yep got my stack of business cards already! :-0

dear Mrsj82
Your prices look good. It seems that I'm in the same price range as you are on some of your items and I do make a profit. Not a large one but I now have a large following of customers that seek me out for custom orders. This is where the real money is, by the way. My prices are fair and it keeps us doing business. We have actually taken the profits from 2 years of shows (total of 8 shows) and went to Hawaii for 9 days. So go for it, be positive and ready to make mass quantities of things. ;0)

I have always wanted to do a craft fair, but have never known how to determine the price of items. Is there a special way to determine what you should charge?

I do craft fairs with my daughter every year. My best seller this last year was casserole carriers made from 2 placemats and oven door towels

Dear Polly13
A few general rules need to be understood and have been used by many of my crafting friends and myself over the years;
1) You have to love doing what you are doing - be it selling and/or making a product.
2) You need to understand that at first you will not get paid for the time you invested in making one item. With time you will be able to, as you perfect your system/time in making an item. If the work is quality - customers are intelligent and know what they like. With time and as you start to do custom orders these customers know the value of your time and will have no problem paying you for that time.
3) To start out - take all the materials it takes to make one item multiply that figure by 3 - that's the formula I have used for years with lots of success.
I also round things up to the nearest dollar. It does make life a bit easier to start with. Once again with time you will decide what works best for you.
Many shows require it and I am a licensed business and account for my taxes to local and state agencies. But I have always rounded my price tags up to the nearest dollar and back the taxes out when I go to pay them. This makes the customer very happy. Dealing with change at craftshows can make or break a purchase, this I know for a fact. I've have seen customers that were sincerely interested in an item say No because they didn't want or have the money to pay for the item once it's taxed. In some cases, they have actually expressed their thoughts on not having to pay taxes at a craftshow. Some will never see us as legitimate businesses but for the most part, many of us are.
Hope that helps.

Lots of great input here!!! I also have done craft fairs for about 25 yrs. As some have said, don't expect to be paid for your time. You will find that some things you will make a decent profit on, and others you may wonder why you bothered. My biggest mainstay is a knitted baby "bomber" hat. I KNOW I am not making even 10 cents/hour on these. I don't mind because to me they are "found" money. I never sit without picking up my knitting needles, so time in front of the boob-tube, lunch break at work, etc., the needles are always going. It's amazing how many hats I turn out in a year...and they always sell out!! I rarely bring home more than one or two!!! People keep having babies, and I am now known for these hats, so am sought out. Once you get known, people will look for you and your sales will get better each year.
Another good seller is purses. Most women like to have something a little different....so why not make something different? ;) They make up fairly quickly, and can help to bring people to your booth if you can display an especially attractive one up higher to catch peoples eyes. I make everything from everyday purses to evening bags to beach bags....and they all sell.
Good luck...and most of all, have fun!!!!!

Patti

I have done shows for years, lately people are buying "useful" items...placemats, tablerunners, aprons, tablecloths...they really like the quilted ones! I have found a LOT of people don't or can't sew...Good luck, wish I was closer!

I don't know what your craft of choice is but lots of people are buying more fabric postcards cuz they aren't as expensive as some items and they are unique to the general public.

For the artist, they are fast and easy to make in various themes etc.

Best of luck!

warm quilt hugs, sue in CA

I am not planning on doing a craft show, but I believe I could after reading all these suggestions! It was really fun to read what you all had to share about craft shows!
Rachel

Covered Threads,
Thank you for such a clear explanation for getting started. There certainly is a lot to think of before jumping in, but I especially like your tax method.

hmm, might give them a try....my name is uneek creations, cause nothiing is ever the same___thx

Good idea Favorite Fabrics and to carry that theme a little further, how about sunshades (you know the ones with the elastic back that fit on your head) and don't forget cute and inexpensive tote bags so people can haul all their loot home.

I hope I don't sound stupid, but what's a grandmother's paddle?

Annak look under pictures

Cookie

This type of thing was discussed at our last guild meeting. Some people with experience said it's better to have not more than ten of any one type of item. People will be more willing to buy on the spot if they think they might miss out if they wait to buy.

They also mentioned that items under $20 sold the best.

Hope this helps.

I think someone mentioned having a tent.

If you're buying a tent... get a white top. If you get a colored top, everything under it will look that color. I once got an inexpensive dining tarp at a discount store, and the tarp was blue. I replaced it the next year!

'Nother thing. Is it likely to rain, and is your space going to be on grass? If so, you might want to scavenge a rug to use as a "floor" to keep your customers from standing in mud, and to give your items a relatively clean are to land on, should they drop or be blown off by the wind.

Can you get an inexpensive wooden drying rack to display your runners on? You might be able to set it on top of, or in front of your table. Maximize your available display space by going vertical.

