I've tried a couple of craft fairs as a way to recoup some of the costs of all of the materials I've used to test my designs, but I haven't sold very much and I still have a big box full of quirky items. I've decided to have a shop on www.folksy.co.uk to see if I am more successful. (I will also put some of my designs there.)

Sue, I don't have "experience" on the selling end, more on the buying end. First, I think any kind of 'crafty' things and craft fairs are on hard times because of the economy, not only in the USA, but worldwide. I know I personally don't have as much to spend on 'stuff'. Also, and this is just my opinion, of things happening in our area here: it seems all craft fairs are the same! For a few years, everybody and her sisters was selling teddy bears decorated with lace, and crocheted scarves and mittens, and tote bags. Then it got onto other fads, including machine embroidery. Now, I'm looking for something at a craft fair that I either can't or won't do, not something I could do myself (and cheaper and better). So, I do indeed prowl around Etsy, and now will prowl Folksy as well. As creative people, we cannot possibly compete with the stuff imported from China. If I can purchase a Christmas top with lots of embroidery at the Dollar Store for $7, I won't bother making it. It's not worth my time or thread! That's the competition we're up against, unfortunately. If you can find customers that actually appreciate a hand-made item, and appreciate the time and attention to detail (as opposed to mass produced Chinese goods), and that it's custom, one of a kind, made especially for them, then you can get a good price and it's worthwhile. If you're selling to the run of the mill craft fair patron, unfortunately most of them are just looking for a "bargain". And when I go to a craft fair, even if I find something unbearably wonderful and unique that I can't live without, chances are that I don't have the $50 cash to pay for it!! I don't think people going to craft fairs expect to drop that much money on a wonderful find, unless perhaps it's specifically a Christmas shopping kind of fair. I don't know what it would cost to sell your quirky things on Folksy, but I was disappointed they weren't there when I went to have a look. I think that would be the best showcase for things like that. First, people go there actively looking for things that are unusual, things they can't get at the Dollar Store. Second, they're in their home, with all the time they want, without the kids dripping ice creams all over or having to go to the loo, and their credit cards are in their wallet, or the PayPal is already set up. If they want to ask something of you, they can. If they want to hint to their friend or mother if it's something they might like, or if the color or size is right, they can do that and come back to the site tomorrow, not possible with a craft fair. If they want to capture a picture and check with brothers and sisters to see if they want to go in on something more expensive as a present, they can do that, too, and get back to you. And I believe that these sites have some kind of problem resolution, or PayPal does anyway, so they feel rather safer. I know if I go to a craft fair, and like something expensive, I feel a bit shaky spending a lot of money lest the thing fall apart in a week and the crafter is from somewhere 100 miles away. Maybe they'll make it good, but it's a total hassle. I do imagine it takes a while to get discovered on Etsy or Folksy, but once the word gets out, I think you'd do well. Personally I hate Facebook, but that seems to be where a lot of advertising is done among peoples' "friends". I'd get some teenager to set up a page and do all the "friend" stuff and posting everywhere and pay them a few bucks to take care of it. It would be worth it to me just to not have to go there, hee hee hee. I personally hate it that some people are only giving their free designs on Facebook, they can keep them as far as I'm concerned. But some people just love it, I guess. So, find one, and let them help you. Maybe somebody that's physically handicapped, and is on the computer all the time anyway for company. Do them some nice embroidery or hand-made gifts as payment. If I set up a site, that's what I'm going to do. Anyway, hope some of my rambling has helped, and I wish you the very best of luck on this venture!! Hugs, Marji

1 comment

by spendlove 08 Jan 2013

I love the idea of paying someone to be your "Face on Facebook"!
You're are quite right about the cheap competition and the customer base. Here in the UK, people think that "homemade" should be cheap. They don't really value it.

I've revived this thread as the discussion has arisen again. I haven't bothered putting finished items up on Folksy, but I have put some designs on now. (My shop is SewFarSewGood.)
The craft fair thing is still important, but I want to "sell the things I make" rather than "make things to sell" so I don't think I'll get too far!

Reading one of the replies reminded me that I have lifetime membership to Ebid. I paid for it a couple of years ago but didn't have much success selling on there. But checking again it looks like they have grown a lot bigger so worth another try. Might be worth a look?

