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Rectangle on Wheels

7/23/2013

9 Comments

 
I'm back from another Artscape Baltimore. Despite the storms and the abominable heat, it was another stellar show. This is my eleventh year at this show, and it continues to be my favorite and highly profitable. At the beginning of this year, I decided to ramp up the "dinnerware" part of my product line, and after six months this has paid great dividends. I've been making plates as fast as I can, but always running out. And the feedback has been even better. Right now I'm trying to figure out how to create more drying space in the studio for plate-shaped things. 

My "I shouldn't have eaten that" indulgence were some deep-fried Oreos. They were way too sweet, but I'd probably eat them again. I also indulged in a little schadenfreude. I don't believe in criticizing people on my blog, so I'm just going to keep it to myself.

But here's the main reason why the show was really exciting: I have a new car! I realize I am the only single and child-free female who was dying to have a minivan. "But people will mistake you for a soccer mom! Or a burglar!" I don't care. A minivan is the vehicle of choice on the art festival circuit. It really is the best combination of cargo space, drivability, gas mileage, and price. 

My mom did her polite best to change my mind. "Umm, isn't that Nissan Murano pretty?" "No mom, those round-shaped cars are not useful. Everything I'm carrying is a box or a table. I want the most rectangular car I can find."

Here is my rectangle. It's a Toyota Sienna. Despite it's size it is very easy to drive. 
Picture

This is a vision! Just look at all this space. I have the middle row seats tumbled forward, I can remove them if I want even more room.
Picture

This is my entire display for the Artscape show. Just about everything fits into the van SIDEWAYS. I will repeat that just to emphasize my amazement: SIDEWAYS. The only thing that doesn't is a five-foot-long tabletop, which I have propped against the right wall. Yes I am contemplating replacing that with a four-foot tabletop, just so I can pack it sideways too. 
Picture

This leaves the rest of the space for, you guessed it, pottery! I packed a hefty inventory for Artscape, five 12-gallon boxes and three 8-gallon boxes. But there was plenty of room to spare.
Picture

And here's why this matters so much. There are so few economies of scale with a pottery business, but here's one that can make a big difference: packing your car once and doing two shows. My former car was a Subaru Forester. It was much-loved, but I could barely squeeze in my display and enough pots for one show. The pottery boxes were on the bottom of the payload, so I could not restock them without unpacking the entire car. My renovated studio and the second kiln made it possible to make enough work for two consecutive shows, but the Subaru couldn't match that. As you can see in the above photo, the van could easily hold twice as many pottery boxes. Well, first I need to get more boxes. When Artscape was over, I put the empty boxes in the very back near the liftgate. All I needed to do was fill those boxes up with pots again, and put them back in the van. Without unpacking everything else. And BAM! I'm off to another show. 

This weekend I'll be at the Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair in Wilmington, Delaware. This is my first time at this show, but I've heard from many sources it is top-notch. This is outside of my local zone, so I'm not sure how many of my usual customer base will attend, but if you are in the area, I hope to see you there!

I bet the minivan will be comfy for a long drive too. I can't wait.
9 Comments
Korey Averill link
7/23/2013 01:37:27 pm

Oh, have I fought getting a minivan for years. However, I am definitely excited for you and reconsidering the possibilities. Wow! That is a ton of space! Definitely on my list now.

Reply
D. Lane
7/25/2013 12:12:31 am

You can't go wrong with a Toyota. It's a great van and you will find very comfortable for. road trips.

Reply
Ann Schrader
7/26/2013 09:06:17 pm

I bought a used Dodge Caravan less than a year ago and absolutely love it. I am a part time potter and I have just been doing shows with a local art group monthly. I have 4 pedestals that I made a couple of years ago. When I first loaded the van for a show I put my table behind the seat and the pedestals behind that. They exactly came to the end in the back. It was like I made the pedestals to fit the van. I knew at that time I was meant to have this van. I also want to get a front license plate that says, "Soccer Mom My _ss. I had a sports car 15 years ago when I was a soccer mom. Go figure.

Reply
Beth Jones
7/28/2013 02:36:54 am

Thanks for coming to the PA Guild show in Wilmington. Please come again. It was nice to meet you and be introduced to your work. It is all truly lovely.

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Frank Hott
8/6/2013 04:03:34 am

I greatly enjoy reading your blog and learning from your experience and insights. You inspire people you have never (and may never) meet! Thanks for sharing this part of your life with us.

Reply
John Lowes link
8/22/2013 05:38:41 am

I purchased a 2012 Buick Enclave more for a temporarily family increase by my daughter and two granddaughters staying with us for a year and a half making additional seats necessary for everyone to go together anywhere. I was romancing the GMC Acadia (should have gotten that one), while looking out at the curvaceous rear of the Enclave and imagining better resale value for the curvy one. It turns out that it was a reasonable replacement for my previous transport to shows, a 2002 Ford F-150 SuperCrew pickup with a covered bed. Everything that I got into the Ford fots inside the Enclave (under lock and key, I might add.) Your comment about the curvy shape was on point. I load my tubs down each side, and the two at the rear of the vehicle have to be slanted in toward the middle which crowds my tent and shelving load area. I stack my tubs to the ceiling, 2 high, and the middle fills in with tent, four shelving units, weights, etc. It never occured to me to load sideways, so I may have to look at that. I think the tent may negate that, but I also have a yuppie roof rack mounted Yakima streamlined box I have yet to need that could take the tent. More rooms for pots! Great idea; now to see if it will work for me.

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Hilary Huntley link
8/26/2013 01:32:14 pm

i have resisted the minivan for ten years and now that we have a son my hubby wanted it and finally won the battle, we bought a toyota siena and it is the best thing i have ever packed up for a show, i show every week and sometimes twice in the same week, don't tell hubby.....but i love the van and wish we'd gotten it sooner for all the pottery and art shows i work

Reply
Linda Ricci
9/25/2016 12:36:04 pm

Where does a tent come in? I have to use a Caravan Tent almost exclusively, only a few indoor shows.

Reply
Mea
9/25/2016 07:02:06 pm

Linda,

I mostly use a Light Dome canopy. You can see the poles in amongst my gear. They do fit sideways in the van. Sometimes I use a pop-up canopy instead (for one-day shows), and the pop-up also fits sideways in the van.

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    Mea Rhee (mee-uh ree),
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