Any crafters out there? Need advice!

[IluvDonald!]

Okay, my sister wants me to do a craft show with her. She is VERY talented and has some really nice crafts.

She wants me to make the fleece tie blankets which I do really nice.

A. Would people buy them at a craft show?
B. is $25 too much for each?
C. Any suggestions?

 

[terri33inne]

I would pay $25 for a nice one that was double sided of decent size.

There is a crafters board on dis & they may have more answers regarding doing a craft fair.

 

[AlyssinWonderland]

A- I would buy one.
B- I don't think $25 is too much for a blanket. I think that's a pretty good price!
C- Make a list of what you need for the show.... BEFORE the show... it's always amazing to me how often another vendor will come and ask for something common such as a piece of tape or a pair of sissors. (Spelling is not my forte... sorry.) Pens... bring pens with you. And just have fun. The people who are most sucessful at shows are typically the people engaging others and having a good time. Don't be stressed about sales! Best of luck to you!

 

[Mickey527]

My son calls me Debbie Downer because I always look at the negative and overthing, but here are my thoughts.

Before you make them go to the fabric store and price what it would cost to make one. I was going to make them for some neices and nephews last year but for the fabric it would have cost me almost $20 each. then the time to cut and tie them, I just sent each kid the cash.
if you are making smaller lap quilt size it might be worth it but would someone pay much for a lap size?
You will most likely share the cost of the table for the fair so add that into your cost, along with what your time to make the items would be.
I think you might wind up making more than you can sell and not have any profit.

 

[Granny square]

Use coupons for the fabric.

You will find hat people come by, and say "I could make that for less..." No one wants to pay for your time. Lol, I make waitress wages without tips but it supports my hobby!

 

[scrapquitler]

You need to really know what the materials for these will cost before you determine the price you want to sell them for. When I make these blankets, I make them 72" long x width of fabric (about 58-60"). That means I need four yards of fleece to make them. I can't even buy the fleece for $25. I've paid almost $9 yard for the fleece in the past, so that's $36 for materials. If you make the blankets smaller, something like 45X60, then you'll need 2 1/2 yards of fleece. That's $25 for material with nothing for your labor. I also sew around the blanket edge just inside the ties, it makes the blanket sturdier and more nicely finished, but takes more time.

Figure out how long it takes you to make each blanket and add that amount of time at X price per hour (I personally wouldn't do it for less than $10 per hour) and add that to the cost of your materials. Factor in the costs of going to the fair (travel, booth rental, etc). Add materials + labor + cost of going to the fair, that will give you your price.

Don't under price yourself. It makes it harder for people who are trying to make a living at craft fairs.

 

[hsmamato2]

as a crafter myself,(I don't try to sell, I just make stuff) I woudn't pay that.... I know personally how simple it is to make a blanket like that, but even for those who don't you can buy kits for those at any Michaels for about 14.00..... selling crafts is VERY tough,unless you know how to create something unique enough that you are able to charge for your time,etc.

 

[Happyjen27]

I buy stuff at craft shows that display talents I do not have, and tie blankets aren't a niche that many people can't do if they want to.

The uneducated shopper will see the price and compare it to the price they may have seen at the craft store (usually around $10-15) for the kit and dismiss the $25 price. They may not realize that the kit blankets are very small and yours are not. They may not realize the differences in fleece quality.

The educated shopper will be able to make it, and therefore move on.

All markets are different though, so YMMV. I think if it's something you enjoy for your hobby and you want to make a few bucks to support the habit, it might work out for you. Similar to a PP:

You will find hat people come by, and say "I could make that for less..." No one wants to pay for your time. Lol, I make waitress wages without tips but it supports my hobby!

 

[mrsklamc]

My mom did craft shows when I was a kid....one of the smartest things I ever saw was a small sign in a booth that said, "Sure, you could make it yourself....but will you?"

 

[Tinkermommy]

I agree with a lot of the others about the blankets being easy to make and not as profitable.

