I'm back from BMAC. I met my sales goals (yay!) plus I got some leads which may become large orders later. I'm torn about that, I want the leads to work out, but I don't want to wreck my plans to do less wholesale work this year. Then again, I don't plan to go to BMAC next year, so I should establish as many new accounts this year as I can. 

Speaking of my BMAC plans, I got a chance to talk to the person who manages the ceramics section of the show. I explained that my little business is getting more wholesale work than I want for my business plan, and would it be ok if I only came to the show every three or four years? She didn't look super-excited about it, but said it was ok, though I'd have to be juried in again if I was gone for three years. I think that's fair, and I'm glad I had a chance to discuss my plans with her, so she doesn't wonder why I'm gone next year. 

I plan to spend most of today sitting on my backside and decompressing. Soon enough, I'll head downstairs to the studio for about six months of non-stop pottery production. 

Here's a photo of me in at the show with Betsy Ratzsch of Betsy Ratzsch Pottery. She was shooting photos of herself with the artists that she represents, as part of a marketing campaign for her gallery in Ada, Michigan.

The Buyers Market of American Craft (BMAC) starts exactly one week from today. I'm feeling calm and optimistic. Something might be wrong with me. Last year at this time, I was shivering through a power outage and digging through feet of snow. Right now, there are no such emergencies to worry about. And I'm done with my show prep a week early! My pots are packed into boxes, and my trusty red document case is stocked with order forms and pricelists. I've already gotten two orders, so I'm off to a good start. 

I guess what's really causing my optimism is that in the past two years, even though the economy was in the toilet, I still got plenty of orders at this show. Last year, I probably took one or two more orders than I should have. It's not healthy to work seven days a week. Plus, one my conclusions from The Hourly Earnings Project from last year is that I should do less wholesale work and more retail shows. Given that the economy is gaining strength these days, I feel confident that I will meet my sales goals. Or at least come pretty close. 

And I want to make another important change to my wholesale philosophy: to treat my existing customers better than my new customers. You know, the opposite of the way cell phone and cable tv companies treat their customers. This means leaving space in my schedule to take reorders from galleries who are selling my pots really fast. And higher minimums for new accounts. 

We'll see in about 10 days if my confidence is justified.