As a company we attend around 20 shows a year which are open to the public. They are across the country ranging from Harrogate in the North to Brighton in the South and everywhere in between.
This is a quick snapshot of what goes on-
The week before I order replacement stock sold at the previous show. All this has to be bagged or tubed, priced and packed in a box. Although we have a ‘standard’ show stock each show is different and we take different stock. For example we sell quite a few tools at Kempton whereas at Harrogate it is mostly seed beads so we have to juggle the stock accordingly. All the boxes, spinners and racks have to be squeezed into the van ready for off on Friday morning. Last week we left home at 7am and drove for 6 and a half hours through driving rain to Harrogate, unloaded in the rain and started to set up. Because we take such a range of stock we prefer shows where we can set up the day before. If things go well we can get the stand set up in about 4 hours- if not we go in early on Saturday morning and finish things off then.
Customers start arriving around 10 on Saturday morning and then hopefully its busy right through till 5pm. We have found attendances at shows are dropping as customers go on line for more and more products. It’s great to be able to see all the stock ‘in the flesh’ and to see colours, sizes etc which can sometimes be difficult on line. We are known for our range of tools and wire (which is where it all began) so we spend lots of time talking through processes and new tools with customers. Often beginners will be entranced by a string of beads that they buy from another trader and then come to us thinking that they can just tie a clasp onto the plastic or cotton thread that the beads are strung on! Amazingly people are happy to spend £40 or £50 on a strand of semi- precious stones but then don’t want to buy the best wire or clasps to put it all together.
Sunday we go back for another day and then ‘persuade’ all the boxes, racks and spinners back into the van for the journey home. Last weekend’s trip home from Harrogate was 5 hours meaning we got home at midnight, fell into bed and then up and back to work for 8.30 on Monday. Unload the van and start all over again for the next show!
Shows are very hard work but fun too. It’s great to meet customers that we have dealt with on line and put names to faces, and it’s lovely to see what people have made with the supplies they brought from us at the last show. It’s also good to get some sort of idea of the stock that people are looking for- especially new beads- so that we can source them and stock them.
So, next time you are planning to go to a show, contact us first as sometimes we have free tickets available. You can let us know if there is anything in particular that you would like us to bring with us (we stock over 10,000 products so obviously cannot take them all to each show). It’s lovely to meet all customers- new and old.
