Tonight we were very luck to have Eli Cleveland from the Furniture Project (@DesignBuildShow) and Rough Cut – Woodworking with Tommy Mac join us to discuss finding, preparing for, and executing successful furniture shows.
Woodchat Transcript March 13, 2013
@uppercutwood: @EliCleveland is here in the video, watch at http://t.co/B5CVqOKczq #woodchat
@FlairWoodworks: Our guest tonight is @DesignBuildShow’s @EliCleveland #woodchat
@FlairWoodworks: RT @DJOfurnituremkr: @FlairWoodworks I love exhibiting. Great experience all around. #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: Can find shows here: https://t.co/OFA4oZVVhS #woodchat
@FlairWoodworks: These are the two shows I’ll be attending later this year: http://t.co/70u8Le7FdC and http://t.co/nrTYRaNkhR #woodchat
@uppercutwood: @EliCleveland went to North Bennet Street School http://t.co/vlcLDkpBB6 #woodchat
@uppercutwood: The vibe at his past shows was very sales focused and competitive #woodchat
@uppercutwood: Woodworker West http://t.co/Y4yph2zwok has a guide each issue listing shows. #woodchat
@woodshaver101: @DJOfurnituremkr dale whats the name of the people putting on the lake front art festival #woodchat
@uppercutwood: Don’t set your booth up like a museum – make a connection, let them use your furniture. #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: Speaking of booths. I go 5′ x 20′. Not so deep so people can see in without have to feel pressure stepping into 10′ deep. #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: @woodshaver101 zapplication #woodchat
@uppercutwood: Connect with your customers casually and relaxed. They are buying you just as much as your furniture. #woodchat
@uppercutwood: @DJOfurnituremkr 20′ wide 5′ deep? #woodchat
@woodshaver101: @DJOfurnituremkr didnt they put on a bunch of shows #woodchat
@uppercutwood: Pro Tip – make a comfortable chair for people to sit in. #woodchat
@FlairWoodworks: I have seen some furniture at shows displayed on plinths. #woodchat
@uppercutwood: Talk to someone who’s been at the show before to understand the customers. #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: @uppercutwood Yes, people tend to feel a little uptight walking into a deep booth if they are just browsing. #woodchat
@uppercutwood: People are willing to walk away with something they bought for $50 – burn your name and contact info on it #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: @uppercutwood Being only 5′ deep people can see what you have without feeling like they will be approached by a salesman. #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: Candle holders & cutting boards did well for me. #woodchat
@FlairWoodworks: @DJOfurnituremkr Do you usually layout the items in your booth in a horseshoe shape? #woodchat
@woodshaver101: i put out a bowl of candy in my booth,i would put a beer keg in if they would let me. #woodchat
@FlairWoodworks: Nice, Mark! RT @woodshaver101: i put out a bowl of candy in my booth,i would put a beer keg in if they would let me. #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: @woodshaver101 Yes, most shows set up their app process through them. #woodchat
@JimAAshley: @woodshaver101 ha! #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: @FlairWoodworks Different each year. #woodchat
@weilworks26: tons of fantastic tips in less then 30 mins! #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: We have beer at the Milwaukee Fine Furnishings Show 
#woodchat
@CoolToolShed: and I thought it was a beer run! #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: I do demos at the Milwaukee Show based on Japanese planes and joinery. Very high interest. #woodchat
@uppercutwood: Do some basic work at the show – they’ll be curious and want to engage. Let them try things. Show them the wood. #woodchat
@weilworks26: RT @DJOfurnituremkr: I do demos at the Milwaukee Show based on Japanese planes and joinery. Very high interest. #woodchat
@uppercutwood: Make sure your show let’s you use a vacuum. The union might not let you. #woodchat
@woodshaver101: I have had other woodworkers walk in to my booth and take a picture of my stuff,piss me off. #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: My TV debut from 2011 show, doing demo: https://t.co/NQ8G95br72 #woodchat
@weilworks26: i was just thinking that #woodchat
@FlairWoodworks: RT @woodshaver101: I have had other woodworkers walk in to my booth and take a picture of my stuff,piss me off. #woodchat
@FlairWoodworks: Ask for permission if in doubt, if you’d like to attend the show again. #Woodchat
@amwoodshop: #woodchat the most useful tip I have discovered at shows is to never sit down. Lots of people will talk to you then. Unless you look scary.
