San Francisco International Gift Fair or SF Market....Where did it go?

I have been attending the SF show in, obviously, San Francisco, for many years.  Many seasons it is the only show I am able to do.  It has over the years had fewer, and fewer buyers, but has still maintained, for me at least, a decent amount of buyers.

Now in its hay day it had so many buyers you couldn't see the floor, and you could barely keep up.  Those days ended many, many years ago.  The question has always been where did the buyers go?  Well my take is technology.  Once the internet came along, access became easier on so many different levels and people decided not to go to shows as much.  Also the number of shows has increased.  There are so many different types of shows: fashion, accessory, gift, baby, car, etc, etc. that one can only handle going to so many so you have to pick and choose.

That is the same for a business.  It has always been a struggle for me to decide where do I go?  I have tried lots of different shows, and although they all have their perks, ultimately in SF I still have always done very well.

So this winter we were told that the show could no longer be hosted in the Moscone Center and that it was moving to San Mateo, well for me that wouldn't work.  I have childcare, people that come into the city to help me, etc. and they all take the bus, train and then we have easy access to do things with my son.  So I had decided that there would be no summer SF show for me, I will be going to either Magic or ATS.

But then they sent out a notice that the show is cancelled all together.  I thought to myself, oh my goodness, how could they??  So many of my friends from the show rely on it for a portion of their revenues, and many for contact with old customers.  It will clearly impact them.

But ultimately, I am sad to think maybe the show doesn't come back.  I am hoping there is some strategy to their plan, that they continue to offer this regional show, but maybe with a new approach.  Creating a buzz.

Amazon, Handmade and Jewelry

Not to long ago, I was approved to join Amazon Handmade.  Now selling jewelry online is difficult.  Pictures are everything.  Good pictures can be difficult to take.  And then if you aren't able to take them, finding someone who can, can be difficult.

But I was fortunate to find a good photographer, who recently raised all her prices, and I now have good pics of my designs.  So I am working on updating my sites online where I sell my items.

I am always a little hesitant to start something new.  I did it with 11main and then they were bought out and that was the last I saw of any communication from them, or anything movement in general.  I have Etsy, but I still wonder how that truly works.  I think they have their "favorites" to some degree.

But Amazon has shown as a possibility in the sense that I have received quite a few sales in just a short amount of time.  So is it my pictures, or maybe people are realizing how wonderful my designs are, LOL.  Or is it Mother's Day?  I think it's the latter.  But with the holiday around the corner we will find out soon!!

#Amazon #Handmade #Jewelry #Jewelrydesigner #Jotd #workingmom

Social Media and Why It ISN'T Fair

So I am a small business, apparently.  And over the years as Facebook became the place to be for a business, especially small businesses, I have paid to send my business page out to followers on FB.   So now I have over 1700 followers on FB.  So that seems like a lot, and you would think that when you have that many followers, that when you post something at least a few hundred would see your posts.  And that many would actually like or comment.  However, not in my case.

In my case, sometimes only 10 will see my post, and most often the most is 20.  So why do I think this isn't fair.  First, I actually paid to advertise and received followers, but FB decides whose posts are important or whose aren't important enough to show to the world.  It's bullshit.  If it were truly fair, it would show all posts, regardless of what FB deems as "popular" and what they think isn't popular or important. 

So they pump those that are known and throw the others away.  What if those 1700 other followers actually want to see my post, what if it changed how my small business is looked at, maybe FB should reconsider their approach.

So now there is Instagram.  I have been on that for quite a while and have a couple hundred followers.  It has been pretty good for advertising and sharing my world.  Until recently.  I went from having a ton of views to very few.  Again, it's the same people deciding what's important and what isn't.  If you are being followed by someone then that person has chosen to watch you.  End of story.  In some ways FB/IG are no better than government.  They want to determine what you do, when you do it, what you spend, how you spend it, and then they decide what to do with it all in the end.

Do I sound frustrated, a little. In the scheme does in matter?  No.  But just the same, maybe it would matter if how they did things was for the good of all, and not just a few.

Vacation and Inspiration

I just took a vacation, much needed, from everything, jewelry, my life, and more.  It was a good vacation, although it had it's rough moments.  For instance, my son got food poisoning, ever watch a 2 year old have food poisoning, so sad.  Then 2 days later, an ear infection.  So basically the first 3 days were good, the rest, could have left them behind. 

But just the same it was still good at times.  We played on the beach, built sand castles, looked for treasures, took naps, ate (when feeling well), shopped, yes I always like to contribute to local economies, and just spent time together. 

Even through the rough patches, getting away from it all really puts things into perspective.  It also allows me to think outside the box about things I would like to do for RGD. I came up with a few new ideas, which I am excited about.  I will just have to find the time.  As with everything. 

In the meantime here is a little #vacation #armcandy!!!