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Original poster

What makes you buy things at craft/Christmas fayres?

78 replies

JollyHollyChristmas22 · 04/12/2022 20:39

I have name changed as fear I may be recognized by other posts.

I just wondered what makes you decide to make a purchase at a stall at a craft or Christmas fayre?

I often don’t get many sales at these types of fayres and wondered if I am wasting my time or if I just need to do something different.

I decorate my table nicely with a nice table cloth, fair lights etc and my products are clearly displayed and nicely presented. (Children’s books I write myself).

I charge a few pounds less than what they cost on Amazon and they are all signed. I take cash and card payments.

What would you pay for a children’s book?

What makes you decide to buy or not buy?

All tips welcome!

OP posts:
lalalololou · 04/12/2022 22:36

Maybe a little table with some books on so kids can sit down and read them?

clary · 04/12/2022 22:37

Agree re price list. Yesterday there was a woman selling the most gorgeous iced ginger biscuits, they were so clever. I don't usually buy things like that as it is just food and you eat it, but I know lots of people love fancy iced biscuits as a gift. But she had no prices up - I was longing to tell her (but didn't want to seem rude), The small ones (quite small tbf) were only £1, if she had that displayed big I bet she would have sold out.

Bigbadmama · 04/12/2022 22:39

I usually only buy things that are interesting or beautiful, or if I know the person who has made the items and I want to support them. I don't have any children to buy gifts for at the moment.

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Events & celebrations
icanwearwhatiwant · 04/12/2022 22:46

Could you set up a little story corner and actually read a bit of the book or encourage people to browse a few different ones?

Siepie · 04/12/2022 22:47

At these type of events, I tend to only buy things that jump out at me as perfect for a certain person. For example DNiece is obsessed with narwhals, so maybe I'd buy a book about a narwhal. But I wouldn't stand looking through all the books to see if you had one on narwhals. Probably not what you want to hear - and I'm not suggesting that narwhals would be a bestseller for anyone except DNiece!

LiveshipParagon · 04/12/2022 22:48

RomeoMcFlourish · 04/12/2022 20:48

I wouldn’t buy a children’s book without either (a) having read some good reviews about it or (b) quickly scan reading it myself before purchase to check it’s a good story. Obviously I wouldn’t be able to get reviews at a fayre and wouldn’t stand there scanning it in front of you, like I would at Waterstones, because that would be really awkward (especially if I didn’t like it) so I just wouldn’t approach your stall. Probably not the answer you we’re looking for, sorry! I’m probably a bit strange though!

Exactly this.

Some big printouts of pages might be useful to give people an idea before getting too close? I like stalls that have a tall display for the stallholder to hide behind too, it helps reduce the pressure on me while looking at things, so I'm more likely to come closer.

lovelilies · 04/12/2022 23:25

The one time I bought a self published children's book at a fayre it was crap, sorry. He had loads of 'reviews' and recommendations displayed too.
Felt pressured into buying it and wish I hadn't now!
Sorry 😣

Icedlatteplease · 04/12/2022 23:35

Honestly?

You can get so many decent books second hand, often for £1 or less, I'd be really reluctant to buy a kids book new.

You might well do better if you can offer regular book reading through the day, then it becomes a memory of the event

Icedlatteplease · 04/12/2022 23:36

Yy to hating asking for prices

PingPongMerrilyWithPie · 04/12/2022 23:46

I don't tend to look at kids' books at a craft fair so maybe I'm just not your target market. Quite often my kids will be with me, and if not I've probably come to buy for adults anyway. We tend to have plenty of book ideas already planned for the kids.

However as PPs say, a clear price list and artwork up so people can see the images without having to flick through themselves. Low value things to draw people in tend to work on me too.

LemonsAndCherries · 05/12/2022 01:58

You need a big sign saying 'INDIVIDUALLY SIGNED BY AUTHOR' as that is your selling point.

WhatTheHellIsAQuasar · 05/12/2022 06:06

There’s a lot of thieving that goes on at these fairs so the stall holders do need to keep an eye on their stalls.

