Ravenwood Festival

Click to enlarge poster

If you're a lover of all things steampunk then there's an event coming to Northwest Arkansas October 2nd and 3rd you will not want to miss called Ravenwood Festival. Ravenwood Festival is a yearly Steampunk, Darkwave, Industrial event that takes place in Northwest Arkansas featuring bands, live performance artists, and djs from all over North America as well as artisans from all over the globe. One of the artisans that will be selling her wares at the festival is our very own El's Bells! For more information on the performers, vendors and tickets visit ravenwoodfestival.com

**If you're a member of AREtsy and have an upcoming event you'd like to share on the team blog, please feel free to contact us via the yahoo group, etsy team thread, or by directly contacting IdyllHands or TheBeehive on etsy.**

Do The Math

Bubble Gum Chalkboard by Moxie Sisters

Trying to decided if an artsy/crafty business venture is in your best interest? Here's a great food for thought article that might help you make that decision a more informed one! This article was written by Laurie of Glassbead on Etsy and originally posted on her blog, Isinglass Design. Thank you so much for sharing this great article with us!

Do The Math

As you attempt to get your home-based art or craft business off the ground, you may be approached by folks who have shows they would like you to participate in, or shops they want you to sell your products in. Here’s my special tip to help you make these important decisions- do the math! It’s very important to figure out how much something is really going to cost you before you sign on the dotted line and turn over your hard-earned money. What do I mean, how much it’s really going to cost you? Well, first and most important is the booth fee, or percentage the shop will take off the top. Booth fees are pretty straightforward.

Here’s an example. Let’s say I have heard about a show with a $100 booth fee. A fee of $100 is just that, no hidden costs, no percentages. But what, exactly, would I need to sell to make that kind of fee a sensible investment? I have often heard that a booth fee should be no more than 20% of your gross. So if I pay a booth fee of $100, I would want to bring in at least $500.
I would think about the number of hours the show lasts, the amount of inventory I predict I can have in my booth, etc. Does it seem feasible? I have found, in the larger shows I have done, that I can generally sell maybe 20-25% of the stock I have on hand. So for a show like this I would want to have at least $2000 worth of product on hand. I know that can be easily done. Now how about the hours of the show? Well, let’s say the show is just one day- a Saturday from 10am to 8pm. That’s 10 hours. Ok, so if I sold an average of $50 worth of items an hour, I could make that booth fee. Do-able? Well, probably.

There are plenty of other considerations, though. Is it in town? That means no hotel and minimal gas costs. Is it a juried craft show? I find that that is what draws the type of customers I am looking for. Is it indoors or outdoors? Bad weather can ruin your chances of having a good day at an outdoor show. Do I know anyone who has done the show? What do they think? This is a starting point, though folks have different ideas of what a ‘good show’ is.
All of these things and many more should be taken into consideration, but doing the math on that show fee is the first, very important step.

Here’s an example a friend presented me with recently- a craft mall situation where he would pay $100 a month, plus 15% of his sales. Hmmm… That sounded a little iffy to me, so I did the math for him. Here’s what I told him. Well, if you sold $1000 worth of your product a month, you would pay that $100 rent, plus another $150 a month in fees. That’s 25% of your sales. Is that sensible for you? Well, he knew from previous shop experiences that it was pretty unlikely that he would sell $1000 worth of product in one shop in a month. And if he sold less, the percentage he would be paying the shop would just go up. For me, the answer was a definite no. I don’t think he’s going to do it either.

Yes, there may be times when you just want to take the plunge, roll the dice, and see what happens. But I’d strongly suggest that you first do the math, and not delude yourself about how things will turn out financially in the end.

Hope this helps with some of those difficult show decisions!

**If you're a member of AREtsy and have a great article you'd like to share on the team blog, please feel free to contact us via the yahoo group, etsy team thread, or by directly contacting IdyllHands or TheBeehive on etsy.**

Is that a cool breeze I'm feeling?

The weather in NW Arkansas, although mild all summer, has taken a cooler turn this past couple of days. Could it be that Autumn is descending upon the Ozark Mountains just in time for the start of craft fair season? Can we be that lucky?

Did I lose you at craft fair? That's right, this coming weekend, Labor Day weekend, marks the start of the craft fair season for Northwest Arkansas. The Clothesline Fair will be taking place in Prairie Grove at the Battlefield Park. This has always been one of my favorite fairs to visit. The artists are amazing, the food is good, and the scenery is lovely. In fact, this fair will be featuring a couple of the AREtsy team members! Starlightdesigns and PeacesofIndigo will both be on site - so make sure to drop by and meet some fellow team members.

This is a HUGE event with tons of artists to shop with. Come on out and get some Christmas shopping done early, eat a turkey leg, drink some fresh squeezed Lemonade and listen to some live music. You'll be sorry if you miss it!

For more information, please visit the Arts Center of the Ozarks Website here.

AREtsy Spring Tweet Swap Creations

Arkansas Artists on Etsy members are hearing the sweet chirping of birds! Awhile back we had our team's Spring Tweet Swap and here are some of the beautiful creations our team members came up with for this lovely birdie theme. Be sure to click the image or link below to be taken to the artist's Etsy shop.

Water Cast Sterling Silver Pendant on Oxidized SS Chain by Teresa Smith of TSmithDesigns
handmade silver and gemstone jewelry

Watercolor Robin by Suzanne Churchill of arpainter
watercolor painter specializing in house portraits

Swallow Necklace by Erin of Idyll Hands
handmade jewelry and hand knit Accessories

Birdhouse Heart Home by Beth of Heart Homes
clay tiles and sculpture

Knitting Bird shadow box by Sunny of The Beehive
custom scrapbooks and unique paper crafts

Drum roll please...

