How do Trunk Shows work?

How do Trunk Shows work?

by Valerie Justus-Rusconi
(Watsonville, California)

I would like to know how a trunk show works. I see them advertised at shops all the time.

When an artist does a trunk show, are the pieces unique? Are there more than one each at a show? When I look at them there appears to only be one available of any given design. Is it one to a shop, so others are available in different areas?

I would like to know what is expected of the shop keeper and the artist, and how the arrangements are made in regard to sales of the works. I have asked a few designers, who confessed they did not understand how they work either. And the few shop keepers I have asked seemed reluctant to share any information with me, and I got no real answers.

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How do Trunk Shows work?

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Trunk Shows
by: Carolyn in VA

Generally (in the U.S.), a 'trunk show' is when a designer sends to a needlework shop a special set of display models (stitched and framed/finished) of the charts and kits that designer is selling.

For example, when my LNS had a Victoria Sampler ( http://www.victoriasampler.com/) trunk show, they set up a huge display of framed and finished models of different VS designs, and then they had the charts, kits, and accessory packs available for sale. My LNS had them for a discount, to drive sales, but that may not always be true.

Not sure if stocks of stuff for sale is included with the trunk show, but that may be different in each case.

I'm pretty sure the name 'trunk show' came about because all the display models get packed up into a 'trunk' (or boxes, whatever) and get shipped from one LNS to another on it's route, until it finishes it's circuit and goes back to the designer.

Hope this is helpful!

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Trunk Show
by: Liz

I'm not sure what a trunk show is, but it sounds a little like what we call in the UK as an exhibition, if it is, it is what I am going to do next year, it will be an exhibition of BLACK WORK, I will show one of each picture (at least 50) and they will be for sale, if one is sold and another person wants the same picture, then that person will be told another picture can be made for them, in that way you don't have a stock pile of pictures, if it is not the same thing I would be interested to hear what a Trunk Show is.

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