FEATURED SHOW REVIEW
July 2007
New York
April 20-22, Springtime in the Country, Hamburg. Contact: Sally & Ed Kaczynski, Premier Promotions, 4310 Tillson Road, Wilmington, NC 28412; phone 866-969-7736, fax 910-799-9424. E-mail: wnypremier@ec.rr.com. Web site: www.wnypremierpromotions.com. Space fee: $275-$690. Space size: 6x10 to 10x20. 95% indoors. Exhibitors: 187. Attendance: 12,000 (gate).
By Ann Watson
New York Reporter
E-mail: ann@watsonandforbes.com
Medium: Hand-painted window valances, pillows
I have done this show for a numbers of years and still enjoy sharing new designs with customers seeking something original for spring. The weekend is like going home, as we see a lot of familiar exhibitors for the first time in the new year.
This year, words could not express the sorrow exhibitors felt for the Kaczynski family over the loss of their newborn granddaughter on March 27. Family is everything to Sally and Ed. For instance, each year they put pictures of their grandchildren on the cover of the show newspaper for Christmas in the Country. On Thursday, before Springtime opened, we shared hugs and tears, and tried to come up with any words we could to express our great sorrow.
Despite all of the shared grief, the show was full of smiling faces and sunshine - too much sunshine! After weeks of snow, ice, freezing rain, high winds, record cold and record rain, this was the first nice weekend in months. And nice is an understatement. Thursday, the day of setup, saw beautiful blue skies and temperatures in the upper 60s, and it only got better after that, as the weekend saw temps move into the high 70s. That made some exhibitors rate the weather a two (out of ten) - for TOO nice, as this show is held indoors at the Agri-Center at the fairgrounds in Hamburg.
I received 29 FastAudits, and 21 more artists sent their FastAudits directly to Sunshine Artist. Of the 187 total exhibitors who filled the 210 spaces, 35 were new to the show this year.
A garden-art exhibitor did not share specific sales figures but gave sales and attendance eights, and most other categories tens. However, the exhibitor wrote in twelves for management, artist treatment and amenities. Despite those raves, the exhibitor said "the weather was too nice" and was the only one I received feedback from who will not be returning. "I [want] to try [a] new show," he/she gave as the reason. The 21 FastAudits that SA received were similarly positive, and only two of those respondents said they would not come back.
Four potters returned FastAudits. Their sales ranged from $900 to $2,000, and their ratings from four to seven. Average items sold ranged from $10 to $24. All will be returning, but although one said it was a great show, he/she added, "The weather was too nice. People came early and left too early and didn't shop enough."
The show featured several clothing exhibitors, but I received only one FastAudit from them. That artist made $6,000 and gave eights to sales, balance of mediums and attendance. The remaining categories got nines and tens. "Good sales, friendly promoters, easy setup/teardown," the exhibitor said. Two other fiber artists sent their FastAudits to SA, one being unhappy with less than $1,000 and the other rating his/her take a six.
I do not know exactly how many jewelers there were, but I received only one FastAudit from them. That came from a polymer-clay jeweler with sales of $1,200 on average transactions of $8. The artist rated sales a five and attendance a six. "Good spring show," the exhibitor said. SA received two more comments from jewelers: One was unhappy with $2,000 and attributed the low total to the attendance, while one was pleased with $3,000.
A sculpture/dolls artist made $3,000 off average purchases of $124 and gave sixes to sales and balance. The exhibitor gave quality a nine and all other categories tens. He/she will be returning and said, "[The] promoters are great. [The] show is well attended."
Ten audits were returned in the mediums of wood, decorative wood and painted furniture, and all but one of the artists said they would be returning. Sales of exhibitors in those mediums ranged from $1,200 to $3,500. "Fantastic promoters," said one artist. "[The] show grows from year to year - nice-quality spring show."
Several exhibitors shared the sentiment expressed by a decorative painter. "[The Kaczynskis are] absolutely the best show promoters around," the artist said. "They are in a class by themselves. They make a point to really 'know' their exhibitors and their products. Awesome welcome dinner at Holiday Inn."
Four framed-art exhibitors audited the show, with three reporting sales figures from $2,000 to $3,000+, on average transactions of $30-$40. They ranked their sales between five and ten.
A maker of foam floral items and rugs made $4,000. A 5-year veteran of the show, the exhibitor rated that take an eight and also gave eights to advertising and attendance. All other categories got tens. "[It featured an] easy setup, and the customers follow Premier Promotions as a high-quality show."
That brings me to advertising. If you did not see an ad for the show, you were NOT watching television, reading the newspaper in the three weeks preceding the show or listening to local radio. You also must not have been shopping at any local stores, as they were offering advance-order discounted tickets. What more is a promoter supposed to do?
I am a firm believer that some responsibility for success falls on the exhibitors. You should offer your show schedules to customers throughout the year, both at shows and online. You should also maintain a customer mailing list and send out postcards or e-mails as reminders of upcoming shows. A show never has enough advertising, so exhibitors should share information on the show, either by word of mouth or handouts, and let their potential customers know where they are going to be. Don't you know that they come to a show to see you, to buy from you and then to shop the rest of the show? If you do not promote yourself, shame on you.
