Selling prints from a booth at street fairs
Mar 22, 2014 10:47:45 #
I like your approach, lots of people think take a photo and they will come, well like any business venture it's all about what you put into it.
Mar 22, 2014 11:18:31 #
Ohhh! Russell! You are my hero for sharing workable secrets. Thank you! I'm on Fine Art America and Zazzle, but sales are slow. Your brilliance might make the difference!
russelray wrote:
I had considered doing the many shows we have here... (show quote)
Mar 22, 2014 11:21:50 #
One Camera One Lens wrote:
This all sounds like fun but way to complicated, how about just walking around wal-mart and sell them for a $1.00, talking about profitable......well maybe not
Why belittle yourself and the profession, also I think Wal-Mart might not approve of your trick.
Mar 22, 2014 11:29:10 #
Stanley Fleming
Loc: Maine/Florida
jerryg wrote:
Does anyone sell prints framed and unframed at street fairs/carnivals using a 10x10 Pop Up Tent. If yes is this a money making proposition or a waste of time. I'd like to be able to sell 4 or 5 big prints a day to earn $100 to $200. Of course it will depend on how well the promoter has worked to attract people for the day.
My son did that for a couple of years and it was a family affair. We all enjoyed it - it was a fun experience. It was also profitable but if we had it to do again we would have had many more small 5 x 7 and 8 x 10 unframed images to offer. Most of his were large framed images and even though they were liked by many they were harder to sell because of cost AND difficulty to take with them - most of the folks who wanted them were on vacation and did not have a good way to carry.
One photographer who had been shooting in Maine for 20 years had tons of small prints lined up in his display boxed and sells a lot of the small prints in the $2- - $40 range - he even had some ar $10 - all mounted on foam board and unmated.
Post cards were very popular if priced competitive with store bought cards.
He was so inexpensive he was able to operate on a cash basis. No credit cards etc, - keep it simple.
It can be fun and if you like to meet lots of people then you will enjoy it - if you just want to make lots of money then try something else.
Mar 22, 2014 11:38:08 #
Mar 22, 2014 11:43:50 #
gatega1958 wrote:
Ohhh! Russell! You are my hero for sharing workable secrets. Thank you! I'm on Fine Art America and Zazzle, but sales are slow. Your brilliance might make the difference!
It's highly unlikely that you'll sell something to someone in China or Nigeria. You target market first has to be family, friends, acquaintances, business associates (FFABA). If you get that going, you'll eventually make it to the second tier FFABA of your FFABA. Then you'll reach the third tier: FFABA of the FFABA of your FFABA. As those tiers continue to grow, eventually you'll sell something to someone in China or Nigeria!
Mar 22, 2014 11:45:59 #
russelray wrote:
The thing I really like about Fine Art America is that they don't care what size my pictures are when it comes to matting and framing. At the local art store, non-standard sizes cost significantly more than the standad 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, 11x14, etc.
The thing I really like about Fine Art America is that they don't care what size my pictures are when it comes to matting and framing. At the local art store, non-standard sizes cost significantly more than the standad 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, 11x14, etc.
You've given an enormous amour of valuable info Russel. Thank you.
I had a question regarding your comment above:
Who in fact does the matting and framing?
Mar 22, 2014 11:48:05 #
ptcanon3ti wrote:
You've given an enormous amour of valuable info Russel. Thank you.
I had a question regarding your comment above:
Who intact does the matting and framing?
I had a question regarding your comment above:
Who intact does the matting and framing?
According to Fine Art America, they have production facilities in North Carolina, Georgia, and California.
For one of the best FAQ I've ever seen, see http://fineartamerica.com/contactus.html?tab=faq
Mar 22, 2014 11:52:09 #
ncshutterbug wrote:
Pop ups run about $150 and up. If you get one with sides to protect from wind and rain it's going to be $200 up. Matting for 16x20 for good materials is about $20 each from a frame shop. Photo canvas for 16x20 can run $80-$150 depending on who does it. Booth rental for the festival I do is $50 without electricity. The gallery charges 30%. I also have signage and business cards, display equipment, gas, food for the day and tables and chairs. Miriam, what would you suggest I charge?
