Vending one of a kind items

[Ecobota]

Hey everyone,

Quick question: I am participating in a craft show tonight. I have NO idea how my items will be received, but I figure you gotta start somewhere.... plus there is no vendor fee!

:-D

However, I am perplexed at what I should do regarding my shop. All of my items are one of a kind, and I am bringing them to the show to hopefully sell. Should I set my shop to vacation mode? I usually sell one order a month so I doubt I will get a rash of orders today, but on the off chance a piece sells locally I would hate for an order to get placed online.

At the same time, I am getting a HUGE spike of traffic today from google key word searches. if my shop goes into vacation mode I am afraid of those customers will not even glance over my stuff if they think I am unreachable.

What do you guys do?

[TheSalvagedEdge]

I have seperate stock. But occasionally I do take a piece or two to shows. I don't deactivate them at the show but if they sell, I immediately deactivate them from my iPhone. If you have a smartphone that you can get on the Internet it shouldn't be too much of a problem to have pieces at shows. If not, better safe than sorry. But if you start doing lots of shows I would create seperate stock. It's so easy to get overwhelmed if you are having an awesome show and not deactivate the listing or forget to do it later.

[Former_Member]

I was in the same situation. I put the shop on vacation mode with a brief explanation that I'm attending a Holiday Market from X:00 - X:00 today (December X). My shop will reopen after I return from the Market at X:00 on December X.

This way you are letting them know when your shop will be available. When you shop is on vacation mode I don't think any of your items shop up at all.

The other option would be to have computer access while you're at the craft fair and to remove items as they sell.

[Former_Member]

Good luck on your craft show tonight! Do you have a smartphone or an internet connection? if I were you I would just use that to check up on your shop, and if anything sells at the fair you can deactivate the listing, or if it sells online, you can take it off your booth!

[LovgrenandDaughter]

If you have a droid phone u could delist if u sell them in person. Or call someone who can delist on a pc if u sell them in person. Best of both worlds! Lovely work btw. Oxoxk

[LovgrenandDaughter]

Lololo what ashley said!

[Ecobota]

wow, i didn't even think of using my phone. duh. Thanks guys!

[TheSalvagedEdge]

I would be lost without my iPhone. I use it to check on my shop, take credit cards, make payments, shop, etc. I am a smartphone addict....lol