Hard to display items

[Former_Member]

Okay next question ;-)

I'm going to be making up a lot of ear cuffs for my Fall Fair but I don't have any display ears (yet). I am thinking about taking a couple of my better product pictures and having them printed at the picture place and then putting them in those cheap plastic stand up frames so that people actually know what they are. As far as I know I am the only one in my area who makes them, so chances are very high that no one will know what an ear cuff is.

Thoughts? Obviously it would only be a few pictures, not crowding the table up, but I can't think of any other way.

[WireExpressions]

I would think your own ears would be the best display ears! Do you wear them at a show?

[Former_Member]

I wear them at shows, yes :) Problem is I only have two ears and more than two cuff styles :)

[HotOffHerHook]

Wherever you can hang some pictures is a good idea; is there a way you could incorporate six pictures (or so) into one large poster-sized picture to perhaps tape on the front of your table, which could then go down toward the floor? There is NEVER enough room at craft shows/fairs unless you are willing to pay for double or triple the space, which is normally not feasible! I'm also thinking of those ring display velvet thingies - where it's a flat velvet board with spokes that stick up that you normally put rings on? Maybe you could put cuffs on that type of display piece? Or...........a foam board, say 2 X 3 and you could use clear pushpins in it and hang your cuffs off of the pushpin? You could stand the foam board up against a box right on your table - you'd be able to display LOADS of your cuffs on that one board.

[p39designs]

I like Virginia's idea...only, you make a photo collage of a bunch of ears and attach it to the foam board. Then you place the pushpins on the ear photos in strategic spots, and hang your cuffs off them. People will understand the product you are selling, and, like Virginia said, you'll be able to fit a lot on the board.

[weekendjewelry1]

I think a large, poster-size picture, perhaps with the multiple smaller shots as Virginia suggested, is a great idea. Yes, wearing your ear cuffs is also good - but that's only going to help when people are already close to or in your booth. The large poster, displayed high above your table if possible (or attached to the table skirt if necessary) will grab people's attention from a long way away. Make it bright and pretty, and big and bold - you'll get people coming your way :-)

[Former_Member]

I would have never thought to use pictures - that's a brilliant idea!!

[whatleyphotography]

There are some places that will print a really nice poster size collage on canvas. Walmart will do a nice big one for around $50. That will last longer than a regular photo printed on paper if you plan on doing more shows. If you go this route you might think of coating the canvas with some spray varnish just to make sure the ink doesn't run if it rains during your show. I had some less expensive canvases get damaged by the rain at a show once.

[Former_Member]

Here's an off the wall idea, but here goes. Take a corkboard, put two holes in the top and thread 2 S hooks through it. This could be hung on the front of your tent on the frame, Sculpt some ear shapes with polymer clay, fire it in the oven but be sure to nail a hole through the top of the ear prior to firing (so you can fix the ears to the corkboard). Add earring cuffs and viola!

I can see it in my head and hope I have fully expressed this idea. Good luck in finding a solution which works for you.

[Former_Member]

This is why I love Etsy! Thank you so much for all the ideas & replies!

[Former_Member]

Ok, so here's my thought. This is an event, right? So you will have people in front of you who would probably like to see more than a picture. Take a frame (small, medium, or large) whatever works for you (and make sure it's decent looking. You can get them pretty cheap at good will or yard sales. Then go to home depot and purchase "screen" material or hardware fabric (it's like chicken wire only it is squares and they are smaller). Then cut this to fit your frame and then you can hang them on that. I have people that do similar jewelry that buy from me and they love them. Especially with the hardware fabric because you can put beautiful designs behind it. Let me know if it works or you can email me directly. Good luck!

[Former_Member]

Oooh Cheryl, that's a fantastic idea for my earrings! I don't have many displays for those and I (will) have as many earrings as I can get made by then, and I really didn't want to go out and spend oodles on more earring displays!! :)

[TigersandDragons]

I've seen a few booths that have ear cuffs of their main product. They have huge photos of each style and then the cuffs themselves are just on cards.

[Former_Member]

So, a couple years ago, my Mom and I were at the Gem and Mineral Show in Tucson, AZ and we were walking by this booth that sold simple ear cuffs as well as those cuffs that go to a point, like and Elf or Fairy ear. We weren't sure what they were (he had them displayed on a couple mannequin heads, then for sale on cards, hanging, but also big pictures everywhere- even with that, I was like, whaaaaat?) and the vendor walked out of nowhere and says, "you MUST put one on. You have a very Elvish look and these would look fantastic."

I was flattered, although I don't know if I should've been. Anyway, he had a whole mix of displays but it still took him walking up to me, wearing them and trying to get me to wear one. I didn't buy, it isn't my style (no matter how Elvish I seem to be), but definitely proved to me that confidence wins out!