Hi all -
I'm pondering taking the plunge and entering my scarves in to some craft shows. I've never done the craft show thing, not even as a buyer, so I don't actually have any idea how one finds these things, much less enters items in to them! Any suggestions? Am I just crazy to think about doing this?
Heather
No, you aren't crazy. :) To find craft fairs, you'll need to find out where they are held in your region. You might find listings with The Crafts Report, or if you have a local arts council. If you know of other people who make crafts to sell you can ask them if they have recommendations for a good show.
Once you've located a show or two you are interested in contact the show organizer(s) to get their criteria. Generally you're too late for this year, unless there is a cancellation or they haven't filled the spaces yet. Many shows start taking registration for booth spaces in Feb/Mar/April but you'll need to do some groundwork before you apply so starting now is A Good Thing.
Check the show out when it is on and talk to some of the vendors (when it isn't busy, of course!) and ask them about how they feel about the show - is it well organized, well attended, worth their while doing it? Did they have to do the show for several years before they developed a clientele, etc.
Then think carefully about how the goods are displayed and how you might display your own work.
I don't do any shows where the only display apparatus is a table. Textiles need to be hung to be seen properly, so my DH built me a stand that can be taken apart and set up fairly easily. Other people find gridwall works for them - it can be purchased and put together with zipties and various hooks, bars, etc., for hanging textiles can be purchased.
Then think about the booth fee and how much you'll have to sell to cover the fee, your materials and as much of your time as you can. :} Don't forget that the time in your booth (setting it up and manning it) needs to be covered too. Many artisans forget that when they are selling at a show their prices need to include the time when they are away from the studio and selling, not producing. That's where the retail markup comes into the pricing structure.
Sometimes a group of craftspeople will get together, rent a small hall and organize a show on their own. But remember that you also have to spend the money on advertising to get people into your show. They will come if you build it, but they have to know about it first! ;)
Cheers,
Laura
Laura, you're always a gem of knowledge! I just wish I lived closer so I could clean your floors, wash your dog (if you have a dog) and count your spools of yarn just to listen to you talk about what you know. And maybe, some time, get a critique on my own weaving. :-)
A friend of mine actually said that, given what I'm pricing my scarves at, craft shows wouldn't be the best market, but that art shows might be just The Thing. I like the craft show idea because I have a better chance of having someone who knows what they're looking at (good hand crafts), but the art show idea does put a different spin on things.
Do you see craft shows as something different than art shows? Do you have thoughts on one over the other?
Thanks for all the time you give us baby weavers!
Heather
I do Art Fairs in Michigan with my handwovens and handspun/handknits. I have found that Art Fairs are much more profitable for me than craft shows. While the booths cost considerably more than craft shows, people at Art Fairs expect a higher quality, handcrafted, one of a kind piece of work and are willing to pay for that caliber of product. My scarves, shawls, etc are priced to reflect the high quality yarns I use and the work involved to create unique pieces. I find at craft shows alot of people admire my work but are shocked at the cost of my items. I will also say that my prices are very reasonable, but just higher than craft show shoppers expect. I have also found that art and craft shows associated with a festival of any kind are not profitable. Those folks are typically there for the festivities and not serious shoppers. Good Luck! The work you put into the show is the same be it a craft show or an art fair, but the sales are quite different.
Definitely go for the higher end market, whether it's called a craft or art fair. In my town, the two shows I do are called craft fairs, both are juried, but one is mid-range, the other the high end fair for this town.
But that's why I say to talk to the vendors in any show you are contemplating doing. Look at the competition - where are their price points? Will you fit in with the others? If not, look elsewhere. But you'll want to do some smaller shows before you tackle an American Craft Council type of show just to hone your display and merchandizing, etc. If the jury goes with photos instead of actual product, make sure you have the best quality photos you can afford.
Cheers,
Laura
What great gems of advice Laura! I have done a few shows and learn so much from the comments of shoppers and other crafts people. It can be fun and a lot of hard work to get everything ready. Our first success was selling about 10 items to a shop in a local beach town. My first statement to my friend and business partner was, we are buying labels and sewing them in everything! That one act has taken us far. People have contacted us from the email and web address on our woven labels. We have used a pretty reasonable label maker in the US called General Label.
Laura is so right about photos. If professional ones are too costly, there are several books about photographing your hand wovens or your crafts. I found one in our Guild library and my friend took a class last July that was very helpful.
Good luck and keep us posted. Be sure to send me the name of any shows you are doing. We'll add them to the Events Calendar.
Claudia
