The proliferation of holiday craft shows is just around the corner. These shows all have names with words like “bazaar,” “fair,” “artisan,” “crafts,” “holiday,” “wonderland,” “festival.” I can’t keep them apart. Can you?
Vendors are scurrying around making things for you; think Santa’s elves on a local level. We are lucky here to have many talented artisans to whet whistles. But I got to wondering: Do any of us sellers have any real idea what you want this year?
Are the buying patterns from generation to generation changing so fast we can’t keep up? Do boomers still want quality … Gen Xers still want experiences, not things? Just what kind of jackets, birdhouses, bags, jewelry, pottery, woodworking should we be concentrating on? Should we be more edgy or continue with tried-and-true?
Who are you? Really. Who are you now in this contentious, struggling, divisive hopeful hopeless year? I think I’ll just ask you. Think of this as a sort of open focus group with no payment for participants.
Are artisan/craft shows relevant? The very essence of “Buy Local”? Are there so many of them, that you don’t have the energy for them all? How to do you choose? Why? Has going to craft fairs been replaced by Etsy, or is the holiday season the one time you still enjoy one-on-one shopping? Does Covid keep you away? Will people feel good or lousy after the election?
If you care to appease my curiosity, you can reach me at myerslindab@gmail.com. I’d love to hear what you have to say.
Meanwhile, I’ve ordered my books. Do I plan to sell six or six dozen? Fortunately, while books might get banned, they don’t rot if I need to lug them into the new year.
Meanwhile, my ho-ho-ho wardrobe is running low. I have no idea where my Santa hat is hiding, and the reindeer antlers hurt my head. I have two Christmas tops and let’s face it, one of them is just a long sleeved RED t-shirt. The other probably shouldn’t bleat READ, DAMMIT, READ.
Fortunately, my book booth buddy, Heidi, is a more festive type than I am. If there is hall decking to be done, she’ll do it. Our booth will sparkle and not just with baubles but with printed words, words, and words. We hope some of them are just right for you … whoever you are now.
See Linda’s collection of Sequim Gazette articles in her newest book, “What Little I Know Now,” available at Pacific Mist, Amazon, and holiday craft shows!
Linda B. Myers is a founding member of Olympic Peninsula Authors. Her novels are available at Pacific Mist in Sequim, Port Book and News in Port Angeles, and on Amazon.com. Contact her at myerslindab@gmail.com.
