My girlfriend loved making beach jewelry out of cheap bought materials. Sometime a few years back, we got it into our heads to try and make a small profit from her craftworks by marketing them at various events that happened all year round in Florida: Not enough to quit our 9 to 5 jobs, but the extra income couldn’t hurt. In any case, it was an activity we could do together.

Unfortunately, the first few times that we attended such craft shows ended rather unspectacularly. While there was a decent amount of profit, it simply wasn’t enough, in my eyes, to make all the time and effort spent worthwhile. Still, my girlfriend enjoyed her craft, as well as being able to do a small business with me. As such, I was compelled to work harder in determining how to increase profits.

A little research was in order, starting with the events themselves. I did a little background check on the events, and I noticed that in some shows, a portfolio of your crafts was required, as well as a list of past shows you’ve showcased your work. Why were these different? I went to a few festivals to investigate.

First, I noticed the number of people attending. An event that has been advertised better will have more turnout. Same goes for an annual fair, or something that has been regular. These entice more people to go to them. And as crafts have been screened, most of the items you’ll find will be really worth your money.

As we’ve already attended a number of shows in the past, I thought it was time we started testing the waters on these “juried shows”. My girlfriend really does have a knack for making jewelry and I like to think that other people will appreciate it, too. Once we get more people to see them; thus, generating a bit more sales.