All in a Name?

[Apple Tree Crafts]

I've just had an email from a friend, who did a craft fair yesterday (not one of mine) and got chatting to some craft fair regulars.

At this craft fair, it came up in conversation that the word 'craft' is not at all popular with the public. Apparently, 'gift fairs' attract more people...'craft fairs' discourage them....why?

To my mind, 'gift fairs' suggests all sorts of things for sale, including the mass produced cheap imports.....it doesn't suggest high quality handcrafted goods.

What do you think about this? Opinions please.

Jules

[icecreamgirl]

My Opinon...

...is that the term 'Gift' rather than 'craft' attracts not necessarily more customers but definatly more of the 'right sort' of customers....
meaning people who actually want to buy things and are not just out for the day to get ideas from other crafters.
Craft Fairs attract people who are just out for the day for a wander about to fill time.
Gift fairs attract people who are going out to buy things.
I really do think it's physcolgical. Gift fairs just make people want to buy stuff more....
The other thing is that Gift Fairs that are put on in the evening in my experience stalls do a lot better, not sure why that is...

[Apple Tree Crafts]

Hmmm....

....food for thought.

How then, to promote handcrafted items at a Gift Fair? One would have to publicise heavily the 'handmade' element...I will not have the mass produced cr*p, I really just will not tolerate it (puts soapbox away, quickly)

ICG - I do see what you mean...especially the headology bit.

I feel this is very important so keep it coming everyone!

Jules

[Katianne]

Interesting...

I suppose you could promote an event as being a Handmade Gift Fair???

[Peter]

The one thing that says a 'fair' has bought in items is the word 'gift'. In my experience, 'craft fairs' are just that - handmade, 'craft & gift fairs' and 'art & craft fairs' are free for alls - anything is allowed if it looks crafty! I would steer away from the 'gift' word - that's where people go for 'country' items..................made in china.

How about 'designer' fair?

[zebra]

My twopence worth 'Designer craft fair' ??

[hammo]

It's true...

When people see 'craft fairs', they would think it's kind of old-fashioned.

'Art & Craft Fairs', 'Designer Craft Fairs' or 'Art & Design Fairs' can imply these fairs would be highly original and more art / design focused.

I think this is just playing words but effective if you are aiming at upmarket.

[Katianne]

I like 'Art & Design Fair', although does that suggest it will be more of an Art Fair? What about Art, Design and Craft Fair' or is that going too far down the 'Craft Fair' route again???

[Peter]

Art & Design Fair's been done. Take lots of money and look out for Damien and Tracey!

[Katianne]

Art & Design Fair's been done. Take lots of money and look out for Damien and Tracey!

Huh??? Sorry, can you explain that, I am lost!!!??

[zebra]

Huh??? Sorry, can you explain that, I am lost!!!??

Damien hurst Tracy emin!

[icecreamgirl]

Just because you have the word Gift

It dosn't mean that you have to have the cheap 'tat' from China...
I mean you are in charge of who gets a stall so it's up to you who gets in, isn't it?
You could always call it a 'Handcrafted Gifts' Fair.
I really do think that it's about getting the right customers through the doors - people who are out to spend money!! and it's sad to say it but in my experience (and a lot of people i know) people do go to 'craft fairs' to get ideas for themselves...) come on we are all guilty of it....

[higgledy-piggledy]

I like the word designer with any other craft, art gift etc as we are all designers in our own rights and this kind of makes it sound like a modern craft fair.

[Peter]

Damien hurst Tracy emin!

Sorry - slipped back into 'artist' mode!

[nattynetty]

I think the problem is that we know what a 'Craft Fair' is cos we are crafters but the general public don't necessarily have the same idea.

When we started doing craft fairs I had lots of friends say things along the lines of 'full of homemade jam made by old ladies' and I think a lot of people equate 'craft' with 'old fashioned' and if people don't come along we can't change their preconceptions.

I like the idea of 'gift & craft fair' and as someone said Jules you can dictate who gets stalls, maybe even add the word 'quality' to the front of it to deter the tat.

Putting the word 'Design' or 'Designer' in the title personally would put me off visiting as it says to me 'expensive' but they may just be me.

Anyway, thats my tuppence worth