Craft Show Bummer 8/11 -- Craft Exchange Friends

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Date Posted: 14:39:59 08/11/12 Sat
Author: julie
Subject: Craft Show Bummer 8/11

Just a small spare of the moment little show. Please People
who put on shows asking for crafters PLEASE have ONLY crafters !!!! There were just a handfull of crafters, each one different and nice things ! Then there was Thirty One
purses...Yes their things are nice , nice and pricey ! People would walk into our booth and others and walk out then go into ThirtyOne and buy , buy , buy !!!
It`s hard enough to make it as a crafter and then have to compete with a non crafter...
Avon & Mary Kay were there as well .
I sold a few towels , 1 purse, 1 tote bag & 2 pair of flipflops.The lady next to me was making the survival bracelets from cording, a lady with purses, backpacks table runners, a couple booths with jewelry , a booth with bird houses & feeders.
I have the fair in 2 weeks, still looking for something towards teens....I`ve crocheted headbands with flowers, they turned out cute.
I have`nt even had time for my wood things for the gall shows ! OMG, I need 3 of me !!!!!!!!!!!

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Replies:

[> Re: Craft Show Bummer 8/11 -- skippy, 14:54:10 08/11/12 Sat [1]

I know how you feel. I had a similar problem with a show that was all handmade items that I did for five years until this year, I put my foot down. What I had to compete with, was a scavengery hunt that the president of the craft club says "will keep the customers in". True, it does keep them in, but, they are only walking around with their little punch card looking for the different rubber ducks (NOT BUYING). Besides she was charging $65. for a 10x10 and I was barely making rent. I won't do their show again. I have 1 in Sept. for $20., 2 in Oct. (1 is $5. a table and the other is free) and I have 1 in Dec. that is $25. I think I am going to stick with the lower fees.

Good luck to everyone with their shows.

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[> Re: Craft Show Bummer 8/11 -- skippy, 18:10:53 08/11/12 Sat [1]

Here is an idea for your teen customers.

http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2012/06/make-zip-tie-link-bracelets/

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[> Re: Craft Show Bummer 8/11 -- julie, 18:51:42 08/11/12 Sat [1]

Hi skippy, Thank You for the zip tie link.I saw a pack the other day in colors !
We do a county fair over Labor Day weekend. Usually do pretty good . It`s close and inexpensive to do for the week. Some of the other fairs charge $200 ! for the week !
I guess thats not bad if your a vendor ( Thirty One) lol....
I`m not knocking their product ! I just think that Craft Shows are for Crafters & vendors should do vendor shows.
Good Luck on your shows. I`ve cut way back this year. I`ll see how it goes I guess...

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[> [> Re: Craft Show Bummer 8/11 -- skippy, 08:23:42 08/12/12 Sun [1]

$200. isn't bad for a craft show, around here they charge that for just a weekend at the festivals at area beaches. I can't do those 2 day shows, too far from home and would have to get a room at the hotels which are expen$ive.

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Re: Craft Show Bummer 8/11 -- Patty, 00:20:52 08/12/12 Sun [1]

I agree with you so much on just having CRAFTERS at Craft Shows!!! They can have VENDORS at Vendor Shows!!!
Patty

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[> Re: Craft Show Bummer 8/11 -- Carmelita, 13:29:15 08/12/12 Sun [1]

This is an age old problem since the beginning of craft shows :O) The promoters usually start off with "crafters" in mind but then the money they make on the boothes overides anything thus then the mixed type of sales.

In case anbody is wondering...The promoters only care about the monies made from booth sales NOT how well anybody does in particular. Once you accept this fact, you will be much happier!!! Before sending in your apps, you need to inquire about what other stuff is being sold at that particular show. I think that they would be obligated to tell you the truth about how many commercial vendors are signed up (that is, if they already know).

I used to do this show twice a year (spring and fall/Xmas) at work which raised money for Welfare and Rec and always did wonderfully but then the last few shows I did, the sales keep going down and they were selling things like purses,luggage, perfumes, Cookie Lee and of course tons of China made crafts from catalog companies. What the heck???

Suggested to the committe folks that they should just call the show a Christmas Bazaar and the crafters would stop complaining and the next year many would drop out and then they would have spaces for more Vendor products. I have no problems with people trying to make a living and selling their commercial wares but stop advertising the show as a
"handmade crafts show" to attract new crafters and then having them find out that everything under the sun was being sold.

You cannot compete with people doing a lot of Chrismas shopping at these shows for other items that appeal to them other than handcrafted stuff. I have been retired from the govt for over 7 years and still I get emails/app for their Christmas show which for the last three years of working, I did not even do the shows :O) Obviously people are not paying attention and when I get another application this year I will again tell them to take my name off the mailing list. I now find this hilarious vs irritating.

On the plus side, I did this show from the very start and had so many repeat customers who would tell me that they really looked forward to seeing what new items I had. My prices were very reasonable and I would give away a little something for multiple purchases. Had a lot of personalized things too for moms, coworkers, friends etc and did special orders to be delivered later. People were shopping on their breaks and lunch time so I would set things aside for them so it wouldn't get bought by another customer.

Sorry this is so long...I get kind of wound up about this subject.

I sure do miss the comraderie of the crafters but now I am so lazy that the money is no incentive and I am still working my after retirement job which I truly love :O)

Good luck to all who do shows!!!

Carmen

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[> Re: Craft Show Bummer 8/11 -- Blazer(Darlene P.), 14:05:33 08/12/12 Sun [1]

Hi Carmen,
I agree with all of you gals about your Craft show comments, most of the shows here say they limit the amount of each type of Vendor! whow !
Happy Crafting!

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[> Re: Craft Show Bummer 8/11 -- birdhousebonnie, 21:01:13 08/12/12 Sun [1]

Julie, I would love to see a picture of your crocheted headbands. I sell the 2 inch wide plastic headbands covered in all different fabrics. A new thing I am just trying, and that you may be interested in for teens, is making bows out of duct tape to put on hair clips or headbands. I made some Hello Kitty ones, leopard print, and purple with comical black spider ones. I am also making earrings from heart shaped guitar picks.

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