I mentioned in a previous post that something big was coming in July. Hopefully, this won't disappoint.

AREtsy is having a team wide Christmas in July sale starting Monday, July 6 and lasting 2 weeks until Sunday, July 19. This sale is HUGE! There are some amazing deals to be had and you don't want to miss out.

Here is a list of participating AREtsy shops along with some basic details for their sales. What are you waiting for? Go shop!

The Beehive - $5 off scrapbooks, memory catchers, framed silhouettes and premade page layouts (including custom orders), free shipping on all other items not mentioned above. Also, receive $5 off future purchases. Just enter "Christmas in July" in notes to seller at time of checkout to receive the discount.

Idyll Hands - HUGE sale section and free shipping on all jewelry purchases! Other discounts and specials to be announced over the next two weeks.

Wooly Hands - Huge sale section on yarns and roving. New items and discounts to be announced over the next two weeks.

Urban Amulets - Free gift with each purchase.

Peaces of Indigo - Free shipping to be refunded via PayPal after purchase.

The Doodle Brush - Free shipping

Girlchild - Free shipping. To be refunded after payment via PayPal.

Punkinhead - Free shipping. To be refunded after payment via PayPal.

Forever and a Day - Free shipping and free gift with purchase, contact seller prior to purchase with "Christmas in July" to receive discount.

The Wishing Well - Free shipping and free gift with purchase, contact seller prior to purchase with "Christmas in July" to receive discount.

Tutu Cute and Moore - Free sweetly embellished hanger to match any tutu purchase.

Elizabeth Jayne - free shipping or 25% off order. Leave a note to seller requested discount.

AJs Art Studio - discounted items and free shipping. Shipping will be refunded after payment.

AR Painter - commissioned paintings will receive matching note card. All other purchases will receive a free ACEO.

My Curly Red - Buy one get one half off on all zipper pulls, free shipping, and large clearance section.

Ekio Art - all items already marked down.

Shillcutt Studio - free shipping, will be refunded after payment via PayPal.

Glass Bead - buy one get one of equal or lesser value half off. Item will be refunded after payment.

Bluetail Designs - 20% off of everything and free shipping to US and Canada. Enter "July09" in notes to seller at time of check out to receive refund via PayPal.

Simply Stacy Jewelry - 15% off of everything (excluding mother and grandmother bracelets). Send a convo to seller letting her know which items you want and she'll adjust their price.

Rum and Rubies - see shop for details

BBs Bowtique - Buy one item, get one half off. Wait for a revised invoice prior to paying.

Connies Inspirations - free gift with each purchase

Linda68 - free shipping in the US, $1 everywhere else.

Hats Etc - buy one item get one half off - item refunded after payment.

BMacre - free shipping with $20 purchase, free shipping and free gift with $50 purchase. Refunded via PayPal after payment.

Heart Homes - free shipping with $20 purchase, free shipping and free gift with $50 purchase. Refunded via PayPal after payment.

Sew Into You - discounted Christmas fabrics.

Madd Crocheter - 10% discount on all items. To be refunded after payment via PayPal.

ScrapADot - buy one item, get one item half off. To be refunded after payment via PayPal.

Handy Helpers - select items discounted. To be refunded after payment via PayPal.

ElsBells - free shipping on all items.

By Cheryl Images - buy one luggage tag, get one luggage tag free.

Pamper Me Please - sale section and $1 shipping to US and Canada (excludes items in Flavors section).

Oak Leaf Hollow - 10% off of everything. To be refunded after payment via PayPal.


Oak Leaf Hollow Vintage - 10% off of everything. To be refunded after payment via PayPal.

TDogArt - select discounted items in the jewelry and ACEOs sections.

Something BIG

Something BIG is coming in July. Keep your eyes peeled and directed on this blog on July 6 for a HUGE announcement.

You won't want to miss it.

I promise.

Etsy wide YART Sale!!!

For those of you who were selling or shopping on Etsy last summer, you might remember a viral sale dubbed the "YART Sale". It was a single idea introduced in the forums that spiraled and took Etsy by storm. The idea of a YART Sale is like a yard sale... but with art! Many, many, many Etsy shops jumped on board to participate last summer with sales on items, free shipping, free gifts with purchase, and so much more.

Well, the 2nd annual YART Sale is taking place again this year and is sponsored by the ESST (Etsy Supply Street Team). It officially takes place Wednesday, June 10 - Sunday, June 14. It's a good chance to find many great deals from some fabulous Etsy artists. Just due a tag search for "Yart" to find shops that are participating. Many AREtsy members are also participating. You can shop here in Arkansas AND get a great deal on some great items by browsing the following list (keep visiting as more artists join in on the sale - they will be added to the list):

IdyllHands - jewelry
WoolyHands - handspun yarn, spinning fiber
SewIntoYou - destash fabric
MaddCrocheter - yarn
ForeverAndADay - jewerly
ARPainter - notecards

MyCurlyRed - jewelry
EkioArt - handcrafted whimsy
TheBeehive - handcrafted paper goods, scrapbooks, and more!
HeartHomes - clay creations for your home
TutuCuteandMoore - custom children's gifts
SimplyStacyJewelry - jewelry
OakLeafHollowVintage - vintage goodies
OakLeafHollow - primitive and whimsical folk art
GlassBead - lampwork glass beads and jewelry
MoxieSisters - furniture, lamps, paintings, pillows, chalkboards

For more information about the YART Sale - visit the Etsy Supplies Street Team blog here.