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Kiki · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 11:37 am Post subject: My first ever craft fair

Well...it's over...and now relax...cos I have been busy getting ready for this. It was on Weds, I didnt have great expectations for being mid week, and I didnt think it was well advertised, but I wanted to have the experience. I sold €120, which was fine for the amount of people who attended, and it covered my costs and made a profit, I would have liked to sell more, but as I said, not many people came in.

I had made a Price List Layout, it was VERY eye catching Smile

I sold VERY little Christmas cards, I had 4 x €10 and I didnt do well on them, TG I didnt make loads. I was the only full cardmaker, but other people selling other stuff also had cards, really easy to put together and selling very cheap, so I think my potencial x-mas card buyers bought from the others....so for next year: I will make very easy/cheap cards. Realistically people wont spend a fortune when they have to buy 20-30 cards in one go. I will also try for next year personalised cards, but I wont spend too much time at them either.

My other cards did ok....but what I sold a lot were the altered book Shock

I had 4 in A5 size, 2 notebooks (Neasa: finally got around to do the %&?*& grooves Laughing

) and 2 address books, at €10 ea and I didnt sell any of them Crying or Very sad

but it kinda suited me cos I was gonna make some to give as presents, so I have them made already.
Then 2 diaries of a A6 size @ €8 ea, sold both. And 8 small size ones, the ones that fit into your handbag, I had some small notebooks (bought them 3 for €1) some 2007 diaries and some address books @ €4 ea, all sold. They are quick to make and the best of all it's a great way to use up your scraps of paper Laughing

I also used a varnish on all of them, it would protect them better and a drop of water wont damage them, and also made them look a vit vintagey, cos the varnish is "tea dye" colour.

I also made some jars with Reindeer food...people loved these Smile

I got the jars from a friend who has a baby, I didnt get many, only 10, and she didnt have the lids. I made a mixture of porridge with a bit of bird seeds, glitter and "snow" (a jar from ELC, which is like raibow paper which really sparkles!), so I put a bit of this in the bottom, then layered coloured sugar first red, then white then green, and another layer of the porridge mixture, cut a piece of round fabric and attached it with a rubber band then a ribbon, and I cut a reindeer with the craft robo for decoration and printed the poem onto labels...I will post a pic. I sold 8 of these @ 2 ea....I got loads of giggles from parents Smile

In general, it was a good experience, and I will continue making the small altered notebooks.

And then again...Im down in the country, in a bigger city I would had done better, I was very cautious with my prices for this reason Confused

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cook22 · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 11:41 am Post subject:

Well done for going for it, and even better done for making a profit Tigger Happy

. And as you said, you'll be able to use some of the things that didn't sell yourself, which is even better.
An eye-catching price list is an excellent idea - some of the stands at the Craft Fair in the RDS could have done with one Smile

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Sabrina

Kiki · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 12:02 pm Post subject:

Thanks Sabrina Smile

Pics of the reindeer food : front & back

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Lebosi · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 1:12 pm Post subject:

Congratulations on making a profit Kiki even if it wasn't as much as you'd hoped for. Applause

I sell my Christmas cards 6 for €10 because people need lots at the same time but I haven't been able to keep up with demand this year and still may have to make some more, phew! Rolling Eyes

At the beginning of the year I decided I would make half a dozen cards every week to save a big rush in November but that idea soon fell by the wayside. However next year I will try to stick to it, as six weeks of making almost nothing but Christmas cards has me almost demented. Confused

I don't spend as much time on each one as I would on other cards but I still like each one to be even slighty different. Think

The reindeer food looks fab Kiki and I'm sure the kiddiwinkles will be delighted with it. Smile

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jacqui · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 1:12 pm Post subject:

Well done Kiki. Applause

I know it's really hard work doing these craft fairs, I bet you were exhausted after it.

You do learn very quickly what sells well also. I agree people dont want to spend a fortune on Cards at Christmas as they are so cheap to buy in the shops.
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elven · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:01 pm Post subject:

Just wanted to say as well, good for you! Hopefully it's given you enough confidence/experience to make you do more fairs in the future, and maybe we'll see you at the RDS next year Smile

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Tigger · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:19 pm Post subject:

Well done Kiki Applause

I love the way you did the reindeer food Smile

Bronwen did a craft fair the weekend I was in Devon and did very well too, despite it been very badly advertised. I didn't make any Christmas cards for it Embarassed

Just Birthday/Get Well/Wedding etc and she sold 100 of them Smile

My friend is doing a craft fair in Cork this week and took what I had left over and has sold it all and has asked me to make up more cards and Reindeer food Smile

I think the Reindeer are going to be very well fed this Christmas Laughing

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Caroline · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:37 pm Post subject:

beautiful jars, Kiki. Well done on your craft fair.

jackie · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:41 pm Post subject:

Well done Kiki .. Applause

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Ringo · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:55 pm Post subject:

well done Kiki. Reindeer food looks fab. Great diversity in all you had for sale.
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Audrey · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:40 pm Post subject:

Well Done KiKi Applause

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Lara · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:38 pm Post subject:

Well done Kiki, the reindeer food I sold last week made the mothers laugh as well, but they thought it such a great idea and bought the lot. I have some on order for tomorrow, so I made some more. I bought the stockings in VFM. 3 for 1.99 as I did not have the time to make them myself this week.

Carrie · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:58 pm Post subject:

Well Done Kiki for taking the plunge and its great you made a profit.
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taisce · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 6:47 pm Post subject:

Nice one Kiki! You did really well, and learned from it for next year Smile

Love the jars... forgot to do them with the kids AGAIN this year... Rolling Eyes

Maybe I'll have time next week? Smile

MayoMom · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 8:57 pm Post subject:

Well done Kiki!!! Applause

Hope you enjoyed it as well. I really got a buzz out of it and really looking forward to next year!!

Lebosi - would you mind showing or doing a PM with the cards for 6 for €10. I find it hard to judge what level of card for what price.

I think all craft fairs are different - but hey we wouldn't be doing them without the rest of you guys!!!

H