This possibly was a once in a lifetime show. The weather was perfect for 9 of the 10 days. The bad day was 105 and started terribly slow, but ended with decent sales. The total went far above expectations. You hope Booth sales comfortably pay for the booth itself while trying to pick up some custom orders for real money. The booth paid for itself about 5 times over with about an 80% sellout. Stunning at the very least. Plus I think we’ll walk away with 10-12 custom furniture orders.
Is this a gloat? I would be lying if I said absolutely not. Of course it is to some degree. However, I owe a major THANK YOU to this website and all of its contributors. My technique and skill level has improved so dramatically in the 9 months I have studied all that is available here. I can’t say enough how much I appreciate the people here. Of course this comes with no financial reward for you, but it is a sincere thanks to those who have been so kind to me. My recent success was because of you.
-- Mother Nature created it, I just assemble it. - It's not ability that we often lack, but the patience to use our ability
13 comments so far
Greg The Cajun Box Sculptor
home | projects | blog
3833 posts in 1506 days
#1 posted 296 days ago
Congratlations…
It sounds like you had a really successful fair Monte. Great…! 10 days makes for a long show… but good sales sure makes for a goos adrenaline boost…These shows can be verry addictive and fun.
the longest I have done was 4 consecutive days at the Jazz Fest in New Orleans and my wife and I were exhausted after it was over.
-- Every step of any project should be considered your masterpiece if you want the finished product to reflect the quality of your work. http://www.FineArtBoxes.com
Grumpymike
home | projects | blog
660 posts in 513 days
#2 posted 296 days ago
Congrats on all your efforts; I have followed you on this site for a bit over 6 months now and admire your tenacity.
You have earned a gloat or two here.
I am really glad that you have had a success at the fair and hope that all of the orders come in.
Now, back to the shop so that I can hone my skills.
-- Grumpy old guy, and lookin' good Doin' it.
HalDougherty
home | projects | blog
1820 posts in 1435 days
#3 posted 296 days ago
Congratulations! Did you get to see anything of the fair past your booth? Whenever I’ve been a demonstrator, I had a hard time getting to see what everyone else had. The one woodworking site I was most impressed with was a man who sold rustic furniture, bowls and rolling pins. He had a foot powered treadle lathe and he drew a lot of customers when he was turning something. He had a plastic tarp under the lathe to catch the shavings.
-- Hal, Tennessee http://www.first285.com
Monte Pittman
home | projects | blog
7209 posts in 536 days
#4 posted 296 days ago
The free stage was next to me,: food vendors across from me and pool & spa next to me on other side. I seen nothing else.
-- Mother Nature created it, I just assemble it. - It's not ability that we often lack, but the patience to use our ability
Roger
home | projects | blog
9498 posts in 1002 days
#5 posted 296 days ago
Sounds like ya did good. Congrats. Things like this is like a shot in the dark sometime. It’s nice to know you did alright. I’ll kinda quote Stumpynubs, “now, sit back, and grab you a cold one, cuz you deserve it”
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Kentuk55@bellsouth.net
Monte Pittman
home | projects | blog
7209 posts in 536 days
#6 posted 296 days ago
Happily no time to kick back now :-)
-- Mother Nature created it, I just assemble it. - It's not ability that we often lack, but the patience to use our ability
jaykaypur
home | projects | blog
2568 posts in 606 days
#7 posted 296 days ago
Way to go Monte. From your posts, I figured you were having a great show.
Now…..............get to work !!!
-- Use it up, Wear it out --------------- Make it do, Or do without!
Steve Esterby
home | projects | blog
285 posts in 958 days
#8 posted 296 days ago
Good job Monte. If you can sell during a recesion it shows real talent. Not a lot of money floating around out there. Keep up the good work.
-- steve...e-mail-themantelshop@hotmail.com........remember,the best teacher is repetition.
MonteCristo
home | projects | blog
2067 posts in 386 days
#9 posted 296 days ago
Way to go Monte ! It’s great that hangin’ out on LJs has helped but I thionk you should give yourself a hand too. You have obviously been hittin’ the tools pretty hard lately !
-- Dwight - "Free legal advice available - contact Dewey, Cheetam & Howe""
bowtie
home | projects | blog
632 posts in 544 days
#10 posted 296 days ago
congrats on a good show. I’ve learned a lot on ljs also, but i think you owe most of your sucess to your hardwork and people skills Monte.
-- bowtie,.....jus passin thru.... cccedar.com
jjw5858
home | projects | blog
1001 posts in 800 days
#11 posted 296 days ago
Wonderful news Monte. You have been doing awesome work and I am always glad to see artisans inspiring people and also getting paid for their talents. Well deserved and thanks for sharing with us your inspiring work.
Keep at it, and more sales for you!
All the best,
Joe
-- "Make something you love tomorrow...and do it slowly" JLB
gfadvm
home | projects | blog
6910 posts in 888 days
#12 posted 296 days ago
Congrats my friend. You worked hard and deserved to be rewarded for it.
-- " I'll try to be nicer, if you'll try to be smarter" gfadvm
jfk4032
home | projects | blog
119 posts in 724 days
#13 posted 294 days ago
Congrats Monte! Happy to hear your woodworking is going so well for you. Hardly a day goes by where I don’t pickup some idea or new knowledge gained by visiting LJ myself. Keep up the good work and looking forward to more of your posts.
-- ---Joel; Central MD...rookie empter nester and getting back into woodworking!
Have your say...