Daily Wire Tip July 23: Change and Credit Cards at Shows

Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
July 23, 2010

Question:

I am participating in a juried art festival outdoors for 6 hours. I have only sold to individuals so I have no idea how much change to have with me. I am not set up to accept credit cards so that leaves cash and checks. Any suggestions on how much change to have, and can I expect diminished sales because I can’t accept credit cards?

Thank you!

-Bonnie in Ennis, Montana

Answer:

Congratulations! Good question, and thanks for the additional details. Because this is only a 6-hour show, you could probably get by with about $400 in change. Depending on the prices of your items and whether or not you add tax (which means carrying coins) be sure to have a lot of ones, fives and tens, and about 5 twenties. A suggestion regarding taxes would be to include them in the price of your work. Then, after the show, based on your total sales, just do the math for the state later. This makes your prices seem less (tax is included!) and certainly makes making change easier on you.

Again, depending on the prices of your work, I would be prepared to take personal checks, which means that you can put a limit on them if you wish (like no checks for purchases under $25.00). Do not hesitate to ask to see a valid driver’s license and DO write down all of this information on the receipt, including their license number (I do hope you use at least a double, preferably a triplicate receipt book).

If you enjoy doing shows and as your business grows, I would definitely look into taking credit cards. I know it seems like a lot of money to begin, but most companies can set you up “seasonally” if you request it, so you are not saddled with a monthly statement fee when you are not processing credit cards. Festival and show attendees do not carry a lot of cash these days, checkbooks are almost obsolete, and “plastic” is very convenient. I know that when I finally made that really hard decision, my sales increased by 135%!! (no kidding.)

Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

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25 Comments

1. 

   Mary Phillips

   July 23, 2010 at 7:49 am

   Sam’s Club offers a very reasonable credit card program for members that’s worth checking out.
2. 

   Maurita

   July 23, 2010 at 8:37 am

   I have been doing shows for several years now. The first year I did not accept credit cards and was getting very discouraged over the sales. Then I started accepting credit cards and I am amazed at the sales. My last show on July 4th was 90% credit sales. The company I use charges me $6 monthly fee when not in use. There are so many credit card companies out there trying to get your business they will offer discounted set up fees if you whine…and I even got a free card machine. I offer a discount for cash sales and the majority still want to use their credit card. When they use their credit card they tend to also purchase the matching earrings and bracelet.
3. 

   Elizabeth Little

   July 23, 2010 at 10:31 am

   I haven’t researched the details yet, but it is my understanding that you can use your droid phone to accept debit and credit cards and send an email receipt.
4. 

   Lila

   July 23, 2010 at 10:40 am

   Hi Bonnie,
   Congratulations on doing your first show! I hope it is a big success.
   When I do a show I take about $150 with me in petty cash broken up into various denominations. I accept checks as long as their name, full address and phone number is on it. Also ask for a drivers license.
   As for credit cards if you have a PayPal account you could become a merchant easily through their Virtual Terminal. I do not do many shows (3 -4 a year) and have found Virtual Terminal to be an easy way to accept credit cards. They may charge a little more than a regular merchant service, but in the long run it is cheaper. They say the charge $30/month but I’ve not been charged that and I’ve been using it since 2008. You can activate the service for one day or one hour, while you are processing credit cards, then deactivate it until you need it again. It is really easy to set up.
   Good Luck!
5. 

   Casey Willson

   July 23, 2010 at 11:05 am

   If you have an internet ready phone you can accept credit cards via paypal on your phone. I don’t think your customer has to have an account but has to be willing to put in information. Check the paypal site for more information on it.
   Anything to help my fellow artists get more sales!
6. 

   Cindy

   July 23, 2010 at 11:46 am

   Go to http://www.propay.com For an anual fee which is very reasonable, plus the per tranaction fee you can process cards online manually or over the phone. since I don’t sell very much at this time I use this and am very happy with it. It gives me the chance to increase sales by accepting credit cards without the monthly fee I can’t afford at this time
7. 

