handmade arcade · local supplier: schorin party supply at 1800 penn avenue in the strip district....

HANDMADE ARCADEThe Cutting Edge of Craft Download this presentation: www.handmadearcade.org/yms

www.handmadearcade.org

Mission StatementHandmade Arcade celebrates the cutting edge of craft by connecting creators and consumers through making, sharing, and learning.

Aerial View of HA:18David L. Lawrence Convention Center

ValuesHandmade Arcade:

• Inspires creativity and experimentation through the process of making things.

• Supports creative commerce for local crafters and small business owners.

• Honors the intersection of tradition and innovation.• Provides an alternative marketplace to mainstream retail.• Creates a welcoming atmosphere that promotes

inclusivity and diversity.

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Load

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FRIDAY: The loading dock will be open from 12 to 4 p.m.

SATURDAY: The loading dock will be open from 7 to 9:30.

Please arrive at your assigned time ONLY – not earlier or later.

Once you arrive, check in a Handmade Arcade organizer who will give you a number and time to put on your dashboard. Park where you are told to park on the dock.

DO NOT PARK without checking in first. Please know your table number for faster processing.

Stay calm and flexible. Every year, we get it all done

within our time frame. YOU WILL HAVE ENOUGH TIME.

Load

-In

Please unload your car as quickly as possible and take your items to your table. Do not leave anything on your neighbor’s table or in their space.

We STRONGLY recommend you bring your own dolly or pack your items for easy transport.

There will be 4 Teamsters on-hand to help with carts on Friday and 2 Teamsters to help on Saturday. Please note that Teamsters have to adhere to certain rules when it comes to uploading and pushing carts. Please work with them. They are there to help!

Once your items have been delivered to your table, RETURN TO YOUR CAR immediately, leave the loading dock and park in one of the many garages downtown.

Return to set up your booth by entering from 10th street through the EAST LOBBY ENTRANCE.

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The four closet garages to the Convention Center are:David L. Lawrence Convention Center Parking Garage1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15222Friday: Before 4 pm: Hourly rates applyEvent rate: $13

Grant Street Transportation Center55 11th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222Friday before 3:59 PM: Hourly rates applyFriday after 4 PM and Saturday: $5 flat fee

Ninth and Penn Garage136 9th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222Friday before 3:59 PM: Hourly rates applyFriday after 4 PM and Saturday: $6 flat fee

Smithfield Liberty Garage629 Smithfield St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222Friday before 3:59 PM: Hourly rates applyFriday after 4 PM and Saturday: $6 flat fee

The event starts to wind down around 6 PM. DO NOT PACK UP YOUR TABLEPACK YET. Use this time to shop from other vendors if things are slow. You can slowly start to straighten up and get ready for load-out. Start cleaning up behind your table and consolidating. Do NOT start removing your product from your display until 7 PM.

7 PM: Shoppers leave and the loading dock opens.

BEFORE you get your car, PACK UP YOUR ENTIRE TABLE.This is a good time to have a helper available to get your car or stay at your table.

Do not leave trash in your space. Walk it to one of the garbage cans. The Convention Center will put out extra garbage and recycling.

Return with your car to the loading dock. If you have your own dolly, load-out will be faster for you.

Some vendors pack up in a way that they can walk out the front door and be picked up on 10th Street.

YOU HAVE TO BE PACKED UP AND OUT BY 8:30 PM. Leave your table and chairs in your space.

Load

-Out

REMINDER: Staying calm and flexible makes everything easier as this time can be hectic. Don’t dillydally but don’t freak out either.

Every year, we get it all done within our time frame.

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Be at your table and READY TO SELL by 9:30 AM.

Early Birdie Shoppers enter a 10 AM.

General public enters at 11 AM. (Last year 1,500 people came through in the first 15 minutes.)

• The crowd is non-stop until late afternoon.• Wear comfortable shoes – the floor is concrete. • Consider buying an anti-fatigue mat to stand on.• Vendors who stand, smile and engage with shoppers sell better.• Wear layers. The temperature fluctuates in the Hall as the day progresses.• Bring water and food. The concessions will be open early for breakfast and coffee but the lines get long

on the door opens to the public and it is hard to leave your table as the day progresses.• Bring a helper. • Volunteers are available if you need a break. They CANNOT sell for you or buy food for you.

