Comments on: Keeping Busy

By: Regina

Regina — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:30:55 +0000

Hi!
I stumbled onto your blog from the painted pear & looked around to see what you’re about since we’re both Regina.
You have a lot of nice items & I agree with what Cath posted about grouping like items & helping your customers focus. A tip I picked up is to not put out everything. For example, you have 10 bags, you put out half. Someone is showing interest, but not committing. Ask if they are looking for certain color… then you could bring out the item.
Blessings to you.

By: Cathie

Cathie — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 21:18:39 +0000

Hi Regina,

I notice that there is a LOT to look at there at that craft fair, so much to look at that a person would have a hard time focusing…. I bet the jewelry booths had black backgrounds. That would make them stand out in the general visual clutter. And I bet you have some black fabric in your stash… maybe you could experiment by laying your items out on the black fabric to see if makes the colors pop and the items stand out? If it works, then next time you do a craft fair you could use black to both command attention and focus the eye.

Another trick when you have to compete with so much visual information from the general background is to space your items widely; group them into mini-displays, all the brooches together, for instance, but leave lots of space around each grouping.

I agree that you should play up the recycled aspect as well. That should be something to get people’s attention!

I wish you the best of luck!

Btw, I found your blog through Lisa at That Dorky Homemade Look; she posted a link to your pillowcase shopping-tote tutorial and I was absolutely thrilled to make myself a shabby chic purple tote from a thrifted pillowcase! Thank you!

Cath

By: Ellen

Ellen — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:56:26 +0000

I’ve never done a craft fair before so I have no suggestions for you, but I’m sorry it was disappointing. Sometimes it’s good to see ‘what’ sells but I think it’s more in ‘how’ the ‘what’ is presented. Hope it works next time for you.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:54:41 +0000

I agree that your stuff is *very* reasonably priced, and it’s high quality craftsmanship, so maybe you just need to work on the marketing and advertising. The hardest part, huh?

Have you thought about some kind of a clothesline (two extension ladders connected with rope, perhaps? Then you could also display some thing on each step) to hang your totes so that each one can be seen on its own but still together in a group? And I think maybe sometimes people get overwhelmed with too much choice. Too many decisions on which fabric to pick, and they end up not picking anything. So maybe it’s not enough to just group all your tissue holders together, but also put them in color groupings – blues, reds, browns, whatever. You have such a fantastic variety of fabrics, colors, and patterns going on, it might be making some people whiz past because they just can’t focus. If you can just get them to stop, they’ll love what they see!

By: Alexis

Alexis — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:08:52 +0000

I only have a little experience with fairs. I did a couple fairs last year with some felt wallet kits that I had put together. My one item was not enough to grab people and I just don’t have the time to put a bigger show together. I liked your plaque display, card display and bags display best from your table. I agree with others’ suggestions to try to play up the recycled goods to get some initial interest. Best of luck.

By: Jan

Jan — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:49:21 +0000

I totally agee with PieCake. Can you make a banner or lightweight sign with a descriptive name? “Recycled with Love” or something attention grabbing. Without knowing the process, a shopper might assume your’s was just another quilting table. Please don’t feel bad though, it’s not you. Craft sales are very hard. Keep at it! All your blog-friends support you!

By: flossy-p

flossy-p — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:25:20 +0000

oh dear, my market experience was similar. The soap man next to me made a motza! Sorry I’m obviously no help, some good suggestions from the other commenters though. Better luck next time.

By: Grayangi

Grayangi — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:07:07 +0000

A friend and I did the craft fair thing this past year and had reasonable success – not great but we made a few $$ and had fun.

Anyway… my suggestions would be like Piecake said – advertise that these are recycled. Make that a focal point.

Also, pick 2 or 3 things to take. I noticed that the stands with 1 or 2 main things to sell (but in dif colors, sizes, etc) seemed to do better and sometimes sell out. The large grouping of similar items really got everyone’s attention.

Best of luck! I love your things! They look like great quality and are very inspirational.

By: Piecake

Piecake — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:21:04 +0000

The bags on a vertical hanger were a great idea. Did you advertise them as good bags for grocery shopping? I think if you advertise that the items were made from recycled materials, that would bring in some people. Someone might think the brooches were nice, but if they knew that they were made from recycled ties it makes them more interesting. People really want to do the recycle/reuse lifestyle, but most don’t know how. If they see your stuff and understand how it came about, it gives them ideas and it makes them feel good about buying it.

Good Luck!

By: Pasha Plum

Pasha Plum — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:52:52 +0000

Craft shows are hard–I don’t have the time right now to do all the work to build up my stock and then do the show. I think people buy jewelry for themselves and gifts for other people–maybe if you had the stuff to giftwrap all fancy with little cards and tissue paper–and then a sign to suggest who might be grateful recipients of such gifts??