Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Sarah

If you don't mind I would like to add my 2 cents as I am both a bear maker/seller on Ebay and a collector. I am from the US but I ship worldwide I recommend that highly you do reach more people, I have a bear up now that a lady from the UK has emailed wanting to know what the shipping will be. So I agree with everyone else sell worldwide.

Now as a collector, it does not matter to me where the artist is from, if I like the bear I will bid. I have my favorites set to artist offerings and if the bear is on there or in the artist place I will bid if I like it. I have to tell you I don't personally go to places that sell only from one country like US, UK, Germany etc. I do have several bears from Germany, the UK, Canada, and Austrailia and I got them all on the I guess Ebay US or ebay.com. So if you can list your bears where everyone no matter what country can see them that would be great. Don't be afraid to spread your wings a little, in the long run I think it will be well worth it.

Barb

Could someone please tell me how to make a tree topper? Do you make a whole bear and dress it? A whole bear except without legs and a cardboard cone of some sort? I just can't seem to figure out what would be the best way to go about making one that would not fall off the tree, or look to horrible. Thanks very much in advance for the help.

Barb

Hi Everyone

I am new to posting on this board, I have been a lurker since day one, old habits die hard I used to lurk in the back of the class when I was in school many years ago so the teacher wouldn't call on me although it never worked I was always called on.
Anyway I would like to offer a couple of ideas on where or how to possibly sell bears for some people. I have a chronic illiness which has left me homebound my only option for selling bears was ebay as I am not able to go to shows or get out to promote my bears. A couple of years ago I had an idea I had never seen in our town which is a small town, I decided to have a one woman bear show. Since I have to do things as my health allows, I chose to have a little show under our car port in October it was right here at home just outside the door. Being it is a small town I wasn't sure what the response would be and I was scared to death. I started planning in Feb of that year and was able to make 80 bears by Oct. I advertised in our local newspaper my first annual bear show and in a couple of the surrounding area newspapers, plus my husband and my mother in law put up posters I had made around town at various business's. My husband borrowed a couple of tables and in Oct I felt fairly good, I was unable to sleep the night before. Well the show/sale started at 10am ended at 2pm. I had people there at 8am one lady bought 10 bears. I sold a total of 35 bears plus I had people calling after to see if I had new bears. I also had people come by after the show ended because they had to work but wanted to see the bears and I did sell a few after closing. I had my second show/sale last year and sold 30 bears, 8 of them to the same lady that bought 10 the year before, and there were more people there the second year. I am planning on one in Oct again this year, as people keep asking if I am going to have one. I would like to do a spring show but I am not sure I am up to that. As I said I live in a small town and I have had great response.

Another idea is the fall festival type things. I have a friend who also makes bears this year even though I won't be there in person, I went half with her on a space up at Harvest Days in Sept , they have a big outdoor craft show, flea market , parade and all sorts of activities. The space costs 50.00 for 2 days, this is our first try at that but the celebration always draws huge crowds.

So if you are able to, have your own little show. I realize to that small towns are not like ebay or other shops and I priced my bears accordingly, in other words I did charge less then when I sell on ebay. It is a great way to get your name out there, locally at least. Plus it is so much fun meeting all the people.

Well I am terribly sorry to have rambled on and on, but I do think this is a wonderful option to at least think about. You can all wake up now I think I am done. I just had to share what I did when I didn't have many options. Hopefully this will help someone else.

Thank you all for putting up with me I will go back into my lurking hole.

Barb