Has anyone done a wholesale trade show?

[Amber]

I have the chance to apply for a spot with the council to attend a wholesale trade show in February, the council is paying the booth fees for 3-4 spots and are going to jury 7-8 applicants who would like to show some of their craft work to wholesale vendors. Lots of people from the council and from other atlantic councils go to this show in Halifax but you need to be able to produce enough for the contracts. It seems the buyers are from all over Canada, some from the States and even a few more distant travelers. From what I understand your not bringing stock to sell on the spot but enough to represent your work and you can get contracts based on that. Here's a link to the show http://www.actshow.ca/English/
I'm really on the fence about doing the show this year, I don't think I'm in a position to produce at that level yet but I'll definitely be doing it next year! It's great for someone like me who will be changing locations often in the next 10-15 years. So I'm just wondering if anyone has tried this kind of show yet and how did it work? Did you get a few larger orders to work with and was the contract different too? Any and all bits of info would be greatly appreciated!!!

[Becki]

I've sold individual pieces wholesale but have never done a wholesale trade show.  Unless you're prepared for production work and know that you will actually enjoy doing production and meeting deadlines I'd suggest you hold off.  Maybe talk to some of the other artists that have done this particular  show and get some info on what the buyers are looking for, types of contracts and get an idea of the quantity of products being contracted.  It will give you an idea of what to expect and whether you really want to do this type of work.

[Glassic]

I've been at many in the distant past, UK, Basel, Geneva, Sydney, Melbourne, I don't think they would differ from America, they were usually held a day or two before a Homes Show or the like. Times have changed but now the Buyers, often gender related to the products they hunt, go to the shows and the Ceo's stay home and sign the checks.
The smaller crafts and one-off vendors were often still setting out their goodies so were not there in a promotional capacity for the Trade Days.
The size of the show doesnt matter the math is the same. Do your homework on the other vendors, explore the possible markets they attract and assess if your product and production capibility can meet the levels that they put out. You need to know what the competition will be, if your product quality will meet and beat theirs, your and their lead times and can you afford the time and money to guarantee delivery as far as 12 months downtrack.
Position at Trade Fairs is important too, Kitchen gadgets dont do too well next to the Mens restroom, but stained glass next to an Interior or Kitchen designer might! 
To summarize, I would step back with Becki, but I retired "go get 'em" a while back!

[Graham]

Unless you're prepared for production work and know that you will actually enjoy doing production and meeting deadlines I'd suggest you hold off. 

Good advice.

Making dozens or hundreds of copies of an item isn't the fun of making what you like, and the revenue will be half or less of what you now think of as "reasonable", especially when someone is breathing down your neck to have the order ready by Friday.

[Anne]

Unless you're prepared for production work and know that you will actually enjoy doing production and meeting deadlines I'd suggest you hold off.

Good advice.

Making dozens or hundreds of copies of an item isn't the fun of making what you like, and the revenue will be half or less of what you now think of as "reasonable", especially when someone is breathing down your neck to have the order ready by Friday.

I totally agree.  I do lots of production work and some days it's a grind.  And I'm making things I choose to make, not something that someone else has chosen and is pushing me to deliver on.

[Lou Ann]

I've never done one of these shows; however, I have taken orders at Christmas time from the ladies at my office and one year I did close to 40 ornaments in only 2 or 3 different styles and I was never so happy to be done with something as I was that...

Not only do you not have the enjoyment of making what you want to make but you have the monotony of doing the same thing over and over again with only maybe a change in color...

Also, the price retail customers are going to be willing to pay is probably less than what you want to sell them for because they have to turn around and resell them...

Lou Ann

[Amber]

Hmmm.. lots of good advise and something to chew on for sure. At this point I'm gonna skip on the application process, especially since I'm not sure what direction I would want to go... fuse or foil and all the nitty gritty that comes with both. Next year I'll be taking a harder look at it though, as much as I don't relish the thought of such monotonous work, in the long I think it'd be perfect for me to have a few orders like that. With moving every couple years and having to establish myself over and over and sometimes in small towns, having a few contracts on the go would be perfect for me. On average the trade show stated that participants took home about 7000.00 in contracts and that's a nice chunk of change for someone like me *lol.

For now I'll participate in some group exhibits and look at craft shows to keep me busy  .

[JoanFrances]

Amber, if you can attend the show and get a feeling as to how things work you will get a lot of insight up front and then make your plans for the following year based on what you uncover while there.

Another consideration is that when you switch to production, your creative side has to be shelved to keep up your production line. 

I know that several members here do some level of repeated production, but unless I have a call for a particular item, I don't usually make more than 10 of any suncatcher and sometimes do 2 of a panel.  When people visit my booth, they comment that they like knowing that I don't have tons of the same thing, because they enjoy the almost one of a kind purchase, so that it stands out when someone comes to their home. 

When you go to those shows you will need to know exactly what you costs will be, like packaging, shipping and whether or not you will need to hire help and that associated cost, prior to taking any orders. 

If you decide to do this at some point, be sure to have the contract perused by an attorney, as to what happens if they change their minds on taking the shipment.  Many manufactures have fallen prey to rejected orders and had to scramble to find a new buyer.  You could also check the back grounds of the vendors to see how they treat the production people who have sold to them.

As Graham said, you will be working to sell at a price that will be far below what you are used to commanding for your products.  That in it's self would be a big consideration, in the decision process. 

Good Luck Amber

[Becki]

I totally agree.  I do lots of production work and some days it's a grind.  And I'm making things I choose to make, not something that someone else has chosen and is pushing me to deliver on.

I give you tons of credit for what you do, girl!  Even that would make me want to pull my fingernails out!

[Amber]

An update :). Another year has come and gone and the same opportunity came to my inbox with a second personal push from one of the organizer of the organization that would host the booth I'm in. After a *lot* of consideration, so many little things to think of, I put an application in ans was just accepted! So it seems in early February I'll be going to the wholesale show, strictly crafts from the Maritimes and not open to the general public for shopping. I'll keep it small, just bookcharms and pendants, things I can mass produce in short time and offer in a nice color selection. It'll get my feet wet and I'll cross my fingers, hope for the best and expect the worst in terms of orders~!

With this comes a one day workshop by an ACTS organizer who will travel from Halifax and the crafts council that I'm a member of will be paying for him and it will be a huge help! In the little bit of reading before I applied it felt like a whole different world of buyer expectations *L.

If it bombs then at least I tried and 'if' it's really good then I'll put the money into more electrical work, shelving and a new kiln so next year I can have my own booth at the show ;).

[Audrey]

It sounds like a great opportunity, Amber. Try to enjoy yourself. Your art is great and should sell well.

[Malinda]

Best of luck Amber, I hope it works out for you.

[Anne]

I wish you good luck too.

[Amber]

Thanks everyone! No matter what I'll get some good experience under my belt and meet more folks :). Plus I can't complain about spending a few days in Halifax *L.

[ct4mom]

Good luck to you Amber and hope all works out for the best!!!

[Barbara]

You'll never know till you try.  Good luck with it. We'll be cheering you on!

[Judy K]

It sounds like fun to me. And if some one wants a HUGE order, hire help to fill it. Then you are helping the economy. You will be a hero