Four things to expect at your first craft fair.

In the run up to Christmas I sewed two little felt birds. At the time I was pleased with them and made some more, I stylized them, I experimented and I ended up with a beautiful collection. I joined some online crafting groups and then Sunday 31^st May I did my first ever craft fair!

I booked a pitch, organised public liability insurance, painted twigs and ordered paper bags. The day before the fair we had something of a cottage industry going; Dad was helping my husband with the doweling for the mobiles, Mum was involved in cutting out the price tags and threading and I was sewing, sewing, sewing.

I packed everything up and Sunday morning Dad drove us to Devonport Park.

My Pitch before the Gazebo

Over the day I sold two things; one to my mother and one to a little girl. With the money earned my son bought plastic toys from the stall next door. Husband and I spent most of the day standing, cold, concerned that the Gazebo would blow away; and I made a loss!

Me and Mum at the stall (she is colour coordinated!)

I learned a great deal and I had a great time so here are my look outs if you are doing your own show:

There may be equipment you don’t understand

While the table supplied folded out with ease the Gazebo was a different matter and resulted in a sort of family krypton factor. Four adults and one child attempted to open out the spider like construction and then strap on the covering; we had two walls with windows. We spoke to The Man and got a back wall, which we thought was the roof. We figured it wasn’t the roof when it didn’t fit. Eventually we had all the components and had constructed our shop! Exciting stuff!

Your Products might not sell.

I had a good level of interest but didn’t sell. I need cost cutters; goods that are fast and inexpensive to make that will enable me to lower the cost of my more time consuming products. I also need to supply much more information about what they are, who they are for and the skills involved in making them. I am now considering a photo wall of construction techniques.

You will be required to mingle.

I spent most of the day talking to anyone that showed interest in my products. This meant that I spent a lot of the day smiling. I was in the fresh air and I was part of a community. All day there was music from the band stand, there was a refreshments tent and lots of happy happy dogs. Later in the day the sun came out and there were families. I talked to the stall holders. My son made friends with a family selling Egyptian foods and he and their boy played all day long. 

It will probably feel good

I went home feeling I had really achieved something and I slept like a baby. I’m not disappointed by my lack of sales; I’m encouraged by how much I enjoyed myself. I am keen to try out my new ideas and I am excited to be doing it again soon.