Farmers Market End of Season Report

[wildmaven]

Originally Posted by Don Fleck

what size mats are they? also how do you get the photos printed?

I sell 8x10's matted to 12x14, and 12x16's matted to 16x20. I print my own photos on my Epson 4800. It has more than paid for itself over the years and I love how it prints blacks.

Originally Posted by Sketch

The numbers seem good to me. 2011 is going to be your best year yet!

That's the spirit!! I hope so, too.

[motasemayyad]

Happy U ...

I thought of selling once ... but, never made it ...

GOOD LUCK ...

[wildmaven]

Originally Posted by motasemayyad

Happy U ...

I thought of selling once ... but, never made it ...

GOOD LUCK ...

You should! You have amazing stuff!

[Mumbo Jumbo]

Thanks for sharing your ideas (bungees and clamps) and the info about your suppliers. You have some good looking photos too. Do just go to a market around Belfair or do you do some traveling too?

[wildmaven]

Originally Posted by Mumbo Jumbo

Thanks for sharing your ideas (bungees and clamps) and the info about your suppliers. You have some good looking photos too. Do just go to a market around Belfair or do you do some traveling too?

Thanks. It has always been my opinion that artists should share their knowledge, not squirrel it away like some prized gem.

I mostly do the Belfair market and maybe one or two other shows a year. I'm hoping to do more next year, though. There's a wildlife show a few hours away that I'm just dying to get into.

[Mark McCall]

Is the Farmer's Market every weekend? or is it just a weekend here and there?

I love this idea.

[wildmaven]

Originally Posted by Mark McCall

Is the Farmer's Market every weekend? or is it just a weekend here and there?

I love this idea.

It's every weekend, but not every vendor comes every weekend. I missed 2 this year because of vacation or illness. Most markets are just on Saturdays, though there are some markets in neighboring towns that do theirs on a Thursday or a Tuesday. It just depends on when they think they'll get the most foot traffic.

Make sure you take a look at the vendor contract. Some require you to have a business license and carry insurance, and others, like the one I'm in, don't.

If you decide to do this, go to some of the markets/shows near you and talk to the vendors. After visiting with a few of them, you can usually get a good feel whether they are happy there or not. Go grab a tasty treat and sit and watch for a while. Do people rush through the market, barely looking at the booths, or do they wander around, taking their time? This is key when deciding how to set up your booth. Will you only have 2 seconds to catch their attention? That will mean you need bolder signage and displays. Pay attention to what they're buying (without looking like a stalker). There are trends to watch. Right now, butterflies and dragonflies are hot sellers.

[wildmaven]

I've had several members ask me about pricing, so I've copied what I sent to one of them in the hopes that it helps out some of the other members:

I've found that 8x10's matted to 12x14 sell well in this depressed market. I also do well with 12x16's matted to 16x20. A lot of people will complain that they don't have enough wall space, but the truth is they're just covering for the fact that they can't afford it.

I tried doing greeting cards, but they seemed to compete with my smaller prints. Most people would rather grab a $3 card and frame it than shell out more for an 8x10.

I live in a REALLY rural area (population less than 1000), so my prices are unusually low. In a larger market, you will be able to charge more. First things first, though. Sit down and calculate how much each print will cost you. Figure in the cost of the print (if printing it yourself, the ink and paper), the bags, the mats, and anything else you will be using for each print. That'll give you your baseline. If you're going to pay someone to work the booth for you, you'll have to figure that in as well. For me, the cost of putting together an 8x10 is about $1.50. The 12x16's are about $2.25. This allows me a good range to mark them up. You'll also have to figure in the cost of your booth fees. Nothing is worse than not making enough to even cover that.

I suggest you go to a few shows and see what the market is already tolerating and go from there. Mark up at least 10x what your costs are and that'll usually put you in the lower end.

Hope that helps.

[spanky]

wildmaven thanks for posting. Your info has been really helpful. Do you mind sharing your average selling price?

[Glendower]

You have been very generous with your experience-based knowledge. Thank you.