The path to selling our wares is not usually a straight line for a craftsman. Generally we start out making things we enjoy.... discover others seem to like what we're doing.... perhaps sticking our toe in the marketplace via an occasional weekend market..... when it dawns on us "hey, people seriously might be willing to buy what I make on a larger scale". Hence The Prodigal Carpenter's recent foray into the world of retail interior marketplaces..... We recently contracted for a 8' x 10" space in a local interior marketplace known as Woodstock Market http://woodstockmarket.com We considered the environment and other vendors ( This is a large interior market with multitudes of vendors offering their wares) and were impressed, discussed their contract...
A New Year always brings contemplation of the past and anticipation of what is to come. Like most, we find ourselves pondering all that is ahead and how we can be more productive. This past year has been a real "learning curve" for us in that not only have we expanded our woodworking, we've also had to tackle the daunting task (for us anyway:) of this website, social media, and even taking the plunge into the world of weekend markets. It's been both exhilarating and exhausting at times! If you're reading this, however, you're the reason we keep at it..... because we love the opportunity to engage with others sharing what we make, what we learn, and what we love.........
This past weekend was The Prodigal Carpenter's first experience participating in a Festival or Artisan Fair. For anyone who has undertaken one of these, we don't have to tell you the amount of hard work that goes into preparation, facilitating, and post event handling. We learned a lot from our "initiation" into the outdoor market world. 1 Nothing replaces personal interaction with potential customers. The feedback was invaluable. It was affirming to have so many folks express admiration for the quality and craftsmanship of our products and admire what we do. 2. Know your Target Market. Handcrafted items of high quality are not produced inexpensively They take time, craftsmanship and quality materials. Consequently they're not what everyone is looking...
My wife and I are participating in a local artisan festival this weekend, so there have been a multitude of "bases" to cover in preparation. Nothing done well comes easy ......... and we hope do this well! Being "new" to it, however, we've made list after list over the past couple of weeks in an attempt to not leave any critical task unaddressed. Those who've taken the "entrepreneur" plunge understand...... business licenses, tax numbers, business cards, payment processing, packaging etc. etc. Meanwhile the work in the shop goes on..... Artisan Boxes Wooden Culinary Utensils...and Cutting Boards Sanding, Gluing and stirring up Sawdust:) The results are piling up...... We're looking forward to some...