Handmade Arcade organizers are available at the Welcome Table located at the front of the hall. Find us if you need help.

Frid

ay N

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Pre

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Par

tyWhy Participate?• Set-up on Friday from 12 to 4 PM with 4 Teamsters to help.• More time to set-up and prepare which means a LESS STRESSFUL start to the event! • Stay through the Preview Party to set-up and maybe make a sale or two!

Food and Drink? There will not be food options in the Hall. Once you are set-up, you can leave the hall and go grab some dinner. Be back by 5 PM to get ready for the doors to open. Or you can bring food with you.

SecurityThe DLCC will lock the hall and they have overnight security. Leave everything in place and ready to go for Saturday. (Take your cash with you.)

GO HOME and get a GOOD NIGHT of sleep!When the event ends, we need everyone to leave the hall by 8:15 p.m.

Saturday MorningReturn the next morning to your after 7 a.m. Rested and refreshed. Enter through the front door of the Hall.

You must be back at the Convention Center by 9 AM for the 10 AM Early Birdie Shopping Hour.

Your crafts, and LOTS of them.

Lots of change.You can never have too many small bills – ones, fives and tens. Bring a cash box or wear your money.

Fully Charged Cell Phone. Unless you pay for electricity, it will be hard to charge your phone at HA. Consider getting a portable charger.

Credit card reader.Vendors with credit card readers have a better sales day.

What to BringTablecloth or yardage.You’ll also want enough material to hang to the floor, and disguise all the stuff you’re storing under the table.

A friend. If you don’t have a buddy to help out, HA will have volunteers on hand who can watch your table while you take a bathroom break or grab some food.

SIGNS! SIGNS! SIGNS! Should have ones for the following information: Business Name, Pricing, Cash Only, Indicator that you take credit cards etc.


What to BringBags. If you don’t have your own, supermarket bags are can work. Local Supplier: Schorin Party Supply at 1800 Penn Avenue in the Strip district.

Business cards or other promotional/contact materials for your craft venture. You may also want to have a mailing list sign-up sheet.

Self-care and supply bag. Chapstick, masking tape, safety pins, Sharpie, scissors, needle and thread, string, small notebook, pens, aspirin and Band-Aids.

Comfortable shoes. Consider bringing a spare set and/or a mat to stand on. The concrete floor can be brutal.

WATER! Dehydration is the silent killer.

Food – snacks and pack a lunch. There will be food trucks but you might not have time to leave your table.

Wear layers. Plan for temperate fluctuations.

Inventory Sheet, Receipt book, Notepad

Mirrors are useful if you’re selling clothing or jewelry.

Trash bag. There will be garbage cans but it is handy to have something behind your table.


REMEMBER! YOU are part of your booth!

SMILE! Stand, make eye contact, greet people.

Plan your sales pitch ahead of time. Come up with 2 – 3 lines that you can say fast that can describe your product and why someone should buy from you.

If someone is browsing and you aren’t busy, engage them in conversation.

If customers are waking past your table and just “looking,” call out to them, say “Hello! Do you need an *insert product name* today?” It works! (If you can’t do it, enlist that one friend we all have who can.)

REMEMBER! Part of the draw of indie craft shows is meeting the makers.

Be approachable.

Craft Fairs: Don’t forget your sales pitch!


There is no free internet service at the Convention Center.

Vendors will be able to sign-up for internet service once they are in the vendor hall by opening their web browser. There are daily Wi-Fi rates.

Many vendors use the data plan on their phone for credit card sales.

Wi-Fi


Questions and Answers!CONTACT INFORMATION:

[email protected]


Social Media: @handmadearcade

Download this presentation:www.handmadearcade.org/yms

Vendor Information: www.handmadearcade.org/vendors


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.handmadearcade.org/

http://www.handmadearcade.org/vendors

handmade arcade · local supplier: schorin party supply at 1800 penn avenue in the strip district....

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