I would have some big posters of some of the pages to show off the illustrations, with a QR code that takes you to an excerpt of the book. If you provide a reading corner for people to sit down and read the book why on earth would they buy a copy? They’ve just read it!

also make it clear which book is suitable for each age range too so people know that you have books suitable up to 8 and which ones they are

inappropriateraspberry · 05/12/2022 06:49

There was someone selling their book last night at a fair. It looked like her two teenage daughters sat at the table, looking bored and they were holding the books up by their faces! I suppose to get them seen. They also had them on the table and a pull up display banner with it on. But there was nothing to explain what the book was about - just the title and front cover. I couldn't tell if it was for adults or children, it could have been a self-help book, fiction or non-fiction. Something about rabbits or hares and a journey, but no idea if it was literal or metaphorical!
I wouldn't want to get caught up asking just to find it wasn't my thing.

inappropriateraspberry · 05/12/2022 06:51

In general though, craft fairs sell the same stuff everywhere. There is rarely anything unique that I couldn't find online, and often made better than the stall holder's.

rippleraspberry · 05/12/2022 06:53

Children's books aren't something I would expect to buy at a craft fair so I think maybe you have the wrong audience/ environment for your product.

QuillBill · 05/12/2022 06:58

LemonsAndCherries · 05/12/2022 01:58

You need a big sign saying 'INDIVIDUALLY SIGNED BY AUTHOR' as that is your selling point.

It would make absolutely no difference to me if they were signed. I don't but picture books for children as an investment piece. I want a good story.

KeepScrapingBy · 05/12/2022 07:02

I don’t usually buy anything but if I do it’s usually a pair of earrings. Can’t resist earrings! Preferably in sterling silver and an original design. Nothing tacky or twee. Not just 3 glass beads on a piece of wire!

goadyolddough · 05/12/2022 07:04

Books are difficult to sell at craft fairs because customers have to stop in front of you and then flick look through the book, before making a decision as to whether or not to buy.

Put out an open display sample either end of the table with a sign saying something along the lines of "Please take a look. No obligation to buy".

Also, sit yourself so that people don't think you're watching them.

CakeCrumbs44 · 05/12/2022 07:08

LemonsAndCherries · 05/12/2022 01:58

You need a big sign saying 'INDIVIDUALLY SIGNED BY AUTHOR' as that is your selling point.

I wouldn't care less about that that unless the author is famous.

Darcy101 · 05/12/2022 07:20

I bought a set of three children’s books last year at a Xmas market, beautifully illustrated, about a little brown and white dogs adventures, including a Christmas take, buy 3 get a little soft toy dog that looked like the dog in the book, I could immediately see my nephew being read ti whilst holding the soft toy.

also agree about wanting big clear pricing and feeling awkward about the big sell

EmergentThoughts · 05/12/2022 07:25

lalalololou · 04/12/2022 22:36

Maybe a little table with some books on so kids can sit down and read them?

And a few pages of the artwork but in outline form so the kids can colour in?

I like the idea of presenting the book as part of a larger theme with other accoutrements/products/bundles. Have a sign at the stall with the artwork from the book listing the times of day you'll be reading it.

Make your stall an "experience " rather than just a table of books people don't know anything about.

diamondpony80 · 05/12/2022 07:38

The kind of things Id buy at a craft fair are things that I wouldn’t find anywhere else. Things that are unique. Books are two a penny. They’re cheap, can be bought everywhere and you can read reviews online to make sure the book is exactly what you’re looking for. Self published books would be an absolute no for me. Unless you could provide something a bit different, like personalisation.

Original poster
JollyHollyChristmas22 · 06/12/2022 17:21

I am at an event as we speak and have followed your suggestions with signs saying please look inside the books, staying behind the book stand so people don’t think I’m going to pounce on them!

No sales so far but hopeful 🤞🏼

OP posts:
TheYearOfSmallThings · 06/12/2022 17:31

I wouldn't buy a book I hadn't heard of or which had been recommended by someone reliable.

I've been to a few fairs this year and bought: homemade fudge, damson gin, and a print of a painting of a local view I know well. I will buy more from the artist's website as gifts.

itmustbemyage · 06/12/2022 17:42

I’m a doting grandma and love a craft show but I wouldn’t be going to a craft show with the aim of buying a book, unless it was at a school fair or similar. With books 10 for £10 at The Works I think you are up against it price wise. Also other craft items are easy to see at a quick glance walking past if it might be something that I would be interested in investigating further whereas a book is all about the story/ characters and illustrations and that requires picking it up leafing through it and then making a decision all with the author right there! I wouldn’t care if it was signed or not as that would mean nothing to my grandkids. Like other PP’s I feel really awkward if the seller is really over eager. Different craft fairs attract different clientele so would also recommend doing your research first.