Friday, February 13, 2015

My Booth Designs!

Two months, 11 large packing boxes, 20 small packing boxes, 9 card board boxes cut for scrap, 12 pieces of poster board, 2 bottles of mod podge, 9 rolls of packing tape, 8 pieces of scrapbook paper and a little bit of electrical tape will get you this:




I did try to video tape myself constructing everything, but it was seriously slowing me down so I had to let that go and just concentrate on getting it done.

The large steps are old Fed Ex boxes and the smaller ones are post office video boxes. I've been hording boxes for over 20 years and finally depleted them with this project. If you want to try this yourself, I will say that it is absolutely, positively, ILLEGAL to use postal material for purposes not intended. So, I do not recommend you going to Fed Ex or the post office and getting boxes. If you do, then I'm going to pretend we never had this conversation. If you've been saving them like I have, then have at it. Besides, I don't think they even make video boxes anymore.

The only thing I'm not pleased with, but would probably do again, is using packing tape instead of glue to connect the boxes. Using glue would have taken longer but it would have given me more options when it came to what materials I could use to cover the boxes. In the end, everything is covered with packing tape, even the poster board. Still, when I want to dismantle these, all I have to do is slice it with an xacto and it will come apart and can go back to flat boxes.

I've still got to label my merchandise, do an inventory, make my signs and sew a few things, but other than all that, I'm ready!




My voice is still wonky, so please pause the video when you need to.
Thanks for watching and stop by my booth!
February 21, 2015
9:00 am - 2:30 pm

Ramada Conference Center Mandarin
3130 Hartley Road
Jacksonville, FL 32257


50 comments:

  1. That display is da bomb! I want to buy the display, bump the merchandise. Oh wait, there were quite a few things I saw that I wanted to buy. I was always too cheap to buy two tables, too. Those table fees get expensive. Good luck at the show!!!

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    1. Vanessa, I seriously shed a tear when I stepped back after seeing it all constructed. I was glad it was over and pleased at how it turned out. The table fee is $60! It's $50 if you just want floor space that's the same size as the table. I would have gotten more creative if I would have had two tables but I couldn't see spending $120 just to show off merchandise.

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  2. Wow, I love it! You display is amazing! I wish I was going to be in Jacksonville so I could come! I wish I could be anywhere where it is NOT -10 degrees and there aren't 10 inches of snow on the ground. I am freezing! Have a great show.

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    1. Thanks, Phyllis! It's below 10 degrees?! Geez and here I am complaining that it's 60 degrees outside, lol. I'm spoiled by the Florida sunshine I guess.

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  3. That is extremely impressive. When not being used for selling, it can be a stage for vast fashion-doll dance numbers that require sequins and feather fans -- seriously, my first thought was "fashion doll award show!"

    It looks great filled with merch. I'm impressed by the modularity and by the forethought of having shelves in the behind parts.

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    1. I had that same idea! I was thinkin' about the intro to Family Guy, lol

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    2. LOL, Smaller. You know, I thought of that after I put the scrapbook paper on the smaller steps. I was all, "Hmm, I could use these in a diorama one day."

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  4. Extremely professional for pennies on the dollar Muff. Great display. I can't tell you how impressed I am at your display. You will make some dough for sure. I have been a dealer for years and took alot of pains with my displays and used to get so pissed with people who just came in threw their crap on tables , it really made the rest of us look bad and then they just sold out because they put yard sale prices on it then ate cookies and threw more junk from the plastic tubs underneath that was under priced. It would be different if they were making a profit. But this is stunning. Don't worry about using postal boxes- you can order them for free and I have tons of them I've used before myself. I used to cover them and tape them neatly use them for $1 bins for small items such as carpets at shows, then unfold the tops and pack them back up. What I like about your display is those steps can be used as a stadium or movie theater seats for the dolls in a diorama!

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    1. Lisa, I understand your frustration at dealers who don't apply any effort to their booths, but I gotta say, I sure hope that I sell out and can just sit and eat cookies, lol. I don't have yard sale prices, so that seems very unlikely.

      It really was a cost effective project. Most things came from the Dollar Tree and the only thing I didn't sting on was the packing tape. I didn't want to get Dollar Tree tape and have it yellow in a few months. Making use of what I already had, I probably spent $30 on new materials, with the tape being the most expensive.

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  5. Goodness... you do have some stuff to sell!

    You are so well organized. I love the neatness and orderliness of the entire setup, which looks like it took lots of work. The end result, however, is fabulous!

    Best wishes for a fruitful show.

    I'll share the link to this post and hope it generates patrons your way.


    dbg

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    1. Thanks, Debbie! I've amassed quite a bit over the few years I've been collecting and I think this show is a good way for me to slim down my collection and buy new stuff, lol!

      Thanks for link sharing too!

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  6. Your booth design is a triumph of elegant design! I hope the show draws a lot of traffic and that you make a lot of sales!

