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Post by jwtreppa on Sept 9, 2009 21:11:07 GMT -5
Very new to this. Helped a cousin this looong week-end, he booked two fairs by mistake, so we helped out....he sells roasted
nuts, we liked the weekend, but the sales were slow. I'm retired at a early age and am thinking I would like to do a concession stand type business, I would like to hear from people with their ideas. We are in Mi. and would travel a 200 mile radius. In the winter we could go warmer. Would like info on a 2 person operation, also what to sell, what size unit is best and would like to tow w/ motor-home. E-mails welcome.... JWTREPPA@YAHOO>COM...Thanks in advance.........My 2-cents on this forum is give it some time. I'm hooked.........................................JACK
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Post by susien on Sept 9, 2009 21:26:12 GMT -5
Jack,
Welcome to the board. The best thing I can suggest is to visit a few shows and see what is missing and go from there....
Susie
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Post by davejs on Sept 9, 2009 22:35:45 GMT -5
Hi Jack (whoops, can't say that on an airplane). Welcome to the forum. I'm sure that you are going to enjoy yourself hearing about what all of us go through on weekends. All of us have a lot of information and experiences to share. You said that you are from Mi? Is that Michigan? Quite a ways from all of us, but we welcome you just the same as you are now part of our growing family. I'll have to ponder about what would be a good two-person business. You said your shows will be within a 200-mile radius? How did you happen to find our forum? If you want a lot of information on doing events you might find my website www.starvingvendors.com interesting. I have lots of reviews of shows out here in CA, AZ and OR. People on this board can provide you with all kinds of advice and information, recommendations, etc. Just go ahead and post and you will get a great response, I am sure. Best of luck...dav |
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Post by susien on Sept 9, 2009 22:49:19 GMT -5
Jack,
I forgot to ask you, what part of Michigan are you in? I lived there for a few years! You might want to expand that 200 miles and come out here where it is warmer during those cold winter months.
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Post by davejs on Sept 9, 2009 23:09:17 GMT -5
If you have an RV, you can always snowbird it to AZ in January (or earlier). We do a couple shows in Tyson Wells in January. There's lots of shows in Feb.... Lake Havasu, Wickenburg, Yuma (Jan, Mar, etc), Tucson, Phoenix, etc.
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Post by abaworld on Sept 10, 2009 0:42:06 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum, Jack.
As the others have said --- there is a wealth of information available here.
I started my festival gig this summer and have learned an incredible amount from our forum members. Great advice leads to successful shows.
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Post by davejs on Sept 15, 2009 3:54:52 GMT -5
I'm glad to see that you made it here and I am hoping that you will find it as enjoyable as the rest of us do. Lots of information here and we talk quite a bit about the shows that we do. Hope you post some of your experiences and tell us how things are at the shows that you do. I couldn't believe how bad Castro Valley has gotten now and it used to be one of my top two shows every year. I guess a lot of the vendors went to Pittsburg. I'll still be in Castro Valley next year because it's local and maybe things will pick up AND maybe they will change some things there. I really hope that they can move some of the booths that are not related to selling actual merchandise over to another area because that takes away from the overall quality of the show. Jeff and Jerry do a great job with the show, but the Chamber of Commerce has a lot to say about what they are allowing into the show.
Be sure to post your opinion of this past week's show (in the California shows section). I am sure that you have read some of the comments from others in the forum about their shows over the many weeks this forum has been around. Please encourage other vendors to come to the forum and tell us some stories.... a nice place to let off some steam over bad events AND to let us all know about them. Once again, welcome to our forum.
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Post by IAN SAVAGE on Oct 6, 2009 17:13:44 GMT -5
Hello all, I am glad to be a part of this forum. I am a food vendor located Las Vegas that would love to do some shows in the arizona area during the winter months. I do remember seeing on this website a gal whom I think was called the purse lady who had some info on these shows... I would welcome her or anyone else to e-mail me or comment to this site with some info if they would be so kind. I am just excited that I found his site, it is great! Hope to talk to my new friends very soon.
Thanks, Ian.
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Post by davejs on Oct 6, 2009 17:25:52 GMT -5
Hello all, I am glad to be a part of this forum. I am a food vendor located Las Vegas that would love to do some shows in the arizona area during the winter months. I do remember seeing on this website a gal whom I think was called the purse lady who had some info on these shows... I would welcome her or anyone else to e-mail me or comment to this site with some info if they would be so kind. I am just excited that I found his site, it is great! Hope to talk to my new friends very soon. Thanks, Ian. Hi Ian. Welcome to our forum. You are referring to Paula, who will most certainly be on board later on. A good number of us pop in several times a day. Looks like you are just a 'guest' and you are able to come and go freely. Awhile back I limited certain areas to 'members only' but abandoned that idea. You can sign up for the forum if you wish to. Was wondering how you came across this forum. I have a webside called Starving Vendors and have numerous links to the forum. www.starvingvendors.com You can read about some of the shows we have done and I have loads of information there. I live in Hayward, CA and do around 40-45 shows a year, but none in Las Vegas. Do you subscribe to craftmaster news? That's a great publication that has thousands of show listings with a good number of those in the Nevada-Calif-Arizona areas. Best of luck. There's a couple other people on the forum who are food vendors, but they seldom post. Hopefully, you will become a regular contibutor around here. |
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Post by susien on Oct 6, 2009 20:58:56 GMT -5
Ian,
Welcome!!! Nice to see a new face. What type of food do you sell? My best friend lives in North Las Vegas so I am starting to look for some shows in your area. Any good ones that you know of? Again, welcome, pull up a chair, get a drink and join the rest of the "family".
