Are you thinking about art and craft fairs? Have you already started working weekend shows? Here's one lesson I've learned:
Last year, when I met with the director of Northern Colorado Writers last year about selling my jewelry at her holiday craft fair, she picked out a pair of earrings I'd made and said, "I like these. You could make them in other colors."
My brain exploded when she said that.
Not because it was a bad idea. Not at all. It was just something I'd never considered.
I'd been making custom designs for magazines for years. I don't like to deliberately copy anything, even my own work. But for a craft show, I needed some quantity to go along with the quality. Before I met with the director, I'd been in an absolute panic, trying to make a hundred completely unique items. Making some variations of a single project made a lot more sense. (And yes, I'm a little embarrassed that I didn't think of it myself!)
Oh, and those earrings that were requested in different colors? I sold all but one pair at that show: the original color combination that sparked the whole conversation!