Introducing you to . . .

Bright Star Sponsored

Online Teddy Bear Artist's Shows

How it all works.

 

We begin in September 2013 and launch the Bright Star Online Shows with four shows a year and now have expanded to eight yearly online shows.

Questions:
Answers:

Who can sell in Bright Star's Online Teddy Bear Shows?

 

An artist must have participated in a Bright Star Promotion's live-in-person Teddy Bear Shows,

OR
be a Professional Artists-Member of Bears&Buds, the Online Teddy Bear Magazine and an active participant.

OR

provide us with photos, references, etc, and you will be presented to our jury for acceptance into our shows.

Reason:

Bright Star Promotions is an Incorporated business in the State of Kentucky (USA) since October 1981.

We know our Bright Star Show artists and Bears&Buds Artist-Members and are already familiar with their work.

We feel by this association, we will be assured that the artistry and craftsmanship (of the bears shown online) will be of high quality and the artists will ship the bears within 2 to 3 days after the completed online sale.
By doing so, we will protect our Corporation's image, integrity while growing our worldwide presence. .

Applications will be held until about 5 weeks before the show opens. At that time we will send an acceptance letters, you must respond quickly to assure your place in the show.

We a lot 48 - 52 spaces in each show.
No show fees will be charged until you are accepted and confirm you'll participate in the show.

Building our sales foundation

 

To build a good customer base, we laid a good foundation to launch our online shows from Bright Star Bear Treasure, where, during that time, we sold artist, manufactured and antique bears from an extensive collection. Bear Treasures is now closed.

Why are online shows becoming popular?

Marketing and sales have changed over the past several years and people are confident to buy online. Artists are finding the high cost of traveling often prohibits them from attend a regular teddy bear show. Collectors used to travel 100 miles or more to visit the exhibiting artist and now gasoline prices have soared, adding more reluctancy to travel. Our online shows attract worldwide collectors and our market reach greater.

Our Online Show Success We are very happy to announce that our online shows have been successful with sales being 58 to79% bears sold. We take show statistics which gives us these figures to base our success on.
Getting started
How many artists will be featured?
The show size will be limited to 48 to 52  teddy bear artists.
Can I register for the shows in advance?

Advanced registration will be with our online show application, where you will choose which show or show's you'd like to be featured in.

 

If accepted you will be notified by an eMail abour 4-6 weeks before the show and the fee is due then.

 

Applying for a show does not guarantee a place.

How much is the online Show fee?

2024 show fee is: USD $95.00 for each show.

 

Cancelation: Should you have to cancel a show after paying, 1/2 of the fee will be transferred to the next show or refunded to your PayPal account.

How many bears can I show?

6 is the minimum pieces per show page..

The $95.00 show fee covers 6-12 bears

An additional 1 to 8 bears (over 12) are billed at $8.00 each. Total bears allowed is 20 per show.

How will I pay?

You pay when you receive an invoice using PayPal. 

Our PayPal account name is: sparkiesgal@aol.com

What are the show dates?

All our online shows are 4-Days long.:

  • February 2 - 5, 2024 - Winter Stars
  • April  112 -15, '24 - Wildlife and Teddies
  • May 10 - 13, '24 - Spring Stars + Fur Mania ®™
  • June 14 - 17, '24 - Furry Frenzy
  • August 2 - 5, '24- Summer Sizzler
  • September 6 - 9, ' 24 - Fall Stars + Fur Mania®™
  • November 1 - 4, '24 - Holiday Stars +
       Santa's Bear Land Event.®™
  • December 6 - 9, '24 - Bear Blitz (20 piece limit)
  • Bear Blitz event: Santa's Surprise ®™

What if a show sells out and is filled?

Can I still apply?

Yes, you can still fill out an application and we will keep you on a waiting list, then notify you when there is an opening. Show will never exceed 52 artists. We receive numerous  applications for each show, and spaces will be filled when you respond quickly to the acceptance email. A seniority ranking is assigned to each participating artist, with several levels within the ranks.

