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Thinking of doing a Craft Fair this year?

Posted: Wed, 16 August 2017, 20:34

Thinking of doing a Craft Fair this year?

Craft Fair season is fast approaching and it’s time to take a look at some of the major Do’s & Don’ts. To get the best results from your efforts we have a couple of pointers that should give you an idea on what is required to help you to succeed out there. Once you have identified a craft market, car boot sale or even a table in your community hall the principles are still the same…

First of all contact the organiser for as much detail on the size and position of your allotted space. This will allow you mark out and mock up your stall before you arrive at the venue. You should get a sign made up with your logo or a simple message so people can identify you and tell others about you. When you are ready to layout most find a white cloth works for the display area as it keeps the focus on the products you are selling. Keep colours to the background and edges to draw attention. Your products should be evenly spaced out so that it’s neither cluttered nor sparse. You should add height to draw attention to a featured product; this can be done simply, by just wrapping a cardboard box. If you have extra stock with you keep it out of sight and as you sell something replace it. Don’t forget to keep checking your display to ensure it’s tidy and inviting throughout the day.

Once you have decided on your layout the next step if not the most important thing is pricing. Make sure every item is priced clearly and that you offer a range of products at various prices. Not everyone may be willing to buy your most expensive item but may wish to buy something small to support you. Another favourite is having a special offer on certain lines… Buy Three get the Fourth Free. Everyone loves a bargain. More and more people are selling on line in the craft area and a visit to www.etsy.ie will give you a good idea on what everyone else is selling and how much for, this should give you a guide for your own price points. A couple of other things to keep in mind when selling… have plenty of change and look into accepting credit cards, there are a couple of apps out there that you can use through a smartphone like www.sumup.ie

When a customer does drop by your stall be sure to smile and make eye contact. Greet them and make some small talk, don’t go straight into sales patter as you might scare them away. They will ask if they are interested. If they don’t buy don’t become disheartened, give them a business card with your contact details and your website. Always thank them for stopping by. We have all passed stalls where the salesperson is sitting at the back of the stall looking bored or reading a book… don’t be that guy or gal. If you are a craft worker and need a break have a project you are working on in your hand. This will generate interest in what you are doing and will bring a connection to your work. Everyone likes to know how it’s made but beware of your time… other crafters will not buy your work.

At some stage you will be thinking about making part or all of your living from your craft and if this is the case you will need an online presence. Most start with a Facebook business page or an Instagram account but you’ll need a proper ecommerce website to promote yourself, your products and your location. Everyone does research nowadays for reassurance that they are not spending on shoddy items. It’s so easy with smartphones, your customers could be checking out your creditably and rating while they are standing beside you. There are lots of organisations out there to get advice. Your local enterprise office should be able to help with a Start your own Business course and may be able to help with your website. You can get further information from… www.localenterprise.ie When you are ready for the next step you should register with the Craft Council, you will find a lot of helpful information on their website and they have a great network that offers support and advice… www.dccoi.ie

So just to recap…

  1.  Do get as much detail about the venue as possible.
  2.  Do plan your layout before you arrive.
  3.  Do make your stall attractive and keep it tidy during the day.
  4.  Do have clear pricing.
  5.  Do have extra stock.
  6.  Do have plenty of change and take credit cards.
  7.  Do have business cards with your phone number and website.
  8.  Do smile and make eye contact.
  9.  Don’t sit around looking tired or bored.
  10. Don’t become disheartened with lack of sales… Try different products.
  11. Do talk to other traders and enjoy the experience.
  12. Do ask for help… there is plenty available to you.

Finally when you think you are finished with your stall stand back and look at it with a critical eye and ask yourself “Would I buy from this stall?” then go and tweak until it’s perfect. Good luck out there and remember preparation is so important when you want to be successful.

 

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