Adjusting your expectations for craft fairs

Now I have always thought that craft fairs were for you to sell your items - I mean what is the point of paying all the money for a stand/table, working like a loon in the run up to get as much stock ready as possible and then spending a long old day with a smile pasted on your face engaging with potential customers?

Well according to the latest stream of articles and blogs out there, I have it wrong :( With limited disposable income and everyone trying to look after the pennies, craft fair splurges seem to be a thing of the past.  Don't get me wrong, some people are managing to sell enough to make a living at craft fairs, but for most your expectations are sure to be dashed if you don't change them.

I mentioned in my last post about how I had had a terrible craft fair at the beginning of August, and how my two day bank holiday vintage fair was make or break as far as repeating them was concerned - well sadly it was break :(  I spent 70+ hours revising my stock and trying to gear it towards items that I thought would sell well at a vintage fair and it seems that still it wasn't enough.

I was sure these 1950s half aprons would be a hit!  The feedback on facebook had been immense and so imagine my surprise when not a single one sold.

I knew that Marilyn Monroe was always a firm favorite, especially among vintage lovers and this frame was beautiful!  A layered paper cut of Marilyn Monroe, what's not to love?  Sadly the facebook feedback was a hit, but at the craft fair I had very little interest for her.

I knew from experience that the Rockabilly gang loved to frequent the establishment that the craft fair was being held at and in their honour (and as they are a secret love of mine) I whipped up these Munsters, Herman and Lily layered paper cuts.  There hadn't been much love for them on facebook, but my husband was greedily eyeing them up and at the craft fair I had a couple swooning over them for ages - I was sure I had a sale - sadly not.

I got very obsessed with these reversible hand bags and ended up making 7!  Family and friends were in love with them and I had hints about Christmas presents from all and sundry - when they didn't sell at the craft fair I was really shocked.  There was some interest, but no one even came close to a purchase.

I also whipped up hair bandannas and re-jigged all of my displays - in fact my layout was the best yet!

Over-all the feeback I received was great - my online sales are increasing and I have people from all over the world purchasing my items - the only thing I can think of is perhaps the price puts people off impulse buys at craft fairs - there really is no solution to this.  I barely make minimum wage on most of my items and so it is impossible to lower them - this is after all a business.  I think we are in a society of bargain hunters and handmade attracts the opinion of "well if she made it, so can I" people don't understand how expensive the equipment is or how my experience and design flair is something that has taken a while to build up.

People are being advised to see craft fairs as a way to exhibit your work - the aim should be people taking business cards away and you making a great impression on them.  Personally I believe that my time (and money) may be more effectively spent on online advertising as I should be able to reach a much wider potential audience than I can at craft fairs.  Of course it could just be that I haven't sold at a event that is right for me and my products.

I have 3 more craft events this year that I had previously agreed to - I will be doing these and unless there is a major turn around in buying habits, I think that will be it for me.