good elephant pottery
  • blog
  • recent work
  • where to buy
  • the potter
  • contact
  • mailing list
  • school

Worth Waiting?

9/20/2011

2 Comments

 
I was juried onto the wait list for the 2012 ACC Baltimore Show. I'm talking about the "retail-only" section of the show, which is the most desirable and competitive. I'm happy to have scored so well, the "retail-only" section used to be impossible to get into. (I've only done "wholesale-retail" and "wholesale-only" in the past, which are much less competitive.) This year they expanded the number of spaces in "retail-only" so I thought I'd give it a shot. Now I have to decide whether to accept or not. 

The pros have to do with profitability and prestige. In an effort to lower my wholesale workload next year, I am not going to the Buyers Market trade show in February. I'd like to add a few more retail events instead, and ACC Baltimore would be a good start. This is a very active show, it could be my largest gross sales event of the year. It's still one of the most prestigious venues for craft artists. And it's close to home, it makes sense to take advantage if I can.

The cons have to do with cost and workload. It's a very expensive show (about $1700) so the risk is higher, and even if sales are good, the cost:sales ratio is actually worse than a lot of other shows. And in order to have worthwhile sales for the cost, I need to make an awful lot of inventory. I'd have to start now, in between preparing for my other fall shows and remaining wholesale orders. So much for the time off I've been dreaming of since March. And then there's the inconvenience of a wait list, meaning I might not get a spot in the show until the last minute. Or I might even prepare all that inventory and never get a spot. 

My wait list number is 29. Back in 2007, I was wait list number 25 for the "wholesale-retail" section, and I got in. In more recent years, I know that much higher wait list numbers have gotten in, as more and more artists dropped out of these high-end shows due to the cost. 

What do you think, should I accept or not? I'm taking opinions here and on my Facebook page. 
2 Comments
Jim
9/20/2011 12:19:37 pm

With the caveat that my opinion is worth what you've paid for it: take the time off that you've been wanting to. Perhaps you'll come back refreshed, with new ideas or inspiration. The ACC show will be back next time, just as it is every year. And I say this as some one who really, really likes your work and would love to see it at the ACC. Whichever choice you make, though, I hope it turns out very well for you.

Reply
Jonathan
9/24/2011 12:29:50 pm

Hmm... You know the profit/risk ratio better than anyone. So, the question I would ask is this - are you likely to make sales to people that have never seen your work before, or do you expect to see the same people that you see at the other festivals in this area? If it means new fans, and new repeat buyers, then I'd suggest that you try for it. On the other hand, if this isn't going to expand your market, then this will be a sale that you do just to try to make a little more money than you did over the previous year. If it's a flop, the excess inventory will cost you, but it would be inventory you don't have to make later . . .

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    author

    Mea Rhee (mee-uh ree),
    ​the potter behind
    ​Good Elephant Pottery


    upcoming shows

    2023 show schedule is TBD.

    join the herd

    Receive email notices about upcoming shows/events.


    Follow me on
    ​Facebook and
    Instagram

    RSS Feed


    categories

    All
    Classes
    In The Studio
    Running A Business
    Shows
    The Art Festival Plan
    The Hourly Earnings Project

    archives

    December 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.