Michigan Craft Shows for 2005 by Month
Michigan Craft Shows for 2006 and Isle Royale
In August of 2004, as some of you know, I actually took a couple weeks off. My oldest son Kyle is sixteen years old and in the Boy Scouts. Nine of us, six scouts and three adults took an eight day backpacking trip to Isle Royale in Northern Michigan.
Isle Royale, although within Michigan territory, is a National Park and an island in Lake Superior. It is all wilderness and I would guess what it is today is how most of the United States looked like 300 years ago. There were no fast food joints or convenience stores when we started our journey from Rock Harbor. It was the first backpacking trip I had ever taken.
We all had backpacks which weighed 40 pounds or more. They contained all we had to live on. We filtered our water, used propane stoves to cook our breakfast and dinner and added or took layers of clothing off as needed depending on weather conditions.
The scouts and myself were very fortunate. The other two leaders were very knowledgeable about a trip of this magnitude. It was well planned out, we conditioned ourselves in advance by taking a number of practice hikes, and our backpacks were inspected before we left to make sure we hadn't forgotten something important. In advance of the trip, an itinerary was submitted. This was a plan of what campsite we were hiking to each day. It ended up being about sixty miles we hiked in eight days.
This business is a lot like my backpacking trip and that rocky path in the picture above. To be the best you can be and to maximize the income you can make from this business requires planning, organization and perseverance.
First of all, if you were in this business last year, you have to ask yourself what shows did I do well at in 2005 and what shows weren't successful. January is the time to see what events may be a better fit for you to set up at.
Secondly, what additional ways do I want to try to promote myself and my business? Shows are one of the ways you can get sales. But there are numerous other avenues for you to consider, depending on the time and resources you have at your disposal.
To help you make adjustments to your craft show schedule, my publication gives you the most comprehensive list of Michigan Events there is. It also gives you ratings and comments on the shows I know enough about to offer an opinion. Opinions on shows are like projections on stocks in the stock market. Past performance doesn't guarantee future success. But you will have more information to go by than when you started.
So order a copy today by clicking on the order link below.
As far as the other avenues, it is becoming clear that internet marketing is the present. If you aren't getting sales from selling your products online, your competitors are. In 2006, I will be adding web site design and optimization to my list of services. I have learned a lot in the last year regarding websites. There is more to having a website up and running. It has to load fast, and you have to know how to get your website listed on the first three pages when your prospective customer types in those keywords, the first page if possible.
Have a great 2006! See you down the road somewhere!
George Walker - The Michigan Crafter Magazine
Michigan Craft Shows and the Official Web Site
of Michigan's Arts and Crafts Business - michigancraftshows.com
About Testimonials 2005 Michigan Craft Shows The Artisans Marketplace Links Contact Newsletters & Releases Order The Crafter Magazines!
Submit your Event to the Michigan Crafter Magazine! Web Site Design and Ranking
