Craft Fair ~ no ‘Eeek’, more ‘Yawwwwwwwwwn’
I’m trying to be stoic about my second ever craft stall which was at the weekend. I had geared myself up to it for weeks both mentally and physically (with stock and list-making), was nervous(!) getting ready in the morning and had been really looking forward to it. I set up alongside Melissa, an Irish woman selling beauty products, and a couple selling lovely handmade greetings cards. I took a long time arranging my table, tweaking this and that until it looked like this… 
The doors opened at 10am and by 10:15 there were still only the stall holders and a couple of sheepish-looking helpers. The latter disappeared pretty quickly, the stall holders remained and then a couple of people drifted in. They walked round the hall, bought a 20p tombola ticket and left. The other stallholders and I started to joke about how wouldn’t it be awful/funny/sad/ disappointing if that was going to set the trend for the day. Unfortunately it turned out to be just like that. For the whole four long hours we were there, there can’t have been more than 60 or 70 people there and that included my parents, who surprised me with a supportive visit.
There were a handful of people for whom this was their first ever stall and it must have been heartbreaking for them. Some people won’t have even covered their costs for the day; the ‘cake ladies’ made a few sales, as did the tombola stalls but there were many tables which made absolutely nothing, and not for lack of beautiful things to sell; there just weren’t enough people through the doors.
Hey ho. Onwards and upwards. What doesn’t break you only makes you stronger. Lesson learned. Chin up and all that!
Still, I feel a bit blurghhhhhh about the whole thing.
MadeByYoursTruly 
What a shame after all your efforts. I think you are very brave to do craft fairs anyway, the idea scares me a bit. I imagine once you have done quite a few you will get an idea which ones are the best ones to do. Fingers crossed for the next one.
I don’t know where you’re based, but there’s this one in Staffordshire which is being advertised by a couple of ladies who run regular handmade and vintage fairs in Woore (Cheshire): http://www.facebook.com/events/269675923118479/. If the link doesn’t work then on Facebook they are under Kate and Lexy’s Vintage Community.
I’m hoping that perhaps next year when my two children are a bit bigger and I have learned to drive that I will be able to start making things for sale!
Your table was stunning. Don’t take the yawn too seriously or too personally – it happens to all of us at one time or another! Sounds to me like a lack of advertising on behalf of the market organisers?
What a shame. That looks like a lot of hard an lovely work on your table. Shameful on the part of the organisers, especially if they charged you for your pitch!
How disappointing for you 😦 I’ve had similar experiences at a local craft fair, and only just broke even – it’s a lot of effort for no profit! Hope it doesn’t put you off though 🙂
I stopped doing craft fayres, still have cupboards full of stock but I hardly ever sold anything 😦 seems I just didn’t pick them very well.
What a shame, sounds like lack of marketing. Your stool looks lovely though.
Oh that is a shame. I bet it must be dull as well as disheartening.
Your stall looked gorgeous, though! On to the next craft fair!
Thank you all for your kind comments. I have another fair in a few weeks’ time, and I know it’s a good fair (weather permitting as it’s outside), so if I don’t sell well there, at least I’ll know for sure why! 😀
Your stall looks great though!
Don’t feel blurrggh!!!
I did a few craft fairs and found that this time of year is probably the worst timing. If you can get a stall on the big local ‘summer fair’, then that is usually a good bet. But other than that, the best time is September to December… i.e. the Christmas run up. If you haven’t already, then get booked into your local Christmas fairs. There are usually loads to go at, and they are always a good bet if they’ve been going a few years and if they coincide with Christmas light switch on.
p.s. the stall looks great.
Thank you Yummy, really appreciate your comment.
I’ve done 2 fairs with similar results but realised that my choice was rather optimistic and that the people visiting the event wouldn’t be looking for lovely craft makes (one was an invite to an underground food market and the other was a beauty evening) because they were there for other things. It flattened my enthusiasm a bit and like Leoni, I have loads of stock spilling out of cupboards now but I will try again. So don’t be down hearted. Your makes are lovely and you will find the right venue. Once you do, you’ll be flying!!
Thanks tiny 🙂
This is one of my biggest fears! Chin up though, Im sure one of the fairs will be a good one! Fingers crossed for future successes.