Ok, Well it's not really a secret, but if you see signs around in Chester County, Pennsylvania that shows these crazy cartoon ladies having fun, in front of a business, the shop is a "best-kept secret" or hidden treasure and part of the Chester County Best Kept Secrets Shopping Tour.
I can't tell you the names of the 37 business on the tour, but I can tell you that the tour is made up of lots of different kinds of businesses from garden shops, to little boutiques, to candy shops, consignment and on and on. It's kind of like a treasure hunt finding out-of-the-way places that you might otherwise be unaware of.
My studio is one of those those establishments. If you never met me at an art show or haven't seen my work in a gallery or don't follow me online, you might never be aware of my work or my adorable little studio which is located behind my house. The shopping tour is a fantastic opportunity for me to welcome people from all over to visit my studio and see what I make..
Here's how it works:
Shoppers buy tickets for $9 which entitles them to all the perks that each business will be offering during the tour. One dollar of each ticket sale goes to the Chester County Food Bank. The first 2000 people that buy tickets get a goody bag filled with coupons for additional discounts, game pieces and samples. Each business will have special events going on throughout the tour whether it be a special sale or giveaway, food, demonstrations, or opportunities to win prizes.
Everyone gets a map and a booklet with additional coupons from all of the businesses on the tour in it. Shoppers also gets a ticket at each establishment they visit which qualifies them to win a $200 shopping spree that they can use at the business of their choice. There is yet an additional drawing to win a variety of gifts or gift certificates.
The dates of the tour are November 5 through November 21, 2015. All shops will be open from 10 AM to 6 PM six days a week and some will be open on Sunday as well or have extended hours.
Everyone gets a map and a booklet with additional coupons from all of the businesses on the tour in it. Shoppers also gets a ticket at each establishment they visit which qualifies them to win a $200 shopping spree that they can use at the business of their choice. There is yet an additional drawing to win a variety of gifts or gift certificates.
The dates of the tour are November 5 through November 21, 2015. All shops will be open from 10 AM to 6 PM six days a week and some will be open on Sunday as well or have extended hours.
Tour goers can use their tickets for one day or for every day of the tour. They can do the tour in any direction or fashion that they see fit. It's a lot of fun and a great way to promote small business and shop local for the holiday season.
Being a participant shop owner in the tour requires a lot of preparation and thought. The first place I needed to start was to think about what kind of special event I might create for my tour goers.
Whatever I was going to do would need to be included in the 2000 bags that tour goers were will get which had to be stuffed and ready to go by September 7.
I came up with a fun game. I got different colored plastic stars (get it? for "House of the Rising Star" the name of my studio) and little jewelry bags to put them in along with the ticket explaining the game.
Customers will bring their star to the studio and if their color matches the color of the day they will win a prize valued from $1 to $10. There is one unique colored star out of all of them that if one lucky person gets it, will win an original painting worth $100.
Since I needed 2000 pieces to go in the bags, I knew that there was no way that I would be able to get them stuffed and ready to go by myself in the time frame that I had available. God bless my awesome friends and my daughter!!!! I asked a few folks if they would come over and help me out by stuffing bags and made a party out of it by providing wine and snacks on a beautiful summer evening.
Now that that is done I am working on my inventory and all the other things that I need to do to prepare. I'll keep you posted as I move along.
If you would like to get tickets, you can contact me (I have goody bags!!) or if you are in some other part of Chester County and you're driving around and you see the sign with the crazy ladies that says "Tour Stop" your can get your tickets there and also online at Best Kept Secrets Shopping Tour.
Do hurry though, the tickets sell out quickly and only the first 2000 people will get the goody bags!
Also, not to worry if you are one of my awesome regular customers who looks forward to my annual November Open Studio. If you don't want to participate in the BKS tour, you are still welcome to stop by my studio any of the 16 days that I am open. If you are a newsletter subscriber, I will also be sending a discount that you can use for any item in my shop. (If you aren't signed up, you can do it right here on my blog. Just use the signup form on the upper right)
You will also have an opportunity to get a star game piece and win a prize!
Hope to see you!
Whatever I was going to do would need to be included in the 2000 bags that tour goers were will get which had to be stuffed and ready to go by September 7.
I came up with a fun game. I got different colored plastic stars (get it? for "House of the Rising Star" the name of my studio) and little jewelry bags to put them in along with the ticket explaining the game.
Customers will bring their star to the studio and if their color matches the color of the day they will win a prize valued from $1 to $10. There is one unique colored star out of all of them that if one lucky person gets it, will win an original painting worth $100.
Since I needed 2000 pieces to go in the bags, I knew that there was no way that I would be able to get them stuffed and ready to go by myself in the time frame that I had available. God bless my awesome friends and my daughter!!!! I asked a few folks if they would come over and help me out by stuffing bags and made a party out of it by providing wine and snacks on a beautiful summer evening.
We had a really fun evening and I never expected that we would get them all done especially since we were all laughing and talking and generally having a good time, but we did it! What a relief that was because I thought I would still be stuffing bags to the 11th hour. The best part for me was knowing that I could call in the troops when I needed help. Love you guys!!!
Now that that is done I am working on my inventory and all the other things that I need to do to prepare. I'll keep you posted as I move along.
If you would like to get tickets, you can contact me (I have goody bags!!) or if you are in some other part of Chester County and you're driving around and you see the sign with the crazy ladies that says "Tour Stop" your can get your tickets there and also online at Best Kept Secrets Shopping Tour.
Do hurry though, the tickets sell out quickly and only the first 2000 people will get the goody bags!
Also, not to worry if you are one of my awesome regular customers who looks forward to my annual November Open Studio. If you don't want to participate in the BKS tour, you are still welcome to stop by my studio any of the 16 days that I am open. If you are a newsletter subscriber, I will also be sending a discount that you can use for any item in my shop. (If you aren't signed up, you can do it right here on my blog. Just use the signup form on the upper right)
You will also have an opportunity to get a star game piece and win a prize!
Hope to see you!
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