Web or blog page requirements
To participate you must I be able to . . .

You must be able to create a web or blog page, crop and size photographs and insert our banners with URL, along with PayPal buttons into your sales page.

Free web page from www.weebly.com - easy to use too! Select a Personal Web Page. Not a 'shop'.

We do not recommend blogger unless you are proficient in working with changes and can conform blogger to meet our show page requirements.

Meeting deadlines.

You must be able to meet our required deadlines. There is a lot of pre-show work on our end which assures a smooth opening of the show. Should you fail to meet our deadlines you risk being removed from the show without a refund.

Your seniority ranking can be reduced by not meeting deadlines too.

What should my sales page look like?
See a page sample with some ideas on layout, design, sizes all to get your creative juices flowing.
You must introduce yourself
Introduce yourself with a photo, preferably holding one of your bears. Write a little about yourself including awards and recognitions. Please place your introduction right below your banner near the top of your sales page.

To be able to add Bright Star's show banner

on your selling page

Your Web or Blogger page must contain our large show banner at the top and link back to Bright Star's home sales page. The "Back to the Show" banner placed under your last bear listing near the bottom of your sales page and linked back to the show's URL
Be able to insert your country flag
We supply you with "Made In"  flag (your country) to place on the bottom of your sales page. Collectors like to know where their bears were born.
Why a copyright for my sales page? Google has highly suggested that all web pages carry copyright information at the bottom. This is to include your business name, personal name, address, and contact number or email link.
Do I have to send in a copyright for my  selling page? No, you do ot have to fill out any forms or submit a physical copyright registration. The word and the copyright symbol along with the date will do just fine at the bottom of your sales page..
Add contact information on your sales page
Nowadays, it is important to keep in touch. Please add a link to your eMail address in case a buyer has a question about a bear.
Can I add my personal web site link? No, do not link to your personal web site to your sales page. The collector is savvy enough to find you. We want them to stay focused on the show.
How many bears can I list?

Our minium quantity is 6 and our maximum is 12 bears.

The last 3 of the 12 displayed can be unsold show bears or bear related items such a books, jewelry, ornaments, accessories.

Selling more bears now!
You may add up to 8 more bears to your original 12. They will be billed at $8.00 each and must be paid for before the show opens.
I make rabbits, elephants, cats, dogs, tigers, etc. can I display them on my sales page?
Yes you can as long as you made the animals yourself and your hang tag or sewn in tag is on the 'critter'.
What bears should I show?
We wish the shows to be exclusive; where collectors see your latest bears, ones that have never has been offered in other online shows. Bears from your web site can be shown but must be removed from your web page during the show.
How should I price my bears?
Please sell at a fair market value and competitive price. No discounts, introductory prices or special sales.
Do I have to have a PayPal account?

Yes! You must have a PayPal account. It is easy to apply and a secure way to handle sales. PayPal does not charge extra for a Business account. A business account is where you generate the PayPal Buy Now buttons.

PayPal inventory - set the control of ONE You will be removed from the show if you manipulate the PayPal inventory by selling multiples with a single BuyNow button. There will be no show refund.
Do buyers need a PayPal account?
No they do not have to have a PayPal account in order to pay. They can use their credit cards through PayPal.
Can I offer the buyers lay-a-way? Yes, you can. We suggest 2 or 3 payments only. Best is to ask the collector to sign up and use PayPal's Credit program. It is is win-win for all.  You get paid right away, the buyer gets the bear right away, and PayPal bills the collector over a period of time.

Links to social media or web page

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google

Links on your personal sales page or to social media is strictly prohibited. No "Like" buttons to Facebook or your web page etc.
Link to auction sites like eBay
Using a link to your bear listed on eBay instead of using a Buy-Now PayPal button is strictly prohibited.
Sales Conditions
We suggest you mention the conditions of your sales on your sales page. Example: "Payment must be received in one day after the sale", "Insurance required", "Refunds on returned bears within 5 days of receiving", "All Sales Final", "International buyers; shipping only through UPS or Fedex for tracking". etc.
What if my page does not meet the requirements
Your sales page will be reviewed for content and if the page does not conform to our show rules, you will be contacted for a re-write or modification or removed from the show. We will work with you to make your page present itself well to our worldwide collectors.
Page checking

Prior to the opening of a show, your page will be checked for all the required components, links, banners, page quality and content. You will be notified when your page has been checked and approved. This assures a smooth opening to our shows.

