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.

[hambo]

Well, it dpends, but I always have too much stuff...!!

I think the things to have are good pricing so that people are not scared off by having to ask. Lots of business cards and leaflets so that they can visit your site later when they have cogitated...Lots of food for you!!!

Small cheaper things at the front.....lots of people like the painting but buy the card ( eg)!

These are the things I have learned in my short career as a fair goer...and from reading this forum!

Good luck!

[purplepidjin]

Thank you! I've been knocking up little crocheted bits as keyrings and hair clips to sell for £1.

Then I'll have some dolls modelling newborn and prem-sized clothes.

I also have permission from some of the parents to use photos of the made-to-order stuff I've done worn by their children, so I'll print some out 8x10 and display them.

I may also have to applique myself a little banner with MimaPants on.

All this while working ft and crocheting together a blanket for EdgarAleNPie.

I repeat

AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!

[Gottakeepchanging]

Hambo- thanks my daughter loved it! She was 16 last week. It is hanging with pride on her wall. The camel is over my desk and the little doll on a book case. They all have had people asking where they come from.

I will be back once we get to christening season!

[Kryshees]

Keep at it everyone, the season is picking up promise (disclaimer - I don't actually know that...but live in hope!)

My folksy sales have flopped a bit in March, but had a returning customer put in a hefty order, plus some magazine payments to come in...not too bad but nought to write home about really.. sighs

If anyone want's to be featured on my blog pm me and I'll do a write up. :D

ps: if anyone buys issue 28 of Sew Hip...I have a tutorial in there! Horrah!


@purplepidjin...do you need any paper bags for your fair? I have big box fulll!?

x

[Flutterbye]

I've previously done one craft fair many years ago which flopped for various reasons, in the last couple of years i've done Phoenix cards which I've since ditched. I'm now about to do 2 local fairs to test the market, one pre-school one and one proper full-on crafts fair. I'm also panicking if i've got enough stuff, but don't want to be left with it either if it all goes pair shaped!

My stuff starts at £4 up to £15 so far. I'm Sew Crafty on Folksy and Facebook. Shall I change my MN name too??

I'm also doing roman blinds and clothing alterations in the sidelines too. Just to earn a bit of spending money and stop me spending my days shopping!

Any tips gratefully received! x

[FuppyGish]

Kryshees - what are magazine payments?

Will come check you out SewCrafty.

I haven't done Folksy at all yet really, just use etsy. Might start up my Folksy shop properly but Im just so tired, working 4 days a week, 2 dd, then imagining my jewellery, sewing it, then facebook, forums, twitter etc I need a rest!

[Kryshees]

ooo fuppy!!! Not too much to be overly excited about, but I wrote a tutorial for Sewhip and they pay me for it. Only one for now, but who knows..

I only really have folksy, I've put my toy basket onto etsy to have a presence since I've got the pattern out in the public domain and want to check on anyone selling my design (mine mine mine) tee hee.

but tell me about that whole zzz's side! The internet stuff does my head in!

flutterbye, I love your fb page, but I liked you before as Kryshees, but did it under my real name too.

I have at least 2 fairs booked every month from now onwards...so I have to keep sewing all my normal stock and making all the new stuff in my head...argghhh

[hambo]

Kryshees - brilliant. You've got to diversify to multiply (or something..)!

Guppy - I know the feeling of exhaustion and fed-up-ness from too much work and not much feedback/sales! Take a wee holiday from internet...(ecpt mumsnet of course) ;o)

Gottakeepchanging - THANK YOU so much, so chuffed that your daughter liked her personalised art - I thought of you all on her birthday as I have a print out on shed wall of her block!...Did you see the christening block I have just designed? here

I have one fair in April and one in may...I wimped out on the Highland show..too scared!

Please come back all to let us know how your fairs go..and tips too!

[coldcomfortHeart]

Hmm Highland Show, that's massive, I don't blame you hambo! How much was a table there if you don't mind me asking? It's 4 days now isn't it?

