disappointing day vending at a craft fair
05-07-2012, 04:14 PM
#31
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Indiana
Posts: 3,607
I"ve done craft shows for years....and yes, spring shows are always lower in income than the fall shows...but, if the promoter didn't do her/his job and do plenty of advertising, the show is doomed.
Take a photo of your display...Analyze your photo and be critical...BellaBoo is right...marketing is the key. Never have things just displayed flat on a table...an item has to catch the customer's eye as they are walking...they don't walk with their heads looking down on a table.
Try another show...this one could be a fluke.
Good luck...
Take a photo of your display...Analyze your photo and be critical...BellaBoo is right...marketing is the key. Never have things just displayed flat on a table...an item has to catch the customer's eye as they are walking...they don't walk with their heads looking down on a table.
Try another show...this one could be a fluke.
Good luck...
05-07-2012, 07:28 PM
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 706
I am so sorry you had such poor sales after so much work put into your projects. I live in Canada and was out of the Christmas Crafts for a number of years and decided to get back in last year with my quilted items and crafts. The sale was well organized and advertised and well attended but NO ONE had great sales! You hear on the news how everyone is overspending and using their credit cards, well, my opinion is if they can't put it on a credit card they can't buy it because they don't have any cash! So I think we can see lesser sales even at well attended shows, but keep up and even do your own advertising saying "You will be at _____show on such date and come and see my booth". People that are familiar with your work will come to see you. I plan to do my own advertising next year....can't do any harm.
05-08-2012, 03:20 AM
#33
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: long island ny
Posts: 1,337
People always ask why I don't sell my work and this is why. I would just die if I sat there and watched people look and keep moving.Or picked over the stuff and sniffed... all that work. I'm basically insecure about the quality of my stuff. Aren't we all.
05-08-2012, 04:18 AM
#35
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: MA
Posts: 1,507
At quilt shows
I have sold at local guild quilt shows. The traffic is usually good but the price per table keeps going up. Around $100 and this is at local guild shows. The big shows are hundreds of dollars (600). You do need to have the ability to take credit cards and need to clear items that might compete with the guild's boutique items or silent auction items. The most frequently heard comment is "I can make that" and "do you have the pattern?"
05-08-2012, 04:19 AM
#36
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Horse Country, FL
Posts: 7,341
Yes! I think you've nailed it about the plastic. My kids live 3200 miles away and postage costs prevent me from sending anything with bulk or weight. So mainly I send checks. They probably like that better, anyway! So sorry though at the rough time you had. Would Etsy or one of the other online sales places work?
05-08-2012, 04:23 AM
#37
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 533
I'm sorry that you didn't do better, but it is usually the advertising that is the problem when that happens. It is usually more profitable when going to an established sale that has been well advertised. Better luck next time!
05-08-2012, 04:25 AM
#38
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: PA
Posts: 2,879
Craft sales are hit and miss. Most people come to get ideas. My guild makes more money selling a pattern for an item we make then the item. We try to have a new shape pincushion, different pot holder, etc to draft the pattern to sell. Also presentation is a big factor. Things siting on a folding table usually won't gather much more then a glance. I took a marketing seminar and learned never have items laid out like a yard sale for any professional sale. Bring in baskets, chains to hang items on, have fresh flowers on the table, a bowl of Hershey's Kisses. Look at pictures of the quilt booths at most quilt shows. Which ones do you think gather more traffic?
05-08-2012, 05:27 AM
#40
Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Springfield NH
Posts: 66
I have done craft shows for over 10 years and have found that shows in the Spring and Summer generally garner a lot of 'lookers' not many buyers. The shows we do in the fall leading up to Christmas are the best attended shows with folks spending money. We actually stopped selling at shows any other time of year, it's a waste of time and it doesn't matter how many years the show has been in existence. Selling cheaper is not the answer either. Shows need to be well advertised and stay away from shows that include 'flea market' and 'white elephant' tables. The shoppers at those shows are looking for bargains and handmade crafts are not bargains. We have had great success at Sunday only shows providing they are in the fall season. Marketing makes all the difference and in the past 2 years weI have started selling at shows that charge higher booth fees. The marketing is much better and the shoppers they bring in are definitely motivated to buy - in one case we spent $400.00 (a scary amount when we sent in the check) on the booth space and made 5 x that in sales so it was well worth the initial investment.
As has already been noted, you need an attractive display, tables with cloths and skirts etc. Try setting up your display at home and take pictures, visit other shows and see which booths appeal to you, maybe you could use some of their tricks to display your items. It's also a good idea to have a couple of less expensive items. That often catches shoppers attention and they start to look at your other items.
As has already been noted, you need an attractive display, tables with cloths and skirts etc. Try setting up your display at home and take pictures, visit other shows and see which booths appeal to you, maybe you could use some of their tricks to display your items. It's also a good idea to have a couple of less expensive items. That often catches shoppers attention and they start to look at your other items.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
