Questions for the crafters that sell their creations online, at shows, etc...
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
United States
May 9, 2008 10:55am CST
Do you think the slow-down in the economy has affected sales for you?
For those doing craft shows, has the traffic at the show been down from previous years and were the customers spending habits less than in previous years? How about for those selling online? Have your sales slowed down dramatically since the holidays and/or have they slowed over the last few months?
I'll start off. I think the economy has affected buyers habits. I think many folks have tightened their budgets when it comes to spending on non-essentials and in NJ this seems to be the case.
I've done 2 craft shows that where attendance fell far short of expectations and many vendors complained (as they always do...lol)about the their poor day.
Online sales at Etsy.com have become tough for me to make. After a not so good holiday season, I had a better than expected Jan and Feb, only to see Mar and Apr grind practically to a halt (I don't believe my combined sales for March, April & May have equaled my February sales)
I have taken a couple of credit card sales from people who didn't plan on spending any money, but just "had to have" something they saw on my table and pulled out their credit cards. Without the ability to accept credit cards, my "barely-okay" shows would've probably been just above the break-even point.
So does anyone else have any insight or care to share their experiences on the public's buying habits this year? Is anyone doing better than they expected, despite an economic slow-down?
3 responses
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
9 May 08
The last sale I did was in November and did okay. Better then I had the year before at the same place. I don't have any scheduled until June now. Many of the crafters in the last year have been complaining. But I can see both sides of the story. The last sale I went to the same people had the same things at their table for the last ten years....I do okay because I have different stuff and I also have a consumable product so to speak. I think people are pulling back on non essentials....hopefully the summer will bring higher sales. I don't sell much on the internet at all!
1 person likes this
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
9 May 08
My shows in November weren't too bad, sales online were a bit sluggish compared to what I expected, same with December... the shows were okay, sales a bit off.
Both shows this year were poor, in my opinion. The first I believe had to do with weather...a nice day the day before and a sunny morning the day of and the 2nd had little community support, which surprised me.
Sales have been sporadic online since the end of February and after two less-than-stellar shows, I'm wondering about booking more spring shows and booking a possible house-show.
I also think that the current economy has created more crafters selling their items, looking for another source of income, but that's the subject for another thread...
Thanks for your response. Enjoy your weekend!
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
10 May 08
I have done them and I'm planning on one, well I have 2 on the same weekend to decide on, along with a bluegrass festival next week.
The "craft" shows I've attended lately really weren't craft shows... they were more like craft/vendor shows, with a lot of vendors claiming their stuff was handmade (it was, just not by them) and some of the customers really complained!
I bought "Buy Handmade" tee-shirts from a Etsy member for my boys to wear at shows and some of the looks I got from these so-called handmade sellers were priceless...lol. They weren't happy at all, nor were they happy with their show results.
@lovespecialangel (3632)
• United States
9 May 08
I think the ecomony has taken an effect on the craft sales. I know I didn't sell anything at the last craft show I did. I don't sell online, mostly because I didn't know where to go to sell and I never do good on ebay. I hope things get better real soon!
1 person likes this
@lovespecialangel (3632)
• United States
10 May 08
I will have to check that site out. I have been hearing about it being a good place for crafters. I hope both our next shows are a success as well! Thanks!
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
10 May 08
I sell on Etsy.com and the sales have been slow. At times, promoting is even a waste because it seems everyone is promoting and the threads disappear so quickly.
I think there's a lot of new crafters trying to make money out there. My last 2 shows had several vendors doing their first shows and they really didn't do well at all.
I agree, I hope things get better real soon and I hope both of our next shows are a success... sorry to hear about your last show...that really stinks!
1 person likes this
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
11 Apr 10
It has been quite tough this year and actually, my last 6-8 months have been way off for me online. An average month was 6 sales, but since last September, I think I reached that total only twice (and that's only an average total...not a really good or a great month!) Considering that 2 of those months was the holiday season, the numbers have been really disappointing and haven't gotten any better in 2010.
Actually, in 2010, I have not made 6 sales all year! My sales from 2009 vs 2010 in the first 3 months of the year....
Jan 09- 11 Jan 10- 2
Feb 09- 6 Feb 10- 1
Mar 09- 6 Mar 10- 2
I feel your pain...it's tough out there right now for everyone and I'm not sure it's getting any better. Hopefully the low numbers have a lot to do with the rough winter we had and as the weather continues to warm up, the sales will start to pick up.
On a positive note, I had two sales late in March, both to new members on Etsy and several items have recently been hearted by Etsy members that are buyers (members that don't have a shop)and I've always found that things pick up for me when I start seeing a lot of buyers looking at my shop's items.
I hope things pick up for you!
