Unleash the Spirit of Glass!

Two weeks later, I finally snapped out of it. My friend Ruth told me it takes 2 weeks to recover from a major trade show…. and she was right.
Before I definitely move on, I need to post my review of the event.
This was my first ACRE. In fact, this was even my first trade show ever… so as I expected, I learned a lot.

The set up was tough… and the break down even tougher.
The show started on May 31th. And I was there on the 29th. The plan was to unload on the 29th afternoon and to come back to set up on the 30th.
The unloading part went not too bad, although I learned a few tricks that will help me next time.
The set up part was harder than expected… well, I expected no A/C and it was no picnic. Oh well… but what I did not expect is that it would take 6 hours to set up a small booth like mine. And we were 2 people. Why, oh why? because there was no room to maneuver… no way to put boxes temporarily in the aisle because of the uninterrupted traffic of forklifts delivering boxes and furniture in artists’ booths.
They could have used the back aisle, large and uncrowded, but I guess this was more fun to bother us in the smaller aisle.
Move the boxes to the left to work on the right. Move the boxes to the right to work on the left. Move them all around again to work on the middle. Aargh!!!!
Other artists told me some horror stories with Champion and the Fire Marshall. I must admit that it gave me anxiety… but it went nice and smooth (puit, puit, 4 leaves clover and rabbit’s foot). In fact, I even did not see them at all. 6 hours!! I had to kiss goodbye the mani-pedi I had planned…

As per the breakdown, people told me this was going to happen fast. The show ended at 4pm and we had to be out of here by 10pm.
Hopefully, I followed the advice that was to keep my empties part under my table, part in my car. Which avoided me to wait that Champion brings them back. Everybody was running around, huffing and puffing. Some were so fast, oh my goodness…. for me, it was done in 1 hour and a half. Learned a few tricks for next time too.

The show itself….
As expected, well organized. Wholesalecrafts.com staff nice, helpful and professional as usual.

It was a lot of fun to get to meet them in person after a year of talking on the phone.

I also enjoyed meeting some artists I met on the forum and people like Merle Porter from Niche Magazine.

The first day was very busy. To my point of view, there was a lot of buyers. Other artists told me that it seamed a lot to me because this is my first time and I do not have anything to compare with. While others said that they’ve seen in this first day alone more buyers than the 3 days last year.
That I can believe. Last year, when I walked the show, I do not remember being in the way of that many buyers. I think that wholesalecrafts.com staff did a great effort this year to bring buyers with incentives like buyer credit and numerous pre-show phone calls.
About that… I was disappointed to not see the gallery to whom I gave my $100 buyer’s credit. Wholesalecrafts.com gave them an additional $100. With $200 credit, and considering the gallery is at a driving distance from Las Vegas, I was really surprised to hear they did not even show up. Guess who is not going to get my credit next year?
So, back to the show attendance. First day, very busy. Got some orders, gave away a fair amount of catalogues and made good connections. I think that the most important with trade shows is not much the order writing on the floor (which is always nice but can also be cancelled later anyway) but the contacts that you established.
Second day and third day… slow… very slow… for everyone. There was more artists cruising the aisles than buyers.
On one hand, I was not too surprised. Buyers must control their costs and certainly did not stay overnight. Although… hotels room are pretty cheap right now in Vegas.
Then, I was expecting more attendance on Monday and Tuesday which are better days to close a gallery. But… sounds like Sunday was the day.

Overall, I am happy with this first show.
I learned a lot, which was my main goal. And put my name and work out there.
I have already signed up for next year. This time, I’ll be back with a full size booth (10‘x10’) and I also requested a corner. I need some breathing room!!!
I do hope that, by signing up that early, I will move up on the floor.
From what I noticed, the first third is nice and cheerful. This is where the returning artists are. They are more experienced with booth design and lightning which makes the area more appealing.
The two other third are for newbies and artists who signed up late.
I think that I “paid my dues” this year and that by signing up early and now being a returning artist, I am going to move closer to the front.
To be honest, I did not enjoy much my booth location. It could have been worse… it always could be worse… yet, I was not too thrilled.
Although before the internet cafe, it was toward the end and on the side. The area was darker. The booth next mine was even empty (gosh, if I knew that during set up!!!) which was looking sad.

Yep, pigeons were allowed on the floor to shop for all-you-can-eat crummies...

Booths are like real estate. My neighbor’s weeds make my property looks bad.
Artists were bored at time, but is it a good reason to run after soap bubbles in the aisle? I swear, if this one had popped her bubbles anywhere close to my Mac or my glass, we would have had diplomatic incident on hand! I guess she got the hint from my mean look because she did not come too close. Good for her!

Now, back in the saddle… Database has been updated big time and thank you cards have been mailed. Next advertising in Buyer’s Guide and Gift Shop magazine have been planned already before the show. And new merchant account application has been faxed. But I still need to mail catalogues, work on new orders, order postcards for my next marketing campaign and work on a newsletter project. And of course think about new work. Yes, it was about time that I snapped out of it!!!

A bientôt!
Patricia

© 2009 - Unleash the Spirit of Glass!

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