@uppercutwood: Watch the experienced woodworkers and see what they do. Learn while you’re there. #woodchat
@FlairWoodworks: Definitely! RT @amwoodshop: #woodchat the most useful tip I have discovered at shows is to never sit down. People will talk to you then.
@DJOfurnituremkr: Engage yes, but don’t be a car salesman. #woodchat
@weilworks26: @woodshaver101 sorry that’s me. 
#woodchat
@DustyDeveloper: #woodchat anyone care to comment on my first ever attempt at turning. Jotoba queen Chess piece about 9″ tall http://t.co/7HKq6JzNGP
@DJOfurnituremkr: One guy got sick of woodworkers looking under his table. He placed a picture of his ass under there next day :-) #woodchat
@uppercutwood: Booth location matters. #woodchat
@DustyDeveloper: #woodchat jotoba was so great to work with but what do I know – never turned anything else
@DJOfurnituremkr: I do 5′ x 20′ corner. #woodchat
@woodshaver101: I found out that wearing a sport coat and looking like a pro,makes a difference,dont look like you just came out of the shop #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: Lighting is extremely important. #woodchat
@FlairWoodworks: Do you bring your own lights? RT @DJOfurnituremkr: Lighting is extremely important. #woodchat
@uppercutwood: Get really nice photos of your pieces #woodchat
@amwoodshop: #woodchat and people will take ANYTHING you leave laying out…pens, notepads, small children. Anything!
@uppercutwood: @woodshaver101 good tip and @EliCleveland agrees #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: @FlairWoodworks Yes,even though show is well lit you are best do have extra. #woodchat
@weilworks26: Daughter & I watching/chatting at #woodchat tonight http://t.co/5KZ5cRdIV1
@JimAAshley: Display photos in a portfolio book for folks to flip through, or display on laptop? or both? #woodchat
@FlairWoodworks: Yay! RT @weilworks26: Daughter & I watching/chatting at #woodchat tonight http://t.co/4ugwVhWbVk
@uppercutwood: http://t.co/qKnRGLgJXY Glen Guarino – his wife Marie presented to woodworks on how to promote themselves #woodchat
@woodshaver101: @uppercutwood I learned that one the hard way,educated people notice,things like that. #woodchat
@uppercutwood: The main takeaway – you have to think about everything. Type of folder your materials are in, etc. #woodchat
@FlairWoodworks: RT @uppercutwood: The main takeaway – you have to think about everything. Type of folder your materials are in, etc. #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: Last years show: http://t.co/M0dFCx7OMr #woodchat
@FlairWoodworks: That’s not a sports coat RT @DJOfurnituremkr: Last years show: http://t.co/hl6giFK4C8 #woodchat
@uppercutwood: When people looked at expensive stuff, they felt like they didn’t get it – like they were left out #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: @FlairWoodworks That was Sunday before move out. #woodchat
@FlairWoodworks: @DJOfurnituremkr Ah. So after the show was over. #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: @FlairWoodworks Yes, 30 minutes before take down. #woodchat
@woodshaver101: @DJOfurnituremkr I thought that might me norm abrams without his beard LOL #woodchat
@uppercutwood: @DesignBuildShow is having a second show outside of Boston in a week and a half #woodchat
@FlairWoodworks: At the biggest craft fair in Vancouver, CircleCraft, one of the busiest booths was a maker of tongue drums. #woodchat
@uppercutwood: Check it out at http://t.co/zmg7AQVRWR #woodchat
@FlairWoodworks: The maker had drums to play with and a video showing steps in making it, looped, a few minutes long. #woodchat
