NI Craft Fairs 2010

SuperMum2008

furrychimp wrote: »

Hi, I'm new to doing craft fairs but I'm doing Regent House (my 1st one, so a bit scared!) and Belmont in April...can anyone give any practical advice on how much stock to bring?

I make sock monkeys and sock monsters (decorative stuff, not really meant as toys cos of small buttons and embellishments) and i was wondering what kind of percentage of stock do you sell? Haven't much of a clue cos it's hard to guess if folks will like them (my friends do, but then they have to say that, LOL!!).

The Belmont one is terrifying me, all the photos on their website of tables are so professional looking & really fab stuff (think I'll be spending any cash I make at that one!!!)

Hi Furrychimp (LOVE the name!!) - welcome to our merry rabble!! I LOVE sock monkeys - how fab to have a crafter making them - I think you should do very well. There's lots of advice earlier on in this thread about doing fairs and what to ask. The question of how much to bring to a fair is one which we all still ask ourselves!!! And experience seems to have nothing to do with it either. I have taken every last piece of stock I own to fairs and take £19 in a day (BIG GROAN - NEVER DOING THAT ONE AGAIN!!!) - and then I have selected pieces and sold out and taken hundreds of pounds - you can never guess how many will be attending. I think whats more important is to tailor what you have to the audience you know is going to be there, so make it seasonal, if its a school fair, the kids will have £1 or £2 with them, and often lots lots more, but liike buying things for that sort of price range and getting lots of little bits to cram into their bags! My experience is that Kids love key rings, and things they can clip on to bags and pencil cases, girls love badges (make them safe) and little toys. Our most expensive thing at your average fair is about £14 and that has been about right for us. I would say find out what size the table is going to be and then mock up a display on your dining room table about the same size. Too much on display can put people off, so make it eye catching. Most of us on here are developing our displays all the time, and have secrets like biscuit tins under the black fabric to raise parts of the display. I also have a handy hubby who made shelving units for the back of my display - you need some height I think, to draw people in from across the room. Ive seen amazing displays with twig branches and things hanging from them too.

Lots more handy hints, not enough time and IM sure other crafters here have some thoughts too (wouldnt be like them if they didnt )

Good luck - am sure I will see you somewhere along the line!!

SuperMum2008

PS Belmont isnt scary at all - just busy and bustling and good for business - you will be fine!! If youre not going to be there until April, come along in February and say hi!!

fi996

i know whitehead presbyterian church are organising a craft fair for sat 6th march to raise money for haiti
will post more details when confirmed

furrychimp

SuperMum2008 wrote: »

PS Belmont isnt scary at all - just busy and bustling and good for business - you will be fine!! If youre not going to be there until April, come along in February and say hi!!

Thanks so much for your lovely messages, they are so encouraging for a newbie! Really hoping to get to Belmont in Feb (if I'm not working that is!) to get a feel for it...really excited about the fairs, it was my NY resolution to send my monkeys off into the big wide world, LOL!

clairewop

how do i find craft fairs for south wales? i belong to craft folk and do some of their events but looking for more cheaper ones as i cannot afford their £3000 fees for xmas one

harleygirl_2

Fi the craftfair on 27 march lol.

Furrychimp would you be interested in attending a craft fair 27 March, loads of kids will be there so you should do well with your socks :rotfl: pm me if interested

Rach39

clairewop wrote: »

how do i find craft fairs for south wales? i belong to craft folk and do some of their events but looking for more cheaper ones as i cannot afford their £3000 fees for xmas one

Since this is a thread on the NI board you probably aren't going to get too many clues! Why not try starting a craft fair thread on the Wales board? Just post something telling people who you are and encouraging other crafters in your area to share their diary dates - that's all we do and as you can see it works pretty well!! Good luck, let us know how you get on (my mum and dad from S Wales as am I originally so wish you all the best of luck) x

Book_Lady

Only just found the new thread!!! I had bookmarked the old one & couldnt understand where everyone had gone!!!!

I know its almost a month late but Happy New Year to all of you & looking forward to seeing you all at events in 2010 x

Book_Lady

harleygirl just emailed you about your fair..sounds fab!!

Cazo1

F YOU FIND ANOTHER DATE/FAIR, PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THIS LIST AND ADD YOURS TO IT,
DELETE ANY PAST FAIRS THAT HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED, SO WE CAN KEEP THE LIST FRESH!

********PLEASE DONT JUST POST SINGLE FAIR DATES - it gets too confusing to plough through pages of chat!!! *************************

JANUARY 31st - Sunday 10am - 5pm
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dundalk
Advertised as a 'Farmer's Market' but the organiser contacted me today and knows what I do (don't know how she got my number!) If you're interested call Roisin at Crowne Plaza Hotel on 00353 429394933

Saturday 6th February 2010
Belmont Tower, Belmont Road
10-4
Googlesearch Belmont Tower Craft Fair and they have their own site - apply online via form, but also phone and chase as they are pretty busy. There may be a waiting list and crafters are rotated if there are duplicate crafts.


Saturday 27th February 2010...
Craft Fair, Regent House School from 10am - 2pm
Regent House School
Circular Road
Newtownards
T: 91813234 (school office, so during school time only)

Saturday 6th March 2010... Rachel asked me to post this for her...
Bangor Abbey Craft Fair
10am-4pm
T 02891 450487 (Rachel) Tables £20

March 13th Gilnahirk Primary School
pm me for contact details of lady organising the fair
Crafters in at 9am, fair 11-3
£25 per table
Last year 500 visitors, this is the 2nd year of doing it.
So far only 3 jewellery stalls, but think carefully before you decide to do it if you are another jeweller and ask the usual questions!


Saturday 27th March 2-6 but might be 12-6 Glengormley in Glenabbey Church
The cost of the table is £15, free tea/coffee to table holders. Extra £5 for electric and please bring your own extension leads. You won't need heaters.
Free admission
Face painting, Creche (free of charge up to one hour), bouncy castle. children's craft, mini facials, trying to organise nails.
Restricting crafts as in no more than 2 of the same,
My email is [EMAIL="nicholaharley@hotmail.co.uk"]nicholaharley@hotmail.co.uk[/EMAIL] if you put in subject line craft fair then I know it is not junk.



Dates for The Argory:

Easter Eggstravaganza 5 April 2010 (Easter Monday) no time as yet £50

Victorian Christmas 4 and 5 December 2010 one day £50 two days £90.

For each event they require non returnable non transferable deposit of £10 for each date with balance payable 28 days before the event. As heavily booked for Christmas they may only be able to offer you one of the two days or may put you on waiting list. Full details and booking forms available from The Argory, Moy, Dungannon office no. 02887784753. Stalls in outbuildings, courtyard and marquee (Christmas only) Power points available to hook up extension leads for lighting only. Fee includes provision of 1 table and chair - you can bring another table or stand but have to let them know beforehand.

Saturday 13 November 2010 10am - 4pm

Lorne House, girl guides £25 per table

contact Claire Flowers on 028 90425 212



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