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[goofytinkerbell]

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[PollyannaMom]

Look around now for church fairs and stuff, as they start in the fall and will be renting spaces already.

As for products, I've always been a sucker for Christmas ornaments!

 

[SC Minnie]

Depends on what kind of crafts you do. I do craft fairs and what I've seen is items priced $10 and less sell more than higher priced items. Kids items that are current character themed and pet items sell more than anything else.

You have to be part of the right craft sale though. I bring items to sell that I think will fit the people and season for that fair. You also have to have items that are unique.

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

I used to do craft fairs with a friend - haven't done any for a while due to her health issues and my work being insane the last couple of years. She made pottery, I did jewelry. Here are a few things we did well with and some random thoughts:

1. My friend made tiny crosses and christmas ornaments out of clay scraps. She sold the heck out of these at sales for a couple dollars each. They were small, unique, and people would buy 10 of them at a time as gifts.
2. I make beaded spiders - they don't sell as well as other things that I make, but I found that if I put a couple of them at the front of the booth, they got the attention of people that might normally walk on by another jewelry vendor. Nothing gets people interested like a teenage boy screaming and running away from your booth.
3. FInd something to make that is unique to you. Pinterest and tik tok crafts are fine, but everyone is making them and you might find yourself at an event with 10 other tables selling the same items.
4. There is a lady that I see at almost every event that always has a crowd at her table - she sells gift tags (sorry, I cant remember what they're called) 2 for a dollar - again, small cheap item that she sells a ton of.
5. Another friend did well one year with bird seed ornaments - she had a couple out for show, then pre-gift packaged the rest. My pottery making friend just happened to be on a bird house kick that year so every time someone bought one she'd tell them about the other friend's ornaments and vice versa. Look around for folks that have items that compliment yours and make friends with them.
6. People love to buy for their pets - dog collars, bow ties, bandanas, treats, etc usually do well if there isn't a lot of competition from other sellers.
7. On note #6, be sure to ask the people setting up the craft fair if they are limiting certain types of items. As a jewelry maker, I wouldn't pay the booth fee for a sale that was allowing MLM jewelry sellers or already had 20 other jewelry tables.
8. Don't underestimate kids - a lot of the kids that come to craft fairs with their mom's and grandma's have money to spend. I usually had some smaller string bracelets for a dollar, kids would buy them as gifts for their friends, Mom's would buy them as stocking stuffers, etc. If it's possible, put together some simple craft kits related to what you're selling. If the kids are intrigued, they might like to make their own.

edited because I forgot a couple of really important ones:

9. Whatever you decide to sell make sure it is presented well. Don't just throw things on a table. Spend a little money on some display items and a nice table cloth. There are tons of simple, inexpensive display ideas on pinterest.
10. Get a venmo acct or something that will allow you to take credit cards.

 

[goofytinkerbell]

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[PollyannaMom]

What kind of ornaments? For the tree?

Yes, the tree kind.

 

[SC Minnie]

The shows here booked months ago, but tables range into the hundreds of dollars so it doesn't seem cost effective unless I can sell a LOT. The smaller ones are usually limited to congregation members or people with kids in a certain school or something. I might be able to sneak in somewhere, but I need stock first, so I think I need to figure out what to make. I suspect that will be next years plan, depending on how things go.

What kind of ornaments? For the tree? Other kinds?


Good tips! I do a bit of stenciling, painting, knit, crochet, some wood crafts (easy stuff only!)... Really, a wide range of things


I've never heard of that site. We've been doing yard sales for years, and selling stuff on local facebook groups it it's "nicer".


Years ago I used to do food at my friend's kid's Christmas show. Things like peanut butter balls, etc. I did very well with those types of items. Now you can't do that without a commercial kitchen and a food vendor license. I understand the reasoning, it's just a bit extreme for small scale people.

It looks like volume does well from what I'm seeing, so I'll have to look into something I can make a LOT of. I used to knit dishcloths, but it seems like everyone is doing that. I did sell a few crochet bags (like beach bags) but I didn't do well enough to make it worth the time it took to make them.

There are some great suggestions here, thanks!

I only do local shows and ones that are less that $50 vendor fee- I try to stay in the $25-$35 range- and I've done some that had no vendor fee. Once I got into my first one I made contacts and they let me know when they find out about craft fairs. Also I've seen ones ask for vendors on Facebook local pages. Vet them though because there are scammers out there. Do not agree to send a vendor fee via CashApp, VEnmo, etc.