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Bettie Lake · May 6, 2021

Trya branding idea to increase your gourd sales

In this post, I want you to discover a branding idea that will increase your gourd sales.

Thinking about selling your gourds at local craft shows? Even if you want to start small with a couple of tables in a community or church craft show, you will need to take stock of all your work and begin to view them as products.

Start with putting together the right basic things inexpensively and still have a space that entices viewers to want to see more.

I have sold jewelry at the Wuertz Gourd Festival for over 10 years and have watch over a hundred gourd artists trying to sell the same product and wonder why everyone keeps walking by their booth? It is because every booth looks the same! Tables with many gourd sitting next to each other like a table at a thrift store.

The buyer is there to find an art object that will add to their décor. You will need to meet their visual need with subdued inferences. If your space looks like a thrift store, then they will be expecting low prices!

When you use a branding idea that will increase your gourd sales in your vendor space, that first impression will change?

Branding is setting the tone of your space to encourage sales

In this post I will present you with some branding ideas that will get you started correctly with setting up a small area about 10×10 feet with room for just a couple of tables like you would be offered in a small show. You will have a plan so you can purchase things gradually that work with each other and can be easily transported and inexpensive.

If you are already selling at festivals and in a tent, these ideas will also help you improve your layout and increase your sales.

Ultimately, goal is to create a theme and atmosphere that elevates your work to an art object the visitor wants to take home. This is called branding and every store whether in a building or online uses branding to set a tone for buying and sends a message that you are a professional seller.

Looking at Your Work as a Marketer

Before I walk you through what you need to purchase, you are going to have to take the time to critically look at your work as products. You can’t come up with branding ideas to increase your gourd sales if you don’t know what makes your work different from others. You have to find a theme and decide how to group the gourds you have to sell.

Set up all your gourds in line. Now sit in front of them with a pencil and note pad. The first step is to pick out your best gourd and set it aside.

Begin to answer these questions.

What are my categories? (vases, dolls, ornaments, jewelry)
How many items in each?
What techniques am I using? (Carving, wood burning, painting)
Which colors are predominant? Are you using earth colors, bright colors?
Do you have a color that shows up on nearly all your gourds?
Is there a common theme in your work? Is it mostly flowers, animals, southwest, functional or is it mostly carving, weaving, or wood burning.

Next, group your gourds into your categories and write three sentences about each group. Describe what you see as if you are creating an advertisement. This will help you find words that describe the uniqueness of your items.

Why branding is Important

Your branding help gives your booth a professional look. It sets a mood to relax the customer and entice them to look closer at an item. The lamp in this professional show is inviting and gives the buyer the idea they could find something here for a living room or den.

There are several easy subdued suggestions at work here. Gourds are set up in groupings like on a desk or table at home. The size in every group varies. The display is saying,” Here’s how my gourd might look in your home.” Give every gourd it’s 20 seconds of fame!

What is a theme of your work?

Establishing a theme is an easy branding ideas to increase your gourd sales. It sets a tone and atracts a visitor into your area.

Some gourd themes that work could include a topic. If most of your work has flowers, then consider a botanical theme. If your gourds are mostly bright colors and unique shapes, then consider a modern or abstract theme. A country look is also popular. My southwest jewelry led me to my southwest theme. If you are weaving, then a fiber or texture theme would work for you.

First Layer

The standard way to start a color scheme is to cover all your tables with black or white tablecloths. And yes, they do need to cover the front of the tables.

Selecting and Using your Accent Color

Your accent color is what you chose as a prominent color on your gourds.

Buy a small round table cloth to lay in the middle of each table. It can be the same color or it could be a color related to the group of gourds that will sit there. It could also have a subdued pattern that relates to the group. It could be a large scarf, a table runner, a piece of leather, or a flat weaving.

The accent color should compliment the group which has only a few gourd in it. This color should complement the group and make the uniqueness of the gourds pop.

In the top photo, the gourds are at different heights. They sit on a variety of stands and are grouped to allow each to talk to a viewer.

Work it out before you go!

Practice grouping your gourds before you go, so setting up will be easier and faster. Look for placemats,scarves or other things around the house that might work with each group.

