Selling Greetings Cards/Gifts & other goods at Fairs & Fetes

katchambers

Crazychik wrote: »

Ive been lurking for a couple of days reading this thread. Can I join in please?

Ive been making homemade cards for nearly 4yrs now.
I sell to family & friends, and many have been gratefully received.
I also sell my cards in bulk lot on ebay! Aswell as making my own card toppers.
I sell to various staff at work, by having a box in the canteen, as well as having a card holder, on a shelf in my local Beauty Salon.
I also sell the odd few at the local car boot.

Ive completed numerous of wedding stationary orders, with 2 weddings approaching for next year. The chap Im doing one order for, says that my samples are much better than the one's he's seen on show at wedding fayre's. And suggested why dont I do them?

The thought had crossed my mind many of times. But I lack confidence to say that they have the WOW factor and will sell. Despite people telling me different. I need a good shake to be able to believe in myself more.

My cards are classy with a touch of elegance, and I'm aware that people do have various tastes. And also aware of the competition out there regarding homemade cards.

I buy my stock in bulk, in order to keep the costs and the sale of my cards low. People do think I charge too little.

Anyhow, after reading everyone's attempt & efforts into selling at fayre's. Can I ask a ? please.
I'm aware you would have to pay up front for the cost of your stall!
With the profit made after the cost of the stall, do you have to share it with the fayre organisation? ie - we too have local fayre's for the RSPCA, and say for example, I call to hire a table and sell my cards. Pay them £10, and if I make £50, would I have to pay them back a % of my profit?

And say for example if I gave it a go with my wedding stationary at wedding fayre's. Do I call the hotel where the fayre is being held at to arrange a stall.

Im very motivated now by reading this thread.
I do hope you can help.
Thanks in advance

Hi crazychik,

I think you should go for it. Probably best to do a smaller show first as the bigger shows cost in the hundreds for a stall.

Check your local paper for wedding events, some of them have to phone number or website of the organiser but most just have the address of where the event is, so it's best to ring them and ask for the organisers number.

The shows vary a lot, wedding fairs usually ask for a flat rate for a stall. I recently paid £50 for a stall at a small event that lasted all day. Some craft events or christmas events ask for a table fee plus a raffle prize and some ask for a percentage. The percentage is better if you sell smaller/cheaper items as you give % of your takings, if you sell one expensive item you may pay out more than someone who sold 20 cheaper items, so weigh up what you think is best for you. I sell cards mostly and they are cheap so % is better for me, unless the table is very cheap.

You need to believe in yourself and be confident about your product. If they are selling in beauty salons and you already have 2 weddings I would say you ARE good enough and you should give it a go, you won't know unless you try.

Good luck and report back to us how it goes!

Kat x

Crazychik

Thanks guys, I need to get my life on track before I can focus on this new adventure! this will be something to look into for the future. It's a must and Im excited that I have something to look forward too. And hopefully help me escape the usual rat race!

chelly-says

hi there
i too make my own greetings cards, mainly sell to friends and family but also do carboot sales and recently bought 2 old card stands off of ebay.
i find the prices of handmade cards on ebay does not cover my expenses so dont sell on there, and friends and family only need so many per year so i cant make a decent profit there either
i am always a bit dubious of selling at craft fairs as i think there will be lots of people doing the same thing so thought i probably wouldnt get on to well but after reading this may try one.
i do find with home made cards it is hard to keep the price down as the stuff is all so expensive so has anybody and money saving advise for me when it comes to buying craft bits
hubby works silly shifts and we have a 2 1/2 year old so need to get some cash in before xmas, but would probably have my little boy with me at fairs, so fingers crossed and a huge amount of luck

chelly-says

oh and i nearly forgot an even cheaper way of putting your details on things is a rubber stamp vista print use to sell changable ones but they are very fiddly and dont look great, a friend of mine actually makes the little rubber part and sells them for a few quid PM for details
the sticker address labels look great but you do have to keep purchasing them with the stamp once you have bought it its always there.

AWinner

katchambers wrote: »

It's not so easy to find, check them out here:

http://www.vistaprint.co.uk/vp/ns/splash/splash_return_address_labels.aspx?xnav=TsrItem&xnid=aReturnAddressLabelsRubberStampsLabels&dng=1021817

Kat x

Went to this page but could only see labels starting at £4.99 per 140

Look quality labels though!

cheers

Alistair

katchambers

That's weird because it says 140 labels are FREE! That's weird

Hardup_Hester

Hi
Just a couple of points I'd like to mention, some of the craft fairs are very picky as to what they let you sell, for example I'm allowed to sell my scarves as I've made them myself, but I'm not allowed to sell my gift baskets as not all the contents are hand made.
Also where I live the average cost of stalling out is £50 to £150 which is a big outlay on top of the costs involved in whatever you are selling.
Good luck & I hope you all do really well.

katchambers

Did a great fair today 'The great accessories fair'. It was £20 for the table, which was reasonable, especially considering how well organised it was, they had volunteers who brought your tea and cake in the morning and afternoon (free) and looked after your stall for you if you wanted a break. It was advertised really well, and there was a good turnout, it's the best fair I have done so far, and I made the most profit I have made so far, so a good day. I forgot my baskets though and almost ran out of brochures. I always forget something! The cards and gift wrap stuff sold really well but the gifts didn't do so good, which was surprising.

Hester - you are right that they are picky, and I receive the brunt of that because my stuff is not handmade, so I often get turned away, however, I am tenacious so I keep looking for more until someone says yes.

Has anyone else done a fair recently? How did it go?

Kat x

tru

I've never sold at a craft fair, are your customers mostly general public? I was thinking about doing one, I would love it if shop owners came to my stall and put a big order in

tru rushes off to design a catalogue

katchambers

Yes, it is normally the general shopping public that come through the doors. I have yet to have a big shop order, although it doesn't mean it can't happen

I think you should give it a test drive with the products you have, start with a fair with a low cost table and then if it doesn't do well you won't have lost much money.

Let us know how you get on...

Kat x