Make lots of little things you can price inexpensively and still make a profit,then include some larger ticket items. You can also allow people to order things in different colors,styles,etc (with 1/2 down payment) if you want to mess with it. Make sure you charge shipping or offer to deliver at another show, or have them pick it up. Inexpensive signs with cute/wise sayings sell well.

I think it is a soft, stuffed or quilted, paddle. Because a grandma wouldn't actually want to hurt her little dear! (I know my mom won't punish my kids. She just tells on them if they are really bad and I have to do the dirty work. LOL!)

I posted a picture of it under pictures.

Cookie

You should have plenty of change, an apron or money belt for your money is best, lots of items that have a variety of prices. You will find that cheap items draw the people in and if you are a friendly person, get them to looking at all your crafts and you will find they will buy the more expensive items if they look. Put the less expensive items in the front to draw them in. Have fun! Hope you do well!

Or post cute sayings around your booth:
"Your husband just called and said to tell you to buy whatever you want"

I did craft fairs 20 years ago and concluded that all crafters should leave their craft home and bring a soda machine and bags of potato chips - you will be sure to sell out :)

I'd recommend you have a few high quality expensive items to draw attention to your crafts, then medium and low price items that people will more likely buy. Don't work yourself into a frazzle making lots of items as predicting what might sell is a turkey shoot. Enjoy making your items and don't crank them out just for the show.

That being said, don't get "too" cutsie. It can detract from the quality of your craft.

just a though, but you could make small little purses, matching sets one smaller than the other, and matching wallets. for mommy,daddy and children, you could make fabric fans, the last fair I was at, those were saling like mad. you could go to dollar store, get the ball and paddle game. take the ball off, make a quilted cover. wal la you have a pretty fan for a few dollars. what a proffit you could make. this is my Ideal so there is no copy wright issues. I am sorry for the spelling, oh ya, paint the paddle. Penny

Another great way to get the parents to come look....have a small bowl of wrapped candies. (Freebie) The kids will be attracted to the candy, and then tell the parents where they got it. Hey...whatever works....right? LOL

Patti

The candie sounds nice but, I wouldn't give out candie to a child unless the parent is there, that child could have diabetes and you would be looking for a law suit.

Cookie

Also it's not good for them to take candy from strangers even vendors. It sets a bad president.

But the adults like candy. You can put the candy dish high enough out of the reach of children. Something small like Tootsie Rolls or hard candies for dry throats. We adults love it when vendors have them at quilt shows! :D

First, know your audience. Are you in a rural area? an area of affluence that the fair will be at? Is it a theme fair? ie Pig Farmers of America fair! (ie MAKE PIGS).. follow the them, wine festival.. wine theme is a good plan for some items. Also.. the lower priced items sell faster than the expensive in my vast (all five fairs I have done) experience. People will think twice and hard on more expensive items.. less impulsive? good luck and show us what were the big sellers!

Greet everyone that comes to your booth. I was visiting a show the other day and only one person asked me how I was all the others just sat behind booth with face looking toward the floor.

This was at a fiber show!

You have been given some great advice. So here's mine:
coasters
fabric postcards
tissue covers (for tissue packets in purses)
Other than that, I think you have a great assortment of items.
I wouldn't waste my time making casserole carriers. My friend made one, thinking she would sell them at her booth and said too much work! She couldn't sell them for what she would have to charge.
I like the idea of selling water bottles. And I like the bowl of candy. Just a little hard candy will bring people over. If you have an assortment, they will have to stand there to decide what kind to take. While there, you strike up a conversation and, before you know it...$$$ by golly! A sale!

Burnsk, I have that saying and I laugh everytime I see it. I plan to make a wallhanging with it, but I haven't decided what material to use with it. Eiltcoq.

Such great suggestions guys! Thanks so much! So much to think about! A little overwhelming actually....lol

I have done quite a few craft fairs, but our town is small, so I certainly don't see 1000 people. I usually have several small quilts for kids or throw size for adults, placemats and table runners, hot pads. I haven't made any totes, but that should be a good seller....use eyecatching colors and prints. Last time I did one, I had a real cute doll quilt, but no one was interested. I guess little girls don't play with real dolls any more. I ended giving it away at the end of the day to a cute little girl carrying a teddy bear! Bring plenty of change, a safe place to keep your money, and never leave your money to shop another booth!

What are grandma's paddles?

Sue

Sue check the photo page that I posted called grandma's paddle

Cookie

What is the photo page and can someone tell us what is the grandma paddle without us having to look all over the place

Susie if you go to the Picture Section of the Forum that is where the photo of the Grandma Paddle is. I hope this helps. They are really cute.

I have enjoyed reading this thread.....great ideas! I just have to ask, though, about Uncle Dave Macon Days. I am from Macon Georgia and wonder who Uncle Dave is or was.
Kaye

Remember that items that are made from copyrighted patterns cannot be sold without permission or authorization of the designer or holder of copyright. This includes patterns from magazines, internet, etc.