Anyone with craft fair experience?

CapricornLass

My husband is a woodturner, and we've done a couple of craft shows a year for about 10 years now.

You are right, you are unlikely to make much of an income (at least, not with woodturning! There may be more of a profit with your type of product). Usually the best we can hope for is that the hobby pays for itself.

With regards to venue, I would strongly recommend that if possible, you go and visit the event yourself to see if its the sort of venue that fits your product. Personally we avoid most church/village fairs, unless we have a personal connection, i.e. my mum's asked us, and one we do because we just like the atmosphere of the event. Finding a good craft fair isn't easy, but you want to have a look at the footfall, and the quality of the stuff being sold, and also what sort of stalls there are - you don't want the sort where every other stall is jewellery/cards/knitting and sewing and not much else. Similarly, avoid those with 3rd world/fair trade/charity stalls, as they sell stuff for knock-down prices and your punters will expect you to sell your stuff for the same, or even less. You want the sort of events that are promoting British/local crafts if you can. Bear in mind tho that despite all this research, events be very different from year to year, dependent on weather/ what football match is on/how broke people are feeling. You will also find this applies to what you sell - what went well at one fair won't do well at the next, or even at the same fair the next year.

Our experience of Charity-organised events is that they expect you to pay heavily for the priviledge of taking a stall - where everyone else charges £25, they will charge £45. Some events also demand a raffle prize in addition to paying for the stall which personally I deeply resent. Once many years ago I was also approached by one organiser who expected to take a 20% share of the profits as well as the payment for the table (she got told what she could do with herself). Expect to pay extra for the priviledge of an electrical socket. Some events will provide a table, others a table and one /two chairs, and others just chairs, so be prepared to invest in your own table too.

Other things to consider; public liability is a must - a lot of the more professional events will not let you sell anything unless you have it, and will demand a copy of the paperwork. You may also be asked to provide a risk assessment of your stall and goods - it doesn't have to be too elaborate, but again they will demand to see it.

These days, people expect to be able to pay by card as well as cash. I can recommend I-Zettle. Most venues are happy to share the router code, but sometimes the connection isn't good no matter what you try.

I always take our own sandwiches and often a flask/bottle of water. You may be lucky and be offered a cup of tea by the organiser, but don't depend on it! If you have a very good friend/willing partner, its worth taking them along to help you with manning the stall, - its useful if you need to go to the loo, as well as helping with the rush. You will find that most stall-holders are very friendly, - you can have some very interesting conversations during the slack periods!

Good luck.

MissPop

+1 to everything CapricornLass has said!

Fair organisers (the ones worth participating in, anyway) will vet you and your products, to avoid having 20 jewellery stalls and nothing else, etc. I do wonder how they would perceive a wholesale-bought product in handmade packaging - some may not consider that a handmade/crafted product.

I'll be really honest, it gets my goat to see stalls selling mass-produced/wholesale/not handmade products at craft fairs, although some fairs do seem to be mainly that kind of thing. Depends on the fair and the crowd.

savingholmes

How much do you pay for your insurance - and where did you get it? Obviously there are loads of insurers out there but I am interested in what is considered reasonable.

Most of my items are likely to be decorated glass that can be used with cork bottle lights or other battery lights. I may experiment with candle making but I am not convinced that it will add profit - unless I sell them as separates...

CapricornLass

We've used Ian Wallace Insurance for about 5 years now. They are online http://craftinsurance.co.uk However I think what you pay depends on the level of cover and what you are protecting.

pearl123

I presume the lotions and potions have gone through all safety tests and if necessary stability tests rather than the diy home made variety.

lincroft1710

pearl123 wrote: »

I presume the lotions and potions have gone through all safety tests and if necessary stability tests rather than the diy home made variety.

The thread is a year old, so OP may already be in business or have given up on the idea.