Do not make any price or bear name changes after your page has been approved.

Can I add another bear if one sells? No, you can not add another bear in place of a bear that sold. Your page is monitored throughout the show and changing or adding another bear is strictly prohibited.
Experiencing no sales during shows?
We truly appreciate and respect your support in our online shows.
With Bright Star Online Artist Teddy Bear Shows we try hard to cultivate collector interest and continuously raise the standards by constantly monitoring sales, metrics and presentations.
With our utmost appreciation of your creative endeavors, we have seen your sales have consistently not reached a level that supports you or our sales goals.
It will be is a difficult decision for us to drop you from the shows and we highly encourage you to find a new sales venue for your creations.
Photographs, sizing & page tips
Can I put my logo on my bear photo?
No. Photos must be free of your name or any company logo shown on your sales page.
What size should my photos be on my sales page?
Photos shown on your selling page must not be larger than 375 pixels wide. A good size is 250 to 300 pixels wide. For faster page loading use 72dpi. The photo resolution will still be very good.
Photo size to send Bright Star

Photo size for Bright Star's home page should be at least 375 pixels wide. (72 dpi loads quickly) or a standard 4" x 6" VERTICAL proportioned size photo with plenty of space around the bear for us to properly crop and insert in a frame.                     

Name your photos

When submitting your photos to us, please title them with  your name and the bears name.

Example:  Valerie-FuzzyBear.jpg

                   Valerie-FuzzyBear2.jpg etc.

Photography How-2 & Tips

Photograph pages courtesy of Bears&Buds Teddy Bear Magazine

<<<click


Photography Styles and Tips
by Kinsey Emerson

<<<click

Blogger or Web page width
We suggest that your sales page width be no bigger than 800 pixels wide. By doing this the collector does not have to scroll right or left and your page will fill most monitor screens. Or use the template size for smart phone viewing.
Background colors
Please use soft muted background color on your sales page and as photo backgrounds. No bright orange, fuchsia, hot pink, aqua, yellow or neon colors. These colors are all 'turnoffs' for the viewer. No gaudy backgrounds either. Focus the attention on the bear and not the background clutter. When your photo does not meet our standards you will be notified and submit a proper background photo.
Gold Framing
In keeping with elegant format, we will place your bear photo in a gold frame which will appear on our online show sales page. Why? The buyers are familiar with our online style and will give them confidence to buy.
What size photo should I submit for the lead bear?

 

<<< Click on the frame and learn how to determine if your bear photo is in the correct aspect.

Submitting photos & URL's
Where do I send my photo and URL link?

Submit a photo to brtstar1@aol.com with the bear's name in the subject line by the deadline date.

Photo and URL Link, when do you need them?

Upon acceptance, you'll send us one photo (your lead bear or animal) to be placed on our show's home page and the link (URL) to your blog or web page. The link will not be active until the day of the show. Please meet our deadlines to avoid being cancelled.

A professional photo of yourself wanted. We feature artists in our introduction pages. Please send a close up of yourself. With the various seasons and show ideas, we like to have new photos throughout the year. Smile pretty!
Can I place my web site or blog banner on my online sales page?

NO. Links or your web address name permitted on your sales page which lead back to your web page or blog.

Collectors know how to get in touch with you. We do not want them straying from our online show.

Deadlines

Deadlines?

Yes, FIVE deadlines

First deadline: your lead bear photograph is due about 20 days before Bright Star's online teddy show opens.

