help! what do you think??

[handmadeheaven.biz]

so, here it is. my very first craft stall dry run #1 in my lounge! i need opinions on the stall. what do people think? is there anything i've made a mistake with? what's your overall impression, etc?

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/handmadeheavendotbiz/craft%20market/multi-photo.jpg

this shows a panorama shot of the whole thing it's a bit curvy and the photos dont fit together terribly well, but u get the idea! the link below is a slideshow of the other photos i took of various details. i totally forgot to put any art cards on the stall and i intend to have some candle holders and more hangings (large and small), also some more framed pieces, so there will be less coasters on than this on the day.

dry run photo slideshow (http://s135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/handmadeheavendotbiz/craft%20market/?action=view&current=left-to-right.jpg&slideshow=true&interval=3)

the clear plastic long thing in the middle on the table will have my logo and name in to help indentify the stall. i've kicked a banner into touch for now. enough money spent already! my bags have HH stickers on now & look cool :) everything's coming together. i am not happy with the wire-wrapped necklace display and will probably change this. i have a couple of other ideas.

any thoughts / comments?

(i will have a pale mossy green curtain fabric under the cream rug to hide the table)

left to right, right to left!
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/handmadeheavendotbiz/craft%20market/left-to-right.jpg http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/handmadeheavendotbiz/craft%20market/right-to-left.jpg

[Seahorse]

Wow wow wow, I want one of everything!!!!

Are they scarves on top left?
If so you may want to try and get your hands on a bigger mirror so people can see what it would look like on.

Do you have business cards to hand out?

Also, my sparkly mind makes me think of table diamonds which are little coloured stones by swarovski, they are called table diamonds because yuo put them on a table(liket those plastic 21st birthday or happy anniversary cut outs you can get) and the twinkle in the light.I see you have 2 lamps so the table diamonds will twinkle and attract customers.

[Apple Tree Crafts]

Really bright and attractive! I'm just queuing behind Seahorse.....

You need something plainer than the wicker work - your bracelets etc are getting lost...try putting an ivory cloth over them.

Make sure customers cannot dislodge your lights. And that they don't tangle up your necklaces/ bracelets on the round tray. If you're busy (and you will be with all that lovely stuff) you can't watch everyone at once, and people fiddle with stuff - they can't help but touch!

Please don't be offended, this is only my view.....:)

Jules

[handmadeheaven.biz]

not offended at all! all feedback is helpful. everyone has different eyes, right?! keep 'em coming :) this is really useful

[swirlyarts]

The coasters look great standing up like that but I think appletree is right and your hangers/necklaces get a bit lost on the wicker. The hangers look great on your website with a plain white background so maybe think of something like that. Also the necklace stand - will it be easy for people to get the necklaces off without getting tangled up with the others that are there? You can guarantee that there will be someone that wants to look at the one at the bottom!! Will it be easy for you to put them back on again without getting frustrated? They look great but may not be too practical.
Overall the stall looks great and has enough height etc to add interest as people walk past. When is the fair?

[handmadeheaven.biz]

it's on the 10th feb. i've deliberately put the necklaces like that so they dont get half-inched! i dont want things too easy to pick up. there's 2 of us doing the stall so we'll have time to put things back to rights. the main thing i want to sell is the glass anyway so i'm not massively worried about the jewellery

[swirlyarts]

Good point about it getting pinched! I wouldn't have thought about that! I've not done a craft fair so I'm coming at it from a novices point of view.
Good luck with the fair - you'll have to let us know how it goes!

[Andamento]

Hi there,

Your glasswork is really lovely!

How about making a stand instead of using the boxes for displaying the necklaces...
Two rectangles of plywood (with a decent strip of wood fixed along the bottom outer edge of each one) hinged together. Fix it to one of the rear corners of your table by g-clamping the wood strips on to the table edges (g-clamps are fabulous things!) so the rectangles sit at 90 deg to each other, have a couple of rows of small hooks attached to the inner surface of the plywood & hang the necklaces (paint/stain the plywood to make it look better). It would free up table top space to display more coasters etc, plus it also generates height which would enable your stand to be seen. I have two fairly large stands - they basically use up the whole table edge space and create a booth effect, if I only used the table top I'd not be able to display many mirrors at all!

Also remember extension cables for your lights as you prbably won't be near any sockets.

Hope all goes well,

Anne.

[numfur]

Hi There,

Your stall looks great as does your jewellery etc.
I use black velvet to display my jewellery against as it helps to have it against a plain background.
My friend sells similar jewellery to yourself and to stop it being stolen but still easy to look at, she uses a bent over pin on a cork message board. Just bend the pin either side of the chain/thong. She also finds it easier to use the cork boards as she can have everything pinned on beforehand, which means less set up time.

Hope this helps and good luck!
Rgds,
Alison

[Snow angel]

It all looks lovely very eye catching :pile:

[wabbit]

Firstly have to say your stuff is absolutely stunning and I am sure you will do very well at your fair, I have done many many craft fairs and have seen some dreadful stalls in my time - yours is absolutely fantastic!

I agree with others that the wicker weave does detract from your pendants a simpler background would be better.

If you were to add anything then I would say add some height as suggested with a corner display board, it is also good to have something to hide behind because some people will run a mile if you hover over them with nothing between you and them!

As you work is quite unusual you could display some photos of your kiln, you at work etc, very often people are interested in how things are made and will stop and look and the longer people spend at your stall the more chance they will buy something! esp. if they see all the work that has gone into it.

I think you will do well with the stall as it is just now, as soon as you have done one fair you will have a better idea of what works - good luck :)

[nattynetty]

As you work is quite unusual you could display some photos of your kiln, you at work etc, very often people are interested in how things are made and will stop and look and the longer people spend at your stall the more chance they will buy something! esp. if they see all the work that has gone into it.


That is such a brilliant idea you've got to do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !

[Andamento]

How did the craft fair go?

[handmadeheaven.biz]

okay. wrote a lengthy essay about it here :) (http://www.frit-happens.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1177.30)

[beadsbydesign]

That sounds like it went well!!

Have you thought about mail shotting interior designers with your coasters and art works. I would certainly have been interested when I was doing that. dressing rooms for show homes etc is big business and often they are looking for specific colour runs etc.

[Katianne]

Wow, that was quite a read! Sounds like you had a good day though and great that your work will be exhibited elsewhere. Do you do your crafts as a full time occupation?

[BeyondBeads]

Very professional - You were certainly a lot more organised than I was at my first event! :) I just turned up really!

Sounds like you had a good day. I hope the other business comes through for you.

Your products look lovely by the way.

Laura:)

[handmadeheaven.biz]

Have you thought about mail shotting interior designers with your coasters and art works.
i hadnt but i certainly will now. as soon as i get stuff made for this first gallery i'll be pimping myself about to galleries and related places. thanks for the idea :D

[handmadeheaven.biz]

Do you do your crafts as a full time occupation?
no, not yet. i'm a graphic designer. by day i design kids books!

[handmadeheaven.biz]

thanks for everyones lovely comments and support :)