   Carol Wilson

   July 23, 2010 at 12:38 pm

   I don’t take credit cards, either, and it has caused me lost sales. Another vendor at a craft show has a “smart phone” and he downloaded some application (for a fee) that allows him to accept a number of credit cards, just through his phone. He said it was easy and not too costly. Sorry I don’t know anymore than that. Seemed like a good idea, but I don’t have one and don’t plan to buy one, so I’ll have to find another solution.
8. 

   kirsten

   July 23, 2010 at 12:43 pm

   for MOST of my early events i took $100.00 in change. no 20s, people pay in those from ATMs! just 5s and 1s and coinage.

   it is *advisable* to have more change if you can afford to, because it reduces the risk of a cash box of 20s and no small bills.

   even if all your prices are in round dollar figures, *always* have at least one full roll of quarters. people have to pay parking, or buy things with coin, and while MOST people who get change from you wont buy things, a few will.

   i got a good sale when the lady with kids who was all kinds of upset about having no coins for her meter got her change from me, with a smile, and a “no problem”.. she didnt buy anything from me.. but she brought her sister, who sure did.
9. 

   Doris

   July 23, 2010 at 1:00 pm

   I saw an amazing cell phone that has a swipe thing for credit cards at the Apple Store. They have them, so other companies must either have them or be in the works. So handy, it’s right in your hand and the swipe goes to the bank or the charge company direct. NEAT-O !
10. 

    A.

    July 23, 2010 at 2:17 pm

    I usually take about $300 in change, and life is much much better now that taxes are built in and I don’t have to deal with coins! I don’t do credit cards yet, and I know I’ve lost a few sales because of that, but not as many as I would have thought. I’ve found that most people come to art shows knowing its a possibility that venders only do cash. It is helpful to know where the nearest ATM is. As for checks, I do what Dale mentioned, and write down all the info from their DL, and ask for a phone number. I scan them before going to the bank, and then I destroy the check image once I know its cleared my bank.
11. 

    Kris

    July 23, 2010 at 4:05 pm

    When I started taking my pottery to shows, I used Propay. I took an impression of the card and filled out the credit card receipt. Then at the end of the night I simply entered all of the credit card transactions online. I haven’t done shows in a while, but a few years ago they had no monthly committment and the transaction fees were very reasonable considering how infrequently I used the account. I don’t know what they charge now, or their requirements, but something like that may be worth checking in to.
    • 

      dalecgr

      July 24, 2010 at 1:14 am

      Thanks for the confirmation about this simple solution for accepting credit cards Kris.
12. 

    Belinda

    July 23, 2010 at 5:40 pm

    Altho I haven’t ‘jumped in’ with both feet yet, I feel myself getting closer and I wanted to express how supported I feel by all of you! Seeing the question from Bonnie in Ennis, Mt, which is about 2 hours from where I live, spurred me to write and tell you how much I look forward to everything you share with me/all of us!! Thank you and thanks for being here for us!
    Belinda
13. 

    chris

    July 23, 2010 at 7:13 pm

    A reasonably priced resource for credit card acceptance is propay.com. They charge something like $57 a year and all the “card entering” is done on you PC (online), so you don’t have to have machines. For that matter, you don’t even have to have CC slips! I buy internet service for my pc in the fall (about 3-4 months), and take my pc to shows… There’s no monthly statement, either. You can also set yourself up with a paypal account that emails payments to your address and do it that way.
    • 

      dalecgr

      July 24, 2010 at 1:12 am

      Too cool Chris – thanks so much for this valuable info!!
14. 

    jdburch2000

    July 23, 2010 at 9:10 pm

    What a great answer to this question! As I do several shows a year requiring I carry change, this answer was very pertinent. Usually, I carry about $200, mostly ones, with some fives and tens too. About $10 to $15 of that are quarters as I’ve included the tax and some items are $X.50. This has gotten me by on two and three day shows…with only once I really needed more change than that and had to find a grocery or bank that would change out $100’s or $20’s so I’d have smaller bills. Keep up the good work, I enjoy reading your tips.
15. 

