Would anyonme be interested in a craft fair in Staffs?

[Katianne]

This is just an idea at the moment and I am only asking for votes of interest at this point...

I am thinking of organising a craft fair at a school in Staffordshire, preferably not too far from where I live (South Staffs) to ease the organisation of it.

I need an idea of how many people would be interested and am also asking for suggestions as to where I could hold it. I am looking for a school in a fairly affluent area (sorry if that's none PC), preferrably on a major road, where posters seen from the road could help bring customers from outside the area. (Thanks Jules!).

I warn you this is only an idea. I would love to do it but plan to do a lot of research first, to make sure it will be a success and that I can manage it as well as my full time job!!! So please post your ideas and interest...NOW!!!

[Katianne]

Ok, so seems there isn't any interest for Staffs, so would any be interested if I expanded the area to Staffs/Derbys/Shropshire? Suggesttion re: where an event could be held would be appreciated as I don't know the areas. Schools, village/community halls etc. Come on everyone!!!

[swirlyarts]

It would be great but it just too far for me! Good luck with it though :D

[EMEvans]

If i lived closer and could get someone to lookafter the kids then i would be interested but with living this far away i'm going to have to pass. Hope you get some interest though.:D

[kipper workshops]

Hi,
seem to have missed this thread. In the future I could be interested.
I am not ready yet for fairs (hoefully soon) but if it's in the future then I would be happy to give it a go.

Steve

[incywincy]

Ok, so seems there isn't any interest for Staffs, so would any be interested if I expanded the area to Staffs/Derbys/Shropshire? Suggesttion re: where an event could be held would be appreciated as I don't know the areas. Schools, village/community halls etc. Come on everyone!!!

I would be interested.

Does it have to be a school? I'm sure there must be some great places for fairs in that area????
Lichfield would be good? (only saying as my parents live there and its near you too)
But it looks like its just you and me doing it!

[Katianne]

No, doesn't have to be a school, it's just that cost wise I've been told its more effective. I had actually been thinking Lichfield and have enquired at a few schools but no luck so far. Any suggestions for venues in Lichfield?

[incywincy]

No, doesn't have to be a school, it's just that cost wise I've been told its more effective. I had actually been thinking Lichfield and have enquired at a few schools but no luck so far. Any suggestions for venues in Lichfield?
Will have a think. Did you try Netherstowe school? thats my old one, not far from the cathedral.

[Katianne]

No I haven't but will get on to that.

[Katianne]

Ok, have emailed them with an enquirey. Have been looking at Community Centres in Lichfield and the only one that comes up is Curborough Community Centre? I know I'm not that far from Lichfield but I really don't know it very well so am a bit useless!

[zebra]

Ok, have emailed them with an enquirey. Have been looking at Community Centres in Lichfield and the only one that comes up is Curborough Community Centre? I know I'm not that far from Lichfield but I really don't know it very well so am a bit useless!

Just a thought from me..........I always think that when craft fairs are held in schools and community centres and such like, people expect the craft items to be cheap...they bring along a £10 note and hope to go away with a few items!....

I find the venue type has a big say in what type of customer it attracts.

I know halls etc are expensive but.......Have you thought of townhalls or hotels, garden centres etc............?

Im in Cheshire, but depending were and when i would be interested in attending and helping out.

Good luck and hope it works out. Brill idea btw :D :D :D

[Primmers]

As I said in the introductory thread, my daughter and I would be interested.

All I've been able to find on the carft-fair sites in the West Midlands area are car boot sales, and the customers expect things for ten pence at those.

[Katianne]

If it goes ahead I will update the forum with the info!

[incywincy]

Been searching for places around Lichfield, this might be worth a look...
http://www.heartofthecountryvillage.com/index.php
(not sure whether they do fairs? but is a lovely place. Worth asking)

And this... http://www.curboroughcrafts.co.uk/
its an antiques/crafts centre, but has lots of space around for a fair?

Both outdoors though?

Will ask my mum later if she can think of anywhere. x

[Primmers]

They both look nice, and both are within very easy reach for me.

I do feel a bit inadequate on this forum though: you've all got your own sites and are clearly craftspeople in the truest sense.

I don't exactly fool about making cards: I started making them as a stressbuster after my mum was diagnosed with two types of cancer last year, and most of my sales - what there have been - have gone to the MacMillan Nurses' charity.

