January 31, 2013

"What Sells and What Doesn't: Vintage Ephemera Booth Arizona"

Hello there! I'm Pamela and I'm so thrilled to be part of Carol's
series of "What sells and what doesn't..." 


I stay pretty busy with one booth, 
maintaining a few blogs and three
FB pages {including one for the antique mall},
and a new office offsite for my online business...

I currently have one booth at
 The Brass Armadillo Antique Mall
in Goodyear, AZ...

It's called, "Phoenix Scrapbook Store"...

I specialize in Vintage & Shabby style
Paper Arts, Vintage Ephemera, etc.,
{Paper Crafting items that aren't
 SOLD at the chain craft stores...}


I have been selling paper crafting items since 2006


I sell in high-volume...lots of "smalls", which
include LOTS of paper and items I package.

"Smalls" are smaller items that are priced under $5...
My first booth was too small to fit any big furniture.


My biggest seller are pretty papers...


Shoppers LOVE vintage images...


German Dresden foil for pretty crafty
and artsy creations...


I keep my prices "thrifty"...shoppers buy MORE 
and they keep coming back.

I restock & merchandise my booth 2-3 times a week.

I also advertise my booth on Craigslist
and blog about it too...

 BIG price tags are a great way
to catch a shopper's attention when they
walk by your booth or case...


I used to have two booths at BOTH
Brass Armadillo locations, but I recently
signed a lease on an office to return to
eCommerce {online selling}...so, I gave up
the booth location that was further away.

It's interesting, but each booth location would
have BEST SELLERS...painted furniture and vintage suitcases
{and LOTS of scrapbook papers too} were my best sellers at
one location...

Painted old frames, repurposed items, and paper are
BEST SELLERS at the other location...esp if they 
are pink or white!


What doesn't sell:
Wall art
Lamps
Individual old photo's
Old books
But, If I put together a package with some old photo's, book pages, stickers, and say scrabble tiles.....Selling them as packages moves them out fast.

Another great package could be old lace, buttons, and spools of old thread....You get the idea, take a lot of small items and group them in a clear bag and out the door they will go!


I am a bit bias toward pink and blues...LOL!
I always chuckle when I see an 
occasional guy wander into my booth...
they usually look embarrassed and quickly 
walk out of my booth...ha ha!


A view from the aisle...

We like to call this the "Shabby Lane" aisle, 
because there are several other dealers in this
aisle that sell Shabby-style merchandise...
Great synergy!


Pretty displays keep shoppers coming back...

I use old suitcases and train cases to display items...

I also LOVE using old porcelain 
cookware & muffin tins to
display items which are always for sale...


If you are ever in the Phoenix area, please
stop by my booth inside The Brass Armadillo
in Goodyear, AZ...

If you LOVE vintage images, you might enjoy 
my other BLOG site too:

Thanks-a-million for stopping by!!!
xoxo

-PaMeLa ;)

Hi, Carol here!  Pamela, thank you for educating us about selling Paper Arts and Vintage Ephemera.   I love your packaging idea!  I'm thrilled to include Pamela in this selling series as a great example of successful selling of different types of merchandise.  Since I have gotten to know Pamela I have added a section to my booth with vintage book pages, scrabble tiles, bingo cards, old wrapping paper etc.


Do any of you sell paper crafting items in your booths or at fairs and flea's?   Is it a good seller?

