I, like so many others, have finally decided to take the plunge and try to sell my work at an upcoming craft fair. I searched the archives and came up with a person named, “Splintie” who had a thread about this topic. However, when I emailed him, it bounced. Can anyone else help me? I really need the basics, which show to pick, setting up a booth, etc. I make small boxes, music and jewelry stuff. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
lynn
Replies
Splintie is a 'her'.
She doesnt post here much anymore, but I will tell her your looking for info and she may get in touch.
A magazine that I found useful is http://www.craftsreport.com/
and also http://www.sunshineartist.com/
I would suggest getting a list of all the shows in the area you are interested in going to, contact the organiser and ask a heap of questions/get info sent out. Then if possible go to it and get a feel for it.
Some talk the talk but dont deliver. A waste of your time........
I did a local Sunday market a few years ago. The numbers of people who went there each week was huge. However a lot were there to kill time or have a look. Others were only interested in paying a few dollars for things.
My stuff was a little expensive for that market, even though my cheapest was a tray for $35. My BEST seller was bird houses made from old pallet wood. The closer to Xmas, the better they went. It was however hardly 'Fine Woodworking'.
Another thing to consider is the time factor. I worked like hell every night after my day job, all day Saturday, at the show all day Sunday, then every night thereafter till next week. A huge effort for what was a very small return. I would have been better off paying more for a better location with folks who were there to buy.
Everything, 100% of it, depends on how you look at it.
DW
My parents both did craft fairs for years when we were kids. Dad started with pottery in the late 60's and Mom joined in with stained glass in the 70's. Two years ago Mom finally retired the biz to have more time to visit with the grandkids and travel. They did the retail show circuit for years. One or two weekends a month, traveling everywhere between Boston and Philly. Sell what you have, hopefully come home with an empty car, and work like hell to be ready for the next show.
You can never tell, one show to the next, what people want, i.e. color size shape design... after about 20 years of it they switched over to doing only wholesale. Two shows a year, and orders over the phone. Had some nice color printed catalogs, on a first name basis with the UPS driver. Two or three part time employees. When the economy was good, the business was great. Put 2 1/2 kids through college. When the economy was bad there was alot of standing around BSing with the other artists. It can be a hard way to make a living, so don't quit the day job, especially if it has insurance and bennies. On the upside my parent do have one of the coolest most eclectic collections of blown glass and funky clocks and neat wood things that they have traded for over the years.
Best of Luck to you.
Andy
"It seemed like a good idea at the time"
Here's what you are looking for, perhaps:
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/w00141.asp Ruth DobsevageTaunton New Media
Just me..
Why not rent some space in a local flee market and see what happens.. MARK HIGH and SELL LOW.... BUT make a PROFIT!
May be worth a weekend to see what happens?
I forgot Churches have stuff. Just to use as a test market on what sells..
Edited 5/11/2005 3:20 pm ET by Will George
Hi, Lynn. A couple of members alerted me to your message here, so although i've faded from the Knots, i'll attend this thread. If you would like, i can send you the unedited, longer (translation: "verbose") version of the craft fair article which Ruth linked. My email is cmiller(at)rmtnnet.com. Feel free to contact me and i'll do my best to help you. It would likely be helpful for me to see pictures of your items and know what you think they would retail for.
Most of my shows were in the Rocky Mountain and West Coast states. I haven't done a show for about two years, though i still continue wholesale work with several galleries. My own experience in this region was that shows became over-priced by golden-egg-laying goose-killers aka promoters. Additionally, Enron/Iraq/etc. helped not a bit, and gas certainly forms a larger percentage of the true cost of doing a show now. My middle range of sales (~$50-75) slumped while my high end ($400-$800) was still selling relatively strongly. This narrows the list of appropriate shows considerably, but pricing in galleries is a lot more elastic. As i read one pundit last Christmas: "Walmart America is not doing too well. Tiffany America is doing fine."
If you want to do commissions, shows are an excellent way of advertising your sense of style and level of expertise. I tended to discourage custom work as it invariably made less money than production items, but i could have kept constantly busy with referrals had i wanted that type of work--or learned to charge appropriately for one-off designs, LOL.
Colleen "Splintie" Miller
way of advertising your sense of style and level of expertise..
I did that way back when in my 1955 Chev!
Lynn, i thought of another old thread that might prove useful:
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-knots/messages?msg=8134.1
I use to do local craft shows. You don't mention what you will be selling. In our area there are different craft shows geared at different markets. I had wood working and my Wife did quilts and hand made dolls etc. It was country style stuff. I used to bring a cradle and pie-safe but those never sold. I always had wonderful comments but no takers. The clientele just did not want to spend that kind of money. I still took them as conversation starters and as shelving for our other stuff (get them to my booth). Believe it or not the best sellers were items that were unusual and were not high dollar. The first year of this annual craftshow I just went and scoped out what was being sold. I then worked the next season deciding what would sale. My best sellers were Pen sets I made on the lathe and I made Christmas tree ornaments out of wood and my wife painted them. I thought my wife was nuts when she first came up with the idea. It shocked me how fast we sold out of those things. We have been talking about doing some more shows but a little higher cost type of show since the wife started doing stained glass. There are some where you have to submit pictures of your work and you have to be in invited. Cost of shows is something to consider as well. The more the cost the more you have to sell just to break even. And not every year is a winner. We had good years and bad ones too. It was fun though you will enjoy it. I got out of it when the kids came along and the demands of work just did not permit the time required to get ready. Good luck.
Hi.
I am from the midwest and about 7 to10 craft shows a year. I make small furniture , end tables, hope chests, plant stands, wall shelves ect. I try to stay whitin 60 or so miles from home to save on motel . I try to get into at lest 2 dayers as it a lot of work setting up and taking down when it is over .It seems like church sponserd shows are the best. Less rent more people that buy.
I build good qualitey things. and put up a sign that says { I WILL CUSTOM BUILD } That will bring me a lot more jobs than trying to sell just the items i have on display.
People are funney sometimes they will go on a buying frenzy. then the next weekend they will not but anything. Sort of like going fishing. ha
I also build enteranment centers fire place mantels, custom cabinets ect. I figure craft fars are good advertisment for me , as i do not have a store to sell my things .
I Have a nice day Lee
I just skimmed this thread, so my two cents may already be in another post. I have several friends, and a wife who have done craft shows. One friend started with the shows and is now a very successful high end furniture maker who can afford to advertise in classy magazines. Others have gone on to wholesale and done very well. Some have been invited to add their work to rather exclusive galleries. And some didn't get as far. The craft shows can expose you to some excellent contacts, depending of course on which shows you do. Even a "no sale" day where you meet one good new contact might be the most important sales day you ever have. Get some good business cards made, brochures, and a picture portfolio of your work. And polish your sales pitch.
oldfred
One valuable source is a publication called The Craft Report. It is intended for artists and galleries, and gives valuable advice on all phases of earning a living with your skills.
Remember: if you think you are making a $100 piece you will. If you think you are making a $1000 piece, you will. It's all up to you.
Papa
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