Craft shows/ fairs some question/s...

[Creative Wishes]

I really want to enter a few shows this year but mainly locally but I have few questions I hope other participants of these shows might be able to help me with.

1. How do you all find out about your local shows/ fairs in your area.

2. What are the approximate costs involved in setting up a stall (I know this can vary but I'm hoping I can get an average from your replies).

3. How much stock should I be aiming to have.

4. If you have started your own local craft fair/ show how did you go about stting one up.

5. Any other tips you might have that could help a newbie.

Thanks for reading and for your replies.

Kella's Creative Wishes

[Karen and Rich]

Hi, a few bits of advice- price varies wildly from £50/70 to hundreds per square metre, an average fair in my experience has been from fifty pounds per day, usually with everything included. I'd recommend finding a local craft oganisation to go through, theres usually an acceptance process where they will want to see examples of your work before allowing you to book. These fairs are better quality and don't allow re-sellers of cheap imports. They also usually have a good customer base that attends regularly.

As for stock, if you're just starting, take a few of everything and include items at various price points, also if you do custom orders put information about this somewhere visible, not forgetting to include a pile of business cards. Take good lighting, small halogen spots are ideal to highlight key pieces, plan your table layout before you go, ie things to put items on at the back to raise them up, smaller cheaper impulse purcheses at the front etc.

The biggest draw is to actually be making things on your stand if you can- its always interesting to watch other people work :) It'll make people hang around for longer and give you something to talk about.

I could waffle on for ages about this, if you have any more specific questions, please ask- our current business is new but I've been doing this sort of thing for years :)

Karen

[Neil Graham]

Hi Kella

There are a few posts on my blog http://wisdomofwoody.blogspot.com that cover craft fairs, including one for beginners.

to answer your questions in order,
1, I use a whole range of way for find events, from local whats on listing, to looking on the events sections of folksy, misi, etc (don't forget here) and of course places like stallfinder, i also keep track of who has events where from year to year, so that i can get in contact to find out when there next one will be.
2, How much do you spend making your items, if it takes 3 months to build up your stock to do a stall, don't you think that investing a large chunck of time in developing your stall is worth it. my stall cost very little, but then I make most of my displays, but i have my own tables, which are each worth around £45.00, but they have lasted over 4 year's going in and out of the car, and as i've done around 20 events a year that have needed them (out of about 40-50 total events a year) they have been good value, i brought my current covering wholesale from a carment trade supplier (i had to prove I had a Business before he'd sell to me, and only cost £1.25 per metre (same fabric retails at £13.90 per at RRP).
I have packaging and bags, again which are used both online and through galleries.
3, you need to work out how much space you'll have for your stall (6' x 3' seem average), and mock up your stall, you need spare stock to replace what you sell as the day goes on.
4, I run a monthly fair at Fabrica / The Independent Art Centre in Leicester, I'm based at the sister organisation in Nottingham, so don't need to hire the venue, we've been given an exemption from requireing a leicence by the council (normally £160), we already have Public Liablility insurance in place, and of course have the tables required. our main cost (re-invested from the stall fee's) is marketing and promotion, such as posters, fliers, etc, we're also lucky that we have a great band of volunteers who go round and get the posters and fliers out.
5. Visit the event you want to try first, see what mix of stalls there are, chat with stall holders and the organiser.

Above all, have fun,

Woody
(sorry if i've waffled, i do tend to)

[myroo skincare]

Hi there!

Craft fairs are great fun, it's an opportunity to sell your stuff but don't underestimate the networking opportunities too.

Price of fairs vary so much from £10 at a school fete which includes everything to trade shows which can easily be £100s and you'll need your own stall.
I set mine up so cheaply, I use a king size black sheet from asda as a covering (£8), a shoe rack from argos and a cake stand that a friend lent me for dispay. I had clip on lights already. I also bought a lockable cash box, a receipt book and some business cards.
Someone once told me that 3x the cost of the stall is enough stock to carry, but my best ever event I took 10x the cost of the table. Err on the side of caution and take extra stock if you can, a bare empty table is not attractive if you do better than planned.
Take snacks and drinks, if it's busy you may not get away from your stall and it's too tempting to buy from all the lovely food stands and fritter your takings.
My best tip (not a nice or easy one tho) is to stand behind your stall, if physically possible. It is tiring, but if you sit you look disinterested, and if you leap up when someone approaches it will frighten them off! Also, try and make an effort to look presentable, unfortunately when you are at a fair you stop being a crafter/artist/designer and become a sales person.
Hope that helps. Let us know how you get on won't you.

