Michelexx
22-02-2008, 08:59 PM
Hi everyone
I have just registered today and wanted to introduce myself. I make a variety of craft items with a friend of mine... we make jewellery, bags, accessories such as brooches, handbag charms. We use a variety of materials such as polymer clay, beads and crochet. We have also recently started doing decoupage but not in traditional styles.
We started as a hobby but once you have made so much you have to decide what to do with it...so we did a couple of church fairs and school events including indulgence evenings. We found these were very hit and miss and felt that the location of the event did not always attract people who willing to pay a decent price for craft items. In my area of warwickshire we had no dedicated craft fairs aimed at the part-time crafter. Because of this I decided to organise my own event in a hall which is used for trade fairs and larger events. Originally I hired the main room which could hold 38 tables however the demand for tables meant that I hired the whole venue to allow 60 craft tables. I sold the tables at cost price to the crafters as I never intended to make a profit from the event but to use the event as an opportunity to sell my own items. The event was a huge success and will now run on an annual basis. In addition I am now organising a similar event in a different town in June!
My partner and I have now decided to focus on these larger events than attend all the church/school events we were previously doing.
We are also looking to set up a website but are a little techno phobic.
I woul love to hear from those who are able to advise on other opportunities of selling their items or those who may be interested in taking part in the fairs that I organise.
I have just registered today and wanted to introduce myself. I make a variety of craft items with a friend of mine... we make jewellery, bags, accessories such as brooches, handbag charms. We use a variety of materials such as polymer clay, beads and crochet. We have also recently started doing decoupage but not in traditional styles.
We started as a hobby but once you have made so much you have to decide what to do with it...so we did a couple of church fairs and school events including indulgence evenings. We found these were very hit and miss and felt that the location of the event did not always attract people who willing to pay a decent price for craft items. In my area of warwickshire we had no dedicated craft fairs aimed at the part-time crafter. Because of this I decided to organise my own event in a hall which is used for trade fairs and larger events. Originally I hired the main room which could hold 38 tables however the demand for tables meant that I hired the whole venue to allow 60 craft tables. I sold the tables at cost price to the crafters as I never intended to make a profit from the event but to use the event as an opportunity to sell my own items. The event was a huge success and will now run on an annual basis. In addition I am now organising a similar event in a different town in June!
My partner and I have now decided to focus on these larger events than attend all the church/school events we were previously doing.
We are also looking to set up a website but are a little techno phobic.
I woul love to hear from those who are able to advise on other opportunities of selling their items or those who may be interested in taking part in the fairs that I organise.