Starting out

When we started out we had to get the “lay of the land”. Having never been part of a market we had to first understand what was out there. The best way to do this was to go to some local events, talk to the vendors, see what they are selling, and ask them questions. We started by going to some markets at local breweries and getting a feel for the events; Where do people tend to congregate, do we see an overabundance of products similar to ours, are we seeing no vendors similar to us, and, if so, why. Once we had an idea of what was out there we started to dip our toes in and tried a few local markets.  The results were not always favorable with our booth typically breaking even at best. So we had to start casting a wider net.

Spreading out

In year two we decided to start applying for everything and anything we came across. Pop-ups, Farmers Markets, local events, anyone who would take an application. Pretty soon we were booking up two or three weekends out of the month with shows all over the region, sometimes up to two hours away. The exposure was great but, unfortunately, we learned very quickly that quantity does not always equal quality. There were a lot of shows that just weren’t worth the cost because we weren’t making back our booth fees. There were others that were cheap, and easy to make back our money, but it just isn’t worth the time. Not to mention; the less expensive markets require you to lower your costs such that you are barely able to pay yourself for your work.

Tightening up

In year three we started to narrow our focus. We picked fewer markets with a focus on those that we did well at in previous years and sidelined the ones that didn’t prove profitable or worth our time. For new shows we would be very selective, looking at social media for pictures of previous years to get an idea if the turnout is good and if it passes the “smell test” for our target market.  This worked out well in that we greatly reduced our overall time at markets and, for the ones that we did attend, we made a decent profit. 

From craft to art

This year we started out the year by thinking judiciously about the shows that we would take on, further paring down the list of vendors from previous years, and reaching out early to make sure that we are on the list for the shows that we do want to attend, and putting more focus into getting into art shows and juried shows that bring us closer to the target demographics that we want to reach. The goal now is to move from craft vendor to art vendor. This is a tough transition but, with a solid stable of markets, we can ensure that we can still sell products and pick up commissions while we focus on meeting those long-term goals.

Have you started your planning for 2025? What are some of your suggestions for finding the right market? Tag us @bz_furfur and, as always, stay unique.

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At the end of the day, though, I am lucky that I live in a country where someone such as myself, a woman and a minority, can start a business and be successful.  For that I am thankful.  How about you: what are you proud of this Independence Day? Tag us @bz_furfur and, as always, stay unique.

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From End of the Rainbow…

Last year we were fortunate enough to be selected by Charlotte Pride to participate in their annual two-day event as vendors at their Neighborhood Market.  This year we were able to go a step further and we had our own booth.  Now, participating in markets is fun, but participating in Pride is a whole different experience.  Firstly, the energy at these events is second to none.  Everyone is there to have a good time, people look out for one another, and everyone is there to express their love for their community.  

With the rare exception of a few naysayers, we had a weekend of fun, making new friends, sharing our art with others, and finding new and unique vendors who will hold a special place in our hearts.  We were especially grateful to share a space this year with Crowley’s Crafty Creations where we got to offer people not just our unique pyrography but, also, their amazing fractal burns.  This was another fantastic Pride weekend and we really look forward to continuing on as an annual tradition

… To the Top of the Mountain

Earlier this summer we were visiting our local board game establishment, Your Local Game Store, and we happened upon the idea to do a piece for them.  They have several art pieces around the store and we figured it would be nice to create something to add to the ambiance of a place we love so dearly.

After discussing with the owner we decided on a map of Middle Earth from the Lord of the Rings.  We ended up creating a massive map on a 3” but 2” slab of solid live-edge sycamore weighing about 25 pounds.  The piece is really something to be proud of and we had an opportunity today to unveil it to them.  It goes without saying that they absolutely loved it and we immediately put it up, center stage, in their gaming room where it can be an inspiration at Magic tournaments, board game nights, and D&D campaigns for years to come.

Being able to do the thing you love every day is a blessing.  Being able to do it with people you love and who appreciate your work makes it all the better.  And when we have those days where nothing seems to be going quite right, rest assured, we’ll remember weeks like this week.

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We met some amazing people from all different walks of life. On Saturday a couple wearing a pair of shirts that said “Free Mom Hugs” and “Free Dad Hugs” stopped by and, in addition to letting us cash in on the promise of hugs, taught us about Free Mom Hugs. They are an organization that spreads awareness about the LBGTQ+ Community.

So Many Wonderful People

We also met some wonderful people from the LGBT Chamber of Commerce who shared with us the services they offer to provide equity and inclusion for those who identify as LGBTQ. Many other wonderful people stopped by and shared their stories with us and we are looking forward to an opportunity to come back again next year. Sharing our space were some fantastic small businesses that shared our values and were wonderful to work with. We had so much fun getting to know Vita Candle Co (@vitacandleco) Daily Mews (@dailymewscatcafe), Clumsy Bee (@clumsybeebakingco), and all the other wonderful shop owners.

Our biggest seller of the day was definitely our hand-burned CLT Pride coasters and keyrings. They made great souvenirs to remember the event. It was also a great opportunity for us to connect with some folks to take some custom orders. From custom charcuterie boards to personalized coasters it gave us a chance to work on so many great new designs.

We have plenty of products still on sale celebrating pride and we will be looking for other upcoming events in the area to get to know even more great people. Happy Pride.

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If you stopped by to see us then we want to say how grateful we were you came by. If you missed us this time around we can’t wait to see you at the next one.

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We’ll be there, rain or shine. Come for the live music, the food trucks, the outdoor yoga, and all the vendors. This is going to be our biggest market yet so we are really hoping that we make it great.

Markets 11 will take place at Ballantyne’s Backyard, 11611 N. Community House Road, Charlotte from 11-4. Free parking is available. More info on Markets 11 at Charlotte on the Cheap. Also, remember to join our mailing list to keep up-to-date with all the markets we’ll be attending.

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