Tumbleweed
This week saw my first open studio event. I opened up my workspace, hoping to show people where it is that I am based. I also had a selection of prints and goods from my Etsy shop for sale. However, as the title of this post suggests, it wasn’t exactly a resounding success. In fact I didn’t even see any tumbleweed, it was so quiet. A good friend popped in to catch up, and offer some support. A visit for which I am eternally grateful.
Prints for sale 
Etsy shop items
Having promoted the event on such social media channels as Instagram and Facebook, and enlisted support in sharing my Twitter posts, I was disappointed. I’ve written before about advertising, and the different approaches I’ve tried in the past. Perhaps paid advertisements on social media would have been more effective for the recent event. I could have had ‘one day only’ offers on some of the items. Or maybe selling is best done through craft events, and the studio solely used as a workspace. Whatever the answer, my strategy this time didn’t work. Not even for tumbleweed.
Having failed to attract any custom through the open event, I felt a little downhearted. I know I work hard at what I do, but I must try to identify other opportunities to showcase the pictures. However, the studio is there to use and is somewhere I enjoy being. Setting any disappointment aside, I took the boy and the dogs off to the studio for a photoshoot.
Having a studio, and a camera, doesn’t mean that all pictures work quite as intended (example below). Still, it was a good session and I came away with another selection of memories. Whatever the weekend brings you, I hope you have some peace, and find time to relax. Thank you as always for reading.
We do feel disappointed for you, Em. Possibly one lesson learnt is that fishing is unlikely to be a good alternative for you. I think the boy may have been compensating for you not having any cats there for subject material!
Thank you. It was a lesson learnt. The idea was that a few businesses would be open, to coincide with an egg hunt which was being held around the building. It offered an opportunity to show some of the units off, and give visitors an idea of what’s there. Possibly as it’s holiday time for many, it was very quiet. It’s not somewhere which people would tend to visit unless coming to a specific business anyway, so trying to sell physical stock will be best done at craft fairs and pop up stands where there’s a more natural footfall. The studio is best used for photo shoots and tutoring.
Hey Em, Great post, as always and it was fab to see you and Niall in your studio. It was very quiet … I feel that the Management of the units could maybe do more to advertise all businesses that trade there. I would not have known about the event or the easter egg hunt, had I not have spoken to you a day or so before. I really like your photo’s attached to this post, including the photo of Niall with the dogs… wonderful action shot 🙂