My sister bought my daughter a fleece scarf at a craft show. It's really cute. I found a similar one on etsy (http://www.etsy.com/listing/1131268...ip_to=US&ga_ref=auto4&ga_search_type=handmade).
These would not need a lot of material and they seem quick and easy.


You could also make
- fleece dog beds (just stuff a small blanket)
- Little girl and matching doll blankets
- Pillows

Also, think about using fabric for sports teams or colors for local high schools etc. These items are more "personal" and always seem to go quickly.

I would go to Pintrest or google and just search for fleece crafts.

Good luck.

 

[dreamin_disney]

To be honest people depending on your area might or might not buy. In my area people don't want to pay once they know its made. It's like because a person made it they should sell it for close to free and family is even worse lol!

Make just a few and see how it goes. Make business card and try getting orders that way. Use coupons for the fleece. Dd and I make 3-4 every year to donate to project Linus . It's a charity that donated to kids in hospitals . With coupons we sown about $30-$40 for 2 kids size and 2 teen size blankets. Good luck!

 

[wiigirl]

Use coupons for the fabric.

You will find hat people come by, and say "I could make that for less..." No one wants to pay for your time. Lol, I make waitress wages without tips but it supports my hobby!

 

[luvdzny]

In my area I don't think it would sell. (I live in SE WI) Everyone I know has at least one already, and most people have a few. The scarf idea that at PP mentioned might be more profitable.

 

[Sandy61]

My sister has done craft shows for years. She will figure the cost of supplies for one item and triple it. That will cover time, space rental, etc. You should also walk around right before the show to see how much other people sell theirs for.

I have not bought one, but I have seen them sold. They are usually lap blanket size not bed size and often are a theme...girls room with pink, camouflage, local high school colors, national team logo. I think you can buy the materials with the logo on them.

Also be sure to provide uses for your item...this is my sister's #1 advice...give them a reason to buy it. You can show how it can be hung on a wall, tied with a ribbon to give as a gift, laying over the back of a sofa etc.

 

[Alesia]

I wouldn't buy one. I have more than enough already - we have received several of them for each of the last few Christmases. I couldn't even find someone who would take my extra ones.

 

[yoopermom]

I agree with most of the Negative Nellies on here unfortunately.

The one exception would be if you somehow found specialized fleece at a great price and could sell to that certain buyer (aka green and gold up here in Packerland, dog breed specific at a dog show, local schools sports team colors, etc). Even then, with the time and extra effort, you'd have to price them pretty high...

Terri

 

[lucyem]

I think the other's have given great advice on price and materials. My only other addition to that is to know the market. Not all craft fairs are equal or have the same clientele. I have seen every kind from the most basic on up to the super high end. My mother supported herself for many years with her crafts. She will change what she brings to sell based on the fair. Has your sister been to the fair before? Is she sure fleece blankets are something that would sell? Would you be sitting in a booth with 5 others around you selling the same kind of item?

 

[Granny square]

Huge good point! My first was a street fair and a wonderful friend warned me in advance people weren't there to shop. I sold a few things but not much. The gal beside me had lesser quality materials but school colors and sold more. It was a really interesting lesson.

 

[jazz0007]

Agreed with others that you should make something a little more unique like the dog beds! I have so many blankets but the only ones I use are the collection of Disney ones I have gotten on our trips. A cute dog bed I would certainly pay $25 for!! You could even follow the same concept but just add cushion to the middle.....and you could make different sizes at different prices for small and large dogs. Although, my 90lb german shepherd will squeeze himself onto smaller beds! This is an item people replace a LOT! Even if they have some they can usually use more.

 

[writersblock42]

I have been to a few craft shows and normally what I see go are really specific items such as school blankets, team blankets things like that, really cute items and things that are needed as well. If you can combine those things that is great. Somebody made hats that were animals and were stinkin adorable and I bought one. It helped that they weren't priced outrageously. They cost $10 and they are very popular now. Totally good advice to price it out for materials. Use coupons, buy in bulk, buy a bunch when the material goes on sale. Then I would mark it up a couple dollars above what you paid.