In the words of Craig Revel Horwood Saturday's fair was a disarster, well lit hall, clean, good mix of stalls, good quality items but not as many visitors as would have hoped and not much buying, well except the shoe lady and she did a roaring trade.
This has been a long list of events which have not worked and made my decision to finish with fairs during the current climate easier. This decision also comes at a time when I am changing the face of my business and confirms that what I am doing is right.
As a business never easy to make changes as you have no crystal ball to see into the future to check the decisions you make are the right ones at least being a one man band only myself that can be let down. Such a shame that handmade has reached these levels and again would love to know why, think with the lack of spare funds in purses customers are looking to stretch their money as far as possible in the gift section and buying cheaper bought in goods to at least have the same Christmas as previous years with oodles of gifts around the tree. So quantity over quality wins.
Took some pic's of my stall, shame about the sports nets at the back but am happy went back to the full stand as it becomes my shop window for the day. Apologies for the picture quality I am not David Bailey!
Had a Christmas card order from the Pamper event on Thursday an unusual request as this design is not normally Christmas but hope the customer is happy.
Don't forget to stop by the other blogs at 1st Unique Gifts and Make Mine Pink.
Have a Happy Crafting Week
Have a Happy Crafting Week
I have also done hopelessly bad at this years events.
ReplyDeleteI always find myself making cheaper things that I dont enjoy making in the hope that it will generate more sales.
I like you have decided not to do any more fairs. I am going to focus my energy on getting the website known a bit better and making my products a bit more up market. I feel I am in between markets at the moment!
Onwards and upwards for next year!
Chloe
Its such a shame, your stall looks beautiful and really should have attracted a lot of customers. I think too many people try to make Christmas about the number of presents rather than quality items and quality family time.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck for the changes you're making. x
Your stall looks lovely and it's a shame there weren't the visitors to make it worthwhile. I think the decision to concentrate on online sales is a sound one - there are lots of people who still have plenty to spend but they're often short of time. Good luck for building the business in a new way x
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you have had such a time of it, I have had a few fairs like that and now I do less fairs and I'm more choosy about the ones that I do.
ReplyDeleteI've just dropped a regular weekly fair come market as it was becoming more bric a brac and bought in stuff and less and less handmade. I agree that spending more time 'networking' for a while may be the way to go.
Jan x
Carole - I can really understand where you are coming from but I think you should be pleased that your decision has been vindicated for the moment. Lovely card BTW!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear your fair didn't go well. It is so difficult to know what is the best way to approach these things and that crystal ball would certainly come in very handy!
ReplyDeleteAli x
I'm sorry you've not had a good time at the fairs. I think sometimes it depends on the place and the people coming in. I've cut down on fairs this year but not cut them out completely. You have to try new things to entice people give them something new and not accessible anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't get in touch with care homes for their summer or winter fairs? Ok perhaps a % may go to the home but something diff. At my Nan's home they did good. We are doing our second fair at the same school ~ the first was a craft fair and it was great. This one is craft and school fair so fingers crossed. Next year we are going to write to schools asking to be considered for trade craft fairs and pamper evening (also gives them a thought of something different). Some companies get stalls together to go into businesses of a lunch time so that's a thought. We hope to do that next year and I have the details for Peterborough.
ReplyDeleteGood luck,
Lesley
Your stall certainly looks easy on the eye. Well balanced and not loaded to the point that you can't pick out anything. Can't see any reason why you should not have done well so must have been the punters, or lack of them. Such a disappointment for you, I am so sorry.
ReplyDeleteYour stall looked lovely and I think the idea of the trellis and curtains is great - looks just like a gift shop window. the card is very pretty.
ReplyDeleteI have never had the time to set up a stall at a fair of any size or name (a market stall here and there but that's so not impressive), however it is disheartening to hear that it looks like the consumer wants only cheap tat rather than quality goods. Your stall looks lovely so it is a bit of a surprise that you didn't get more interest. Try to keep your head up, and I am sure whatever decisions you make, they can only be good ones!
ReplyDeleteHow horrid but you should take comfort from the fact that you have recognised this and are doing something about it. Your stall looked great by the way.
ReplyDeleteIt has been tough - I've been to several things where I've sold very little which can be soul destroying. If you can keep going, do. This can't last forever.
ReplyDeleteit's not you - it's them and i think you're right about people buying cheaper ready made stuff. Having made a decision you can channel your energies in a more productive direction which will feel so much better. More power to you.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry the fair didn't go well, you never know what the public is going to buy. I used to make cards on handmade paper, very labor intensive. I sold them on Ebay back then. People loved them but didn't want to pay much for them. It wasn't worth my effort, so I stopped doing it.
ReplyDeleteYour stall looks great, and your things are beautiful. I just think it's very difficult for handmade to compete with factory junk, as much of the public is more concerned with cost. However enough people out there are willing to pay for nice handmade stuff, I believe. The problem is, can a person hang on and keep going while they wait for those people to find them? Hugs!
Hi, I am so sorry that this last show did so badly. Its the same over here too. I sure hope this next year will be much brighter next year for all of us:)
ReplyDeleteYour stall is beautiful and everything looks so pretty
(()) gail
I know exactly what you mean - people are really cutting back this year. I was out at the weekend with my wares (I chose to mix my own handmade things along with some bought-in goods) and I sold more of the bought in (ie cheap!)things by far!! Online is the way to go I think. Good luck and don't give up :-) xx
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately it seems that the recession is not going to go away, people are going to be lookong to stretch their few pennies further for a bit longer. In these frugal times its often luxuriesthat suffer unfortunately and many people see handmade, altthough beautiful and desirable, as luxuries they can't quite afford. It is such a shame because we are in danger of losing a lot of skilled crafts as people just wont be able to share them. Sad state of affairs really. It nas certainly made me think twice about giving up the day job.
ReplyDeleteIts sad that many handcrafters are deciding not to do fairs anymore because of this, as its a fantastic way to showcase your work. We the public will be the poorer for it.
Your stall looks lovely - the trellis is a super idea. I too did a quiet fair on Saturday , in a freezing cold Victorian wool mill, so at least you were warm! The card is fab. Good luck for the rest of your events.
ReplyDeleteJo x
sorry your fair was a disarster, from the comments seems to be a common thing then. I stopped after the Christmas one last year, its one thing people not appreciating our crafts and wanting them for next to nothing, but quite another to be freezing to death for 8 hours to hear that. Made the decision that the warm dry internet was the place for me thank you.
ReplyDeleteLoved your stall and your card.
Lynda
Sorry to hear your sale didn't go well but at least you have a plan b. I do think Internet is the way to go. Good luck at your new adventure.
ReplyDeleteYour stall looked great - love the way you had it - shame there weren't more people. The card is really gorgeous. Mich x
ReplyDeleteI have found having a real good think about who your ustomers are can help - mine do not attend craft fairs so I now only do big family events , schools etc, and have found that then gets me to the people I need and generates on line sales when birthdays come around (I make kids party bags). Sitting in empty halls is soul destroying!
ReplyDelete