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For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
Hi guys!!!
Phew, I was so tired from the open house but absolutley loved it! We only had about 35-40 people show up... but there were some bear sales (I sold 2) Not everyone had a sale I'm sorry to say 
but everyone DID have fun! Since this was an open house, the only cost to the artists was that we split the advertising costs... less than $30 per artist.
OK... how about I start at the beginning!!
Bob and I moved the furniture into place for the show on Friday (he took a day off of work!.. and also took me to lunch )
Everyone commented on how this house really has a great layout for an open house type of show. The living room, dining room and large kitchen are all open, no full walls. There is a counter divding the eat in part of the kitchen from the dining room (which we used as an artist spot). Even the family room at the back of the kitchen has a more than double wide doorway so the 2 tables in there were not cut off from the rest of the house.
For artists tables... for the most part we used furniture that was already in the room: Top of an aquarium, counters that divided the room, sideboard, bookshelf, kitchen table, dining table, and we did have a couple extra folding tables too... Betty of BJ bears brought hers and I had one.
We had 10 artists in the show... we left the kitchen area open for sitting and talking (oh yeah... folding chairs!!) There was another area in the family room... and before the show out on the deck.
Amy Thornton made the FABULOUS & GENEROUS suggestion that she would make BBQ shredded beef in her slow cooker to bring for lunch. It was DELICIOUS!!!! I got rolls & chips... and everyone else brought desserts and drinks!
I had some Dunkin Donut muchkins, bagels and stuff available while everyone was setting up. Hubby reminded me that I don't do coffee very well :crackup: and so although I had Folger's coffee bags onhand Bob did a McDonald's run and got coffee for everyone
Everyone seemed to have a fun time ... it was nice to relax and talk with bear friends! After everyone set up their tables... I told my hubby that I've decided that THIS is how I want to decorate the house It was like a bear shop in my home... I was in love! Now if only I had enough $ to buy everyone's bears....
We also had magazines to give away from both "Teddy Bear and Friends" and "Teddy Bear Review" (thanks guys!) Jones Publications also donated a certificate for a free subscription to "Teddy Bear Review" as a door prize!
I did have extra magazines left... some artists were doing another show the next day... so I gave some to them. I plan on passing the others out around town... in doctor's offices, hair dressers, etc....
OK... now the advertising...
We all pooled our mailing lists and had a mailing of over 500 people. I used the service I found on the USPS website that I used for my daughter's graduation party invites: http://www.usps.com/netpost/reachcustomers.htm I used the Regular Mailing Online Postcards.
I posted about the show everywhere online I could think of (here of course!) including my own website.
I submitted my event with both TB&F and TBR for their Calendar of Events. (as a collector I ALWAYS look there!) You do have to plan ahead a bit for this though. I also had my own ad in TB&F so I added a bit about the Open House. I didn't charge the other artists for that one since the ad was primarily my own bears and I just added the bit about the open house.
I had posters (8.5x11") made up and posted them in shops around town.
I picked one of the more popular local papers and placed a Classified ad about the show... and had it run the entire week of the show.
I then entered my event online to the same newspaper, then got an email from them asking more info about me, teddy collecting and so on....
So from that I got free publicity! Here's the online copy of article they did: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/cour … S10908.htm
** and whoohooo!! I gave them tons of info which they could not include... but they DID include the bit about the upcoming Lemonade Bears Benefit!!
My husband made up LARGE signs... 3 of them. THey said simply "Teddy Bear Show" with an arrow pointing the way. We live 1 +1/2 miles from a major intersection... so we had 2 signs there and one at our street. Oh, we also had one in front of our house. On the front door I had a sign that said "Please Walk In" so the doorbell wouldn't be going all day.
We asked people how they heard about the show... and we had people who came from EVERY part of the advertising we did!
Everyone who came LOVED seeing so many different types of bears in one place. Some people thought it would just be my bears... and were pleasantly surprised to see 10 artists' bears!! We did get some in who had never heard of artist bears... so we naturally made sure THEY went home with copies of the magazines!
Everyone who left did go with a smile, copies of the magazines, cookies... some with bears... and fliers for upcoming shows.
As the show was winding down... I was told that this show would grow with time as people come to know about it (so I guess that means I'll be doing this again LOL!) Seriously... I did have interest in a spring show.. so we're trying to work out a date for that. We need to avoid the bad winter weather as so many of the artists (like Amy!) come from Wisconsin... and also need to be a bit away from the Schaumburg April show date too...
Next time? I'd do all the same advertising again.. plus.... give fliers for each artist to have on thier tables at shows they are at prior to my show.
Press releases... so many papers in the area. I had limited advertising to one paper.. and that one DID get results!
Maybe have a couple more doorprizes???
I had forgotten to invite some artists and some (Jared and Jane) I invited a bit late :redface: Since I see we would have the room... I'd be sure to invite those artsits too!
The artists said it was a great first show and that they could see how it would grow.
As a collector, I certainly do NOT want to see the big show go away! The reason I had the Open House was because there always used to be a certain show.... it was mostly a doll show with some teddy bears. I'd always go for the bears! I had a table at the November show... but went to the March show as a collector because we had JUST moved to the new house. But.... when I got to the March show... there WAS no March show!
