A BIG Thank You....

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skywizzard

skywizzard

Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2009
Messages
351
Location
Canton, GA
Thank you to all the great members of this forum who so unselfishly share their knowledge, expertise, special blanks and tools. I became a member early this year, and started turning pens in January. I quickly became addicted. Pens were made and given away, then I begin to sell a few by word of mouth.

I never intended this to be anything more than a pleasurable hobby. I had no interest in doing shows. I live in a small (250 homes) gated active adult community. Our social committee decided to have an arts & craft show, most exhibitors were from the community. The show was yesterday, there were a total of about 25 exhibitors. The show was advertised every little outside the community.

I participated only because it was in our community. To make a long story short, I sold over $1500 in pens in one day from 8 to 4. My booth was the hit of the show. It couldn't have been done without the knowledge and ideas I obtained form IAP. Everything from Curits' cactus blanks, beautiful burl from Nolan & Gary Max, and Dawn's incredible PR, as well as tools and supplies and ideas from various other members.

I truly can't imagine any forum for any purpose that offers so much and at the same time makes you feel like you are really a part of a larger community.

I can only hope to give back to the forum a small measure that I have taken from it.

Thanks Everyone!!
 
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skywizzard said:
Thank you to all the great members of this forum who so unselfishly share their knowledge, expertise, special blanks and tools. I became a member early this year, and started turning pens in January. I quickly became addicted. Pens were made and given away, then I begin to sell a few by word of mouth.

I never intended this to be anything more than a pleasurable hobby. I had no interest in doing shows. I live in a small (250 homes) gated active adult community. Our social committee decided to have an arts & craft show, most exhibitors were from the community. The show was yesterday, there were a total of about 25 exhibitors. The show was advertised every little outside the community.

I participated only because it was in our community. To make a long story short, I sold over $1500 in pens in one day from 8 to 4. My booth was the hit of the show. It couldn't have been done without the knowledge and ideas I obtained form IAP. Everything from Curits' cactus blanks, beautiful burl from Nolan & Gary Max, and Dawn's incredible PR, as well as tools and supplies and ideas from various other members.

I truly can't imagine any forum for any purpose that offers so much and at the same time makes you feel like you are really a part of a larger community.

I can only hope to give back to the forum a small measure that I have taken from it.

Thanks Everyone!!
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Wendell, congrads on the show. Do you have any photos of your set up??? What was some of your price ranges if you don't mind sharing?? What would you attribute your success to??? location, product, or good salesmanship or all of the above and more??? Thanks.
 
Congrats! Way to go!

To me it's not about the money so much. It's about the recognition that my efforts are actually valuable to someone.

I haven't done any shows yet. I had hoped to do a couple of Christmas shows, but I have so many orders I don't know if I'll be able to. I have a whopping inventory of like... 3.
 
jttheclockman said:
Wendell, congrads on the show. Do you have any photos of your set up??? What was some of your price ranges if you don't mind sharing?? What would you attribute your success to??? location, product, or good salesmanship or all of the above and more??? Thanks.
Click to expand...

John, I don't currently have a photo, but will try to get one from the committee member taking photos. To answer your question, I believe the success was a combination of of the above. The patrons were mostly retired with disposable income, I had about 90 pens ranging from $20 to $120 with the majority in the $30-$65 range. The best sales were Curtis' cactus, snake Sierras and circuit board pens, sold out of all these. Also Euros and cigars were popular. I had a good mix of materials, wood and acrylics.

It did make me rethink whether I will do more shows, after all you can only use and give away so many pens :)

"To me it's not about the money so much. It's about the recognition that my efforts are actually valuable to someone. "

I fully agree, If I had sold 10 pens I would have been happy. It was great just to talk to folks who admired the product... But the cash does help to support the hobby.
 
Congratulations on your show. Glad that it went so well. If you get a picture it would be nice to see your set up. Isn't wood turning great as is IAP.
 
Congrats!! Now you can afford to get sucked into buying all the latest, greatest
pen stuff so you can be perpetually in the red like the rest of us!

I'd love to see pics, too. Sounds like it was a good show.
 
That's awesome! I've been debating entering a couple local shows, but to be honest I haven't had the time. Every pen I've made so far has sold, so I don't have any inventory or examples....they don't stay on the shelf!
 
I finally got a couple of photos from the Committee photographer.
The first photo is the table. I am standing between the two ladies. This was a very basic setup. I had never done a show and really had no plans to do shows on a regular basis so all I had were a few pen holders and some signs I made. The poster showing how a pen is made was a hit. I also brought a few blanks, both wood and PR to display. The show ran from 9AM to 4PM, but I had to leave at Noon to attend a wedding. The ladies are friends and neighbors who volunteered to man the table from 12 to 4. They didn't know a lot about pens, but are real salesmen (women?).

I have already received 3 calls for orders. This just might make me decide to do at least a few shows a year. I don't want to do too many, because I have turned hobbies into businesses before and it ceases to be fun when you are having to make deadlines and deal with all the problems involved.

Again I can't thank the IAP members enough. I shouldn't have listed specific names, because I know I left out a lot of members who have been a great help.

For anyone considering a show, I say give it a try. You never know what will happen.

By-the-way, I have already spent some of the sales on a new toy, got a Ridgid surface planer. Been wanting one for a while....
 

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Wow, great display. Glad to hear it went so well.

You had some great looking pens there. Congrats on your success...
 
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