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Craft Fairs-Hit or Miss?

I've been wanting to do this post for a while now but to be honest I've not been that inspired. Craft fairs can be so hit and miss and as a crocheter trying to sell hats and blankets over the Summer months, I have to say my early experiences were mostly misses! That being said, I thought it might still be useful to share what I've learnt, good and bad, since entering the weird and wonderful world of the craft fair.
   Now where I live is not a very big city so the crafting community isn't that huge. One thing I have enjoyed is meeting local people who share such passion and enthusiasm for their craft. It's lovely to put a face to the Instagram account or Facebook page and everyone is always so warm and welcoming.
   I was so nervous doing my first craft fair, which is crazy for someone who up until recently had a career in retail management! But selling your own handmade items is nerve wracking and putting yourself out there does take guts. I obviously needn't have been anxious about it. It was an amazingly organised event (Assembly Rooms in Lincoln in case you're wondering) and my stall neighbours were lovely and super friendly. The only negative was that it was one of the hottest days of the year, Father's Day, and incredibly quiet. I did make a sale early on in the day though (wahoo!) but that was about it! It was a long afternoon but I'm not going to lie,  as a mummy of a 3 and 1 year old, I was pretty content with my yarn and hook and no one needing me for a few hours. It was a bit of a novelty and I did still really enjoy the day.
   And that slow day didn't put me off! I did 4 more fairs over the months that followed to try out a few different locations. Each time I'd feel super positive and excited...and each time I'd have a slow day and not even make back my table fees. I did have more success recently, I changed my stock up a bit, in line with what was working well for me from my online shop. But for me it was probably more down to the time of year. Warm hats and scarves are a much easier sell in winter just before Christmas! 
   I definitely don't feel put off from trying again in the future. It does take a lot of time to build up enough stock though which is not something I have a lot of at the moment. Having almost completed a full year of my business though I feel I can prepare better next time. Using the quieter summer months to build up my stock for the busier winter craft fairs ahead. 
   Some of my top tips though would have to be:
1. Take some work to do. It's a great conversation starter and people are really
interested to see how your items are made, plus it makes the day go a lot quicker if you have  something to do
2. Take a friend if you can! I did my first 2 events completely solo which was fine but it's a lot more fun if you have a stall buddy! The last few fairs I've done alongside my lovely artist friend Charlie from Precious Colour Jade and we always have a great time catching up, talking shop and bouncing ideas off of each other. We get a lot done whilst having a lovely day so it's win win!
3. Smile and be approachable but don't pounce! I always cringe a bit at the overly helpful stall holders who repeat the same patter to anyone who dare to walk near their table. It can be really off putting! 
4. Business cards are really useful to have on your stall for future orders. People may not buy today but might just contact you a few weeks later for a special custom order. Make sure they can find you! I've even started taking along a poster detailing my future workshops as I had a few enquiries at previous fairs about craft classes
5. Prepare. I always try and  plan way in advance  what stock I want to take and make sure it works as a whole collection and looks great together. I love to have a little practice run the night before too, working out where everything is going to go really helps speed up the set up on the day
6. Spread the word. Make sure your followers know where you're going to be and what you'll be selling, take photos and show off your amazing set up with pride!

And above all always think of the positives. Even if the sales don't go your way. People seeing your work, taking a business card, making new contacts, it's all worthwhile when trying to build a business so don't take it to heart if you have a quiet day, you never know what might come from it!

I'd love to hear your experiences if you've done some craft fairs recently and what tips you have to ensure the day is a success





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