First craft fair - tips please?

[MrsJaneAusten]

I'm about to show my handmade silver jewellery at a local craft fair ( nothing too high powered.)

I've boxed it all up, priced it and wonder if you have any tips?

I'm a bit worried about:

Pricing- I've worked on the basis of raw materials, time spent and packaging plus overheads and had a good browse of Etsy etc.

Stock- if it's all sold (ha ha!) do you pack up early or hang on?

If someone wants to pay by cheque do you accept with bank card? Or ask them to get cash and put it aside?

Would you take along a mirror so people can see themselves with the jewellery held up? (but not worn, for earrings.)

Anything else?

[Fabpinky]

I wouldn’t accept cheques. But do people even carry cheque books anymore?

Have you thought about getting a card reader? I have one that cost me £19 one off and then the company takes 1.75 percent of each transaction. It connects to my phone via blue tooth.

Make sure you have carrier bags and a float.

I would take a mirror yes.

[Fabpinky]

Oh also if all the stock goes I would pack up. No one will really come over to look at an empty stall. Do you have business cards / leaflets to hand out?

[Iaimtomisbehave1]

I'm a jeweller! Started out doing wee markets. Will be back with advice after picking up the kids!

[MrsJaneAusten]

Thanks!

I have no bags but items are in nice boxes and I do have small net bags (like for wedding favours) if they want one as well.

I tried one craft fair last year at a school but it was really for kids to spend their pocket money and full of cheapo stuff.

My price range is from £10 - £25-ish and it's all handmade from silver wire with semi precious stones and unique designs.

I feel it's underpriced for the time it's taken me to make each piece but I want to get rid of stock.

I do have some good business cards, had a professional logo/ cards made and I did have a website. I closed that down a few months ago and could resurrect it but am unsure if it's worth it.

I could resurrect it for a couple of months, post craft fair, or I could tell people to come and see items at my home if they wanted to.

[Fabpinky]

If you want to get rid of stock so you can sht up shop, have you put it all on eBay? Then you can just sit back and wait for it to go

[MrsJaneAusten]

I'm not sure about ebay. I'm not giving it away because some of the pieces cost me almost £10 just in stones and silver - maybe more- I've costed it all out.

Given the work involved in silversmithing it, I can't see me even covering my costs on Ebay looking at the prices on there.

[MrsJaneAusten]

I tried selling on Folksy but it seems to be a bit of a price war- people are selling so cheaply and can't even be charging for their time.

[Iaimtomisbehave1]

How are you going to display your work? Height is important so customers don't have the bend right over to peer down at the table. And it's easy for items in boxes to be slipped off the table and into a bag; it's harder to steal if it's on a display piece.

Price everything so they don't need to ask.

Put out a little stand with information about you and your work.

Give out a 10% off next website order voucher code with each purchase.

I always have a mirror standing on the table; it encourages people to try on and then they are more likely to purchase.

Don't price too low. If it's too low then it's not believable that it's silver and real stones.

Markets are great fun and good for face to face time with consumers, but they won't earn you a living. It's a good start, but the money making happens when you sell wholesale to shops so that's what you want to work towards.

[MrsJaneAusten]

Thank you!

How would you create a high display? I've nothing like that ready....

I will be having someone with me to help out, so 2 pairs of eyes and hands.

[Iaimtomisbehave1]

www.homebase.co.uk/duraline-triple-cube-storage-black_p260156

Things like those are good. Stack them, clip them together and then place your pieces on. Or just take some plastic storage boxes, put them on the table upside down and put a tablecloth over them.

If you don't have height, you can still make your table look lovely. Lots of jewellers go for the flat display look and its fine.