NI Craft Fairs 2011

SuperMum2010

Maz_2409 wrote: »

Hello, i have just joined this site, im a consultant for Vie at home, selling, cosmetics, Skincare, Bath & Body, Aromatherapy, Jewellery and Homewares, i did one craft fair before christmas and really enjoyed it and was wondering would their be a market out their for me to attend these fairs and sell my products.

regards
Marilyn

Hi Maz, welcome to the forum!

There seem to be different types of fairs - some insist only on handmade items and sometimes you are asked to provide evidence of them being handmade, which procludes people like Phoenix Card sellers, Usborne Books, Jamie Oliver and also Vie.

Other fairs have a mixture of crafts and sellers like yourself, so there is always a market for you, but you might not be able to attend all fairs.

Ive seen other sellers selling things like Avon and Aloe Vera products at fairs, and whilst their sales on the day might not be high, they seem to use an event as a way of getting parties booked so this might suit you?

I would say its always worth a try, but if you want to sell on the day, you need to have an attractive looking stall with a good range of stock and lots of "offers" and reasonable fair-based prices. (Visitors to fairs often get confused between a fair and a jumble or car boot, and expect things to be a bargain which often hits real crafters!). If you are hoping to get bookings you will need lots of supporting literature, something to sign people up etc...

One other thing - you seem to sell a broad range of items which might be a problem - there are some really specialist jewellery makers on this thread who make their own glass beads etc, there are some who make their own bath bombs, and you will need to be very honest with organisers about what you are selling from your range because there is often a limit on the number of any one type of trader at a fair - for example only 2 or 3 jewellery sellers allowed. We are always supportive of other traders selling the same sort of stuff, but if you book into a fair as a Vie rep and then layout a fabulous looking range of "mass produced" (in the nicest possible way!) jewellery, you may be asked to remove it, and it will impact on the two other poor jewellery sellers on the day who have been up all night curling bits of silver wire around hand blown glass beads!!! Just something to bear in mind!!!

Good luck - go for it - Im sure we will all bump into you at a fair somewhere this year :j

glassact

January Dates

Saturday 22 January, 10 - 2pm Carrickfergus Town Hall £8 per table. If successful will be held once a month.
Ring 07895 885292 for more details


February Dates


fri 25th - sun 27th
craft fair, ballymena tower centre, pm fi99 for more info

March

27th march
"step into spring" springhill
contact - [EMAIL="Jane.Jackson@niwater.com"]Jane.Jackson@niwater.com[/EMAIL]

April

Saturday 16 April 1pm - 5pm

Glenabbey Church, Ballycraigy Road, Glengormley
£20 per table, £5 extra for electric. Restriction on same craft applies
For form and more info contact [EMAIL="nicholaharley@hotmail.co.uk"]nicholaharley@hotmail.co.uk[/EMAIL]
Tables given on first come first served basis.
All proceeds in aid of Kids Alive

Spring Craft Fair Playhouse www.derryplayhouse.co.uk 30th april 11 - 4p.m. tel 02871268027 Elaine for details

May

Garden Fair Hillsborough 20th - 22nd May

Garden & Craft Fair Sat 21st & Sun 22nd May Mount Stewart

June

Vehicles of Yesteryear (Craft accepted on this theme) Sun 19th June, Mount Stewart

October

Food Fair 8th and 9th October, Mount Stewart

tracey.sherman

Hi Everyone

Craft fairs for me last year were not great. A case of organisers telling me that each craft was restricted to 3 table and then when I got their finding out that there were maybe 6 or 8 and in some cases 12 tables all selling the same thing. i wish that organisers would take into consideration that everyone needs a fair turn and just not try to rake in as much money for their event as they can.

This being the case I have had to rethink my craft and am going to try something new this year. hope 2011 turns out better than 2010.

Sorry thats my rant over for the minute, hope 2011 turns out to be great for everyone.

Tracey

fi99

hi tracey i totally agree, same problem a lot of us find unfortunately ....... very annoying as it badly affects our sales

tracey.sherman

Hi Fi

Not only does it affect your sales but also your confidence in your craft. At the end of season i started to wonder if my craft was good enough seeing sales werent that great, but hopefully will do better this year.

