As many of you know, one of the ways I share my art and jewelry is through intimate at-home parties. KAK ART Parties were born in my grandparents’ house in New Iberia about ten years ago with a group of their closest friends. My first party in New Iberia was so well received that it became an annual occurrence. Once it grew to over 80 guests, I moved it out of my grandparents’ home and into a local gallery so that the public would be able to attend as well. When my New Iberia event was received so well year after year, I began searching out other venues and audiences with which to share my work in much the same way. I soon developed an annual show in Baton Rouge and an open house in my own home that my followers continue to look forward to every year.
From a business perspective, I’ve found that KAK ART Parties are more successful than manning a booth at a festival or selling online because the majority of the guests are attending with the intent of making a purchase. They like the fact that all of my items are handmade and that they get to meet and talk with me when they attend. On a more personal note, I like these parties because I get to meet my supporters. I’m a very social person, so these events are a lot of fun for me too.
At the end of 2017, I set a goal to increase the number of these parties I do from three to five or six in 2018. Call me an over-achiever, but I ended up doing fourteen KAK ART Parties in 2018! To say I’ve been busy is an understatement.
Here’s how KAK ART Parties work:
When someone volunteers to host a party, the first step is to set a date/time and for me to check out the location for accessibility. Once the preliminary details are worked out, I create an invitation (to be printed, emailed, and texted) for the host to distribute to all of their family and friends. When host gets a feel for how many guests will be in attendance, we decide what types of refreshments to provide and how the cost of those refreshments is split between us.
By this point, I have a pretty good idea of how my work will be displayed in the space, and we discuss what items will need to be moved in their home, if we need to procure any additional table surfaces and how much set-up and break-down time I will require the day of the party.
And then it’s party time! Parties usually last two to three hours with guests coming and going as they please. It’s a fun atmosphere where visitors have the opportunity to check out my art and purchase one-of-a-kind gifts for their friends and family. I love that I get to talk to everyone there and tell them a little bit about each piece that they take home. KAK ART Parties are great experiences all the way around!
At the end of the night, I total up my sales and present the host with 10% of my profit. They can choose to take this 10% in KAK ART merchandise (which is the most popular option), as a check, or as a donation to their charity of choice in their name. This system allows me to give back to my host for allowing me to use their home while still ensuring I make a profit, so it’s a win-win for everyone!
I’m currently scheduling my KAK ART parties for 2019 and have a few slots left. If you are interested in hosting one, please shoot me an email so that we can chat! I’m happy to set up in a home, backyard (weather-permitting), business, or church! If you live out of town, that’s no problem. I love to travel, and will come to you.
Happy New Year, y’all! Can’t wait to see you at the next KAK ART event!