Craft Fairs / Events Northern Ireland 2009

greenworks

Hi - just found this forum after searching for local craft fairs/events. Glad to join as totally out of the loop about events here - other than the Fresh Fields events.

Kife_2

Hi
I'm new to the forum but I'm looking for Craft Fairs. I always seem to find them too late. I make silver jewellery. I have done school fairs on several occasions. Are there any in the next month or so?

Claguey

Hello.

Also new to this. I am looking to start selling items at craft fairs but have zero experience in doing so. Just wondering if someone could give me the lowdown on any neccessary information.

What about insurance?

Thanks in avance
Allen

SuperMum2008

Hello Newbies - welcome to the fab and friendly NI Craft thread! I'll give my tuppence worth on stall running, but Im sure all the others will add to it too when they come along. Im also trying to get a new list together of fairs coming up and contact details so stick with it as we've heard a lot on the grapevine!

1. Claquey - what are you planning on selling? Is it something you make yourself or a craft you buy in? I buy in stuff and this excludes us from quite a few fairs that only want actual makers/crafters (i.e. the really clever ones!!) and it is always worth checking with each organiser what they are looking for.
2. Public Liability insurance is what you need really- go to the St Georges Market website and they have a link to the market insurance provider. I was reliably informed at the weekend (thanks craftyfox!!) that it costs about £76 for the year.
3. The moment you hear about a fair here, get in touch with the organiser. Places book up fast. Ask lots of questions like has it been advertised, who the visitors to the fair will be (i.e children or adults/young/old/pocket money spenders or gift hunters).
4. Take lots more than you think you will sell, even though its a pain. On the day you are bound not to have the colour/size/style someone wants and will lose a sale otherwise!!!
5. Get to the fairs early enough to bag a good table - sometimes the organisers decide where you will go based on the other traders - its worth asking who else will be exhibiting as you dont want to end up right next to a competitor (however friendly!). Also, if there are 6 others selling the same as you, you might either want to give it a miss, or try to make your stand really different and eye catching as a result, or do some extra special promotion or something like that?
6. Bring your own tea/coffee/buns!! Not all organisers provide free tea and coffee (GRR.....) and you have to leave your stall to go and BUY it..(GRR!!!), thus spending your hard earned cash. Other fairs come round with free tea and coffee and this is fantastic as you a) dont have to leave the stall and b) its free - great for us MSE freaks!
7. Go round the other stalls and say HI!
8. Dont forget to bring a float (i.e. cash in a box for change when you sell something). my hub and I always have a bet on what denomination the first customers note will be...and it is nearly always a £20 with a hesitant smile saying "Im sorry I dont have any change" which is a pain if your little float box has £3.23 in it!!! Bring a few notes, i.e. a tenner and 2 fivers, and lots of 50ps and 20p pieces!
9. If you're not happy with your table or your neighbour is encroaching, dont be afraid to say so in a nice way. Sometimes they take offence, but its better than being grumpy the whole day. W've had fights over it with OAPs at church fetes who refuse to move their stack of 65 knitted blankets one inch to the left so we can get in round our table, other times, people are really friendly and all budge up and get along just fine!!

Right, thats my first installment - anyone else want to add something ?!!!

GOOD LUCK!

belle87

www.nmtf.co.uk

this is who i have insurance with they have cover to 5million as some places wont accept insurance at a value less than this some places do sell insurance to value 2million but you are better off with the higher valued one.

craftyfox

hi supermum
that a really good list :j wish i had something like that when i had started out i would not have dragged so much rubbish with me over the years only to pack it all up and grag it all back home again :mad: i had to read no 8. again i thought you said 'bring a coat' :cool: but this is also good advice as sometimes you end up beside a door and can be cold ..... one other thing about pricing if you can make your prices even, like £3.50, £6.00 etc and keep the small change down no £5.99s as you are always looking for change and most people don't want to give their (in the kids money box again) change away

SuperMum2008

Have had this reply from Ballance House about events coming up:

Dear Stallholder
The following events will take place in 2009 at The Ballance House:
Raspberry Tea Saturday 25th July 2009 1.30pm – 5pm
Apple Day Saturday 10th October 2009 2pm – 5pm
Victorian Christmas Market Sunday 6th December 2009 11am – 4pm

We would be delighted if you would like to take a stall (trestle table), fee £25.00 and accordingly I enclose registration forms for these events.
If you would require any further details, you can contact me on 028 9265 0913.
Yours sincerely
A Y Gould
Anne Gould
Administrator

I have the forms and can forward them on to you if you pm your email address BUT PLEASE NOTE - Anne has advised me they limit the number of jewellery stalls to 2 per event so check with her before registering if that is your thing!

SuperMum2008

Can anyone help re insurance....as often there are two of us manning our stall, should I purchase the joint insurance for 2 people or just one?

SuperMum2008

Had reply from CAStlewellan as follows:

Hi, Thank you for your enquiry. I have attached an application form for the craft fair. The times for the fair are as follows - Sat 25th July 12midday-4pm; Sun 26th July 11am-3pm. The hall will be open from 9.30 am on the Saturday, a bit later on the Sunday. Both these times will be confirmed closer to the event.

We are getting pretty full now so you my want to get your application in soon. The closing date is not until the end of this month but the way things are going we may need to stop taking stalls sooner than that.

Kind regards

Emma Wallace

PM me for copies of the application forms or more info!

belle87

Supermum my insurance is only based for myself as the person i have with me is family and are normally only there to help carry stuff in for me