Field of Dreams
10th Feb, 09
It’s been just over a week since the show ended. Which is usually how long it takes for me to rest and recoup after any show. Not that I’ve been sitting on the couch watching Oprah and eating bon-bons the last week or anything, I’ve been busy busy with production to fill orders that were placed at the show.
I never did talk about how the show actually went. It was Smitten Kitten’s first CGTA Gift Show so we didn’t know what to expect. What I do know is that it cost twice as much to exhibit here (factoring in their yearly membership costs and everything) than it did for us at the By Hand Show (which happens at the same time as the CGTA but at a location downtown). So in my head I set a goal of making twice as many sales as we did last year at the By Hand.
The first day of the show was pretty slow. I knew this was going to happen (from the days when I worked for the Evil Empire). The building we were in, the International Center, is the less glamorous center. The real CGTA action happens at the Congress Center, where large companies have big beautiful booths on display. That’s how it’s always worked at this show. Million dollar companies who have million dollar booths set up at the Congress. Smaller guys like us set up at the International. So buyers go to the Congress the first couple days and it’s almost like the International is an after thought.
International Center has always had a bad rep, but things have definitely changed! The hall that used to be full of “ShamWOW” type companies is now flooded with these hip design companies selling awesome products. Ranging from funky baby goods, monster plush to letterpress stationery, International Center has certainly grown leaps and bounds! If I was still a buyer for a store I would make damn sure I come to check it out. Think of it this way. As a buyer you always want to carry new and exciting products in your store. And new and exciting products come from new and exciting SMALLER companies. CGTA puts all smaller companies into the International Center. Sure sure I’d place a couple orders with the big boys but so will everyone else who owns a store on your street. At the end of the day you want the next big thing so if I were you I’d go check out International.
Not everyone likes exhibiting in the International, but personally I really did. We’re not trying to compete with these huge “made in China” companies so Congress doesn’t make sense for us. it’s not a bad thing, just a timing thing. Let them go to the Congress and buy from the big guys, and when you’re done we’ll see you over at the International.
Anyways, even with this knowledge I was a little freaked out at how slow things were for us the first day. The foot traffic was just dismal! I began going over the numbers in my head, this expense, that expense… and started getting glum. The boy promptly told me to leave the booth and go get us some lunch. He was right, some fresh air and a Big Mac meal gave me the right amount of perspective and calories to keep my chin up.
Day two of the show was MUCH better. We met a lot of new store owners and wrote lots of orders. Stores whom I sent invites out to came to see us especially. Woohoo! Things are on the up and up.
Day 3 of the show was as good as the second, if not better! As predicted buyers are now bored with the Congress Center and have come to see us. It’s especially great to see stores that are specifically looking for “made in Canada” products. That’s us!
In the end we exceeded our sales goal for the show (woohoo!), which is quite something considering the economy is slow right now. More and more stores are looking to carry locally made products because their customers are asking for it. It’s a trend that I’m hoping to see more of in the years to come.
Manufacturing ethically and locally is definitely the road less traveled (and it’s a rocky one), but in the end, we hold firm to the believe that - If you build it, they will come.
Categories: show review.
Tags: CGTA Gift Show.
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