hi Olivia
I make a particular type of bead that could be called my signature bead. I've
been making them for quite some time and get a lot of orders for them from all
over the world. They really are my bread and butter bead. However,
when I get an order for them, I really get stressed out because I am no longer
an artist, but a factory just filling an order. It just isn't fun
making them anymore, but since I make beads for a living, I can't
"not" make them. As I said, they are my bread and butter
bead. What can I do to make doing these beads a little less stressful
and more enjoyable?
Sincerely,
STRESSED OUT
Dear Stressed Out,
Welcome to the world of "where did my hobby go!" First, it
is great to have people recognize your bead design [signature bead] and better
when they are willing to pay for your art.
The downside to being successful is the stress of remaining successful
especially when it supports you. There is the fear factor of your
bead no longer selling and having nothing else to offer because you have been
too busy making your signature bead to keep up with demand.
The only way to take off the stress is to build up your inventory. This,
initially, is labor intensive but it can be done. First, you need to
set the number of beads for sale in a week/month. Then raise your
price slightly just to give you a little cushion. Second, start
making extra beads each session and put them into "inventory" - do not
be tempted to sell them until you have at least 4 weeks of inventory on hand. The
inventory will allow you to have bad days, slow days, days off without feeling
pressure or losing money. Finally, on those days where you are just
rocking on the torch and making beautiful signature beads make a lot of them and
add the extra to your inventory.
It is impossible to sit down at the torch each time and be in the mood to make a
specific bead. Give yourself a cushion and allow yourself some time to
play and experiment on new designs without the guilt of needing to make money.
Olivia
Do you have a question you want an answer to? Something bothering you regarding your lampworking adventure? Submit your questions to Olivia at Olivia@theannealermagazine.com.