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Exude Success By Michelle Sholund - a CraftLister.com Craft Expert about page personal website  based on 12 ratings Viewed 394 times Printed 1 times
Exude Success
I was just putting some finishing touches on a art/craft business presentation for this coming Saturday and realized an overall theme - exude success. Far too often craft artists get caught up in lively discussions in aisles at shows about the economy and how shows aren't what they used to be. I have noticed more and more craft artists are neglecting how important it is to obtain a "professional" appearance of their booth to attract customers. Then there are those who just look like they threw in the towel before the doors open to the event and fall into a habit of reading, wandering around aimlessly or better yet ready to pounce on the next unsuspecting customer praying this is the person who will buy something expensive.
I don't want to burst anyones bubble, but we are in control of our own success when it comes to our own art/craft business. If people are experiencing lulls in sales - of course it could be the economy and many other reasons, however if you are not putting your best foot forward then you are not exuding success.
Why Exude Success?
When it comes down to it people will buy from those who are successful or appear to be successful. It is almost like a popularity contest without the drama. When you see people in ones booth it is usually because there is something going on there that no one else is offering. Next time you go to a show observe the dynamics of a show. Notice who has something unique, what makes some displays attract a lot of people while others don't, and what are each booth owners attitude like. It shouldn't take long before you see it - the dividing line - booths with energy and booths without energy. It is all about creating a happy vibe to attract people who then pick up on that positivity which builds and builds where before long one person starts to buy something and the more follow. So, in a sense, if each craft artists would take the time to step up, be professional and use their time wisely at shows they too will find sales will lead to a successful business
How to exude success:
1. Be positive. If your day starts off bad, let it go, move on. You don't need to be super perky as if you had 5 cups of coffee, but doing something like smiling, welcoming people into your booth, offering suggestions or help, all goes a long way in winning a customers confidence and trust.
2. Dress for success. First impressions means the world of difference when it comes to customer shopping. Go to shows clean, make an effort to be presentable - trim beards or shave, a little make-up can go a long way - especially with a great shade of lipstick, don't wear torn or worn out clothes with stains, and of course dress casually and for comfort. I have seen some sweaty men putting up a booth and then start selling with major b.o. and sweat stains. I have observed women with the most messiest of hair dos and no make-up complaining about how their sales are so poor OR question "why are so many people trying to barter with me?". You will also find that how you dress reflects upon how people perceive your work.
3. Make your booth pop! A professional craft artists booth should not look like something out of a flea market. You are an artist and should treat your artwork they way it should be displayed - with respect and in such a way it will attract people. Find a happy medium where the way your booth is merchandised you don't get people commenting more on how beautiful your booth is than your work. And on the other side of the spectrum that it is too plain where items are just sitting on a table - one table - with no table clothes, etc. Just think - people shop at boutiques and nice retail shops - a lot of it is about the experience when walking into a place like Godiva Chocolates or The Gap. Using good lighting, a theme, merchandising your products on different eye levels and more should be everyone's goal. The one thing that can make or break ones booth is to have it look like all the rest at the show - think about ways to make it memorable and you will surely find buyers verses passersby.
4. Use positive language. I usually get customers and other craft artists, when I do shows, ask, so how are sales today? I usually say good or there were some parts of the day that is/was busier than others. Whenever someone asks a question where they are looking for a negative response in such that misery loves company, think of ways to counter it and make it positive. If the weather is at least nice (and sales aren't) mention how you can't remember such a good day as today and to thank customers for coming out in such nice or bad weather too - changing a situation to a positive one. If someone shrieks about something they think is over priced, calm the situation and explain what makes the piece unique and why people buy it to show value. Just as there are many situations that could result in negative responses, figure out ways to make a negative situation good.
5. Have realistic expectations. I am referring to setting the the bar too high regarding expectations that could result in loosing focus on the prize. Set simple and realistic goals when doing shows or in handling business decisions. The more you are able to complete simple goals the better you will feel when it comes to your overall businesses success. You can't expect every customer who enters your booth to buy, every show can't be successful (even if past shows were always good), and every show isn't right for your product. The sooner craft artists realize nothing in life is guaranteed and each person holds the key to their own success, the more likely you are achieve any goal you have your mind set on.
I am a big advocate of good customer service because you want people to have a good time, have a memorable experience to want to come back, don't you? There are so many times I see a snowball effect when one upset customer or artist rants to another thus creating and uninviting aura, an almost a dead zone where no customer would venture into. The sad thing is many don't even notice it happening and blame it on other factors when the most obvious answer is right in front of them - how their inability to exude success hinders their own success.
As we go into the Spring art/craft show season, and yes the economy will greatly affect sales and attendance, you can still exude a positive successful business. Please think about some of these ideas and try to apply just one to your own craft business. You may be surprised to see that if you do exude success you will find success.
- Michelle Sholund
Please visit my blog ( http://quickcraftartisttips.blogspot.com/ )for more tips for craft artists
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