mrsj82

So I'm at the craft fair. And for the second time in a row I'm selling nothing. I've sold two potholders. I'm very discouraged about this. Everyone else around me is selling stuff, except me! What is it that people won't buy anything? I've not priced things too high, and I'm almost right next to the door. There's no one else here that is selling quilts...so why aren't people buying from me????

GRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Okay...rant over....

live2teach

I'm sorry, I know how discouraging that is. If I was there, I'd buy something! :) Maybe people are being tight with their money on certain things..and unfortuneatly maybe it's the things your selling. It's so hard to tell with people. When people walk in, make eye contact say hello and draw them in...I'm sure you probably already are. I hope you start selling more! Let us know how it turns out!

mary quite contrary

I am so sorry. I'm glad we can be here for you. Rant away. I know it will make you feel better.

mrsj82

Thanks for the support. Maybe it'll pick up after everyone starts getting off work. You would think that quilting stuff would be a hot seller especially with Christmas coming up...weird weird people.

On the upside I found an outlet for my laptop so now I can come play on here with y'all while I'm waiting for this thing to end...

And maybe someone will buy something tomorrow...

Quilt4u

Sorry you did not sell any thing yet. May be latter.

pocoellie

Well hopefully, you'll sell more things as the fair goes on. How long is it? What are the people buying?

mrsj82

I think part of the problem is that there's hardly anyone coming out. Maybe after people get off work there'll be more people here...and then tomorrow we're here until noon from 7am.

However I just did make a huge sale. The lady that set up the event and I've been in contact with bought a quilt, two sets of coasters, a travel pillow and pot holder. $81 richer...

so hopefully when people get off work they'll come out and clean me out.

Janeen

Here's a story for you about why people don't buy quilts...

A friend of mine quilts - she does beautiful work, she has a great relationship with a longarm quilter and between the two of them they turn out some fabulous stuff... impressive even...

ok, a woman at work kept asking Margie to make her two quilts for her twins - Margie kept telling her, 'no', that she did not want to get into the making of quilts for other people.. the woman kept insisting and getting downright belligerant about it. so Margie finally told her, 'ok, let me figure up a price so we both know what we're talking about....

So Margie figured up a price using good materials, batting, TIME, the long arm quilter, the backing, etc planning on doing a really good job and making 'heirloom' quilts for this woman's kids....

When she told the woman, "I came up with at least $500 for each quilt" the woman went ballistic and said - are you ready?? :-o

"But I can get a quilt at Walmart for $30!".... and Margie said, "Well, then, do that"

We stopped at Hardy Arkansas on our way home from Missouri a couple weeks ago - we've stopped in that neat little town several times and this last time quite a few shops had "handmade Ozark quilts" for sale.... but.. here's the strange part, these quilts all looked exactly alike - in each store and the "quilting" was nothing more than basting.... and these quilts were all under $150 all the way up to king size.... I didn't look for the "made in China by 6-year-olds" labels but I'm sure they were there somewhere...

We also stopped in Cracker Barrel where they had some really NICE quilts done on I'm sure computerized long arm machines - they were too 'perfect' to be otherwise... these were selling for around SEVENTY DOLLARS....

You can't buy the materials to make a GOOD quilt for that....

People who actually do the craft - no matter what it is - generally will say things like, "wow, great prices," or "fantastic work" or whatever but they won't buy because they also do the craft/sewing/ etc... people who don't know squat about sewing/quilting/crafting or whatever are only interested in the $$$$ they look at a thousand dollar quilt and it doesn't mean any more to them than the thirty dollar piece of junk from China made with material that will fade and fall apart because people aren't really interested in heirloom stuff anymore - they are the people who replace their bath towels by the season so they 'match', or decorate every year, or toss out the table ware and buy new because 'it's such a good deal at walmart'....
and that's what's got the whole world in a huge mess right now because we are a disposable society - toss it out and buy a new one - no need to make it last or keep it because it means something...

whew... boy did I get on my soapbox :mrgreen:

But I have a friend that keeps telling me I should try to sell my quilts on ebay - no, not gonna go there.....
If nobody else does - at least I know that *I* appreciate my quilts and I know what goes into them... :roll: :wink:

live2teach

Yay! You made a sale! Maybe you'll be busier this evening and tomorrow.

Janeen, you are exactly right, it seems we hear the same thing from people about our prices and such. I can say with confidence that all of us here on this board definitely appreciate anything handmade and all of the hardwork that goes into it.

mrsj82

Wow, that gives me some perspective! I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who appreciates good quilts. Its really annoying that people look at the price tag on a really good quilt and balk. If they really knew the effort it took to make one...

Anyway, hopefully things will pick up later. I want to sell my quilts on EBAY too but I have no idea if they'll sell and I'll be damned if I put them up and pay ebay for them not to sell!

(Ebay is my soapbox...)