[Creative Wishes]

Thanks everyone for the advice so far, its all useful and some I can out into practice straight away and others I can plan ahead for. I'll be sure to let you all know how this all turns out.

[Just Soaps]

The most important thing at events is to look/learn and enjoy.

You will be able to take inspiration/ideas from other peoples stalls - how to gain height, good use of lighting
etc.

You will make new friends and start networking, then is when you will learn about even more events.

Do a few dummy runs at home, before you the big day.

We have been going for 4 years and do 30 - 60 events per month, we are still tweaking our stall.

Jane

[Creative Wishes]

Thanks for your insightful reply, I'm in awe 30 - 60 venues per month, you must be constantly on the road, how do you maintain that momentum?

Just Soaps said:

The most important thing at events is to look/learn and enjoy.

You will be able to take inspiration/ideas from other peoples stalls - how to gain height, good use of lighting
etc.

You will make new friends and start networking, then is when you will learn about even more events.

Do a few dummy runs at home, before you the big day.

We have been going for 4 years and do 30 - 60 events per month, we are still tweaking our stall.

Jane

[Just Soaps]

We can have 4-5 stalls out in 1 day;) We are a family business.

Creative Wishes said:

Thanks for your insightful reply, I'm in awe 30 - 60 venues per month, you must be constantly on the road, how do you maintain that momentum?

Just Soaps said:

The most important thing at events is to look/learn and enjoy.

You will be able to take inspiration/ideas from other peoples stalls - how to gain height, good use of lighting
etc.

You will make new friends and start networking, then is when you will learn about even more events.

Do a few dummy runs at home, before you the big day.

We have been going for 4 years and do 30 - 60 events per month, we are still tweaking our stall.

Jane

[Creative Wishes]

:) that explains a lot. So how far afield do you all go from home base?

Just Soaps said:

We can have 4-5 stalls out in 1 day;) We are a family business.

Creative Wishes said:

Thanks for your insightful reply, I'm in awe 30 - 60 venues per month, you must be constantly on the road, how do you maintain that momentum?

Just Soaps said:

The most important thing at events is to look/learn and enjoy.

You will be able to take inspiration/ideas from other peoples stalls - how to gain height, good use of lighting
etc.

You will make new friends and start networking, then is when you will learn about even more events.

Do a few dummy runs at home, before you the big day.

We have been going for 4 years and do 30 - 60 events per month, we are still tweaking our stall.

Jane

[AliSam Home Fragrancers]

What area do you live in. As in the Southwark borough they have a work shop for setting up your own event.

1. How do you all find out about your local shows/ fairs in your area.

Google fairs in your area ie summer fair in Ipswich 2010 then something should come up.

2. What are the approximate costs involved in setting up a stall (I know this can vary but I'm hoping I can get an average from your replies). summer fairs in London can cost from 20 - £50 depending on the area and type of event

However events like the RED CROSS at Christmas and other bigger events of the Christmas holidays are around £100 - 300 for 2 - 3 days
You could share a stand at the Christmas fair in Olympia in London for 4 days at around£12,000 2 x2 sq

3. How much stock should I be aiming to have. How long has the fair being going?

Try and align yourself with a charity when trying to set-up an event of this nature.

Good luck

Alison Sam

www.fragrancers.com

[Creative Wishes]

Thank you for the reply I'll be checking out my council to see if they have similar workshops available.

alisam said:

What area do you live in. As in the Southwark borough they have a work shop for setting up your own event.

[Shirley]

This is so helpful for me, planning to do the same. Thanks so much everybody!
Shirley