I do feel that I have a flair for it though - I'm not especially artistic, but I do have a good eye for shape, colour and composition.

It's a hobby that numbers its followers in the millions!

Have you thought about contacting the Sandwell Valley people - Sandwell council run craft fairs at the Valley. I have emailed them for details.

I'm not sure how well crafts would go though, in that particular area - it's quite a deprived one, and has a high unemployment rate. I'm not sure how much spare cash people there have to spend.
I'll let you know what result I get when the council reply to my email.

[Katianne]

Thanks for the suggestions! I have emailed both of the ones in/near Lichfield to enquire. I may also try that community centre I mentioned as that is by the Curborough Crafts place. Re: Sandwell, I think what you said about the area is very true, and don't know that my crafts will sell well there. Thanks for letting me know though. And don't feel inadequate! have confidence in your crafts - as you say, you have a flair so get out there and share it with people. The feedback you receive will give you the boost you need!!!

[Primmers]

Katian
Have heard back from the Sandwell Valley, Wednesbury council people. They have been inundated with card-makers, so would not be interested in my particular craft,:mad: but they might still be interested in others.

I'm really having trouble finding places on the web: or rather, there are so many ads on the web that I'm having trouble sorting them all out and so on.

Last year an institution very near me held a craft fair in its bar and lounge, which attracted a lot of people. I'm not sure how much they actually spent. It's the Beacon Institute for the Blind, and if you google that you'll get their website.(I only say this because I have no idea how to post a link in the message!)It's a registered charity.

Apparently their will be all kinds of attractions there - have a look at their site.

There is another event on 17th June at Baggeridge Country Park, Sedgley. It is the institution's Gala Day: they use it to raise funds.

I know Baggeridge well: there wouldn't be anything like electricity hook-ups, I wouldn't imagine. Basically it's a great big field. There are loos and a tea shop. It's where I walk my dogs!

I have enquired about a stall there. I have no idea of the cost yet, nor if Beacon would want the stall rental and/or a percentage of the take. I would imagine they'd want the stall rental - guaranteed income, rather than the hit-and-miss percentage of the take.

[Primmers]

Sorry Katian - the proper address for the institution is Beacon CENTRE for the Blind - not Institution. I've grown up with the place, and it was what it was always called in the past.

[Katianne]

Thanks for the info, I have emailed the Beacon Centre for the Blind re: 17th June event. Still nt heard back from any of the places I contacted for my fair yet - Will let you all know when I have any news.

[Primmers]

I've had an email from the Beacon. The cost for a table is £10 for the day.

The lady there is going to send me an application form - I only emailed last night and had the reply this morning: they're very quick!

[Katianne]

I am still looking into this. Haven't had much luck so far - people either haven't got back to me at all or those that have have said they can't offer me anything in terms of a hall / function room.

One thing I have just thought of is maybe starting with a small event, in a function room. I have seen a few local pubs advertise that they have a function rooms, so I could do an evening craft event. Would anyone be interested if I did something like that to start with? I think this would also help keep the cost down for crafts as shouldn't image these rooms are as expensive to hire (although am probably wrong!!!) Has anyone any experience of doing something like this before?

[Primmers]

Only just come back to the forum after a fair absence: I have an elderly mum to look after and she has been a bit on the poorly side the past few weeks.
I would be interested, Katian, if you were to organise a smallish event.

My daughter and I so far have had a Sunday morning market stall - plenty, plenty lookers but we only sold 6 cards, and we were only asking £1,00 each.

We also went to a HUGE, I mean HUGE carboot last Sunday morning, just to try it out. Won't do it again. Daughter sold 3, I sold a nice round figure. 0.

Trouble is that at car boots folks expect something for nothing: there were vast amounts of traders there ( no income tax, no VAT!) plus some ordinary people who were quite clearly getting rid of clutter from their homes.

I couldn't understand why the punters were more interested in dirty broken toys thrown down on a tarpaulin at 10p a go - for rubbish - than they were in either the clutter-clearers or our nicely dressed card table.

I did get a part dinner service - old Wedgwood - for a fiver though.... and some Crown Staffordshire plates - and some sox for my grandson...

I have a table booked at the Beacon Gala Day on June 17th.

