OK, have booked a stall at a local craft market and now I'm scared

[HunKeRMunKeR]

Tell me things to help it go swimmingly.

What sells well?

What do I need to remember to take?

Tell me I can do this!

Shitshitshitshit!

there are loads of places that sell them online though...goggle organza favour bags....ry ebay??
Ive only got cream atm as I am making up wedding favours...tis that time of the year...you can get them in loads of pastel colours....I used lots over Easter.

open up an email account in the name you want to use for your cards....add that to labels and put on the back of your cards and maybe a mobile number....I have a seperate PAYG mobile thats just for my cards.

JM, you're a star - thank you so much!

gorgeous poem JM! I think we all know someone who could do with one of these packs :)

I love that JayzMummy, thanks so much for posting that!

Youre welcome....just hope it makes someone whos feeling

All this talk of stalls I must do a stock take before Sun, first trip out to market this year.

Pretty much agree with all the advice, check with orgainisers about having other stock, some craft fairs are very strict and don't like crossover. Attracting the kids really seems to work.

Make it more than obvious that you can make cards to order and put on names and ages etc. people tend , to look from a distance and may not come near if it isn't clear whats on offer and what your prices are. Perhaps have a few cheaper basic ones clearly priced and easy to see to tempt them in. Don't just put them all in a rack or basket to flick through, try to display samples perhaps on boards or something.

Get your name and contact details on display to and have your flyers/ business cards in a position that is easy for your shy buyers to grab.

Checklist,

Cloth for table,
Display props/ boxes.
Sellotape,
Gaffa tape,
notepad and pen,
float (in relation to prices i.e. if you charge 99p and £1.49 et you will need plenty coppers.)
Drink and snacks,
Calculator,
Spare labels, price stickers,
Red pen for reductions,
Stock,
Trolley to take it in in one trip.

Consider what you will take it in, I have watched many stall holders arrive with a selection of tatty cardboard boxes and carrierbags, they spend ages running back and forwards, I smuggly roll past with my neat plastic lided boxes stacked on a trolley that I got for £12 in Lidls.
Boxes came from poundstretchers worth getting if you are going to do it regular, protecyts the stock and makes storage easier too.

Check table size, if table provided and make sure you grab a chair early.

Jayzmummy I might nick that one for the fairs . Do you make your own organza bags?

Oooo...JM, can I use that for some fundraising please? Our little local Down Syndrome group is going Kent wide...and I was elected to stay as treasurer!! Would much rather have done something more creative like fundraising, but someone had to do it.

Got loads of ideas for the group but just need to get off my backside and organise something now!!

Cheap suppliers of organza bags anyone???

\link{http://www.cardmakingcrafts.co.uk/html/wedding_card_making_page_2.html\ I love this site for reliabilty and quality} - organza bags

Um, in the poem? loose is spelled lose.

Sory. Am ashamed of my pickiness now [blush}

oh and maplins and partners both have pretty pastal boxes perfect for card sizes... you could do white for weddings / baptism, blue male and pink girly

oooppppssss having Dyslexia is a PITA sometimes.

thanks- now I feel REALLY mean

Peachy skulks off in disgrace

Those bags are lovely Peachy, I have seen some at one of my supplier must check the price next time, I couldn't think what I would use them for before.

Jaysmummy - your survival bag thingy is a really excellent idea! Was it all your very own????

Do you make a really good return in £££ on the stuff that you sell? ie Im wondering given the effort and talent ( :o ) you obviously put in is it worthwhile???

Can you get dh/friends to visit at regular intervals. Partly moral support, or to go and get you change etc, relieve you for toilet visits or bring warm drinks. But also because there is nothing so attractive as a stall that someone else is looking at - if your dh/friends look like they are buying, it will attract passing trade as it were...

(Not from personal experience btw, just hate going to fairs where one stall obviously not being looked at, but for no good reason...)

Good idea, JS - will get DH to bring DS1 to see me anyway - and will have DS2 with me in sling, so am hoping people will come and see him anyway!

Thats true it helps to have a few browsers at the front of the stall to get others to stop. I will go round the front and tidy a bit if no one is looking, quite often that gets a few interested.

The bags are handy- I put little gifts in them like good luck charms (angels for example), or sweets- balloons / birthday candles work well on kids cards too. I also did one recently where I filled a bag full of plastic works for a little boy, and hung on a related card.

How much stock do you think I should have? Don't want to make loads and have far too much, but would be bad to sell out halfway through the day [optimistic emoticon]

It's tomorrow... Any last tips?

no new tips, but wanted to say have a great time and hope you sell lots. have you got biz cards/flyers to give/leave on tabke so people can have your contact details?

Get plenty of sleep tonight and bring some snacks with you xxx

Smile. Enjoy people-spotting when you are not busy.

Come back on here tomorrow night and tell us how many weirdies you spotted