Second deadline: 15 days or before each snow you must submit your URL link to be used Bright Star's home page. We accept photos and URL any time after you have been accepted into the show. Please submit this information prior to the deadline.

Third deadline:  Publishing your page for our inspection 4 or more days before the show opens.

Once your page is checked and approved you can 'hide' your page.

Fourth deadline: No modifications to the bear's name or price once your page has been approved.

Fifth deadline: Extra bears over 12, must be paid for before the show opens.

But don't forget to published the page by 9:00 a.m. the day of the show, for our final inspection.
Meeting deadlines is a MUST or risk being removed from the show without a refund.

 

Absolute Deadlines
Apply on or before the deadline. If accepted you will be notified by an eMail then you must respond quickly with confirmation you'll participate.
The show fee is due when you receive a PayPal invoice.

 

What if I'm not completely finished adding data to my sales page?
Not a problem as long as you send us the requested photo, URL link, prices and names of the bears and publish your page by our deadline.
You may continue working on your page and be finished by Thursday at 7 p.m. (Easter time), for the final inspection.
Turn on SEO Within most web and blog programs you can find the setting to turn on or off the SEO - which keeps Google from finding your page and collectors wanting you to hold a bear f or buying before the show opens.
Your Show Page - page testing by us. 3-5 days before the show, your page must be published so that we can test the page, links, icons, PayPal buttons assuring a smooth opening for the online show.
How will Bright Star post the artists in the show?

When your bear has been framed, it will be placed on the home selling page in the order received. When the show opens, your framed bear photo will be in alphabetical or reverse alphabetical order by your business name. You'll get more visibility and advertising when you send your photo to us (early) by the first deadline.

Will I be dropped from a show?
If you have not met our deadlines or we find that you are not following the rules, you will run the risk of being dropped from the show, without refund.
What is the Fur Mania event?

The Fur Mania Event will be held during the Spring and Fall shows.

 

Requirement is that you are a participant in these shows.

 

What is Santa's Bear Land?

Santa's Bear Land Event which will be held during the Holiday Stars show.

Requirement is that you are a participant in the show.

How it works . . .

What is 'Santa's Surprise'?

A Gift From Santa is a special event which will be held during the Bear Blitz Teddy bear Show.

Requirement is that you are a participant in the show.

 

How it works . . .

Advertising Bright Star's Online Show
Advertising
Bright Star Promotions will be advertising the show on all our web sites and direct eMail campaigns to our 8,000+ collectors and combine that your customer base and we will reach thousands of potential buyers. We mail the show postcard to those for whom we do not have email addresses.
Picking bears for the show's advertising campaigns Send your lead bear photo to us early and perhaps your bear will be chosen to lead in the paid advertising campaigns. We pick 3 bears to advertise each show.
Who else will be adverting the show?
In addition to your advertising campaign, Bright Star will announce each show by sending information to our eMail customers and by posting our link to social media pages. You will place a Bright Star Show link on your social media pages too.
How will people know about Bright Star's Online show?

Our online show announcement will constantly appear on www.bright-star-promotions.com and be listed in www.bearsandbuds.com Show Calendar Page.

The link will only be activated during show hours.

Printed Postcards Upon request we will provide colorful postcards for you to mail to your collectors whose eMail addresses you do not have. Or to distribute at events and exhibitions you may attend.
Thank you cards and stickers -
promotional material.
We'll supply you with business-sized thank you cards and stickers to adhere to the outside of your package, helping with the show's branding and alerting the collector that their bear has arrived.
Very Important
When announcing Bright Star's Online Teddy Bear Show to your collectors, social media, etc. you must use Bright Stars home sales page URLYou can NOT use your personal web or blog sales page URL to advertise the show.
Show hours
When will the online show open?

Online show hours are:

Open Friday at 11 a.m. (Eastern Time)

Special events open Sunday at noon - close Monday.

Shows close on Monday at 7 p.m. (Eastern Time)

What are the show hours in my area?

Use the Time Zone calculator-converter

A clock is always shown on the our home sales page.

