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Event This Weekend: Happy Cactus Designs at the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash

November 20, 2013

I am so excited that Happy Cactus Designs will be at the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash this weekend! I have heard many great things about this event. Happy Cactus will be sharing a booth indoors with Dixie Goods Company. We hope to see you this Saturday!

Event This Weekend: The Hyer Happy Hollydays Bazaar in Dallas

November 07, 2013

I'm headed back up to Dallas this weekend for the Hyer Happy Hollydays Bazaar in Dallas. It's held at Hyer Elementary, 3920 Caruth Boulevard, in University Park. This will be my second year to do this event and it is sure to be a fun time. After seeing how excited customers were about Christmas cards and gift tags at last weekend's Dallas Flea, I'm looking forward to another weekend event.

Fun Times Selling Holiday Cards at The Dallas Flea!

November 05, 2013

I had such a blast at my first big holiday show of the season, the Dallas Flea, held near downtown Dallas. This was the third Flea I've done and it is such a fun event with a great mix of vintage, handmade, and food vendors. I shared a booth space with Dixie Goods Company and we loved meeting new shoppers and seeing old faces. Here's a few shots from the day.

Booth set-up. I'm in love with my new 6-tier display!

Boxed holiday cards on sale

Kady selling collars

My dear friend Cassie and Bucky, her precious 7-month old King Charles Cavalier, came to help out!

Merry Merry Trees was the best seller of the day. I sold out of all of the boxed sets I brought with me!

Mark Your Calendars: The Dallas Flea is Saturday!

October 29, 2013

I'm so excited about our first holiday market of the season, The Dallas Flea! The Dallas Flea will be taking place this Saturday, November 2, from 9:00am to 4:00pm at the Southside on Lamar. Happy Cactus Designs will have plenty of holiday cards and gift tags, along with our hand-painted porcelain trees, boxed notes, and other goodies that make great holiday gifts! If you are in the Dallas area, I hope to see you there!

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.

Happy Cactus at the Dallas Flea Tomorrow!

November 30, 2012

Happy Cactus is excited to take part in the Dallas Flea tomorrow, December 1, from 9:00am to 1:00pm at the South Side on Lamar in downtown Dallas.

After I did the Flea for the first time in September, I had such a great time I was eager to participate in their holiday Flea! We'll have plenty of Christmas and Hanukkah cards on hand, as well as tons of sticker gift tags and other fun stocking stuffers. There are tons of other wonderful local vendors there and it's a great place to get a lot of holiday shopping done. Hope to see you there!

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.

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!