What a weekend! I attended a craft fair on Saturday which consisted of 90% jewellery stalls. Granted, it was advertised as a jewellery and craft fair, but most of us crafters with handmade items were only too aware that around 75% of the items for sale were bought in, and these were the goods that sold well as they were going at market prices. This is the gripe of many real crafters attending these events. We spend a good few days preparing for a fair, making, ordering in materials, pricing up, loading up the car, not to mention making all the domestic arrangements so that life can go on at home in our absence. I always take a packed lunch with me - I'm there to sell not to spend, and like many others I have a child in tow.
I also attended another fair on Sunday. It wasn't a great success but it was my decision to choose to attend it and the organiser is a new friend of mine, so I wanted to support her in her new venture. I take full responsibility for my decision to be there, and cannot believe that serious flack is flying in her direction from some crafters. A degree of maturity and a philosophical attitude is required when we don't sell much at craft events. After all, there will be more craft fairs to attend and more chances to make up for any losses incurred.
I started writing this with a complete feeling of self doubt towards my craft, my designs, the competition from others out there and the fact that I'd wasted the whole weekend, with very little profit to show for the hours (17 of them) that I spent, grinning inanely at potential customers, shmoozing, and talking about my work to people who probably didn't give a damn how to wire wrap a bead. but the upside is that I met some lovely people, Realicoul and Kitty Eden from Folksy for example, networked with fellow crafters, extended my mailing list for any craft fairs that I organise in the future, and was invited to two more craft events.
The despondency I've felt all morning hasn't gone away completely, but I've talked myself into realising that onward and upward is the way to go. Sitting for 17 hours, eating unhealthy food and socialising are things I don't do in my everyday life. Consuming a few green smoothies, a couple of days on my own devoid of humans and a good night's sleep will have me up and running as normal.
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Go girl!! I'm off to drink nice coffee (as opposed to out of a flask!),mooch about and hopefully get a good nights sleep tonight too xx
ReplyDeleteI guess one poor fair at a time is enough - two is definitely too much! I agree though that you just have to shrug it off and carry on. Good that you made some good contacts and met some fellow crafters which compensates somewhat for lack of sales.
ReplyDeleteHaving done a string of poorly attended, poorly advertised and poorly run craft fairs last fall which ended up with no profits. New growing group of jewelry resellers too. I was feeling much like you with the new spring craft fair season approaching.
ReplyDeleteI am determinded to hold my chin up and plow through with new items and new determination.
I know how you feel re fairs and selling. I've only done a few and they've been very small and local (Xmas fairs really). The worst thing is people who come past your stall, look briefly at items and don't even bother to look you in the eye. I actually knew a couple of women from school who did this, the cheek! They still don't know to this day it was me standing there! I would much rather buy something handmade than churned off a production line. Chin up, onwards and upwards!
ReplyDeleteOh don't feel bad!
ReplyDeleteI had a similar experience lately where I foolishly attended a market market as opposed to a craft fair which was literally a stone's throw away from a branch of Clinton Cards and not only that there was a guy selling horrid 'personalised' birthday cards for 2 for £2.50! I was slayed for my 'extortionate' prices and came away with a total (after stall hire) of £4 profit!
I felt really bad afterwards like my cards were crap and no one 'got them' but at the end of the day it was their loss and it sounds like that was the case with you too!
I hate it when people don't get appreciation for their hard work - at a fair I was at recently a woman was making a killing selling 'brooches' which were basically pins glued to bought in plastic birds (I know because I've got some!)
Phew! Sorry! Rant over!
I know just how your feeling, but slightly in reverse, I missed an event on saturday due to food posioning, and it's the best one I do on a regular monthly basis, this months was backed by a massive promo by the local council, and a massive leaflet drop accross half of nottingham... and the feedback is that it was totally fab.... and i missed it... sometime life just kick's you where it hurts, i put up with some of the bad ones, because i know i've got the good ones to make the cost back... but now i've missed one of the good ones.... all because of a few prawn ball's... gggrrrrrr
ReplyDelete*clarification* I've got some of the plastic birds for craft projects, not the brooches!
