Vendors at shows

[Slipknot]

I know what you mean, my Mom used to do craft shows and you're lucky if you break even at times, it's almost like a hobby. People have no clue what goes into making some crafts or ceramics. The booth costs were a lot less back then I think, but I remember carrying stuff in and out for her at many places.

[MAC]

Originally Posted by Slipknot

I know what you mean, my Mom used to do craft shows and you're lucky if you break even at times, it's almost like a hobby. People have no clue what goes into making some crafts or ceramics. The booth costs were a lot less back then I think, but I remember carrying stuff in and out for her at many places.

ceramics

[mikecc]

8x10 space at fishing shows starts around $400 double space $600 then you have to have power $80 .
a week of planing ,rooms ,gas ,food after that 2 days to get back to normal all in all cost is about $1000,

I don't miss it at all.
I can lower my prices even more than at a show and just have a sale in the shop that go thru all that again.

[ecduzitgood]

Thanks for your responses, I just didn't know if people where aware of the cost associated with trying to participate as a vendor. The additional cost of acquiring the materials or product and getting it to the show on top of the booth fee's can be overwhelming. Then of course your time standing there all day hearing "can you do better" or "will you take (x)$", sure let me give you a discount just for asking. I'm sure if I came to your work place and asked you to do the same you would. Thanks for the view from the side of a vendor MikeCC, and "2 days to get back to normal" depends on what you consider normal.

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by mikecc

8x10 space at fishing shows starts around $400 double space $600 then you have to have power $80 .
a week of planing ,rooms ,gas ,food after that 2 days to get back to normal all in all cost is about $1000,

I don't miss it at all.
I can lower my prices even more than at a show and just have a sale in the shop that go thru all that again.

Same here Mike.

You can add "ponder where that reel went" that you can't seem to find after a show and can only conclude it was stolen since it didn't sell during the show. And the inevitable breakage and wear and tear on products from traveling.

Also a full store inventory to get things accurate again. Phones not being answered while we're away, web orders not being pulled and shipped, and customers who didn't know you were at a show getting pissed when they show up and the doors are locked.

Parking expenses for the whole staff. Uhaul truck. Payroll and food for extra staff. The list goes on and on. Nearly getting in a brawl every year with the oh so helpful dock workers at the Providence Convention Center. Sitting on the access ramp for hours on end before beginning the 10 hour set up of the SWE booth. The inevitable post show cold and or flu. Vendors parking small vehicles in the area set aside for those with big trucks that can't go in the parking garage taking up all the space resulting in me having to sit around in the street and nearby parking lots for hours on end waiting for one of the morons to finally show up so I can give him a piece of my mind and finally park the U-Haul. That last one really chaps my ass every year.

But I'm not bitter or anything.

Not going to miss RISAA this year. Planning to enjoy it from the other side of the fence. Maybe. Maybe I'll just go throw a fly line at some largemouths or something instead.

[Nebe]

dont get me started..

[saltwateredge]

Coming to the game later in the SWE life cycle has left me w/o the bitternes. I will say I've enjoyed being able to interact with people face-to-face through the various in-shop events this year. I'm REALLY looking forward to taking in the shows from the consumer standpoint this year.

ecduzitgood and the others in this thread bring up some good points though, makes me wonder if the "big-show" model will undergo a makeover in the coming years.

There definitly appear to be highlights and even a little (or not so little) bit of drama each year that keeps things interesting.

[Joe]

The lady selling ceramics is making 20% and the tackle shop guys are making around 33%. But that smiling guy selling bags of fudge and chocolates, he's making a conservative 500% margin - he's at all the shows.

[Joe]

At that rate, it takes her 41 hours of labor to cover every $500 of fixed costs.
Then she has to stand there all day to sell stuff that she only got $12 an hour to put together.
She must get some kind of intrinsic satisfaction, because it's a losing proposition financially.