Craft Fair

[chemteacher]

Has anyone altered journals to sell at craft fairs? I am making some stuff now including etched glass for a christmas craft fair. I am a newbie at the craft fair business...does it seem worth your while?

Any advice, help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Carrie

[austamper]

I have seen these at craft fairs before! Should be a good seller.

I've been interested in getting into the craft fair thing. How did you get started?

[nyoprinces]

I'll be honest, my experience with craft fairs hasn't been the best. Unless you're doing a LOT of them, I don't think it's worth it. When I last did one, it seemed like every other booth was super-professional, with expensive stands and backdrops, and a lot of them were the various home-based businesses. Our little stand of cards and journals and other (wonderful, of course!) stamped stuff just didn't attract much attention because we didn't have fancy signs and racks. We had MUCH better luck with an open house, where we invited our friends and served snacks - everyone knew what they were coming for and were ready to stock up on gifts and cards for the holidays.

[madstamper33]

I haven't had much luck at the craft fairs either. Other than selling a few cards and some candles, it wasn't worth all the effort I put into it. I did bring some catalogues and got a couple of orders from it.

[nyoprinces]

It definitely seems like the more successful booths are either those that have a HUGE variety of items - and as much time as I spent on my cards and things, I can't even imagine how much time it would take to build up that kind of inventory - or were known quantities like Homemade Gourmet and Mary Kay: booths people were expecting and already ready to buy from.

[packer]

At craft fairs I have sold large journals for $6.00 and small ones for $3.00. The large ones include a matching decorated pen. I've had some luck at the fairs, but you never know what people want. I try to have an assortment of items. Cards sell sometimes and sometimes they're not the big sell. I have had better luck having a "trunk" sale at church than any of the craft fairs--but I'll continue to do the fairs, at least one per year.

Good luck with yours.
Peggy

[morgysmom]

I have had some success doing craft shows. For one thing, I've mostly done them at schools and churches where it was very inexpensive ($10-$20) for the space. One of my best sellers have been the "color me cards", done with the Crayon Christmas set. 4 cards to a pack, along with a little box of 4 crayons, for $5.00. I did the cards so simply, just stamped on white cardstock, and matted on red or green, so they were super easy and cheap. The crayons I ordered from OTC...super cheap. I sold altered journals as well. Sometimes they do well, sometimes not. Good luck with it.