The Cwafty Blog: Tutorial Tuesday: (Grow Your Own Crystal) Necklace

The Cwafty Blog: Tutorial Tuesday: (Grow Your Own Crystal) Necklace

Current Chair Projects

Just tickle me pink and gorgeous in green!  These have been some of our favorite projects so far.










                                                     

How To Get Your Stuff To Sell With "The Must" Checkoff List For Event Planning.

My friend, Eileen, and I have been doing “tent” events for the last ten years. If you plan on making ANY real money at doing events, is that you really should, maybe HAVE is the better word, take this seriously and invest.

Having support from those around you will help you keep going, Even though Eileen and I have been working together for years doing this, we still have our “muscle men” around to help with the loading and the repairs. For those who have not started doing events yet, a word of caution, that no one really talks about, is the lifting, loading and unloading, only to load and unload again. Doing this is not very back friendly. It's also getting up at 3 am in the morning, if your event is not local, driving to your location, and getting set up. Check on your event's set up times and breakdown times, and plan accordingly.

Preparation is the key to whatever event that you do, and you won't see any return on it until the event is over. I've made a list of must haves to prepare for your outdoor tent event. You can modify this list if your event is indoors, or if you have a permanent location inside an antique mall. More on those later..maybe another blog.

EVENT VENDOR CHECKOFF LIST

For Your Display:

Tent and Weights

Rain Covers

Cords

Lights

Hangers

Duct tape and Zip ties

Tables and Table Covers (I dislike seeing bare tables)

Signs

Clamps

Table Stands

Shelves

Product

Business Stuff

Bags ( We save every shopping bag there is)

Tags (Important that everything is priced)

Business Cards (If you have them)

Receipt Book

Office Supplies

Inventory List

Card Reader/Processor

Money Holder (I personally like using a Fanny Pack or Apron, and yes, I rock that Fanny Pack)

Personal Stuff

Chairs

Cooler for drinks and snacks

Repair Kit for booth and items

Wipes and Lint Roller

Spray Cleaner

Paper Towels

Sharpie and Pens

Notebook

Cell Phone with Charger

Batteries

Medicine – if you take any. (I always bring something for the headaches and the backaches)

Jacket or Sweater

If you are still interested and I haven't scared you yet, then read on.

Choose The Right Event.

I don't care on how well your tent looks, how cute your stuff is and how good your prices are, if you have chosen the wrong event, you won't sell enough to make the event profitable for yourself. (In the beginning, we have chosen our fair share of wrong events.) Do your research. The who, what, when and why are very important here. Who is putting on the event? Can they get the people there? The right people? (people who are willing to spend) What is the parking like? Is there plenty of it? What are the extras or attractions? What promoting do they do? When does the event take place? Are there a lot of local events going on at the same time? Now the why of it. Sometimes events take place for charity organizers, and they may ask for a percentage of your sales. Check to see if you need to “donate” any funds other than your rental space.

More to Come.  For more of, How To Get Your Stuff To Sell, follow this blog.

C & E's Emporium of Antiques, Vintage, Whatnots, Doodads and Oddities: Finally....New Location

C & E's Emporium of Antiques, Vintage, Whatnots, Doodads and Oddities: Finally....New Location:  We have finally moved to our new location!  Packed up from our old location on Sunday and now it's Friday with just finishing the l...

Finally....New Location

 We have finally moved to our new location!  Packed up from our old location on Sunday and now it's Friday with just finishing the last of tagging and staging.  A lot of fun, but also a lot of work.  Not for the fainthearted.
                                                                                                                                                 We just love our eclectic mess!  If you are ever in Winter Haven, FL stop by and see us.

Moving Locations

Even though we were very excited about starting our business here, location PERFECT, we are just barely making enough to cover the rent on our space, so we have found another space, smaller, but much less the amount in rent.

The problems that we ran into is that the competition in this location is fierce.  300 other booths to compete with.  The place is great place to be if your looking for indoors, off 2 major intersections, plenty of foot traffic, however, as I talked with the other booth owners, MANY, are just covering their rent also.  They too are leaving.  When I asked exactly how many checks they actually issue to the vendors each month and the question was avoided, it gave me my answer,  They were really only the ones making money on the backs of the vendors.  There will be plenty of others to take our spots, so for them it is a win-win. They do not have to make the over head if everyone else is making it for them.  Rent plus 10% of what is made.  Lesson learned.

We are still excited about our opportunities, as we keep moving forward.  May have to work a little bit harder, but that's ok.  We will keep you up to date as when we reveal our move.


You never know until you try.  And sometimes you have to keep trying.

Christmas is Around the Corner!

After time decorating the booth, we are now ready for the holiday season.  We came across some really cute ideas for handmade ornaments that were simple and fun to make. 

Our first project was fabric covered candy canes.  The fabric I took was from a pair of jeans and stripped into 1/4 inch strips and wrapped plastic candy canes that were bought from the Dollar Tree.  We made these by the dozens. Some we left just looking like candy canes and others we made heart shape with a bit of sprig of mistletoe in the center.

Materials needed: fabric strips, candy canes, & a hot glue gun.  

The booth isn't really making us any real money yet, however, it has made enough that the overhead is taken care of.  We keep looking for different ways to make us stand out of the crowds. (300 booths in this location).  Making Cinnamon Ornaments now to add to the booth.  Maybe the smell of Christmas will draw people in.

Like I've said before, You never know until you try.