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Dallas Flea Recap: Collars and New Cards

April 16, 2013

I had such a fun time at the Dallas Flea on Saturday. Kady (of Dixie Goods Company) and I were excited to debut our "collar-boration" at the show!

Aren't Kady's dog bone collar displays the best?

Lots of cheerful patterns!

Card to Collar

I used the Dallas Flea to test out some new card designs that will be debuting next month at the National Stationery Show. I love hearing customers' reactions to different designs and getting their feedback.

Two of the most popular card-giving holidays are coming up, so I came prepared!

By far the most popular cards of the day were my new Mother's Day Lavender Flowers card and new Father's Day Leader of the Pack card.

My pup Birdie sporting her brand new collar.

Want one of these fun collars for your pup? We will soon have a limited selection of collars available online via Dixie Goods Company's Etsy shop. I'll let you know once they are live. Feel free to email me if you are interested in one, too!

More on the Dog Collars Debuting at the Dallas Flea This Weekend!

April 12, 2013

Tomorrow can't come soon enough! Dixie Goods Co. and I will be debuting our "collar-boration" at the Dallas Flea. Here's some close up shots of each individual collar. You may recognize some of the fabric patterns from my cards!

Happy Cactus Designs at the Dallas Flea This Saturday!

April 11, 2013

I'm very excited to be participating in the Dallas Flea this Saturday, April 13. This will be my third Flea and it's by far my favorite event to bring my cards to. I'll be bringing some brand new designs with me that I'm eager to share!

What's even more exciting is a special "collar-boration" that will be debuting at the Flea. My friend Kady of Dixie Goods Company and I have joined forces to create a special collection of dog collars using Happy Cactus fabrics. Kady is beyond talented at creating fun and functional fabric dog collars and beds and I was so thrilled to see how our collars turned out!

New Personalized Stationery Designs

January 02, 2013

Happy Cactus Designs formally launched in 2011, but 2012 was the year we really gained our "sea legs" and grew in so many different ways. One of my favorite aspects of running Happy Cactus is getting to work on custom projects. I didn't anticipate how well received our personalized stationery would be. I held a trunk show in early November and was thrilled to have so many people order custom note cards for themselves and for loved ones as holiday gifts. I worked at full speed for many weeks in November and December to create these designs and wanted to share some of them here! Many incorporate designs from the existing collection. View more designs here.

Craft Show Essentials and Survival Tips

December 11, 2012

It's that time of year when many artists and small business owners like myself are taking part in local craft fairs and holiday shows. I love doing these types of shows because it's a great way to meet customers face-to-face, get feedback on products, meet other artists, and, of course, sell your goods.

After participating in a number of shows this season, I thought I'd share some of my tips and tricks. I'd love for you to share your own tips in the comments section! In no particular order...

- Bring more stock than you think you need. Sales at shows can vary and it can be challenging to figure out exactly how much you need to bring to any given event. That said, review sales figures from past shows and try to figure out best sellers and make sure you have plenty of these with you at upcoming shows. At my most recent event, I knew I needed to have plenty of gift tag stickers on hand because they were hot sellers at two shows earlier in the month.

- Create a master checklist that you use each time. I have a spreadsheet with all of the items I know I need to bring to a show. Each time I have a show coming up, I just print out the list and don't have to brainstorm all over again.

- Create a display that's pleasing to the eye. Practice setting up your display at home before you go to the show. Think of people walking by and what they can see at eye level.

- Introduce yourself to your neighbors. I've been able to meet some wonderful people doing shows and it's a great opportunity to make connections. Plus it's helpful to start on the right foot with your neighbors in case you need someone to watch your booth when you need to step away.

- Display your business name prominently. Invest in a canvas or vinyl sign with your company name and logo. These are quite durable and will last a long time. Make sure to have business cards on hand as well as a few catalogs/line sheets in case a store owner visits your booth.

- Don't blow the bank! You don't need to spend a ton of money investing in super fancy display items. I found wooden bins in various sizes on clearance at a craft store that I spray painted white to hold different products. I also use a stacking table originally intended for shoes to create another level. I did shell out some money for a nice acrylic spinner and a tiered display last year that have held up very well.

- Display your pricing and other relevant information. This is helpful for people just browsing who don't want to strike up a conversation with every vendor. At shows, I usually have small signs with pricing and product information such as the quantity of cards in a box and that all of my cards are blank inside.

- Accept credit cards. Square and other devices have made it unbelievably easy to accept credit cards using your smartphone. I can't tell you how many times customers have thanked me for being able to pay via credit card because they were out of cash.

- Bring an emergency kit. You never know what can go wrong at a show. I always make sure my kit includes duct tape, regular Scotch tape, safety pins, twine, an extra Square reader, pens, Advil, and paper towels.

- Pack small snacks. Unless you have a buddy with you at your booth all day, it can be hard to step away for more than five minutes, making it impossible to grab lunch or eat privately. I find it awkward to be chowing down on a meal behind my table, so I try to pack small snacks that I can discretely eat throughout the day. Shows are usually long and can wear you out and it's important to keep your energy up!

- Listen to your customers and ask them for feedback. I love meeting customers at shows and hearing what they like/don't like. I've used shows to test out new products and to see how people respond before formally launching them. I've also received great product ideas from customers.

Busy Times at Happy Cactus HQ

November 09, 2012

Right after Halloween passed, Happy Cactus hit the ground running with prep for the holiday rush. It seems like people get ready to shop for the holidays earlier in the season each year! I spent last week prepping for two big shows in Dallas - a big holiday bazaar and a trunk show that were back-to-back.

Lots of folding and boxing up cards took place...

And I wrapped up a limited edition series of hand-painted porcelain tree plates I have been working on...

Both shows were a tremendous success! People were eager to get a head-start on holiday shopping. I sold out of nearly all boxed holiday cards!

The new holiday gift tag stickers were my most popular items. I only wish I had brought more with me!

One Month Until The Dallas Flea!

August 15, 2012

We're excited to share that Happy Cactus Designs will be participating in The Dallas Flea on Saturday, September 15.

Brannon grew up in Dallas and has had numerous friends encourage her to take part in the Dallas Flea. We can't wait! We'll have new products and old favorites and even some holiday paper goods for those who like to get a head start on the holiday shopping! Like The Dallas Flea on Facebook for updates and check out our Facebook page for sneak peeks and more details.

Scenes From the Austin Flea

July 09, 2012

We had a great time this past Saturday at our first Austin Flea. We loved meeting lots of other local Austin artists, jewelers, and crafters, and appreciated all of the shoppers who came out on a hot July day!

Happy Cactus Designs at the Austin Flea This Saturday!

July 05, 2012

Happy Cactus Designs relocated from NYC to Austin a few months ago, and we're very excited to participate in our first Austin Flea this Saturday, July 7! The Austin Flea brings together local artists, purveyors of vintage goods, and food vendors all under one roof - The Highball on South Lamar. Admission is free. Learn more at the Austin Flea Facebook page. We hope to see you this Saturday!