Why is the show still open on Monday?
Some collectors are away on weekends and Monday sales can often be very good. (Cyber Monday!)
What to do while the online show is active
Relax and monitor your sales page

You do not have to sit by your computer day and night. Please make it a point to check your eMails for PayPal alerts and questions from collectors.

Set your smart phone or tablet for PayPal and email alerts.

Making sales and updating my page
During the show, you must be able to update your sales page and to remove the PayPal button and add a "sold", "adopted" icons or wording: "On my way to a new home," after the sale occurs
Can I add another bear when one sells?

After one bear sells, do not add another in its place. Wait for the next show because this does not make for good customer relationships and could generate unnecessary returns or exchanges.

DO NOT remove the sold bears from your sales page.

You can remove extra photos of the bear, and the text but leave the original one on the page.

What to do after the sale
Contacting your customer after the sale
Upon completion of the online sale, please notify the buyer (through an eMail) as to when you are sending the bear; present them with tracking information, and of course a "thank you" for buying online.
Insurance
We highly suggest you insure the packages for the full value. When shipping Internationally, complete the required forms and indicate the full value.
Fair shipping costs
Please calculate fair shipping and handling fees. Nowadays, it is very important to be a fair shipper.
Combining postage When you sell multiple bears to a single collector, it is advised to recalculate the postage and send the savings back to their PayPal account.
Statistical Reports

After the show, we will send you an eMail, asking how many bears you have sold after the show closed or were sold as a result of you participating in the show. We love statistics!
We monitor the show and will present you with the show's statistics about a week later. A way to mark our growth and our successes.

Online contact page

After the show closes, the same show URL page will become the Contact list page where your name, business name and link to your eMail appear.

Our popular Contact List will give the collector opportunities to contact you for additional sales.

Customer Satisfaction Guarantee

Bright Star is positive that the buyers will be satisfied with your creations. However, should they not be completely satisfied, please accept their return within a 5 day period, for a full refund or exchange.

Can I show my SOLD bears on
social media sites?

Yes, as bears sell you can show them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc., and thank your collectors.  Please Do NOT show your 'available' bears.
Our system works and it helps drive collectors to the show. Always link the viewer back to our home selling page.

Competition with other shows
Show Competition

We feel that online shows can reach an extensive worldwide bear-collecting market, and Bright Star Promotions will continue to produce quality online shows throughout the year.

Competition with other online shows?

Bright Star Online Teddy Bear Shows will not knowingly schedule shows to compete with any online shows.
Our shows are established and listed in bearsandbuds.com calendar of events.

Help with your selling page
Will there be help for making my blog page?
There are many tutorials online, and depending on our schedule, we'd be happy to advise and help you too.
Where can I get help making a web page? We offer lessons on creating your selling web page using Weebly. We feel this free web hosting site is one of the best and easy to use. There are a few things to learn and our method of teaching is easy and fun.
Can Bright Star design a sales page and/or manage it for me?

Bright Star can design a web page for you on our site, add your information, photos and PayPal buttons. Manage your sales and update the page throughout the show. Please eMail us for an information page on how our service can work for you. Management fee applies.

About Bright Star Promotions

Bright Star Promotions, Inc. has been connecting the artists and collectors, in face-to-face teddy bear shows, for over 43 years and has built a loyal following.

Online shows, in all craft and art industries, are happening now in our ever-changing world.

Bright Star has a reputation for quality, integrity, and trustworthiness, along with good, sound company ethics.

Note: if you'd like to be juried into our shows, send us a 'resume' of your work with links to your web page, several photos of your bears and tell us about yourself including where you sell your bears.
eMail info to brtstar1@aol.com
Apply Now

Valerie Rogers, President

We sponsored our first online show in September 2013

Copyrighted  © September 2013 to 2024 by Bright Star Promotions, Inc.

3428 Hillvale Road Louisville, KY 40241-2756 USA

Incorporated, Registered & Licensed in the State of Kentucky since 1981

All rights reserved worldwide.
Phone: (502) 548-2403