Every gourd sale will need differnt branding ideas to sell gourd art in that new selling environment. Go with a plan and avoid frustration.

Plan your Booth Design and set it up for practice at home

A 10×10 ft. space is limited. You must have a good path in and out. I have used the second one often replacing the blue squares with free-standing wall units for earrings and pendants on cards. Also I replaced the table on the right with shelves if I have more gourds. Or have placed more wall units here if I have more jewelry. Keep your plan flexible.

Buy 2, 6 ft. folding tables to begin with. I also have a small folding table for checkout.

A simple effective way to raise one table to eye level is to use PVC pipes. Everything I take has to fit in my car so my equipment is all foldable.

Other Options

Sometime I replace a table with a free-standing metal wall unit which come with clips to attach earring cards or perhaps masks or ornaments .

If you have lots of gourds, shelves take up less space in your booth. In Texas, I did a one table booth using small wall units clipped together. Then I set them on the table.

How many gourds should you display?

Too many are overwhelming! Nor should they all be at the same height. Start collecting square cardboard boxes and break them down for storage. Before the event tape them together and put cloth (small table cloths) over them. Each vignette should have a box with one gourd on top for height. You will show fewer gourds, but every gourd will have an equal chance of attracting a buyer.

When you sell it, pull another from the box under the table. Or uses crates or wooden boxes on the table top. Here are other things to consider.

The “Wow” Focal Point for your booth

Remember when I asked you to set your best gourd aside? It will become your focal point in your booth. Buy a battery operated turning stand, place under good lighting and add $20 to the regular price. Be sure to have a story to tell about the gourd to keep the buyer interested. Tell them it is one of your museum quality pieces.

The most important branding idea to increase your gourd sales is your signage

Your signage should reflect your theme

Your logo should reflect your theme, the colors in your display and communicate the uniqueness of your work.

Choose a photo of your best gourd or a gourd from your favorite category. Place the gourd in front of a background that expressive your theme. Make sure the gourd photo is very clear and in focus.

For example, my online store is about presenting gorgeous jewelry that makes a statement. Turquoise and copper are popular colors in my work. The necklace shows my special wood burning technique and the bird shape is a popular subject.

The business card

This is your most valuable branding tool. I use a business card as a pricing label. It sits in front of the item with the price in the corner. When I sell the item I write on the back the item description and save it to help me keep track of what I sold. The card can also be the format for an advertisement in a newsletter or newspaper. I create my own on the computer because I have different designs. Some are a vertical format others are horizontal. I put all my stores and website information on the back. I also write a personal message as I talk to the receiver about the topic we are discussing. Then I give them my card.

Packaging

My package for gourds is a simple paper bag with handles in my accent color. I have handwritten my business name on the bag and use my accent color for the tissue paper inside around the gourd. This means they walk around the event with my name on a noticeable package! A business card goes in each bag. One in my old color scheme, the other for my new setup.

If you are going to have a banner made with your store name, keep it small and easy to attach to your table because you can’t always count on using a wall behind you.

Many times I don’t even put one up. Instead,I use this sign on my check-out desk to help the buyer fill out checks and cards.

Pricing

I set a minimum and maximum price for every gourd, but don’t mark the gourd before I go! I want to see my competition first. I walk around and see what everyone else has for a price range. Then I decide on a price for each gourd and mark it in pencil. If several people look at it but don’t buy it, I might mark it down $10. See what the traffic will bear, and follow that. Just have a price range in your head all ready to use. Round the number up so you don’t work with change.

Branding Ideas to increase your gourd sales can change at any time

The basic set-up you created is all neutral colors. Just change out the accent colors and materials. Maybe your gourd items change in theme. As you create the gourd art, think about how you will show them off in a selling event.

A couple of tables, a couple of folding shelves, baskets, folded boxes, and table cloths in a box is a cost-effective way to get started. If you like the experience, then the next step is a tent and a credit card system which is another important topic for another blog.

The next time you visit a fine art show under a tent or in a park, take your camera and get photos of new ideas to try. At their prices, whatever they have done is working!

This vendor had to work around a tree! Great job! Everything works great here.

Tell us about your booth experiences and your booth tips on our Facebook Group page.

Return to the Blog page for other articles.

Tips for increasing Sales at Gourd Events