| Before
trying to sell your own work at a craft fair, visit a few
shows. This will enable you to see the quality and range of
the work being sold by others.
Use the advance
search for craft fairs on this site to find a suitable
event. Event organisers may have a strict policy of handmade
goods only. If this is the case, you may need to supply an
example of your work and or photographs of what you are intending
to sell.
You will also be able to speak to exhibitors and decide the
type of fairs which might be the best place for you to market
and sell your products. Consideration should be given to the
number of visitors to each fair, the costs involved in exhibiting
your work there and the quantity of goods that you will have
to sell in order to make a profit.
Whilst building up your business and developing your customer
base, you should consider selling at a small number of fairs.
By having a range of goods at various prices, you could sell
larger numbers of less expensive items and a few more expensive
items. Many people prefer to purchase goods using credit cards
rather than cash or checks. Having a merchant account that
enables you to take credit card payments will reduce the chance
of you missing out on potential sales.
Setting up your stall at a craft fair can involve a lot of
work and during a busy day you will probably want to take
refreshment breaks. Consequently you should consider going
with a friend or relative who can help you. Useful things
to take with you include a calculator, stands on which to
present your work, chairs to sit on and bags that your products
can be carried home in. You should also take a sufficient
quantity of your craft products with you for expected sales. |
As well as selling your work at
craft fairs, it is also an opportunity to speak to both existing
and potential customers. If possible you should get business
cards and contact details such as email addresses from people
with which you could build mailing lists to let people know
about new products and fairs that you will be attending. You
should take marketing material with you that you can distribute
to customers. Listening to feedback from people that you meet
at fairs could help you to develop your product range to meet
demand.

After each visit to a craft fair you should calculate how
much profit you have made. By finding out which products earn
you the most money, you can adjust your production accordingly.
With experience you will be able to decide which fairs are
the most profitable for you to attend and schedule them into
your calendar. It is also worth considering how many sales
you make as a result of your marketing efforts at each fair.
Over time you might find that demand for your work begins
to exceed the quantity that you are able to produce on your
own. You could then increase the price that you charge for
your work until supply and demand reach a balance that you
are comfortable with. Alternatively, if the nature of your
work makes it a viable option, you could employ others to
do some of the work. Whatever your decision, it is important
that you maintain the quality of the work that you sell to
a standard that your customers have come to expect. |
Using the UK Craft Fairs site to promote your craft
This site has been designed with you the exhibitor in mind.
You can find the craft fairs you need to attend and the craft
suppiers you require. It is best to sign up as a member
to make sure you have access to all the information you need.
Getting you business noticedYou can also promote your business with a regular listing,
a members listing
a bold listing or a dedicated craft web page. We would recommend
the craft web page
for exhibitors that really want to get noticed. |