Farmer's Market

[Paul M. Kaplowitz]

A few weeks ago I asked if anyone had done a farmer's market and several of y'all had posted some very helpful comments. I thought I would tell you about our first one last Thursday. We sold 5 bowls, average price $40.00. The expensive ones, while drawing a lot of interest, didn't sell. My wife and I had a wonderful time meeting people, talking about my work, about wood and various other subjects. I will define my market as time goes by and turn most of my stuff for that niche. It was a great day and I'm looking forward to next week.

There was one problem. They put our booth down wind of some folks who where cooking BBQ. I am proud that I held out for 15 minutes before running overthere and loading up. These folks could cook. For those of you who don't live in the South and have not had real mustard base BBQ, my sympathies.

Paul K.

 

[Tony K. in NC]

Which part of the south

I had a festival a couple weeks ago that the town does one twice a year. my weakness also is BBQ, although i like molasses BBQ myself, but there is a chuurch that is there everytime with pit cooked BBQ that i eat at least once a day. Sounds like you had a great day at the market. still carry some of the higher priced pieces, you would be surprised at the higher earners that frequent farmers markets and once they know you are there they will bring the cash to cover it.

 

[robo hippy]

A big second on 'carry a bunch of different things'. Show business is fickle, specialization is for insects (Robert Heinline, Time Enough for Love).
robo hippy

 

[S. Clark]

I don’t do the markets and fairs much because my experience is just as you stated. An artsy piece will sell once in a while but not often enough to support the effort. I prefer creating artsy pieces and have little desire to bang out food service bowls. So now I focus on art venues for my sales. Even then sales aren’t always good but I like sharing with a crowd that has some appreciation for the artistic effort I display. My next event is an open studio tour on the first two weekends of June. That’ll bring several hundred people through my shop. At least that’s what it’s been in the past. This year who knows? If you have an art or craft council in your area, you might look into starting a studio tour event through them if they don’t sponsor one already.

- Scott

 

[Bill Boehme]

I think that it is beneficial to include some of your more expensive artsy-fartsy turnings in your booth just to provide a price point of reference for customers. In addition to the benefit of showing the affordability of the lower priced pieces, the expensive pieces also help the customer to gauge price vs. artistic value. The general idea of farmer's markets is that they are where people go to spend less money, but occasionally see something unique that they simply must have.

 

[Ron McKinley]

We're going to try it..

Our club just committed for three—one a month for three months. We're all concentrating on the low end items—under $20 until we see how it goes....Ron

 

[Paul M. Kaplowitz]

Thanks for the imput. PMK

 

[Ken Ferrell]

I'm going to try a farmers market in Corinth Mississippi, I belong to our local arts council Arts In McNairy which is about 100 miles east of Memphis, and 45 miles south Of Jackson TN. I just started turning bowls with quite limited success. But I do fairly well at shows with my pens. I did what is supposed to be one of the top 200 shows in the U.S. up in Nashville and in the three hours it didn't pour did almost enough to cover expenses, so doing a farmers market that only costs 10.00 and is only 35 miles away, Why Not.