It's not an uncommon thing to hear at the bead fairs. 'Oooh, you have too much choice' meaning that there are a significant number of beads on display.
Is this good? Is it bad?
We spend a lot of time working on displays for the beads, hoping to find the right balance of presentation and display. We started out with a simple rack of beads, and some laid out on the table and not one single set of lights! Disaster. Lights are SO important when selling glass or anything sparkly. If you don't believe it, take a look at those masters of presentation, the Swarovski crystal people. Halogens everywhere, sparkly and bright. So, as we developed our displays, lighting was an essential part of the plan. And IKEA was our friend, in so many ways. We now own at least three variations on a theme of lighting from them, starting with the clip-on halogens, adding in desk-lights in one incarnation and then moving on to some really nifty folding halogens that tuck away inside our new displays.
But, what is lighting without a coherent layout? We've tried them all. Cards with the beads mounted on them, beads hanging, beads coiled in festive array, beads swagged, beads draped.... and have any of them made a difference?
Honestly, we don't know. When we're faced with comments like the opening one, it's hard to say. Is it because we DO have too much choice? Should we play the 'upmarket jewellery' approach and only put out three sets with tags discreetly turned over? Should we imply that Mike only makes one set a week and they should be overjoyed to be allowed to see the rare outpouring of his artistic genius?
Or, should we sling everything in a heap, put a sign out that says 'heaps o beads, go on then, you know you want to, cheap at twice the price'?
Answers on a postcard. Next time, it's pricing. You know, the Perennial Question.
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so funny to read this, having just written a little in my blog about display. I've recently made plain white trays with divisions after a customer complained that she didn't have the element of 'discovery' in my previous display which had the beads carefully laid out in rows. I think how beads are displayed also depends on the type of event, I do craft fairs and people want to come in and have a browse, they don't want to see a display that they feel they can't interact with. My trays would not sit well in a gallery setting, but they are just right for people who want to enjoy finding beads. I am fed up with spending so much time on displays! I hope I've sussed it for now, one day I'll pay someone to make me beautiful trays.
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