Lessons In Buying Handmade

I've been thinking about compiling a list for quite a while for customers who go to craft shows or to festivals about some rules for buying handmade directly from the manufacturer.  I like to call crafters manufacturers because that is what we are.  Quite a few of the crafters at shows are their own boss.  They manufacture and market their own product in many ways, either at shows, online or selling to stores.  They are the creator from the birth of the concept, through production, marketing, sales, customer service and yes, sometimes even returns.  Some of us work 16 hour days producing and marketing our own product.  Most of us don't necessarily do it for the money (even though money doesn't hurt).  Most of us do it for the love of our craft.  It's our passion.  It makes our world go round.  We do it because we love to create!!
We have probably done over a hundred shows since we have started our little business and have come in contact with thousands of people.  We have talked to hundreds of other manufacturers and have found several "pet peeves" that almost all of us have in common.  This is a list of how you should treat a crafter at a show (even if you're not interested in their product).

1. When a crafter says "hi", say "hi" back.  We're friendly and sometimes bored at shows.  We don't necessarily want to sell you something.
2. Look us in the eye when we say "hi".  We don't have the plague.
3. When we say "hi" don't say "I'm just looking".  Good...because we said "hi", not "Are you going to buy something?".
4. Ask us how we make stuff and what our inspiration is.  We love telling people about what we do.
5. We make what we make because we love it.  PLEASE don't scoff at it.  It's hard putting your heart on the line and we're not a fortune 500 company who's publicly traded. We have feelings.
6. Don't say "I can do that".  We know you can.  BUT.... are you really going to take the time to learn to do it right, spend money on displays, spend $100's of dollar on materials & show costs and get rejected by tons of customers?  I don't think so.
7. We really DON'T want to hear how you just went to a big box store and just spent $100 on something similar. 
8. We really DON'T want to hear how the local dollar store has something similar for $2.00.  HELLO!!  It was made in China!!  Our materials cost more than that.
9. Don't complain about our prices.  We pay expensive table costs and insurance and not to mention we have families to feed and bills to pay.
10. Did I mention don't tell us "I can make that" or "It costs THAT much?! or "I just bought a ton of that at Wal-Mart"?  Well....I know I already said those but I just thought I'd mention it again.

So that is a little list to help you when buying at craft shows.  Sometimes we're like little kids.  We love praise and to have our egos stroked.  Buying from the person who makes the item that you bought is a completely different entity that buying from a chain store.  It's more personal, and we expect to be treated how we treat you.  :)

Buy Local Week July 3rd - 10th

What does it take for you to buy local?  It's better for the environment, it helps your local economy and it supports small businesses.  We challenge you to buy local.  WKYC knows the importance and so should you!  During this week think about your community and how your dollar can effect it.

Cirque Imaginaire Hits Shore Cultural Centre

We LOVE Indie Arts!!  Now, one of the coolest shows to have been created is coming right to our front door!  Cirque Imaginaire - Travelling Art Show and Gallery has chosen Shore Cultural Centre as their location for their second show.  We went to the Sachsenheim Showcase on the Westside in March and were amazed at the quality of vendors, bands, and customers that were there.  We were in awe of Erin Carek and how she was able to combine all of the wonderous people together at the same event in a nondiscript place.  Anyway, we're are proud to announce that we are going to be a part of the Shore Showcase at Shore Cultural Centre in Euclid.  Our studio is at Shore and it's one of the coolest things to happen in the city!!  We hope you will join us.  All of our paintings, magnets, cosmetics and other bath and body items will be on display for purchase.  We will also have our studio open for you to tour!

Scheduled Show Update For Month Of July

Our Scheduled Shows


July 2010
Green Road Farmers' Market
July 1st, 8th, 15th & 22nd 2pm - 7pm
South Euclid-Hillcrest United Methodist Church
1534 S. Green Road
South Euclid, OH

Shore Outdoor Farmers' Market
July 2nd, 9th, 23rd 2pm - 7pm
Shore Cultural Centre
291 E. 222nd St.
Euclid, OH 44123

Trinity Cleveland Fresh ART
July 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th 4pm - 7pm
Trinity Cathedral - Prospect Lot
2230 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH

Cirque Imaginaire
July 10th 5pm - 9pm
Shore Cultural Centre
291 E. 222nd St.
Euclid, OH 44123

Cleveland Craft Coalition - True Colors Exposed
July 17th Noon - 5pm
River Colors Studio / Blackbird Baking Company
1387 Sloane Avenue
Lakewood

Westlake Historical Society Craft Show
July 18th 10am - 5pm
Clague House Museum
1371 Clague Rd.
Westlake

Waterloo 7
July 24th Noon - whenever
35005 Chardon Rd
Willoughby Hills

Monarch Center Art Fair
July 25th 10am - 5pm
Monarch School
22001 Fairmount Blvd.
Shaker Heights

Eastlake Home Days
July 29th 5pm - 11pm; 30th 3pm - 11pm; 31st 1pm - 11pm;
Aug 1st 1pm - 10pm
Lakeshore Blvd & Erie Rd.
Eastlake, OH

Ripples In the Water Happen, Dag Nabbit!

Ripples in the water are inevitable. If you're like me, you are often caught up in a never-ending search for stability and contentedness. You may make decisions that get you a few steps closer...marriage, job stability, a mortgage, a dog or a cat...yet, life inevitably decides to test you. These "tests" can sometimes slap you in the face, or they can slowly materialize like pesky dust particles on the blades of a ceiling fan. 

I often just wish that just for a short amount of time that all will be fine. My relationship is at its peak. My family is healthy. The kids are behaving. The bills are paid. The cars run fine. I feel rested and energized. SLAP!! That's just a stinkin' fantasy, and as a mid-30s-ish adult, I should know by now that life "ain't like that!"

So, what to do when a rodent chews through your engine harness, your soon-to-be mother-in-law's declining health has landed her in the hospital, your family income has been halved, others in your family are struggling...and the world seems to be falling apart one oil-laden bird, one suicide bombing and one random shooting at a time? Fight. Suck it up. Search for solutions. Do your part to help. Lend support. Lend an ear. Give a hug. Shake a hand. Pray.

I guess my point is that, as an adult, all I can do is go on living my life the best that I can and be the best person I can be. I can't succumb to laziness, apathy, depression...and I sure as h-e-double hockey stick can't fold 'em!

Life is NOT a serene, glassy, ripple-less pond! We can throw rocks and sticks to cause more ripples, or we can let nature create ripples of its own...and learn to love 'em...or at the very least, accept them. Sometimes, they aren't even all that bad to look at!

Matt