Tracey

Jewellerybydi

I haven't had any organisers reply to me yet either & have sent a few emails myself :-(
I make jewellery also & it always books up really fast!!! But good luck with it & I hope to see you at some fairs!!! Love looking at other people's work!!!

SuperMum2010

Keep at it everyone - it could be organisers think it is just so early in the year they wont possibly have had any email replies!!! Dont give up - EVERY craft is worth showing and selling because it is made with thought and care and (most times!) love and the joy of seeing someone leave with something you have sat and made whilst watching Zen (yum)/Silent Witness (yum) or indeed ANYTHING with Martin Shaw in it always gives me a smile....(sure Martin Shaw makes me more than smile, but we wont go into my wierd crushes, thats probably a whole new thread!). Not everyone will want what you sell - but you have to keep reminding yourself we are all different and thats what makes a fair great....do not be put down or put off...go with the flow :-)

Sorry for the lecture !!!

SheDee

SuperMum2010 wrote: »

Keep at it everyone - it could be organisers think it is just so early in the year they wont possibly have had any email replies!!! Dont give up - EVERY craft is worth showing and selling because it is made with thought and care and (most times!) love and the joy of seeing someone leave with something you have sat and made whilst watching Zen (yum)/Silent Witness (yum) or indeed ANYTHING with Martin Shaw in it always gives me a smile....(sure Martin Shaw makes me more than smile, but we wont go into my wierd crushes, thats probably a whole new thread!). Not everyone will want what you sell - but you have to keep reminding yourself we are all different and thats what makes a fair great....do not be put down or put off...go with the flow :-)

Sorry for the lecture !!!

Well said Supermum!! :T:T:T
I totally agree with you about Martin Shaw!!!

Also Craft fairs are the place to meet and catch up with crafters who are aspassionate about their crafts as you are!:)

ruth_ferris

i was asked to a xmas craft fair in my area upon arriving i went to speak to the organiser who i was told wasn't there yet but would be along soon i was told to go and start setting up another lady (that is not what i called her at the time) asked me what i was selling i told her jewellery and beads. she then got very aggressive with me and told me to leave, the first lady then came over had a word with her and then both of them asked me to leave. i was told i was not welcome. when i got home the organiser called to see where i was. angrly i told her. she was very angry. and said her apoligies it turned out that the first lady new the other jewellery person thankfully it only happened once. i've been wanting to rant about this for ages!! no more rants!

glassact

January Dates

Saturday 22 January, 10 - 2pm Carrickfergus Town Hall £8 per table. If successful will be held once a month.
Ring 07895 885292 for more details


February Dates


fri 25th - sun 27th
craft fair, ballymena tower centre, pm fi99 for more info

March

Pink Pamper Night - Slieve Donard Hotel 24th March 7-10pm £30 evening of beauty talks, demos and crafts. In aid of Action Cancer.Contact Ruth Jennett 02890803359

27th march
"step into spring" springhill
contact - [EMAIL="Jane.Jackson@niwater.com"]Jane.Jackson@niwater.com[/EMAIL]

April

Saturday 16 April 1pm - 5pm

Glenabbey Church, Ballycraigy Road, Glengormley
£20 per table, £5 extra for electric. Restriction on same craft applies
For form and more info contact [EMAIL="nicholaharley@hotmail.co.uk"]nicholaharley@hotmail.co.uk[/EMAIL]
Tables given on first come first served basis.
All proceeds in aid of Kids Alive

Spring Craft Fair Playhouse www.derryplayhouse.co.uk 30th april 11 - 4p.m. tel 02871268027 Elaine for details

May

Garden Fair Hillsborough 20th - 22nd May Contact [EMAIL="info@gardenshowireland.com"]info@gardenshowireland.com[/EMAIL]

Garden & Craft Fair Sat 21st & Sun 22nd May Mount Stewart

June

Vehicles of Yesteryear (Craft accepted on this theme) Sun 19th June, Mount Stewart

October

Food Fair 8th and 9th October, Mount Stewart