Help, just got my first table at a craft fair!

[Marne]

Well a village fate!
Ive only been making jewellery for a few weeks, am i mad?

What should i make?

How much should i take?

How much do i sell it for?

Help!

You will be fine, the people who come up and say 'Wow this is really lovely' & take a leaflet, mean more than the ones who come up and buy' in a mad way'. Take a flask, sit back & enjoy!!

xxxxx

Take everything you have, within reason, set up some of the stuff on a sheet, on a decorating table. don't put it all out at once.

actually they might provide a table, as you are selling jewellry, if you don't have a stand, cut A5 bits of paper and put them on it, but have a contrasting sheet underneath. By this I mean the tablecloth.

take about 25.00 in change.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!

Check if you need a table and chairs, check if you will actually have a stall or if you will need a gazebo or something.

I take....
Table,
chair,
Boxes/ plinths for display,
table cloths and covers for plinths,
calculator,
pen and pad, red pen for reductions,
Spare lables,
Float, (in relation to prices IE if you charge 99p etc you will need pennies),
leaflets/ business cards,
Couple of perspex menu stands for adverts/ prices.
Snacks and drinks,
Stock all in boxes,
Trolley if I can't park in front of stall to unload,
Friend if possible to help with setting up and breaks for the loo.

Consider what you will put stock in, its not too bad a fetes as you can often park right behinfd the stall but I have often seen stall holders lugging loads of tatty cardboard boxes and carrier bags.

I usually set up table and cover with cloth, put boxes of stock underneath if I have to move the car. Reverse this at closing time, stock goes back under table and cloth if I am on my own and i have to go and get the car.

Plus....

Scissors,
Sellotape,
Gaffa tape,
If taking Gazebo, extra pegs and ties plus weights to help tie it all down.
Warm and water proof jacket.
Polythene/ tarpaline to cover stock on trolley, saves the stock getting soaked if I have to trolley it to a marquee or hall.

I spent a horrible fair taking turns to hold on to the gazebo and serve, even the army cadets didn't have any rope to help tie it down, next door gave up and had to take theirs down but I really needed the shade for the sweets.

Re pricing:
I used to sell stuff in craft markets around 10 years ago, and my best line was priced at 15 pounds each. This had no relation to the cost of the item, or the time I spent on it, I set the price at 15 pounds, because that seemed to be what people wanted to spend on a present for themselves or someone else.

If it's outside, take plenty of warm clothing, even a warm day feels cold when you are doing a market stall.

I am bowing to your knowledge, Skribs!!!

Am taking lots of notes myself

I am getting ready for my first outing this year, at the local Sunday market, I want a pitch in the covered bit as I don't have a stall and my trailer is still undergoing renovations. It only takes me half an hour to falsh up but I will have to get there at about 7am even though it opens officially at 10 am. I plan to be a regular so I better make an effort . Once I get my trailer I will park up then bugger off to Tescos for a full cooked.

That would be "flash up" not falsh.

good luck anyway

UCM - you still want those B&Ps? Are you ok BTW? You seemed a little stressed on another A&C thread the other day...

Thanks for all the tips,
Its not for a few months yet so plenty of time to get evrything ready.
I think the tables are already there, was told tables are 8-10ft.
Hav'nt even thought about business cards yet but must get some done.

Yes, I am now, I got my wires a little bit crossed whilst slurping too much wine and chatting on here. I am so big headed that I thought someone else was talking about me. Also I have had a couple of nasty messages on my website, so a bit paranoid I am afraid.

Poor you UCM...

Cheers Luv, am ok now though

Good. Now, email me your bloody address for the B&Ps...this is my last offer

Marne try \link{http://www.vistaprint.co.uk/frfuk?frf=261919127520\Vistaprint} for free or low cost offers on business cards, often they have 500 free offers. I have had matching address labels too. I got business cards without addresses on so I just put a label on the back if I want them to have my address. I didn't want to give it out to everyone as it is my house not a shop.

Forgot my best tip...

When loading the car, do it the night before. Gives you all night to think of things you have forgot.

Load the car carefully, put tables and cloths in last so that you don't have to take everything out before you put the table up.

The grass might be wet so I take a few bin bags to put my boxes on under the table to keep them clean.

Thanks skrible