Two weeks after my first antique show, I was in another one, this time in Roseburg, OR. Roseburg is just 2 hours North of me and an easy drive. The show was smaller than Portland, so I chose to rent a UHaul van instead of a truck and display on tables instead of bringing up my portable booth that I'd made. A friend of mine, Bonnie, gave me hints and drawings on how I should display the cages so that it wasn't such a regimental and boring booth. I purchased the items she asked me to, and headed North.
The vendors I met were wonderful and very helpful. It was obvious I was a 'newbie' and others were willing to help and give ideas. Encouragement was plentiful. I put pink and yellow shred paper on all the tables, wound Apple Blossom garlands around, wrapped empty boxes in pink and yellow paper, and arranged the cages in all of this. I had an open design instead of having a table in the front, and with the cages on the stands, the colorful paper and accessories, it turned into an appealing booth.
Plenty of folks dropped by to look and visit and walk down memory lane with cages previously owned by them or family members. I had several purchases by workers at the show, several purchases of bird cage feeders, and I sold one bamboo cage. I didn't sell any Hendryx despite the fact I didn't bring my high-end cages and dropped the other prices.
It's hard to sell much when a vendor has only one product. That is what I have. I have things related to birds-wrought iron birds, cast iron bird finial, cards, book marks, porcelain figurines, but my main display is the cages from all ages from 1875 up to the 1960s. I have "shabby chic" to "rusty rustic" to "WOW! is that in great condition". No takers.
I've decided that antique shows are not the venue for me. Not to say that I am an expert after 2 shows, but I would have thought that I would have seen some real interest (and purchases) if this was the correct venue. I've got to think of other ways to get the cages out and seen.
I am enjoying the ones I have in my home and rearrange them often to get each into a better place of emphasis. Right now I have 15 Hendryx cages in my living room. They are tastefully displayed and no, I do not live in a mansion. Just a two bedroom apartment. But I have wonderful cages that I enjoy looking at.
I believe I will add some pictures of cages I have for sale and see if there is any interest from this blog. Bonnie, who gave me display hints, took 4 of my cages to a booth she has in an antique store here in Medford. I just got a call from a woman I met at the Portland Expo offering me the opportunity to put 2-3 cages in a show she's in later this month, and then into a booth she has in Vancouver, WA. Opportunities are knocking in answer to prayer and networking. I look forward to sharing my treasures with those of like mind and interest.