I went home and called the promoter... she told me that they are no longer doing shows because no one came!!?? I informed her that her website ... with the show dates was still online! (she has since taken that down)
I talked to another artist friend of mine... who ALWAYS had a table at the Sept and November shows of theirs... and she had no idea there were no longer doing shows! September was always a great show for her and she wasn't sure what she would do to replace it.
As our new house is only 12 miles up the road from where that show was held.... I suggested that I host an Open House style show. THAT is how the show came about...
Posts: 1,277Wow, Laura, what a fun and interesting read. Sounds like you had a wonderful and successful event. Did you take any pics to share with us? 
I bet the atmosphere was really cozy.
bears by beesley TMAwesome Laura! Ohhhh I want pics too! I wish I lived closer it would have been a blast! Way to go Laura!
Hugs Louise
Sunnie BearsWonderful idea Laura! GOOD FOR YOU TO GO FOR IT. I hope you have pics, I would love to see hw it was set up
Thank you guys!!! Finally updated the Open House page with photos.... still want to upload a picture with the floor plan so you can "see" how the room looked (as I forgot to take an overall photo :doh: )
But here's a link to what I have so far:
http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/collecting/openhouse.html
Swan Valley BearsHow fun!!! What a great idea. And what a bunch of beeeeaaaauuuuutiful bears. I know I would have come away with a couple if I had been able to be there to shop.
Patty
Awww thanks Patty!
and I don't know why you didn't come.... I mean how far IS California from Chicago?? :crackup:
Canna Bear PaintLaura, you are an inspiration! But the big question is... how on earth did you manage to let all those beautiful bears leave your house? I think I would have barricaded the door shut at the end of the day to keep everyone in!
Bear hugs,
Kelly
LOL!!!!!! HUBBY kept me from keeping them.... kept my credit card in my pocket that is :crackup:
bears by beesley TMAwesome pics Laura! Thank you Hon for sharing! Gosh I wish I could have attended! It looks like you all had a blast!
Hugs Louise
Posts: 36Sounds like fun. I wish that someone would do something like that around where I live.
Past Time BearsStupendous idea, Laura, and looks like it was totally successful! Bravo, you, and big kudos! :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:
Bears by JodiSounded like a GREAT DAY !!!! And what a good hubby you have !! He must be the best !!!! Wow That could become a really big show you know . Better tell Hubby to build on !! I may be tempted to do the next one !!!! I need a traveling buddy , any one interested ?
Jodi Falk
Melbourne, AustraliaI'm so glad that the day went well for you Laura ... after putting so much hard work into the organising, you certainly deserved it !!!
Thanks for posting the outcome, I'd been thinking about you...the photos on the website are fabulous, what a great time you must have had.
Hugs,
Kiprie BearsWow Laura-Lynn, welcome back and thanks so much for
sharing !!!! I just visited your web-page and saw all the fabulous bears and
other artist !! Thank you !! :hug:
I didn't know your open-house meant the "REAL BEAR SHOW" at home !!!
You & your hubby and all the artists did superb job !! :clap: :clap: 
hugs/
Marie 
Bravo!! Such a huge challenge....and you thought through every detail. You should be so proud of yourself. I can't even get all the girls in Oregon together at one time. You got 10 artists together to participate in your show.....you are soooo top shelf girl!!
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Irenours-bearsDear Laura, you where brave to bring up a show :clap: . I guess it's mean lot of work even if you finally had fun :hug:
Rufnut Teddy'sLaura, what a fantastic effort, congratulations and thanks for sharing your show with us. :hug:
Posts: 1,277I just checked out all the great pics on your website. Really awesome job getting the whole thing together! Maybe one of these days I could make it up there.
Wow!! I love the pictures. I've never heard of an 'open-house show' before - what a great idea!! I'm glad it was a success, and as you say, future events are likely to be even more successful!! Well done to you!
THank you everyone! I know that Jared and his Mom have had a Christmas open house type show... with artist bears and crafts I believe.... although I was never able to attend, they are who gave me the idea in the first place :)
I'm certainly hoping the show will grow with more collectors! I do have to say that my hubby is the greatest
Posts: 8,574What a fantabulous idea! How really great.....I never would have had such a great idea...
And your piccys are great! What fun!
And you must have a really big house to fit in all those little bearykids and still have everything looks so nicely displayed.
I can see what you are exhausted....
But you surely did a great job!!!
gollyhugs
dilu
Kingfisher Farm Teddies and Folk ArtGreat job Laura Lynn, Did Amy get her hair cut???? How do you keep your house so clean??? It sparkles! Pam
Glad that your Open house show was a success Laura Lynn and thanks so much for sharing your photos.
What a great idea getting Artist and collectors together - looked great with all the beautiful bears.
Hugs
Carolyn
Jare Hares & BearsLaura -
I'll bring pictures of our open house to Schaumburg for you to see.
Yeah Yeah, I know, I know... you all will want me to post them here. Again, I say I have to dig them out.
At one time I did have a web page on mom site for the open house. Would display photos on there and post the next year's dates as soon as the current year's show was finished.
Daphne -
Wanna come over and help me dig out photos????