I despair of finding a craft fair nearby that I can actually afford a table at. Sorry, at which I can afford a table.:)

[Heidijw]

Hi

I've just moved to Tamworth, grew up in Lichfield/Tamworth and have now returned!!

I would definately be interested in anything you did in the area.

Have no idea about costs, but what about somewhere like Tamworth Assembly Rooms or the Peaks Leisure centre? Will give it some more thought.

Heidi

[Katianne]

You would be very welcome! Are those venues central to Tamworth? Sorry, don't know Tamworth very well!

[Heidijw]

Yes, assembly rooms right in the centre by the bus station! Peaks Leisure is where the snowdome is!
As I said, not at all sure about costs. Know the Peaks have had fairs in the past. Will give some thought to other places.... Seeing a friend from Lichfield on Monday, she has lived there for 30 years - she may well know places!!!

[photo-request]

Hi

im a photographer and would be interested, if you want to make it regular and covering the midlands and staffs, id be interested in setting this up with you .

[Heidijw]

Asked my friend today about places to hold a craft fair in Lichfield. She suggested:

Guild Hall - right in centre, big room upstairs and down, used by wide variety of groups etc.

United Reform Church - up by police station, has a big room and rooms off it

Methodist Church - big hall often used by various groups

St Josephs School - in Cherry Orchard, big hall

I think the Guild Hall may well be worth investigating! hope that may help.

[Katianne]

Just to let you all know where I am on this...

Contacted Assembly Rooms (Tamworth) but it was a fortune to hire so have to rule that one out (seeing as it's my first event too!).

I have been in touch with a number of schools in Lichfield (inc. St. Josephs) but am awaiting replies.

The other venues suggested in Lichfield I will visit over the next few weeks. I was thinking of making it an event for Christmas if everyone is ok with that? I think thats a good time to have a craft fair, plus it gives me a good amount of time to organise it!

Thank you again for all your suggestions and sorry I'm taking so long with this. Its so time consuming though, and what with working ft, making mosaics and doing other fairs its a bit mad at the moment!!!

[emmag]

Hi I would be interested, have pmed you

[cant_stop_stampin]

Yes I'd be interested in GOING to a Craft Fair in Lichfield...............there is a church at the bottom of the hill in Lichfield - they have a lot of 'coffee mornings' - and the like, I think it would be an EXCELLENT location for a craft fair. You'd find the details - I'm sure on Yell.com

The paper to advertise in is the Mercury too - I'm sure it would be well attended and there is a Bead Shop (Spellbound) closeby - I'm sure they'd be happy to have a stall????? too.

Good luck.

Let us know when and where - I don't think my crafting skills are yet - good enough, to have a stall myself though. BUT very interested in seeing other peoples wares.

[incywincy]

Yes I'd be interested in GOING to a Craft Fair in Lichfield...............there is a church at the bottom of the hill in Lichfield - they have a lot of 'coffee mornings' - and the like, I think it would be an EXCELLENT location for a craft fair. You'd find the details - I'm sure on Yell.com

The paper to advertise in is the Mercury too - I'm sure it would be well attended and there is a Bead Shop (Spellbound) closeby - I'm sure they'd be happy to have a stall????? too.

Good luck.

Let us know when and where - I don't think my crafting skills are yet - good enough, to have a stall myself though. BUT very interested in seeing other peoples wares.

Do you mean the Heritage Centre? St Mary's church, its in the market square?
I'm sure they would do fairs.... never been to one there though?

[flutterbybutterfly]

Hiya,

Ive only just joined the craftsforum and came accross you. I live in Wolverhampton and make cards, jewellery and charmed bookmarks.

If you do anything in the future as far as craft fairs, I'd love to hear from
you.

Kindest Regards

Kim

[Quirky-Cottage]

Hi kate,

Any luck in organising your first craft event. You can put down as a possibility if it's not going to be too far away.

Busy doing a bit of a revamp of my stall. Saw it in a photo that someone had taken and thought it looked a bit like a jumble sale by the end of the day.

How's ebay going?

[Primmers]

I'm interested! I live in Dudley and so South Staffs is no probs for me!:mf:

[Katianne]

I have had to put a hold on this for the time being, sorry about this. As you may have seen in my previous threads I am having trouble managing my full time job and the crafts and over the last month or so have not had any spare time to myself. I will repost when I decide to revisit this and keep you al informed. Sorry all.