Happy Creating!
Carol

~~~~~

I have put a tab at the top of my blog called "Selling Antiques" this is where I have put links to all of my posts regarding selling in an antique malls and guest posts from sellers around the country 

30 comments:

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Carol,
I love her booth and I think it's a great idea to add the items that she is selling to your booth.
She has some great advice and ideas.

This is a wonderful series. It's inspiring and great advice.

hugs
Sissie

Unknown said...

Carol, than yu so much for sharing with us! I would have loved to drop in to your booth if I lived closer!!! Lucky gals that can! Your tips and your stunning booth are priceless! :)

Hugs,

Laurel Stephens said...

Pamela, your shop is adorable, and your tip for grouping a variety of smaller items in bags is great. Carol, I am loving this series!

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for sharing with us Pamela! Wish I lived closer!

Carol, I'm glad you're tabbing these informative posts for us. Thanks!

Marguerite (Tina) Smith Hart said...

Carol that was great, I really loved hearing about another fellow crafters experiences! My son in Missouri goes shopping at an antiques mall called the "Brass Armadillo" I wonder if it is the same company? He's scouting places out for me so that when I moved to their area I can hot the ground running as it were!
I will definitely check out all your other posts about selling, I need all the help I can get!
Tina xo

macqueen429 said...

Tina - it is the same company. There are 2 Brass Amradillos in Phoenix, 1 each in Kansas City, Denver, Omaha, and Des Moines.

Carol I love this series! Such great tips! Thank you!

The Old Parsonage said...

Everything makes me dreamy! And I do mean everything! Wish that you were closer!

Leann

Stampindamour said...

Thank you everyone for your kind sweet comments!!!

Yes, my booth is at The Brass Armadillo in Goodyear, AZ. {I also maintain their FB and Pinterest pages for that location...♥ it!}

xoxo
-PaMeLa ;)

Wanda said...

Love all the ephemera, I want to let Pamela know that I subscribe to her blog and have used her digi stamps in my art work. TTFN

NanaDiana said...

Oh I love the booth and all her shabby chic items! I love his series-it is so interesting to see what sells from area to area- xo Diana

Dina said...

Thank you Pamela, I've never thought of packages! I'll try that out.
How does this work in the states with these booths? Do you have to be there or does someone sell for you? Or do you just open up on some days?
Love, Dina

Anonymous said...

you must enjoy your work, it all looks so beautiful, we don't have anything like that here,

Unknown said...

I hope this series continues. I now can hardly wait for Thursday to get here! (Instead of Friday.ha!) Love everything about it and Carol too! :)

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

I would LOVE to shop at her booth! Of course I LOVE paper! Very fun!
Warmly,
deb

Diane said...

Am enjoying this series even though I don't have a booth (just Etsy). Very interesting and inspiring to see such fun displays.

Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures said...

Another awesome guest blogger. I always enjoy looking at Pamela's pretty ephemera, she has such a talent for displaying all her goodies. Great tip about packaging small items together.

Createology said...

This series is wonderful even though I have no booth or sales venue. I am enjoying "meeting" creative people. Now how far is Goodyear AZ???
Creative Hearts are Happy Hearts...

Debbie said...

This series has been really fun to me. It's interesting to see what it hot in one location that might not be in another. The fact that there is a different between her two booths is interesting.

I would be one who could be easily sold a "bundle" package so I see why they are sellers. Of course, when you start off shabby, pink, and white, you have me at "Hello".

Rebecca Nelson said...

Great series, Carol. I'm going to LOVE THIS!

xoRebecca

Francie...The Scented Cottage Studio said...

LOVE this ! I've got a rotating rack, think it held the small bags of potato chips, that I have filled with "Bits and Bobs" priced around 3.00. Some old Xmas ornaments, vintage sewing items, anything small that you can package. Something from there is always selling ! Before that they used to be in an old washtub on a stool, of course.: )
And they are less likely to walk away when packaged.

Starsunflower Studio said...

Thanks for sharing this useful post hon! Super good info :o)

Bohemian said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bohemian said...

Just realized my Friend Pamela was your Guest Blogger today... at first I thought perhaps she had started another Blog?! *Smiles* She has great advice and this is a Great Series for all of those who are Selling.

Dawn... The Bohemian

decorayadora said...

Hi Carol , thank go so much for sharing with us!. I think it's a great idea to add the ítems that. She is selling to your booth..this is a wonderful series

marda said...

I must have missed your booth in Denver last year, I know I would have loved it. We were there with men and kids, my d-i-l and me... and I wasn't done yet when everyone else was!!!!! Look forward to your online shop.

Annesphamily said...

If you come back to Denver please let me know! I would love to come shop with you! I love all your crafty treasures here. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

wow Carol, you came up with a great idea for your blog. Love hearing from others around the country on what sells and what doesn't. And love this ephemera booth. I could venture in there and stay forever.

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Carol, Once again a wonderful booth and great insights. This has been a special series.
Love those papers!! Now if only we all could shop them all.
Hugs, Celestina Marie

Unknown said...

Another great post! As a newbie antique booth owner I am getting so inspired by all you pros. Love the idea of spelling out little words with scrabble tiles. I usually just toss them all in a zippie bag (and they ALWAYS sell). Great series, Carol, thank you.

Life is Abstract said...

Where do you order your scrapbook paper? I don't want to sell what our local arts and crafts stores are selling.