I have been busy finishing off a quilt for a client and am going to try and get my advent calendars done next -one is a commission, the others will be for the Christmas fair. I'd really like to get lots of stock done as I'll be a bit, er, preoccupied with DC2 in June but...

I'm in awe of all you crafty people up til dawn!

[SewCrafty]

What do I need to know about insurance to sell at craft fairs? Any recommendations or what I need?? Ta
(namechanged (bye bye flutterbye you've served me well) as I mainly use MN for this forum anyway!)

[Kryshees]

woohoo SewCrafty. As far as I am away, 2 types of insurance..Public Liability - Protects you and the public against injury caused by your tent flying across a field...that type of thing.

And Product Liability Insurance, so if someone sews you for mistakenly eating the jeans you sold and choked and died, you don't have to foot the bill personally! I think this can tie into being a Ltd company rather than a sole trader, like most of us are...(I think!)

My public liability cost £50 p.a., I'll hunt for the deets for you...

Not a lotof fair organisers have asked me for this, or even specified it in their terms, some have, and some provide it within the cost of the fair.

helpful???x

[SewCrafty]

was that "sews you" an intended joke?? Sues (now I'm doubting my own spelling!) vs sews??

[hambo]

ColdComfort - Highland show is through 3D2D which is a craft fair organiser extraordinaire...you have to apply to get on their books but I think you would be fine for sure - they mostly want you to prove that what you do is good quality and all your own work! I can't remember the rpices really but it is under £500 for the 4 days...i think really only two of the days would be really busy though.

About 50,000 people go through the craft fair doors though so it would be agood advert apart from anything!!

[Kryshees]

hee he, my spelling is awful at the best of times!!

[SpringchickenGoldBrass]

Just idling through this thread but it won't do any of you sellers any harm to join the National Market Traders Federation for good cheap insurance. You don't have to prove any saleability or anything, or have your goods inspected (if you were selling dangerous stuff or whatever that would be a trading standards issue anyway).

[coldcomfortHeart]

Interesting hambo, thanks... I think the Highland Show is well out of my league for the moment!

[FuppyGish]

How do you all find craft fayres? I can't find any in Worcestershire.

[hambo]

Yeah - Highland show out of my league too...took me out in a cold sweat! Fuppy - I live near Edinburgh and there are millions of fairs, esp over summer with the festival...have you googled? (sorry obv question!)

Thanks Springchickengoldbrass that sounds good, I have been asked for insurance by the next fair so will look them up.

[SewCrafty]

Find craft fairs here: Craft Forum and Stallfinder, or in your local paper.

[redhappy]

Chuffed to see this thread is still going!

Kryshees will have a look for your tutorial today

Have just liked you on facebook flutterbye.

I seem to be finally getting my head down. Had the sewing machine out this week and made some bags. I've been making basic shopping totes form upcycled fabric (curtains, bedsheets etc).

Also working on something for my sister. She has her own retro style fashion label. Not sure if that is the right term! But basically she makes clotes, and they are all vintage style, particularly 40s and 50s. She has asked me to make some knitted snoods to sell on her website so I'm working on finding a pattern that is as quick as possible to make, otherwise knitting is so time consuming I really wont be able to make any money from it.

[redhappy]

Fuppygish I am in Worcs too. Do you drive? There are some in Glos, some in Birmingham depending on whether you are North or South.

What kind of things do you make/sell?

[FuppyGish]

Hi Redhappy

I'm Kidderminster but DP drives so can get anywhere really. I tried looking on Stallfinder before but couldn't find any.

My things are here

or my facebook is here

what about you?

[hambo]

Hi redHappy - glad you started this thread!

[redhappy]

will pm you fuppygish

hi hambo!

[HippyHippopotamus]

just marking my place more than anything! it has been very inspirational reading this thread. i've got an fb page but nothing on it yet (only had it 7 mths but hoping dd being 6.5mths is a good excuse )

word of mouth has been my only advertising so far and i've not done too badly. just a bit scared taking the next step!