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Post by zed on Jun 17, 2016 22:20:55 GMT
Aaw, thanks, Elizabeth I'm sure you'll do great, Galina, I know what you mean about being overwhelming though, even with just one occasionally, I feel like I can't relax and enjoy it. It's really odd here, Jill. You probably have some idea, it's oddly cliquey, and you either have to charge an absolute fortune to capture those few who think something's worth is only apparent by a huge price tag or you have to be in with the right crowds. I did tell them I was doubtful I'd go again, Lyn, when they came round and asked. I've been 3 times now and I can't see it getting any better if they don't change it. But they get plenty of people wanting stalls so they probably won't.
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Post by Pandagirl on Jun 17, 2016 22:32:31 GMT
Sorry the fair didn't work out Zed. I hope you can sell them on Etsy.
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Post by chookie2 on Jun 18, 2016 0:36:30 GMT
Hugs from me too Zed I know what you mean. I too am in the process of preparing for a stall on July 2nd with my felting buddy who says she needs my stuff to help fill the table, but I am finding it stressful to the max even preparing -and I hate selling.Not knowing what will sell or not,how many,how to price, what people like or don't like is just doing my head in.
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Post by Shepherdess on Jun 19, 2016 2:39:39 GMT
Sorry to hear things didn't go well Zed. It is hard to know what to sell. Relax and recuperate then put them on etsy. Let me know when they go up and I will post a link on facebook. It might help.
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Post by zed on Jun 20, 2016 19:25:18 GMT
Thanks, Marilyn, Sue and Ann Sue, one thing I hear and read over and over from people who successfully sell things they make is to just make what you like and then try to find your target market and hope they find you. Trying to 2nd guess what people will want/like/use is really stressful, and you feel like you've wasted time and effort on things which you made specifically because of feedback/interest and then they don't sell. The only things I'd suggest making specifically (but that's based on experience here) are bookmarks from offcuts (I sell for 50p or £1), felted soaps (but I got the soaps really cheap and sell them cheap) and fluffy/tatty flower brooches. They all work like loss-leaders in Supermarkets, there's a small amount of effort/supplies involved and the low price draws people to look at your other things. Good luck with it
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Post by chookie2 on Jun 21, 2016 3:30:15 GMT
Thanks for the tips Zed. I make all my own soap and hadn't thought of taking any felted soap - have given most away, but can make plenty more - still a week or two to go. I do have some handknits (beanies & kids slippers) at lower cost as draw cards but will add the felted soaps to it too. I am still stuck on pricing my hats though- just have no idea.I will go look on Pinterest today and see what similiar sizes are going for (then probably halve it - it is in the country where people are doing it tough!LOL).
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Post by koffipot on Jun 21, 2016 10:04:25 GMT
Sorry to hear the craft fair wasn't a success zed. Craft Fairs round here aren't great, so many come with things like imported felt hats from Nepal, which obviously sell cheap. We do have a good "Makers Market" just before Xmas, where folks can only sell what they have made themselves and the season obviously boosts sales.
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Post by zed on Jun 21, 2016 14:04:56 GMT
That stuff makes me mad, Judith, we get that here at our so-called craft and Christmas markets. We just had Manchester Day, it'd be great if they supported new/small local artists of all kinds as well as showy parades of achievements.
I think we have a makers market too, but any time I look into stall prices for things like that, they are huge and often they're even juried.
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Post by Shepherdess on Jun 21, 2016 14:30:31 GMT
Soap sells well. I get them pretty cheap and sell for $9 and that is cheap compared to some. I will be getting some hand made soap too this year so will price that a little higher. Most wool sells best in the fall and winter and at Christmas markets that are in the mid range. school sales with lots of resellers and grannies knitting and selling for less than the price of the yarn are a waste of time. It is hard to find the right sales. The big ones are to big. $2000 and up for a space and you need a lot of product to go for usually 3-7 days. Do not underprice yourself. People often think if it's cheap it is crap. If you don't value your work others wont either
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Post by koffipot on Jun 21, 2016 14:49:58 GMT
That stuff makes me mad, Judith, we get that here at our so-called craft and Christmas markets. We just had Manchester Day, it'd be great if they supported new/small local artists of all kinds as well as showy parades of achievements. I think we have a makers market too, but any time I look into stall prices for things like that, they are huge and often they're even juried. Our Makers Market only charge £6 a stall.
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Post by chookie2 on Jun 22, 2016 2:59:37 GMT
Our stall is free but $45 for council insurance. LOL Soaps handmade and handfelted sell here about $3-5.00- rarely a little higher, but in Western Australia (Perth)where my daughter sells, the same would be $10.00 but the stalls are hundreds$$$
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Post by zed on Jun 22, 2016 11:21:55 GMT
Our 'local' one wanted £30 when it first started, but soon started charging more, being 'selective' and last I heard it was £150 for 2 days. And not even local anymore.
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Post by Shepherdess on Jun 22, 2016 21:07:32 GMT
around here local is usually with in 100 miles. after tat thy usually start saying Canadian artist.
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Post by carole aka craftywoman on Jun 23, 2016 14:07:32 GMT
I have scanned over all the posts here and I am so sorry about your experience Zed, but you know what I'm sure I read somewhere and it could have been you, you could do small demonstrations sitting down making felted soaps for example, have the packs ready with the soap and fibres and show people what to do.
Let them have a go with the packs they have just bought from you or have a small loss leader with small soaps and little bits of fibre, then show off your wonderful work.
I was speaking to a woman the other day who complained that she went to Woolfest saw some beautiful wool, then saw a shawl made from the wool, but there was no pattern so she didn't buy the wool!!!! people need to be given everything unless they are experienced felters - and even then!!!!!
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Post by zed on Jun 24, 2016 12:03:19 GMT
Thanks, Carole I think Lyn suggested it to me a while ago about doing demos. I did think about it after I did the MakeFest event, and honed my skills to use very little water/make little mess, but that venue just isn't the right place for it, unfortunately. I've tried various things over the years based on remarks I've seen from felters/fibre artists: mixed wool and fibre packs, packs with tutorials, individual fibres, mixed embellishment fibres etc. Nearly all have sold eventually (except the multipacks of embellishment fibres), but it seems people aren't influenced by good value for money or variety or good quality. Boxes do it though, and clubs/mystery. If you put 5 different things in a box, get people to join a fibre club, promote the 'mystery' or 'surprise' factor, you can flog anything to people on Facebook and they'll pay a lot for it. I've known all along my main problems are, I won't rip people off/exploit people with gimmicks,and I don't have the energy/health to put everything in to a production line business. And people want handmade items at Chinese import prices I've started photographing my packs to go on etsy. But the blue ones just won't show up
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