ReplyDeleteWoody - I had no idea that anyone would want to eat a poor prawn's balls!! That'll teach you to be so cruel. Hope you are fully recovered and drinking lots of water.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone. Keep those comments coming. Empathy is the best cure. I'm pinning my hopes on the 2 day event planned for next weekend. It was the best I attended last year. Watch this space.
good luck for the event next weekend. I'm still to have my first fair experience. I've one booked in June, a small one at a school, I think it's mixed (crafts and other) but I'm seeing it as a chance to test my set-up and get my name out there in the local area a bit. And a date to aim for in getting all my marketing/promo stuff in place.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed that this weekend goes as well as last year for you!
Thanks, Abi. And hey, if it turns out to be rubbish there are always other events in the offing. Good luck with yours too. They are great fun even if you don't sell much (or anything).
ReplyDeleteI've only done one "craft" fair, which was really more like a jumble sale. I shared a table with a friend, spent a fortune on parking, got stared at suspiciously by the "regulars", had to drink hideous tea (at least I think that's what it was) and sold nothing. I've never been so glad to go home! It was disheartening but then it wasn't a proper craft fair.
ReplyDeleteYou can only put it down to experience and look forward to the next one I suppose! Good luck for next weekend Amanda :D
Experience! Experience! And then that day will come when you really turn a profit and you'll be soaring so high, the lights will shake!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Barbra
True, Barbra. I've done plenty of excellent fairs but even then, the same organisers, same venue, same date the following year don't necessarily turn out as good. We have to take risks with these things and the bottom line is that it's our decision. How can any organiser factor in bad weather, road blocks, etc?
ReplyDeletecinnamon jewellery
ReplyDeletere:got stared at suspiciously by the "regulars"
thats soooo funny, I know exactly what you mean!
Aww, I'm sorry it's been a bad weekend on the selling front! I've only attended 3 fairs so far, 2 were in the same place- I know what you mean about people not even bothering to look properly! I had someone muttering that my stuff is expensive- but I don't even factor in a profit! Thats what all this cheap jap crap does to you! Argh! Sooo frustrating! Yet to find a fair for me, but trying to remain hopeful! xx
ReplyDeleteOh im with you...its really annoying to compete with bought in rubbish! When you feel you have to explain your stuff you know you are at the wrong venue!!
ReplyDeleteAmanda, I love the way your write - it shows your attitude is spot on in my opinion. Wherever we sell, on folksy, etsy, our own sites or craft fairs, the real selling is down to us. At times we win and others we don't but we just need to keep at it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Steve. I just read somewhere that the 3rd week of the month is a bad time for sales as pay day approaches. Next weekend should be a good time to sell then. Good times just around the corner?
ReplyDeleteI know just what you mean, when I made and sold jewellery nothing wound me up more than the cheap imported rubbish (going to use stronger word there!) that seemed to sell like no one's business. The funny thing was quite a lot of them were in so called prestigious venues where they made a great fuss of vetting your work first then put you right opposite utter ***. I think your attitude is right, but I know how easy it is to get downhearted. I had my first craft fair with my crochet stuff at xmas and did really well. I organised the fair too, maybe that's the way, I figured after attending quite a lot that I could organise one, and with a lot of help, I did!!
ReplyDeleteTrying my first spring/summer one next month. I've never done that well outside of xmas, and this is crochet, more usually associated with cold weather..I will report back..
Hi Amanda, love your blog.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly how you felt as we were in the same boat (a few tables apart actually). Your stuff is lovely (loved your wire bracelet and I thought your display was really eye catching too). I felt really demoralised too by the end of the weekend and ended up having a cry in the carpark on Sunday afternoon. It is not about money but about people recognising your artistic flair and appreciating your work. It is good to sell though as it allows you to carry on doing what you love.
I feel I need to stop taking it like rejection but it is hard when it is something so personal.
We just need to keep on going. A bad weekend is sometimes inevitable...Good Luck for the next one!
Beax
Violetstone - I'm eager to know how your crochet sells in the warmer weather. I think it will sell just fine. Do let me know how it goes.
ReplyDeleteBea - Never take low (or no) sales personally as there is always another day when the public will prove that your work is worth buying.