Good Luck with the new venture and sorry that your excellent embroidery didnt sell. Sounds from the comments that there are a number here trying similar ideas for selling. Howabout the Cute cooperative? (UK)

As regards the stand, I agree with Penny. When I have to make my stand, I look at it from a distance, I see the mistakes I made in the preparation. For us who work with fabrics, which are flat, we have to find a way to do the stand on various levels to "movement". I'll give you all my best wishes

Yes Sue, it is hard knowing the best way to sell and we do keep trying, don't we? I have had a Folksy shop for a short while, trying to sell the Christmas stockings I made last Christmas for my web site. ( This took so long I missed the boat ) I paid £30 for the year which means I don't pay listing fees, just the selling fee. (If and when I sell anything ! ) Perserverance, marketing and social networking seem to be the thing to do. Pinterest, Flickr, Facebook etc. etc..... all the things I don't like doing. It's a full-time task on the computer and I'd rather be making things so I'm having a stand at St. Georges Hall, Liverpool 9th Dec. which is a very busy fair but I would like to sell on-line for preference. Jan

1 comment

by spendlove 27 Nov 2012

Hope you do well - I have one more on Saturday.

I make more money teaching others how to do what I make. If a local craft/fabric store has classes, and you think you could teach a class on how to make something you do, ask about teaching a class for them.

Also, if the craft fair does not require that everything be made by the seller, perhaps another vendor would take a few of your things to sell for you. They would add on extra $$ for that service.

Don't give up too soon. Ask a friend to come by your booth at your next show and ask them to critique your booth. I didn't understand the reason people weren't buying some terrific stocking stuffers last year until I looked at a photo I took of our booth. The things were in a big basket and you could not see the merchandise until you stood right next to in and looked down. Can't sell what they can't see.

Make some things with the intent of selling them as the draw. Like, have a nice display of simple fleece scarves with maybe a little embroidery designs on the ends, then your quirky stuff displayed next to them. People want to know what you sell..."oh, she sells quirky stuff?" Rather, "she sells these cute scarves and some interesting other things too."

Is the craft fair the right fair for you? Like, are all the things handmade, or do they allow resale stuff too? I can't compete with stuff from Mexico and China that sells for $1 or $2.

Where I'm at, people do garage sales. If that is what people do where you are, you might try that too!

2 comments

by spendlove 27 Nov 2012

Thanks for such a detailed response! I have a long experience of craft fairs so I hope I know a bit about presentation. Mike has been selling his wood turning in this way for 25 years and I used to sell knitwear to my own designs. This year I did make quite a lot of bags as a "main stay", but really I don't want to spend my time making those, but rather working on my own embroidery designs.

by pennyhal 27 Nov 2012

The last two years, everyone around here has not been selling "well." I've been doing just "ok," but no bragging rights. At the last two shows, things have picked up a lot. I have a show this weekend and will see how things go. Are your purses sellin

I have a shop on Etsy but haven't ever sold anything. There are so many sellers on there with hundreds of items to choose from each that my 10 or so items at a time got lost lol But Folksy is smaller and a UK site and has loads of great stuff. I think you will sell more on there myself. I also sell a few items on eBay and Facebook, and it may be worth setting up a shop on Facebook which I think is simply setting up another account in your chosen name (eg Sue's embroidery) adding it to your friends and asking all your friends to do the same. I have a couple of friends who sell quite a lot that way and am planning on doing the same soon. Good luck!!

2 comments

by spendlove 26 Nov 2012

Ouch - I don't do Facebook - it seems to eat up a lot of my friends' time!

by dooniebabe 26 Nov 2012

I know, some of mine are on it for hours at a time. I just think it's better to go round and visit them then talk on Facebook lol I use it but mainly to show what I have on eBay and to talk to a couple of firiends overseas.

Sue I'm selling here in Germany on DaWanda (similar to Etsy and other plattforms). This is a good way to reach customers who maybe never go to a craft fair but love special designs.
Here you have to watch for the legal requirements. If you make things especially to sell them than you are regarded as industrial seller (not sure if this is the correct term). If you just sell what you have made as a hobby than you are not so restricted. I like this way cause i'm independent from the times of a market. With 2 little kids and a husband who works at retail this is the perfect solution for me. Reduces the risk of paying much money for sales stand and don't sell enough to get this money back :o)
Greetings, Bettina

1 comment

by spendlove 26 Nov 2012

Thanks for your input. We all seem to have different legal requirements to satisfy!