pugdog
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Oct 11, 2004, 6:36 AM
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Convention Summary & WHAT'S NEW IN STORE!
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We've always planned to be a LOCAL/REGIONAL business, not trying to do mail order around the country or world. Our goals are to service the Pittsburgh regional area as best we can -- and like no one else can!
We've been slowly meeting these goals, adding new customers, new designers and wholesale accounts, and new stores that carry a selection of items tailored to their customers.
Those of you who have been to our shop, know what it's like! We are always opening boxes, pulling out new inventory, digging to find old inventory, and always on a treasure hunt. We're always ready to help you with that project, or special need.
The convention this weekend showed us a lot of things.
1) We still have never had a "successful" show at the ExpoMart, by absolute or general standards, though this weekend's show for us, was pretty good (and not as bad as previous shows we've done there).
*BUT* we did not move a huge inventory of beads and rocks, instead taking our niche products -- quilling, origami, macrame, wire knitters, etc. We also taught classes and didn't try to "sell", as much as announce our presence. Attendence was really poor, but we did accomplish some of our goals despite that.
2) We found that creative people really do do more than ONE craft -- they may do them all! Sewing, quilting, scrapbooking, quilling, origami, macrame, beading, wirewrapping, and things we can't even remember!
3) We found people like demonstrations.
4) We found out a whole bunch of other stuff too!
We'll be modifying the store _slightly_ to accomodate all this. The central workstations will become more of a demonstration area (as they sort have been now). The back workstations will be set up as planned, for beading and private work, but the back beading table will be set up for various crafts, that are not often thought of as beading, but can be beading embellished, but are done by beaders and sewers and creative people.
We'll set up a quilling station, with supplies and papers, so you can make quick items, like cards or pins.
We'll set up an origami station, so you can give different papers a try without having to purchase a whole pack.
We'll set up a scrapbooking station (probably between the other two) that will have a supply of odd and unusual papers you can buy in small quantities. We are not talking about the pre-printed backing papers you buy by the sheet at the craft stores, but the more unusual hand-made papers, and colors, you may only need one or two small pieces of.
We'll integrate these crafts, and show you how you can embellish them with beads, or use them with your beads!
In addition, we'll have a polymer clay area, with small oven, and a friendly plastic area, so you can give that a try.
If this goes well, we'll add a station for PMC (Precious Metal Clay) so you can also give that a try.
The above stations will be added in in the order listed, so expect the paper crafts to come in in the next few weeks, but the PC and PMC and FP stations will _probably_ not be in until after ThanksGiving, or even the New Year.
As always, we do ad hoc classes! If you -- or a group of you -- want to do something, learn something, or complete a project, give us a call. We can schedule a convenient time for YOU, not arbitrary hours.
We can also come to you....
Keep your eye on http://holidayhouseparties.com/ as we move past <a href=http://creepycards.com>Halloween.</a>. We have a limited amount of times and slots open for house parties at your place.
Also, if you have beautiful, funny, or completely off the wall photos that are bead or beading related, please consider sharing them as Digital Postcards® "BEad Mine" greetings area. It's the companion area to our "Ore Sediments" area for the rock portion of our business.
(For those who don't get it, "Be Mine" for the beaders, and "Our Sentiments" for the rock hounds).
PUGDOG's Rock & Bead Shop
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
(This post was edited by pugdog on Oct 16, 2004, 6:50 AM)
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