@woodshaver101: your work is only worth what people will pay for it. #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: Milwaukee is contemporary, shaker and live edge. #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: Greene & Greene still of interest but not as popular. Period is down. #woodchat
@weilworks26: craftmans style with asian influence sounds like green&green to me #woodchat
@woodshaver101: I’ve notice a trend to reuse old beams and metal in furniture. #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: I tend to stick with mixed media contemporary and contemporary live edge, not rustic. #woodchat
@FlairWoodworks: Matt’s links: http://t.co/DQOzLTkDu3 and http://t.co/PHFJwmAdfd #Woodchat
@uppercutwood: A bunch of what’s made, and what sells in the Seattle area: http://t.co/gyvaLmKGoj #woodchat
@SonoranWoodshop: the southwest is all about ikea #woodchat
@weilworks26: yeah those links remind me of classical Japanese design elements a lot #woodchat
@SonoranWoodshop: high boy selling on craigslist for $650 http://t.co/JZEIcQLV6a #woodchat
@FlairWoodworks: RT @SonoranWoodshop: high boy selling on craigslist for $650 http://t.co/JZEIcQLV6a #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: Asian inspired becoming more popular here. #woodchat
@weilworks26: @DJOfurnituremkr all b/c of you right Dale!? lol #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: Another tip, don’t bring the same pieces year after year. Keep things fresh even if you have old inventory. #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: @weilworks26 I could only hope. #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: Sales can come months and years after show. #woodchat
@woodshaver101: show booths are not cheap,not to many sell enough to cover it,thus a high turnover rate. #woodchat
@SonoranWoodshop: I’m late to the show. how was the show marketed? where were people targeted to get the word out about the show? #woodchat
@woodshaver101: got to go see you next week #woodchat
@FlairWoodworks: @woodshaver101 See ya, Mark! #woodchat
@randyglissmann: It’s frustrating in my area to even find juried shows for woodworking. It’s all about jewelry, pottery, and photography. #woodchat
@DJOfurnituremkr: Luckily what I tend to build pairs well with oil/varnish blends 
#woodchat
@uppercutwood: @randyglissmann Hey Randy good to see you again #woodchat
@randyglissmann: @uppercutwood #woodchat I’ve been busy with my day job lately. I’m glad you are still broadcasting.
@DJOfurnituremkr: Bedtime, see you next week guys. #woodchat
@FlairWoodworks: @DJOfurnituremkr Goodnight, Dale. #woodchat
@weilworks26: see ya around @DJOfurnituremkr #woodchat
@uppercutwood: @randyglissmann check this magazine for a list of shows http://t.co/Y4yph2zwok #woodchat
@uppercutwood: If you can accept credit cards, you’re likely to make more sales, and sales of higher amounts. #woodchat
@uppercutwood: Booth space can be anywhere from $10 s.f. to $17 s.f. #woodchat
@SonoranWoodshop: thanks Eli for taking the time to share your experiences and providing some excellent insight… much appreciated #woodchat
@weilworks26: lots of great stuff tonight. THanks gents! #woodchat
@JimAAshley: Thanks guys, good #woodchat as always. Good insight from @EliCleveland
@FlairWoodworks: RT @JimAAshley: Thanks guys, good #woodchat as always. Good insight from @EliCleveland
@Tbdi0629: Totally missed out on a great #woodchat tonight. Here was my booth from The Best of the Northwest art show last Nov. http://t.co/zCnlcQM8DE
@FlairWoodworks: Many thanks to our special guest @EliCleveland of @DesignBuildShow! I learned a lot and time passed quickly. #woodchat
@randyglissmann: I’ve mixed wood species and finishes, even paint, to differentiate. Using reclaimed wood has an appeal too. #woodchat http://t.co/gC4pY2q0xh