    Bonnie

    July 24, 2010 at 3:20 pm

    Thank you Dale and everyone else fo some excellent tips! Maurita, what company were you talking about? Since I have no cell phone or laptop I like the fact that the card machine was free!
16. 

    Clay D

    July 24, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    We use Global; free machine with 2 year contract, and a monthly fee and per/transaction fee. Machine “stores” swiped info of cards & then we hook into our phoneline at night,upload and the funds are in our bank in two working days. (We don’t have access to phone lines at sales point and cell phones don’t work in building we sell in.)When at a site with phone line, we use it as a regular CC machine. Also,we carry $150 in $20’s, 10’s, 5’s and $50 in ones. In 4 years that amount has not been a problem. Our sales skyrocked after we got our machine.
17. 

    Gayle

    July 24, 2010 at 9:50 pm

    I use Thompson Merchant Services to accept credit cards. I use a basic cell phone (no apps or internet required). I simply input the credit card information and receive approval immediately. This basic service is the cheapest I found from a company that has good reviews/reputation. They were incredibly helpful getting me set up.
18. 

    Traci Regner

    July 25, 2010 at 3:11 pm

    This is great information! Thanks to ALL who replied with their experiences. I have been waffling on how to accept CCs. I like the Paypal idea, and the CC by smart phone. I’m concerned with the Propay though. Have any of you who use it had a problem with declined payments? If so what can you do about your pieces that have “gone out the door?” I love this website and really appreciate ALL the GREAT artists who contribute!
19. 

    Dawn Hill

    July 26, 2010 at 10:05 am

    I do believe you will make far more sales accepting credit cards and debit with the credit card logos. Also-no worries about bounced checks or the fees you can incur because of them. I actually do not accept checks for this reason. I do only a few shows a year and use the Pay Pal virtual terminal. I can turn it on or off so I do not pay for months I do not use it. It has worked out really well for me. Especially on more expensive items: People just do not carry that kind of cash with them in general.

    As for change I usually find $200 in bills ($50 in singles, $50 in 5’s and 100 in 10’s) plus one roll of each coin is sufficient.

    In some states it is against the law to “include” tax. You have to show it seperate on reciepts to be in compliance with their regulations so check with your state before marking your items to “include” tax.
20. 

    bozo25

    July 26, 2010 at 5:07 pm

    hi

    i’m with traci, i was wondering if you get declines with propay. it seems kind of risky. i haven’t started to take cc but am about to make the leap.

    thanks to everyone for your answers and support!
21. 

    Sonja

    July 27, 2010 at 2:40 pm

    I would like to second the suggestion to check out Propay. I became familiar with Propay as a Mary Kay consultant. You can even use a *regular phone or cell phone* to take a charge and you get a confirmation or decline right away. If you would like more information on how it works go to https://epay.propay.com/account/howpropayworks.aspx

    Propay customer service reps are also very willing to assist. Best wishes!
22. 

    Sarah Jane

    August 23, 2010 at 1:46 pm

    Re: Lisa’s response (July 23)

    I have just spoken with Paypal re their Virtual Terminal and they are telling me that the charge is $30/month regardless of how many times you use their program. I will only need a credit card program – maybe 6 times a year – and I can’t afford their price/month yet you tell us you haven’t been charged … any idea what is going on? I would like your pay plan!!

    Re: Maurita’s response (July 23)

    Can you give us the name of your credit card company that charges $6/month when not in use?

    Thanks for having this forum available for us.
23. 

    Mary V

    September 13, 2010 at 10:37 am

    This information is so VALUABLE to a beginning jewelry seller like me! I was just going to start calling banks, etc. to find out about this. Great info on this site – LOVE it!