I need a bit of HELP ! :?:

I took my books National about 8 months ago, did 2 big shows, they average about $2500.00 for 4 days, the vendor rental, gas, hotel and meals. And I don't buy anything. One was great and one was terrible, no foot traffic, I can't afford to do them much longer and these books are my dream. <b>Questions?</b>

<u>What gets you to buy? What takes you to a blog? You buy from a quilt shop or internet?</u>

I need your input, PLEASE. thank you :shock:

i buy from where ever. If it looks good and helpful i buy. I would suggest going internet. it is the cheepest way to sell something. you could also talk to admin about how to get a banner at the bottom of the posts where there are different ads. just a suggestion. I would also do coupons or deals on your books. that is a huge thing for me. I don't pay full price for anything i don't have to. and if i have to pay full price I have to really think about the purchase because we are on a limited budget.

At quilt shows, you're competing with every "quilty" vendor there is...and it's hard to sell a novel when the vendor next to you has fabrics! I know I gravitate to the fabrics everytime!
Go outside of the box, and take your booth to non-traditional venues...gun shows, car shows, county fairs, flea markets...where you are not set up next to the "other guys", but instead are offering something unique and different than the other vendors that are set up. I know I did my best sales when I made and sold beadwork at the kinds of shows I listed above. It gives the ladies that are tagging along with their husbands something to look at, and you get "guilt and/or revenge sales"....the guys buy stuff for their guns or car collections, and either buy the ladies something that interests them, or the ladies buy it because their man bought something he didn't need! ;)
It also tends to be less expensive to set up at these kinds of shows! :)

The NEW and UNUSUAL gets ME to buy. Demos help with a new gadget, the "buzz" helps too.

I agree with Charlee. Attend some non-traditional venues. One example: We have a Buffalo Rifle competition every year on Father's Day weekend on our ranch. This year there were 631 shooters and their families plus lots of spectators. There is a "vendor's row" where anyone can set up a booth and there is no charge. So if you come and don't sell anything, you are only out your travel expenses. There are a lot of shooting related booths, but the jewelry & craft booths do quite well because some of us can only look at gun related things for so long!!! Again, as Charlee said, if you have to compete for my dollars against fabric, the fabric will win every time!

I agree, go to the Fair! We live in a very rural area and I think the booth rental is about $10. I would think that the hardest part is getting a bunch of the first books sold, the others will "sell themselves".

Talk to your friends acrosss the country and offer them something to set up booths and sell for you. There is no need to attend each sale yourself. If you do go the route of getting others to sell for you, make sure to sign all copies, just a thought!

I just don't buy books. I get them from my library or get a free pattern from the net. I think books are hard to sell now. Spending $20-$24...I'd rather buy fabric with that.

What kind of books are you selling?

I posted recently that, at a recent car show I was "dragged to," I brought my hand-crank Singer, a table and chair, and proceeded to quilt while my "other" looked at cars for hours. More than one woman stopped by to chat and, be inspired - they all wanted to bring some hand work to the next car show. I remember thinking that I could have established my own car show quilt guild! So, I agree. Go to another type of event. Good luck!

contact your local library and other libraries in your area. Put on a trunk show with a book signing. I would definitely be interested in attending something like that. I know our library is always looking for programs to appeal to different groups.