bad day at craft fair

[breadstick]

Last spring, my wife and I (she makes soap) went to a craft fair a few towns over.  Someone involved in the American Legion in another town took business cards and contacted some other vendors and us for a craft fair they're throwing.  Its a smallish town, but lots fo home-town pride, so we thought it'd be a decent time.  We were misled.

 

First, this is the first time they were putting something like this on.  We did not know that.  We were told there were lots of vendors.  12 registered, and four other than us showed up.  There were four larger events going on today for crafts within a 20 mile radius of the town, but they didn't even check on anything like that.  

 

All done, we had less than 30 people show up (total) in about seven hours, no one spent a dime on my stuff, my wife made enough to make her table fee back.  A very total wash.  Gave out some business cards and one semi-serious lead, but nothing else.

 

On the bright side, we adopted a sweet lady pitbull last night and barring some adjustment pains with the other dogs, it's going pretty well.

[stu]

Sorry about the bad day they asked you there should have been no fees but you did get a good dog

Stu

[NC Scroller]

Sorry but we all have one of these. You never know event to event or year to year.

[Scrolling Steve]

Sorry to hear this....better luck next time !

[dgman]

Bummer Nathan! Chalk it up to experience, you'll know better next time.

[lawson56]

I do know your Frustration.I have had the same thing happen to me with my Church no less.Pick a bad Saturday to have a yard sale for the Church,at the same time several other big events were going on close by.I may have sold $30,Half of that was my setup fee.

[DWSUDEKUM]

These things happen from time to time.  What I have done in situations like this is sell what I can, meet and great folks and pass out business cards.  The more places you get seen the more likely it will be that you will have return customers and good referrals from them as well.  It took me about 3 years to get a loyal following of folks that would wait for me at several of the later shows so do not get discouraged.  Remember to have fun and talk to folks you never know if that is the one that will buy or not. Try to stick to juried shows as they tend to be better managed.

 

DW

[WayneMahler]

Craft shows are a crap shoot. I have been doing them for a few years and tracking things. I call this a live and learn experience. Sort of sucks but the lesson learned is invaluable. And yes I still go through the learning progress. Just a lot less then earlier days. I have found talking to other crafters helps. 

[heppnerguy]

Well I am getting ready to do a craft sale and have no idea what to expect. I hope to at least have a good assortment of things for people to choose from and I will just have to wait and see if it is worth my time. My daughter is the one that really wants to give this a try so I agreed to do this with her. It is not until November so we are working hard to get ready. I may end up in Arizona then and she may have to do it by herself

[wombatie]

Sorry to hear this but I think we have all had one of those days.  Better days will come.

 

Marg

[amazingkevin]

Last spring, my wife and I (she makes soap) went to a craft fair a few towns over.  Someone involved in the American Legion in another town took business cards and contacted some other vendors and us for a craft fair they're throwing.  Its a smallish town, but lots fo home-town pride, so we thought it'd be a decent time.  We were misled.

 

First, this is the first time they were putting something like this on.  We did not know that.  We were told there were lots of vendors.  12 registered, and four other than us showed up.  There were four larger events going on today for crafts within a 20 mile radius of the town, but they didn't even check on anything like that.  

 

All done, we had less than 30 people show up (total) in about seven hours, no one spent a dime on my stuff, my wife made enough to make her table fee back.  A very total wash.  Gave out some business cards and one semi-serious lead, but nothing else.

 

On the bright side, we adopted a sweet lady pitbull last night and barring some adjustment pains with the other dogs, it's going pretty well.

Pit bulls are the most affectionate dog i know

[Phantom Scroller]

Win some, lose some I suppose, look forward to the next one and move on we've all been there but look on it as a day out. Roly

[hawkeye10]

I have had the same thing happen to me. I guess it's like others have said it's just part of it. But still it's a bummer.

[ike]

I have had several of these over the last 25/30 years. as for spring and early fall sales if I make table and pass out cards and have a good time, it  is worth while. If I was doing this for a living it would be something else. if I don't make table I don't go back to that sale.

IKE

[meflick]

Sorry to hear - hopefully you (and us via your sharing) learned somethings and will be better off the next time.  One being to "clarify" more details about the show and to check around and see what else is going on in the area at the same time to determine if it is something we want to undertake.  Thanks for sharing your experience.

[Lucky2]

Nathan, it's disappointing I know, but, what's the option? Stay home and not sell anything,or, attend and not sell anything but get your name out there. Unless you missed out on doing something important by attending the sale, then you learned a lot about craft fairs.

Len

[ike]

I usually make my first sale in August Don't do great make a couple of bucks but have a good time at it, meet people , get my name out there and have a good tie. But the best sales don't come up till Oct. That's when they customers start thinking about Christmas. think about it you have to build up your reputation then things will start to go your way. unless you are in a vacation area and those people always have money to spend. I do great on Nativity scenes and people come back for then for themselves and presents.\

IKE

[breadstick]

Thanks everyone.  It definitely was a learning experience.  I did hand out as many cards as possible, but it only amounted to 10 or less since most of the people that came in were families of at least 2-3.  I've been to things and not sold anything, but it was always more fun than this. I think that's what bothers me the most. I usually have a decent time hanging out with my wife (we make sure her booth is next to mine) and talking to people, but there were so few people coming in I spent most of the day researching things on my phone and reading a book.  I don't mind not making much money (well, I don't prefer it) but it was just seven hours of boring.