Susie
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Post by bebonia on Jan 28, 2010 18:13:30 GMT -5
Hi all! My name is Amy and my company is Bebonia Creations. I am a jewelry designer and I create necklaces, earrings and th elike with semi-precious stones and beads. I also design rings and pendants with stones and silver and have there produced in India. these are NOT resale item, as I hand select each stone and then work with fair trade and small family workshops to do my productions. I am joining this site because I want to do a few shows when I am in CA during late Feb and early March. I am going on a bit of a road trip--I live in Minneapolis. Mostly I am looking for shows with a good attendance of people who like awesome jewelry. I don't have a canopy to take with, so wondering about renting or borrowing in the Bay area if I find a good show. my website is www.bebonia.comPeace, Amy |
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Post by davejs on Jan 28, 2010 20:16:51 GMT -5
Hi all! My name is Amy and my company is Bebonia Creations. I am a jewelry designer and I create necklaces, earrings and th elike with semi-precious stones and beads. I also design rings and pendants with stones and silver and have there produced in India. these are NOT resale item, as I hand select each stone and then work with fair trade and small family workshops to do my productions. I am joining this site because I want to do a few shows when I am in CA during late Feb and early March. I am going on a bit of a road trip--I live in Minneapolis. Mostly I am looking for shows with a good attendance of people who like awesome jewelry. I don't have a canopy to take with, so wondering about renting or borrowing in the Bay area if I find a good show. my website is www.bebonia.comPeace, Amy Hi Amy. Welcome to this board. Sounds like you have a wonderful business and you are very creative. I don't think that California is the place to go if you are looking for shows in February or March. The weather has been nasty up and down the state these past couple weeks. I have been in AZ since Jan 13 and we have had some pretty bad weather over here. You might be better of doing shows in Arizona during the next two months as the weather is improving and there should not be much rain. I am certain that member's of this board can recommend shows for you in Arizona. We have some shows in California, but the weather is much a factor. As for renting a canopy. It's recommended that you purchase your own. Businesses that rent out canopies will charge you an arm and two legs for their use. You can pick up a canopy with side covers for around $200. And of course, you will need tables and other display hardware. I know a number of people who have come a long ways for the Tyson Wells shows here in Arizona and it is unfortunate that these people have encounted the terrible weather we had last week. Sales have been lower this year for a huge majority of vendor's because of the economy. People (especially the retirees and snowbirds) are holding onto their wallets. Best of luck. |
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Post by danimigfb on Feb 5, 2010 11:39:11 GMT -5
Hi Everyone
My name is Dan. I sell Watkins natural & organic products as well as Fuller Brush. My wife Joyce makes beaded hairpins, Xmas ornaments and lately is working on a variety of plastic canvas cross stitch projects.
After 30 years in construction we became vendors a year ago and have been at several craft fairs, farmer markets & car shows in northern California near Marysville. Does anyone do any good at car shows? We haven't and have talked to other crafters that avoid them. This year we are trying some rodeos and a couple county fairs as well.
We enjoy all the great information here and it is wonderful to communicate with others that share the same experiences.
Thanks
Dan
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Post by davejs on Feb 5, 2010 13:01:37 GMT -5
Hi. Welcome to our board. I hope that you enjoy 'stopping' by here and keep in touch with us. Loads of info here and the people are great.
True crafter's avoid car shows like the plague. People are not interested in the lovely craft hand-made items that people make. There are a small number of products unrelated to cars that do sell good at the car shows, none of which I have in quantity so I too, pretty much stay away from car shows. With your product line, you might be able to get decent sales at a number of INEXPENSIVE Home and Garden Shows.
Do you do the Bok Kai Parade and Festival up there? It's being held on March 20 and I had been considering it. However, I have pretty much decided to do a hiatus until April when the weather might be better. For me, I have to travel 170 miles and motel it for a night in order to do that show. Plus the morning is quite cool. Easy for you. They get a good crowd there and after the parade you get swarmed and then an hour later? Where is everybdy?
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Post by danimigfb on Feb 12, 2010 12:29:04 GMT -5
Thanks for the warm welcome
Looks like we are thinking alike Dave. We are already registered for the Bok Kai. Being new sometimes I try to check out an event first, did this with Bok Kai last year (must have seen you there). This weekend Feb 14 we will be scouting Mardi Gras in Nevada City for a possible next year. The weekend following Bok Kai we are registered for Yuba City Home & Garden.
Will also be trying some rodeos this year, after watching bull riding on ESPN I thought those guys could use some liniment. Thinking about one in Pleasanton but there are a couple up here first, so will see how they go. Might even try De Anza in March one of my customers up here told me about them.
Hope to be able to contribute more info about events as the year gets started.
Just another starving vendor trying to find the end of the rainbow.
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