Robert E. Goyette asked:
There are many cases in the craft show business where you are going to have to alter your strategy for selling your crafts. Here are 4 things you can do in order to keep your product selling, even when everyone else seems a little slow:
1.) Combine items – If you have a slower selling item that just isn’t giving you the return you want on your investment, then try pairing it up with a better selling item. This achieves two things: it gets rid of stock that is taking up room and isn’t selling; and second, it provides more value to the customers purchasing the hot selling item. You might even be able to sell the item-in-demand for more money.
2.) Holiday sales – We celebrate so many different holidays, and each one of them means something to somebody. This is a prime opportunity to capitalize on a “George Washington Day” sale, or a “Flag Day” sale, or whatever the holiday is. Of course, the biggest ones will be your Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter (maybe even Mother’s and Father’s Day) sales – but the bottom line is – if you offer people a deal related to a holiday, you might be able to boost your overall craft sales.
3.) Buy one, get one at 50% off – This is a classic sales approach, especially if you want to sell your product for a little more than you normally would. This might be a good way to experiment with the price. Sell one product for $20 and the next one is only $10, but you have easily covered the cost of both AND made a great profit!
4.) Creative sales – Anything from a ‘first-time-buyer’ sale to a sale for seniors might be another great way to generate added sales in your craft show booth. Tailoring sales programs to the crowd that is going to attend the craft show is an ingenious method for boosting sales at a craft show.
The best craft show salespeople are constantly eying up ways they can increase the number of products they move through their craft show booth. They come up with a variety of marketing plans (some that work, others that don’t), but each time they try to innovative in their approach.
With some imagination you can come up with a few great display ideas of your own to generate sales in your own booth. Don’t be afraid to try something a little bit different – you have nothing to lose when you are trying to move craft show products!
Richard Blodgett asked:
Decide on which size of flag you will be building a flag display case (fdc) for.
3′x5′, 4′x6′, 5′x9′ (burial)
Measure the folded flag. For this example we will use the 5×9 burial flag.
You will need the bottom (horizontal) measurement,
along with the two diagonal measurements. Also get
the thickness of the folded flag.
* bottom msmt: 24″
* diagonal msmt: 16 3/4 “
* thickness: 2 3/4 “
Decide on the type of wood you will be using, for this example, we will use oak.
A 1×4 piece of oak actually measures 3 1/2 in
width, which is fine. Buy an 8′ length. (for be-
ginners, in case there are mistakes)
Seeing that our flag is triangular in shape, we will
cut the angles on a 45 degree. You can do this with a
circular saw or a chop saw (mitre saw). Chop saws
give a much better cut.
The bottom measurement of our flag is 24″. So our
inside measurement of our 45 degree cuts must be
at least 24″. I recommend cutting the length of board at 24 1/4″
(little play room for glass and flag)
You should have approx. 6′ of board left. As you know,
wood has a grain pattern. These next steps will give your case
a more professional appearance.
Measure off the longest portion of the angled 6′ board
(that’s your long point of that particular angle, the
other is the short point of that particular angle.)
Your angled measurements are 16 3/4″.short point
to short point. However, you will be cutting it 3″
longer than that, (for mistakes). So let’s just cut
our side pieces 20″ long. short to short.
Measure off the 6′ board from long point 20″, using a
speed square or framing square, make a mark and cut
your piece. (set this piece aside)
The longer remaining piece should have a short point.
Your objective now is to turn that piece around 180
degrees, and cut the short point again in order to
make it a long point.
Once you do this, your two 45 degree angles at the top
of the display case will fit and the grain will match.
It will look continuous. (match up all the angled
pieces until you find that grain match)
When you place the bottom piece up to the angled side
pieces to form the triangle you will notice that the
side pieces are too long. Just pencil mark the bottom
where it hangs over the bottom piece. That now is going
to be cut at a 45 degree. Make sure you cut the 45
degree angle the correct way. Your end product should
be a short to short angled piece.
When you are marking the piece to be cut, also mark
the side of the board so you know for sure, which way
the wood should be cut.
Tack the frame together or use a strap to hold it in
position.
Measure the size of glass you will need.
We can measure the glass in two ways:
(1) -The exact size, minus 1/8th inch. (if you are going
to place a wooden corner cover over the glass and
attach it to the frame.) OR
(2) - The glass can be measured 1/4″ larger if it is going to be inserted into the frame.
Buy an 8′ piece of wooden corner board.
(for outside corners of walls) It is 3/4″ long on each
side of the 45 degree angle. Cut this to fit the
outside (facing) of the triangular frame you just made.
You can insert the glass from the back side after the
outside wooden corner’s are nailed on. Then you can cut and place 3
pieces of 1/4 “x 1/4″ molding on the inside to hold
the glass in place.
Inset glass involves using a table saw.
Set your table saw guide to 1/4″ from the inside of the saw blade to the guide itself.