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    1. Thanks, Limbe Dolls! It's a simple design and I love that you called it "elegant."

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  7. All I can say is OMG! I hope you do well. Take pictures!

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    1. Thanks, Ms. Leo! I'll definitely take some pics while I am there.

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  8. That's impressive work - I love how it both looks good and displays the dolls so that they're easy to see for people walking by.

    Good luck with the show sales!

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    1. Thanks, jSarie! Had to do what I could to catch folks attention as they are passing by.

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  9. Wow, now that's a display! I love how you've covered every part of the table "so people can't put their sodas, etc." on it. Really? That seems so intrusive and tacky, but you would know how these shows go. I haven't been to a doll show in ages ;-P

    Your display is so professional, it could double as a backdrop. Wish you the best of luck with your sale. Hope you have fun, too!

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    1. D7ana, particularly at outdoor events where people are allowed food and drinks, they think nothing of putting their coffee and sodas on your tables. One time, this lady was at my sister's craft booth and she was eating a funnel cake. She put the greasy paper plate on top of our cloth covered table. When she was asked to take it off, she was like, "Oh, sorry." But then she proceeded to lick every one of her fingers to get the sugar off and then touched all my sisters stuff. That's typical behavior at craft shows.

      Thanks for the well wishes!

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  10. Twoja praca jest niezwykła! Wspaniale to zaplanowałaś! Idealnie wykonane! Jestem tym oczarowana!
    Pozdrawiam bardzo serdecznie!

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    1. Dziękuję bardzo, Olla! Doceniam to, że zatrzymanie się i komentowania.

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  11. Hello from Spain: congratulations for this scenario. A great creation. Fabulous stairs to teach your dolls to sell. Good luck. I'd be happy to come to your stand. Keep in touch

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    1. Hello from Florida, Marta! Thanks so much for your sweet comment. ^__^

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  12. That looks amazing, really professional! The scrapbooking paper was a nice touch among all the white. But what's this about repurposing mailing boxes being illegal??

    Hope you have a great time and that your anti-soda spill precautions work out!

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    1. Hiya, Anderson! If you get free postal boxes directly from the post office, you are only supposed to use them for mailing. If you received a used box, it's yours to do with as you will.

      "This packaging is the property of the US Postal Service and is provided solely for use in sending Priority Mail. Misuse may be a violation of federal law."

      This is an indoor event, so hopefully no one is carrying a big gulp and some twinkies.

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  13. You know you can work some paper and tape. That booth has it going on. Your display is awesome, I wish you much success.

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    1. Thanks, Brini! Me, paper and tape are not as close as me and cardboard, but we are getting there.

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  14. You are a miracle worker with cardboard! What an amazing display. I want to shop through it right now!

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  15. OMG!!! This display is totally awesome! You are SO talented. Many blessings on your sales!!!

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  16. Pure awesomeness! I really wish I was in the area and could come see your booth. I've only been to one doll show, and it wasn't very good. Best of luck!

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    1. Jewell, I hope this show is going to have a good turn out. I want to do some shopping too, lol.

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    2. Muff, did you sell that Barbie Jean Basics Ken accessory set? If not, do you list on eBay?

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    3. Sorry, Jewell, but I did sell that the day of the show. I guess male accessories are hot because it got snapped right up even with the ridiculous price I had it for.

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  17. Ok, the way you designed that then found a way to fit them together for travel I am officially calling you MacGyver! (or maybe Inspector Gadget) Anyway that looks super. I would not be surprised if other sellers would like you to make some for them! That would be another way to make even more on each show! Prosperity wishes to you!

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    1. LOL, Grandmommy. Inspector MacGyver perhaps? As I was making them I thought about seeing if any vendors wanted to buy them off me when the show closes so I wont have to take them apart. I put too much work in them though, so I'll probably keep them.

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  18. Too bad we live so far, I'd go to the Knight Southeastern Dolls Shows only for meeting you :-(

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  19. Good Luck! I wish I lived in your area I'd be there with bells on.

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  20. OMG, what nice way to recycle. I would not have the patience. Hope your sales go well

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    1. Simsgirl, I'm full of patience... sometimes, lol. Thanks for visiting me!

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  21. Fantastic display, Muff, it will really make your booth stand out. Having extra stock to fill up empty spaces when you start selling is good too because people always like to see lots of stuff. And, in my experience of markets, people don't stop and look if your table is starting to look empty, they just look as they walk past and they don't stop. Hope you sell lots (and find some bargains for yourself).

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    1. Carrickters, thanks! Wish I could say that I thought to bring extra stock to keep my booth looking full when in reality I was too cheap to rent another table. It's a good idea though!

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  22. Looks great!
    I'm inspired to try some of our boxes lying around for my next market. I've used them under table cloths before to get some height, but haven't thought about stepping them before.

    Have a great day on Saturday!

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    1. Thanks so much, Joy! I get to set up for the show tomorrow. I'm getting excited!!!

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