There are a couple of lighter ways to get started and test the water.
As above - if possible tie is with someone who has already stated and share a pitch. This cam you from having to arrange insurance, tables, gazebos etc
Or with a school if you represent the PTA etc then they would normally have the insurance etc
Failing those look around or ask around for any local business initiatives such as BIDs. Get any advice and assistance you can from them, and they can run events or schemes for new starters
www.gov.uk/guidance/business-improvement-districts
If you have youngsters to hand in the right age range then there maybe a teenage market scheme
(It’s not just for teenagers - I can’t remember exactly but I think it is 13 to young 20 somethings)
If you can’t find a way in without your own insurance then something like the Market Traders Federation membership gives more than PLI for £140 a year.
www.nmtf.co.uk/details/
I recommend them as they were chosen by my friends ticking all the boxes they needed, plus the staff insurance covers unpaid ‘volunteers’ like me as a friend helping out etc
Things that you do need but could be optional at the start are:
Table - You will need a decent table. The best are the white plastic trestle table that folds in half.
A wooden wallpapering table is often used for a first go, but these can’t take any weight and will quickly collapse. Camping tables are better than the cheapest table.
At some indoor events the event provide tables, so you might get away with no table at first
At other indoor events there may be the option of tables being provided but at extra cost to the pitch, so it’s a balance at first. (It can be better to hire a decent table than starting with a cheap table)
Bring a table cloth or sheet, this makes your stall look much better than just a table and hides am your choice of table.Ideally you want to cover the table with enough overhang to cover the front. This gives you stock space below the table to replenish or keep your boxes etc
(If it’s more than one day, or you’re setting up the night before then also have an extra sheet to throw over the top - this ‘secures’ your stall - but take away your money tin and more premium stock etc)
If it’s outdoors then you need shelter. At some places these are offered, but again can cost more for your pitch
A cheap pole assembly gazebo is not worth the effort. Only use one if you already have it
They also flip over at the lightest breeze
(However I was under two professional gazebos this year which flip over - it was in high winds!)
Coleman dome shelters are nice, but waste far too much of your pitch. Only use a 3m one if you have a small selection of items or if pitch sizes are unlimited and you have a 4.5m one
A basic ‘pop up’ is a good start, and can be bought cheaply if you keep your eye open, but best in mind the cheapest one probably does not have any sides. That’s not a major problem for a day show, but it’s much nicer to have 3 sides around you. On a multi day it would mean you have to pack up each day if you have no sides
To make a go of crafting is very possible, but to make a living to pay for the time it takes you is very unlikely. You have to get something unique enough for people to pay enough as an artist etc. Also if you do weekends during the season and make a good number of sales it can mean you have a lot of work to catch up restocking
But if you’re making things that you enjoy, and using your down time then winter gives you a head start.
If you progress then it can be hard to keep up, but depending on what you do & where you go, you can mix your own crafting with some wholesale.
Wholesale can mean competing with others selling the same thing, tight margins and delivery time restocking between shows. But you can replenish as much as you need much more quickly then you can manufacture
(Even better if you are buying in something that you modify which mixes wholesale and crafting for your unique touch)
As well as craft fairs look around for all kinds of events & markets. Local village shows, steam shows / vintage car / country fairs are great. Even better when they are small as they are cheap for a pitch and may be free to get in with a voluntary donation to their cause at the end.
If you’ve had a good day/weekend then give a good donation, if you don’t do very well then give less. This helps the show to get more traders in and helps traders with less risk on the cost of a pitch vs possible sales
Indoors - pitches are generally by the table
If backing tables are listed this means the pitch is two tables deep
Outdoors pitches are either by the size of a gazebo (3m, plus fire break between pitches) or by ‘frontage’ eg 3m minimum plus £x per metre)
Camping is something to consider at weekend shows etc. even if close to hand the advantage is you’re to hand and can roll out of bed at the right time rather than driving back and forth.
The depth of outdoor pitches varies. If it’s laid out in rows outdoors then it’s generally it’s the width of a gazebo and double that deep. (Giving a car space or tent space behind).
If it’s a large enough field etc or say one line deep then you could be almost unlimited in depth
It could cost more to get the depth for on pitch camping - however at a particular show that I won’t name the on pitch camping was a lot of money, and the info page referred to the public camping site, which would mean paying for camping on top. However we discovered the wristband gave us access to everywhere, so we would check in, drive round to camping and secure a good spot then back to the main field and set up. (We did find that if you try to leave a gap to park the van that later campers would squeeze into the hole, so I’d bring a stash of extra pop up tents to fill it, or leave someone setting up camp and to keep watch until we could put the van back)
Apologies for any repetition and rambling - I’ve taken the whole morning to write this whilst serving people at a comicon!