I think your prices are very reasonable. I would be inclined to charge more.
Mar 22, 2014 11:56:06 #
Stanley Fleming
Loc: Maine/Florida
mdfenton wrote:
Thanks for the detailed information. What is the source of your post cards? Thank you.
I do not remember it has been so long but it was a great product that we got off the internet - there are many places to get the cards into which you place your image which is held in lace by a small adhesive strip. They were esy to put together and were very popular - no message inside but you could get name printed on back. Fun to make and sold easily - not super profitable but still not bad - cash and carry item.
Mar 22, 2014 11:57:57 #
russelray wrote:
According to Fine Art America, they have production facilities in North Carolina, Georgia, and California.
For one of the best FAQ I've ever seen, see http://fineartamerica.com/contactus.html?tab=faq
For one of the best FAQ I've ever seen, see http://fineartamerica.com/contactus.html?tab=faq
So they do everything. It almost seems too good to be true. Just upload your images and you are in business...against 100,000 other artists. ;)
Mar 22, 2014 12:23:17 #
There is no argument with those who sell for less, they know what their product is worth.
Mar 22, 2014 12:29:09 #
Jim when they assign you space is it based on juried placement or just where ever they feel like putting you?
You have no say or what...................
You have no say or what...................
Mar 22, 2014 14:28:59 #
I did street events for several years and found it not to be profitable or predictable in terms of sales. Meeting other artists and interesting people was fun and I enjoyed doing it, but I got burned out and wanted to do something else.
Here in Arizona you pretty much need a sales license for each city you sell in. In my case I also needed a business license from the town I do business in. We also need a state sales tax license. Some vendors have liability insurance, in fact some venues require it. So as you can see the costs add up. Some venues have high entry fees and may be juried as well. The high end ones, however, usually have very high foot traffic. That doesn't guarantee sales just because 10,000 people are expected, but you have a better chance to recoup your expenses and maybe make some kind of profit for all your efforts.
Trying to sell a $200 piece at a craft fair is difficult at best. People are not usually going to these events to spend that kind of money. You'll need to be prepared to accept credit cards. I use Square which only charges a small transaction fee.
Frankly, I wouldn't do shows again and now enjoy doing weddings and portraits. I don't depend on it for a living to survive and it's enjoyable and challenging at the same time. It helps me keep busy in my retirement.
In conclusion we all must try what we think we'll get the most enjoyment from. If you decide to pursue "shows" just be aware that it's expensive and the rewards may not be what you expect. Try it for a season to see what will happen. Make a plan, have a budget and be selective in what shows you participate in. Good luck.
Here in Arizona you pretty much need a sales license for each city you sell in. In my case I also needed a business license from the town I do business in. We also need a state sales tax license. Some vendors have liability insurance, in fact some venues require it. So as you can see the costs add up. Some venues have high entry fees and may be juried as well. The high end ones, however, usually have very high foot traffic. That doesn't guarantee sales just because 10,000 people are expected, but you have a better chance to recoup your expenses and maybe make some kind of profit for all your efforts.
Trying to sell a $200 piece at a craft fair is difficult at best. People are not usually going to these events to spend that kind of money. You'll need to be prepared to accept credit cards. I use Square which only charges a small transaction fee.
Frankly, I wouldn't do shows again and now enjoy doing weddings and portraits. I don't depend on it for a living to survive and it's enjoyable and challenging at the same time. It helps me keep busy in my retirement.
In conclusion we all must try what we think we'll get the most enjoyment from. If you decide to pursue "shows" just be aware that it's expensive and the rewards may not be what you expect. Try it for a season to see what will happen. Make a plan, have a budget and be selective in what shows you participate in. Good luck.
