Selling at craft fairs vs online shops - what are the pros and cons?

[DillyTante]

I was thinking of doing a craft fair for the first time this year, though as a working mum of young children I would inevitably be spending the whole year gearing up for a Christmas fair.

Would I just be better off trying an Etsy/Folksy shop? Can anyone tell me the pros and cons?

I think Etsy is quite low-cost compared to a craft fare; you're less likely to find yourself out of pocket if people don't like what you're selling iyswim?

The problem with Etsy / Folksy, as far as I can tell, is that only craft people really know about them, so you're potentially trying to sell to people who could just make somthing similar themselves. People can't see the goods to properly appreciate the colours & quality.

At a craft fair, people quite often go for the other attractions (eg at a country show) and have a mooch round the craft fair while they're there, so you might get trade you wouldn't normally reach, although you will have travel and stall holding costs.

If you want to do fairs you need an etsy/whatever site as well. Because you always run out of something when you do a fair, and if you are able to say to the disappointed punter, oh email me/look on my website, some of them actually will.

What do you make?

Agree about the customers of Etsy mainly being crafters.

I don't really make anything specific yet, but mainly do crochet. My blog is here. I was thinking about the butterfly picture frames I have on there, crochet wristwarmers and am getting into some embroidery/cross stitch geek crafty/subversive style.

DillyTante just clicked on this thread and then to your blog- what wonderful, funny and thoughtful writing. Thank you for posting the link. I thought your banner for the rape campaign was really moving, and your crochet square (for wubblybubbly?) brought a tear to my eye.

Aww debka, that's really nice of you to say so, thanks :)

I absolutely love the idea of guerilla knitting! It's a new one on me.
As to craft fairs, I know fuck all about the pricing/selling/demand for woolly stuff, hopefully someone else will come along with more knowledge. But I would say that you need to think it through costwise (as with any art & craft) and don't forget to factor in your time. A common difficulty with handmade stuff is that you get seriously undercut by similar-looking gear imported from somewhere that gets it all put together by slaves, but the average casual browser doesn't think like that and just goes 'Oh I could get that in Clare's Accessories for a quarter of the price'.

DillyTante - I love your blog.

I think your stuff is beautiful.

The problem with handmade stuff is I don't think that non-crafty people realise how much time and effort goes into making each item.
I've jusy made a banket for a friend - it took me about 60 hours in total. I didn't mind as it was a gift.
As soon as they saw it a couple of colleagues immediatey said 'Oooh, if I pay for the wool you could make me one'
If I did make them and charge for my time they would be horrified at the price.

Thanks jumpedup :)

I know what you mean about pricing. Tbh I'm not looking to make a career out of it, just a hobby that pays.

My mum keeps going on about me making her a blanket but I know if it did it wouldn't be quite right and it would have taken me about 50 hours!

I've been looking at your Yarnbomb posts and I'm very tempted. DH would think I had gone mad