The Spice of Life?

At a craft show I did a couple weeks ago, a fellow vendor stood inside my booth and said that she prefers to focus on one kind of craft when she does shows so that her booth "doesn't end up looking like Wal-Mart." I can only assume this was a not-so-subtle hint that my booth looked like Wal-mart because I do not focus on one kind of craft. Just like in my Etsy shop, when I'm at a craft show I sell crocheted hats for the whole family, journals, scrunchies, wash cloths and dish scrubbies, instant canteens, sachets, and Christmas items.

I have two reasons for not focusing on one specific kind of craft:

1. I like making different things! I enjoy crocheting, collaging, sewing, and painting. Why limit myself to only one kind of craft? Why miss out on the pleasure I could get by plying all my trades?
2. I want my shop to have a little something for everyone. Maybe you don't need a new winter hat, but you do want a new journal. Maybe you don't need a journal, but you do need something to carry your water bottle in. Or maybe you want a hat for your grandson and a journal for yourself. And so on.

But I'm beginning to wonder... am I wrong? Would it be better, business-wise, to restrict my store (and craft show booths) to just crocheted items or just journals? Maybe just baby/child-oriented things?

I put it to you, Gentle Readers. Do you think it's a better idea to sell only related items, say things made of yarn, or jewelry, or artwork, etc? Or is it better to have a variety? Is variety no longer the spice of life?

And if you shop at craft shows or on sites like Etsy, are you more likely to buy from a person who sells a whole lot of variations on a single theme, or from someone who makes many different kinds of things? Or is it a silly question, and you don't care one way or another?

Leave me a comment with your opinions -- I'm really interested to know.

Last Saturday

I've finally uploaded my pictures from the craft show I did last Saturday. We had gorgeous weather, sunny and in the 60s, with a breeze to keep it from getting too hot. And considering it was a smallish show (only 50 booths I think), we had fairly nice crowds.

However, everyone was looking at things, and few people were buying. The show ran from 10am-4pm, and I made less than $50. Considering my booth fee was $75, I was not pleased. But most of the other vendors I talked to had similar complaints -- people just weren't in a buying mood. Whatcha gonna do?

At least I got these nice pics taken of my booth, so if I decide to apply for a booth at more juried shows (next spring, maybe?), I'll have good photos to send. I have another show in a couple weeks, and one in November as well, so I'm hoping I'll be able to make up what I lost at this one between those two.