Mar 22, 2014 15:35:52 #
ptcanon3ti wrote:
So they do everything. It almost seems too good to be true. Just upload your images and you are in business...against 100,000 other artists. ;)
If you don't understand business and marketing, yes, you're in business against 100,000 other artists. And that's why so many people start businesses and fail. They don't understand business and marketing.
Reminds me of a marketing seminar I went to at Stanford University back in 1995. Seminar speaker was the one and only Lee Iacocca. Since I had been driving Mustangs for my whole life, I had to go see him, especially since my consulting Client asked me to go and offered to pay the $75 seminar fee. Couldn't turn that one down.
Iacocca's story:
There was this guy in this small town of 25,000 people. He was a plumber. We'll call him Joe. Joe didn't own the plumbing company, but he had been there for 25 years. The company gave him a 25-year anniversary party. Half the town showed up because he had worked on the plumbing for them!
Shortly after the party, Joe turned in his resignation. After seeing 12,000 people at his anniversary party, he decided to spend the next 25 years running his own plumbing company. After all, he had 12,000 people who knew him!
Six months after starting his own company, Joe went to his former employer and asked for his job back, closing down his company.
What happened?
Joe opened his company but, like many people, he thought "If I open it, they will come." Nope. Business doesn't work like that, regardless of how good you are.
Joe didn't understand how to run a business, or how to advertise and market his new business. And when people went to his former company for plumbing problems, the owner of the company certainly didn't say, "Joe is running his own company now. Instead of hiring my company, why don't you go over to Joe's company. He's at 123 Fifth Avenue. Call him at 555-2277." No, Joe hired a new plumber and let the town know that he had a new plumber but that things would remain the same: Quality and service beyond compare.
You can't open a business and sit on your hands. Well, you can, but your business won't thrive.
Many decades ago I started a BNI chapter in my small community because I loved the founder's message of starting small and growing, of not expecting the world to fall into your lap, of making contacts to help grow your business.
BNI still espouses its tiers, which work like this:
I'm not going to sell anything to someone in China, even though it's easier to do in today's global economies and Internet-driven world. Instead, I make contacts with the 25 people in my BNI group. I sell to them. They like my product and services. They are Tier 1.
As I get to know them and sell to them, they tell their friends, family, acquaintances, and business associates. We'll just lump them all into friends.
So friends of Tier 1 become Tier 2.
Tier 2 people tell their friends, becoming Tier 3.
Tier 3 people tell their friends, becoming Tier 4.
On and on and on. Usually by the time you get to Tier 4, you're well on your way to complete and total financial success.
If you're a smart businessman, you track everything. I use Excel. Been doing tracking since setting up my first company at the age of 11, with the help of my wise old grandmother, whom I mention often here at UHH.
I started that BNI chapter in 1987, and when I left College Station, Texas, in 1993, I was up to Tier 11: friends of friends of friends of friends of friends of friends of friends of friends of friends of friends of that Tier 1 group that I met in 1987.
I have never cared how many "competitors" I had, and I've been successful in computer sales, consulting, antique refurbishing, real estate as a Realtor, home inspector, heating & cooling company owner (still own 51%), pool and spa construction company owner (still own 51%), landscape company owner, roofing contractor, writer & publisher, and probably a few others that I'm not remembering.
The only reason why I have ever quit a job is because I got bored. I love the startup process and into the growth phase but really dislike everything else. So I became an entrepreneur specializing in starting companies. That was full time from 1993 to 2003. On my own I have started 37 companies and sold all or portions of them. Hired by others, checking my Excel spreadsheet, I have helped start another 141 companies, in every state except Alaska and Hawaii.
Read my earlier post because I think you missed it: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-195017-1.html#3305295
Don't compete against 100,000 other people. Compete against yourself. If you try to compete against 100,000 other people, I can guarantee you that you will fail.
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