Selling things you make at craft fairs?

[redhappy]

Considering this as a way of making a bit of extra money. Not expecting it to pay the rent!

Anyone dp this? How successful is it? What sort of things sell best?

I can knit, sew, and we have just bought an electric jigsaw which I am thinking about using to make some wooden dolls.

[Kryshees]

that was supposed to be a :(

[coldcomfortHeart]

Oh that's a real shame hambo. Hope you perk up soon. Have you got another one in the pipeline?

[hambo]

I am a bit better but still miffed! However my local lovely NCT lady is letting me go along to their meeting with my wares, so all it not totally lost...!

On another note - where do you all find the time to make and do? I do it in the evenings but cleaning goes down the list of prioties and sometimes results in arguments! Am I alone in this?

[Kryshees]

@hambo....cbeebies features heavily in my ability to create!

But I'm a SAHM/WAHM and create whenever I can get a moment and am not er 'to busy' on the web!

I have to get all my hosuework done in the morning, else it just doesn't get done Hambo. hubby sometimes raises his eyebrows when he comes in and the house is a tip, but he knows better than to open his mouth!!

Good news about going along to the NCT meetings, could be super!
xx

[FuppyGish]

evenings here, i work 4 days a week and have 2 dd so its a bit hectic!

There are lots of bugs going around at the moment, my dd has been really ill and my mum's now got it, make sure you get lots of rest hambo. x

[coldcomfortHeart]

oh lordy, housework...

I sew during DS' nap and in the evenings. I'm praying for some distant Spanish gene to keep him napping forever!

[LoveMyGirls]

Can I join this thread please?

I've started a thread but it's gone quiet and I need more crafty people to chat too.

I also have a folksy shop Art With A Heart Please feel free to give any advice or critisms

It's tricky finding the time to paint, I try to fit it in at weekends and evenings, I'm waiting for the lighter nights because painting without natural light is tricky! I'm looking forward to some time off work so I can paint without being disturbed or being too tired!

[jenniepanda]

I sew most evenings til from when the DD's go to bed until about 1am. I work full time in a boring job that pays the mortgage and am trying to start up a small business. It's exhausting work, but I'd only be watching TV instead and prefer being more constructive these days. Housework gets done once a week on saturdays whilst DH and DD's do the food shopping.

[Kryshees]

Hi @Lovemygirls. Found you on folksy and favourited! I like the fairy!

[LoveMyGirls]

I've added you too Kryshees You sell beautiful things! Plenty to choose from too, my favourites are the little pinafore dresses and the denim tabbard too, more things should be made from denim imo.

[Kryshees]

Thanks! I have more denim on my table ready for cutting, but need to finish a custom apron with extra long tieing strings!!!

[LoveMyGirls]

Do you have tips on selling on Folksy please?

[Kryshees]

hmmm tips!!? Well, my sales aren't overly wonderful on there, but enough to be happy with so far.

For my 'advertising' I do the following:
I do craft fairs, and give out details/cards of the site link.
I get on the folksy forum if I can and any other forums too.
I twitter & blog!
I joined up to UK handmde and made it into their UK Handmade spring collection (woohoo)
I've just joined wowthankyou, who are about to relaunch soon.
I have a facebook page (new tho)
And friends/family commission me to do other sewing tasks/chores for them
I have an article in a magazine coming up. Bit of a long story, but its all advertising to me.

So some of my sales are from all that, some just random sales.

Theres also a magic think on folksy, that if you add so many items a day, and over a certain number of days, you can be on the front pages. That helps too. I'm not sure on the numbers tho and if its still the same, but if I do a sudden batch of listings, I'll be on the front pages.

x

[LoveMyGirls]

Thanks, they're great tips!

I think I will try to do a christmas fair if I have enough paintings, I seem to be selling them quicker than I can get them on the site which is brilliant, I do want to see lots in my shop but I do also want to sell lol, can't have it all ways can I!

[FuppyGish]

Kryshees - I didnt know that about the front pages of Folksy, I usually only use Etsy really.

Will come and look at your shop LoveMyGirls.

[FuppyGish]

Right... the bit that comes up at the top where you say 'I'm x, I'm based in x' etc, if that works the same as Etsy then this bit will be picked up by Google, so you need to SEO it (Search Engine Optimisation) so that the first few words are things people might search for. Off the top of my heart something like 'Art, paintings and pictures have always been something I...' because then you're getting 'art', 'paintings' and 'pictures' all key search terms in your first few words and therefore you'll end up higher up in the google list, iyswim.

Also try having different price points in your shop, so you could do prints of your original artwork that sell for say £8, then make cards maybe with your artwork on the front at say £3 each. Having different price points really helps.

I don;t know Folksy well but I couldn't find a bit where you list your selling policies/returns/international shipping etc, if you dont have a page like that I'd add one as it gives people more confidence when buying from you and also states your policies clearly.

You've got no feedback at the moment, I'd buy some bits that you want/need on Folksy so you start having feedback. Although this would only be feedback for buying (not selling) it will still show people that you have purchased items, have feedback and are not a 'scammer'.

Hope this helps

Now come and friend me on facebook

facebook for Mollymoodesign

Oh and you need more pics of your work, so pics from the side, pics showing the work in a 'dressed' room etc.

[FuppyGish]

Sorry! That was really long!!!!

[LoveMyGirls]

Thank you Fuppy!! I will work on all those things as soon as I get chance, thanks for taking the time to help me.

[FuppyGish]

no worries, glad it was helpful

[purplepidjin]

Wow, LoveMy, beautiful! //www.facebook.com/mimapants and I've favourited you on folksy

[hambo]

Hello
I lost my mojo as they say, been knocked out but trying to get back in the swing of things - it's so boring someetimes, twittering/facebooking/blogging/web page-ing (hmm) and selling two things!!!!

Give me some inspiration in time for my next fair in two weeks!!!!!!!

[FuppyGish]

Hello you!

Well I've sold 5 brooches in last two days so hopefully that will inspire you ?

Have you done a fair before? I'll try and think up some tips from my vast experience (Ive done one!)

[hambo]

Oh, and I have taken my first paid up advert in a magazin called 'families' which is given out to 20,000 families in scotland so we will see what happens there! Need to sell about 8 to make a profit.....jings crivvens help ma boab..
(sorry lapsed into the Broons)
sorry, was overcome by scottishness - back to normal now!

[hambo]

Hurrah! They are gorgeous though. That is brill! Your secret is selling lovely things!!!!

I've done about two! (fairs)....

[purplepidjin]

I have my first fair in a month and I'm panicking about whether I'll have enough stuff! And whether anyone will buy it!

AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!