Sunday 15 May 2011

Craft Fair Aftermath



So, I'm back home, about to head off to my scratcher (that's bed for you non-Scots out there) and just thought I might put down a reflection on today. I've had such a crazy week, some really tragic news from one of my best friends which is just incomprehendable and heart breaking...please excuse me if I find I can't really write in detail about such things here...I am so moved by folk such as Juls and their honesty but find that for me, it's not so much that I wish to be dishonest, just that I feel that often how I feel is private....often I can't articulate how I feel (nor do I wish to...) even to my partner....perhaps it's something I should be working on but for now it's just how I am. Words are so not enough



I've also been off ill with a fluey cold so my brain's been fuzzy at any rate, and only found out on Thursday there was room at the previously full vintage/craft fair I took part in today. So much as the craft fair is totally unimportant in the grand scheme of things, I wanted to put down some thoughts here in my online diary. A bit like Jess Contreras' blog style, 'Hey blog! How are you doing, here's what I got up to today....'




I wasn't sure about doing another craft market at all as the very few I have done have been nothing to write home about, I've always sold something but there have been a couple when it's literally been that one thing, and much as I'm not one to blow my own trumpet, I really feel that it was mainly to do with context rather than my jewellery per se. But as Magpies and I was a new market, who knew if it would be the right context for me more than any of the others?



Now I don;t want anyone thinking I made pots and pots of cash today - I didn't, but after we paid for the stall (a very reasonable £20) we've got enough for a full tank of petrol and a bit left over.


Which is significantly more than I've made before, and what we were aiming for as we are now going on a long and sad road trip up to the Isle of Skye for a funeral.  [This is not profit by the way, this is takings....beading is still too much of a hobby to think of it in any other way!] We've made enough and had a nice enough day that we have decided to participate again next month and I'm looking forward to it.







This is a pretty rambling post as my brain is still quite all over the place, but what I really wanted to


know was do you do craft fairs? How much money is 'good' and makes it worthwhile for you to repeat
a fair? I didn't really spot much of a pattern in what I sold (apart from lots of hair clips - a new idea and really quick and easy so I'll be doing more of those!) so I don't have much to go on there but it was a lovely atmosphere and lots of people came round and were enthusiastic....so we're going to stick our neck out and go for it next month too. I'm really interested to hear other people's experiences though as I'm pretty new to the selling part of jewellery, more experienced in the teaching side of things....so do leave me a comment or send me an email.

I've put in some shots of the stuff I sold....just really so I can look back here as a kind of 'record'. Hope you are all having lovely weekends and I'll be so interested and grateful if you leave any craft fair thought here.

6 comments:

Pretty Things said...

Hey there -- your jewelry is ALWAYS lovely, and I'm so sorry about the tragedy you talked about, and I'm thinking of you.

one-eared pig said...

I love your bracelets! I am like you, I keep my expectations low. I make some money (also, not looking for "profits"). Overall, my shows have been hit and miss over the past couple of years. for the most part, I do the same shows each year, so I feel it is a reflection on both my product and my ability to market myself.

Mary Ann Tate said...

Sometimes you can go to a show and be swept off your feet with business and sometimes you won't make a sale. I recall going to show with 60 vendors that was for a charity. Would you believe that not one of us 60 vendors sold anything? It was well advertised too but it was off season...post Christmas. The charity didn't do very well either. They were getting the entrance fee. That's another thing that you have watch for...the entrance fee can be prohibitive and will keep the buyers away. And, if I'm going to a show I've been to before I try to bring something different and new as I do get regular customers coming back. Nuff said:)

LUCY said...

Fantastico....maravilloso....me encanta...

Malin de Koning said...

I am so glad you had a good day at the fair!
x

My Life Under the Bus said...

Big Hugs XOXO I haven't done any shows and have realized that there is too much to preplan ( like what to do with 4 kids) because my husband usually works the weekends. If I have to pay someone to take them I really won't make anything : P . It's exciting to do well and you may have hit a good market - I can't imagine people not liking you jewelry! I am so sorry for your loss.

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