[TheForge] Suggestions, please part deux

Grover Richardson grover.richardson at gtri.gatech.edu
Wed Jan 26 13:05:28 EST 2005 

Hi there Peter:
	Well we are just starting the "faire" circuit, a bit.  We started
hitting an event or two a year about 5 years ago and have increased the
number each year (and the quality of event and quality of our display)
since.  We are getting to where we pay for the trip and then some, so this
is good.  The wife sews rennaisance style textiles, so we cover the area
nicely.  So far, of the events we have done, I have seen only 2 blacksmiths.
One did demos, and the other brought a few things to put with another
vendor.  Having unloaded and schleped about 1,000 pounds of stuff up and
down steps a few times, it is easy to see why there are not more blacksmiths
doing this<G>.  But then I enjoy doing demos, and would likely attend the
event anyway as a tourist given the chance<G>.

The thing that gets the "faire leader's" attention is that all of our
materials are made by us, we demonstrate, and we don't cause undue
ruccus<G>.  A propane forge is an advantage, no clouds of smoke.  Note that
we do not do Roundies etc., so this isn't a problem.  An enclosed fire
"unit" makes the fire marshals happy.  The only request we had, was at the
North Georgia Celtic Festival, that we not hammer under the trees<G>.  I had
a rug underneath the forge, so was protecting the grass, but I understand
their request, so concrete is our friend from now on<G>.

The commissions that I have done so far were from folks that have seen me at
an event, and we make arrangements at the event.  I can count the
commissions on one hand<G>.  Then again, I don't do large handrails etc.  My
shop is relatively (extremely<G>) primative.  And by having some cards in
reserve in the back, we don't hand out large numbers.  I understand your
card situation, and we are sort of trying to meet it half way in our
methods<G>.

In blacksmithing, I started out as a hobby.  In my hobbies I try to not suck
from the family $$$ excessively.  So, if the hobby pays for itself this is
good.  Hence, my direction of only buying items for the shop that are
absolutely necessary.

There are certain aspects of smithing that make the wife extremely happy:::

1.	I can't do it in the house (the oldest daughter learned to pull up
and walk on a Triumph pre-unit in the living room that I was restoring
during off hours)
2.	I can make something out of most scrap, so the costs are low.
3.	Right now I am making money that goes into the household fund
occasionally, so she is really happy.

Please note that the wife unit is a good person, just my manner of speaking
about her may be odd<G>.

	At a recent Alex Bealer (Georgia) demo, Dan Tull was demonstrating.
He told of talking with a new blacksmith that wanted to open a shop and make
money.  Dan's response was to find an interior decorator.  Reason is, that
anyone who can afford an interior decorator, can afford a blacksmith.  If
the interior decorator says "what you need is a Grover original creation,"
that's all it takes<G>.

By the way, misquoting Dan some more, and the wife also, the below sums up
most events to me:::

1.	If it is called a show, people come to look, not necessarily to buy.
2.	Visit an event.  Are people walking around with bags of goodies and
walking into tents to buy?
3.	Does the event look like a yard sale?  Do the vendor areas look like
one?
4.	If the event is relatively new, it is easy to get in on the ground
floor, but expect picking may be low for the first few years.

That's about it, and I need to restart work.

All the best to you (and anyone else reading this thread<G>).


-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Peter Fels And Phoebe
Palmer
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 12:55 AM
To: Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Suggestions, please


Cards are cheap. I gave out  a huge # at the faires over the years and 
it  paid off well enough that  i finally had enough comissions to quit 
the faire circut.....more than a few waited years before they were ready 
to call wanting ironwork. The effect was cumulative......PF

Grover Richardson wrote:

>Roger.  Well, that's our implementation.  We put out a few sacrificial 
>ones in the holder.  They go quickly.  Then if someone asks, we dig up 
>one from somewhere.  From watching folks, if it appears that you have 
>to ask, they will.  If it appears that you are out, most will not 
>ask<G>.  From appearances though.
>
>Thanks.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
>[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Daniel Crowther
>Sent: Friday, January 14, 2005 11:55 AM
>To: Sponsored by ABANA
>Subject: RE: [TheForge] Suggestions, please
>
>
>Bingo!  Our current policy is to give business cards only to people who 
>ASK
>for them.  But even this policy has only raised our return call rate from 
>2% to 15%
>
>
>Daniel Crowther
>Gobae - The Smith
>http://www.oakandacorn.com
>http://celticclans.oakandacorn.com
>http://www.oakandacorn.com/cdbaforum
>
>
>
>
>  
>
>>Second, I have put out over (rough guess) 800 business cards at 
>>similar
>>events.  Never ever, not ever, not one call from the business cards.  
>>So leave a few out, when they are gone, leave the empty holder, then 
>>find one in the pocket somewhere when someone who appears to be really 
>>interested wants one.  We have taken to putting business cards on the 
>>wife's textiles. The back of the card has the name of the item, 
>>description, and price. Double duty.  If someone buys the item and 
>>doesn't want the card, we save it<G>.
>>
>>Then another smith I know got a phone call from a sign on the side of
>>his truck.
>>    
>>
>
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