Pop ups and fairs

[Wasitalwaysgoingtobelikethis]

I have a small retail fashion online store and I would like to do some fairs and pop ups in the new year. Is there somewhere I can find a directory for upcoming fairs and pop
ups? Many thanks for your help in advance!

Local Facebook groups
What’s on in ‘your town’ groups
Local high street promotion organisations

Stallfinder group on Facebook is brilliant. There’s a country wide one and ones covering particular areas. I always chat to stall holders at events about others they rate as you can’t beat personal recommendations. When you’re thinking of booking a stall ask if they have similar stalls booked in. Good ones will limit how many people they have selling head bands or bath bombs etc but some won’t care and just accept anyone.

Lots of Facebook groups are about. Proceed with caution though, if this is your full time job and you need the income, craft fairs and the like probably aren't for you as you don't tend to take a lot of money and I've never done one where I've made enough to cover my time/travel expenses as well as prepping for it, and I've done some really busy ones. I even did two this year where I didn't sell a single thing. I'm VAT registered so you can see the kind of turnover I achieve, so it isn't that my products don't sell well.

@DelilahBucket I was at a Christmas fair in Chelsea and I did roaring business. People were snatching up my clothes which is why I feel like I should do more fairs as it’s quick sales. But I understand my products might only cater to a certain demographic and going from fair to fair might not be always successful. It just gave me a bit of confidence as I hadn’t had much success before the fair.

@BadSkiingMum @DelilahBucket @AnneLovesGilbert thank you for your replies.

I think there are definitely different ‘levels’ of fairs.

Is the Royal Agricultural Halls still going as a venue in Pimlico? I once volunteered for Oxfam at a wine fair held there and took a lot of donations from rather tipsy and very well-spoken people!

The BBC show ‘Make it at Market’ often features a large craft fair at a stately home or similar venue in Oxfordshire.

I’m on the fair circuit I do 10 tough weeks away for 6 off them
on the road. Where are you based I go from Scotland to Hampshire

@Parsley1234 I’m in SW london

@Wasitalwaysgoingtobelikethis ate you thinking you just want to do London ? There are a lot of great markets my London friends do like Duck pond if you manufacture or Spitalfields

There used to be the CFA a great oracle of fairs but sadly no longer the thing is what works for me might not work for you

Sorry, I made a mistake.

It is the Royal Horticultural Halls in Pimlico - great venue. They don’t seem to have an events listing page but I am sure there would be a way of finding out what is coming up.

The Royal Agricultural Halls became the Business Design Centre in Islington - another huge venue!