Set the depth of the blade to 1/8th inch.
– If you know at the beginning that you will be insetting the glass, then cut the entire 8′ length of board at one time. It’s very difficult to cut small pieces like this and have it turn out correctly.
– If you have never used a table saw, ask someone with experience to perform this next step.—
Take the piece or pieces and with the table saw in operation, slowly guide the piece along the guide, making sure not too force the cut. Be gentle. It’s wise to use a forked stick to push the wood through the cutting process.
There are jigs that can be purchased for just this job. Call a do-it-yourself place. They can help you
Once you have your cuts made, you are ready to nail it together.
Use small trim nails (1 1/4″) long and nail frame together. With glass inserted into the cut grooves you just made.(Set nails with punch and color putty when done)
This is much easier if you have a brad gun. also place the frame so the glass is face down so it doesn’t break if it falls out during this process.
Take the frame and place it on some 3/16th luon (lew-on or oak paneling)
and trace the outside of your frame. Cut this out for the backing of your display case. (Stain edges with the proper color. For oak, you can use Minwax-Colonial Maple or Early American.)
You can drill about 8 pilot holes through the 3/16″ luon into the wood frame. (On the Back Side) for screws. Insert your burial flag. Insert your screws.
–That’s a rap folks–your project is done.
***Read everything, before you try anything***
Tools & Supplies
* Tape
* Pencil
* Circular Saw
* Speed Square (or)Framing Square.
* Sand Paper.
* Stain,Putty andPolyurethane
* Chop Saw (Mitre Saw)
* Cut Glass
* 2′ x 2′ piece of Oak or Maple paneling 3/16 or 1/4″ thick.
* Sponge or Brush.
* 3/4″ screws (8-10ea)
* Small box of 1 1/4″ trim nails. Or 1 1/2″.
* 8′- 1×4 board. (For your fdc frame.)
* 8′ Wooden (Outside corner board). 3/4″
* Safety Glasses!
***WARNING***
* The 1st time you
disrespect a Power tool, IT WILL disrespect YOU!
* If you have children
around, during the
building and cutting
process be sure to
UNPLUG POWER to all your tools until you use them again. Then, unplug them
again!
TIPS:
Don’t be in a rush. You can do this.
When ever you take a measurement add 1/16″ to it. (20 1/16″ instead of 20″) That way, you cut ON the line and you will always have the true measurement that you need.
Military Flag Display Cases Flag cases, Shadow Boxes and Frames Articles FAQ Copyright 2007 - Military Flag Display Case - Richard Blodgett - All Rights Reserved Site Design SJ
Victor Epand asked:
If you are looking for a hobby that you can pick up quick and put down any time then move away slowly. If you are looking for one that you can make last a lifetime then model trains are for you. Building a railroad can take many years if you want it to. It can get really exciting when you finally finish your exact duplicate of an existing railroad.
So how do you get into such a lifelong hobby? Visit a few railroads and museums. Also go and check out some hobby shops and any friends that you might have that are into model trains. If you feel a tugging deep inside you like an urge pushing you to put on that conductor’s hat and pull that train whistle then railroading is for you.
You must figure out how much space you are willing to dedicate to your new hobby. Once you know for sure then you can decide what scale train you will be running. This will also help you to know how much you will need to spend on materials. Now that you know where you are going to place your new railroad you can clean out that space. If you are going to build a table that is eight foot by twelve foot then you should allow yourself three or more extra feet on each side so that you have plenty of room to move around while you are building it and when you are running it as well.
Now that you know the where and the size then you are ready to begin sketching out your ideas. Draw out all the features you would like your railroad to have. You do not have to have them drawn perfectly. You just need a rough idea of how you want it to look when it is finished. You can base your layout on real towns or you can make up a fictional one that suits the train you will be using for this display.
Now you are ready to build your platform. Plywood is an excellent choice for this due to its strength and yet it is still easy to cut and drill. Make sure that you properly brace your platform so that it does not sway or collapse. You can then begin to build your features. Mountains and hills are easily created out of balled up or wadded up paper stuffed around wooden supports and then covered with wire mesh. The next step is to apply paper mache or plaster to the mesh in layers until you get a good coating. Take your time and make sure that you get the look you are wanting instead of rushing through and being unhappy with the end product.
Once you have all your features laid out, covered, and have given them time to dry you can begin painting them. Make sure to keep your colors as natural as possible. Painters acrylic paints are usually your best choice for painting this type of project. After the paint has dried you can then begin to assemble your train tracks. Make sure that you secure them in place so they do not come loose over time. Pins or glue can easily achieve this. Now that your features and tracks are in place you can put on your finishing touches.
Make your houses and buildings suit your setting and then begin to place them onto your display. You can build a whole town and complete it with people, cars, and the like. Give your new town a name and a story if you wish. You have now developed a railroad that you can call your own.