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I have an opportunity to do a craft fair in my neighborhood for free. I'm looking forward to using up a lot of supplies I have been hoarding. What are the good sellers at craft fairs these days?
My friend just did a craft fair and what sold the best were cards, the little totes with 4 cards in them, and every single peppermint patty thing we made... I took some little 5 x 5 clear envelopes and put 4 decorated York patties in them and topped the bag with a top note die cut, folded in half and decorated. They were so cute, easy and sold out...lol We had a very good day. Cards sold were 1/2 holiday and 1/2 other. blessings.
I'm going to do a holiday show in early November. I bought the Simple Holiday Thanks (big chubby snowman thank you). I thought I would do those as they had in the catalog, maybe five to a box. I am soooo pitiful about pricing though - never know what to charge! Maybe some of the peppermint patties too.
Subbing, I'd like to have some idea of what sells well too.
So far I'm planning on making the following:
Bags of Christmas Tags (24 pack) - $5
Customizable Christmas Ornaments $5-$7
Gift Card Holders - $2
Clear Bag Brag Books - $5-$7
Packs of bags w/toppers made from the Top Note Die (8 to a pack) - $5
Snowman Soup in a pail?
Peppermint Patties?
Magnetic BAB on a tin?
I am not sure about the pricing, I've never done this before.
I have a booth at my first craft fair/art festival this Saturday, Oct. 3, so I will let you know after the sale.
This is the 8th year for the fair, and there are about 35 exhibitors. They did say there are no other papercrafters, so we'll see.
I have made lots of things with great ideas I got from the long running craft fair thread in the Techniques forum. It has been updated and is going again for this year.
From everything I've read, it's difficult to know what will sell from fair to fair. People have said something sold like hotcakes at one fair, so they rushed home and made more for the next show.
You guessed it - little interest in the hot item at the next show.
I'm being philosophical about it, and if sales aren't as good as I hope, I have a great headstart on Christmas!:mrgreen:
__________________ Bugga in OK
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama
Last edited by buggainok; 09-29-2009 at 10:37 PM..
I'm making gobs of cards for a craft fair the 3rd weekend in October. I still have lots left from previous fairs but am making a lot of fall and Halloween cards. If the Halloween cards don't sell, I'll just mail them out myself :>) I'm going to price them at $2.50 or 3 for $7.00.
Sounds like cards are always a safe bet. I'm on the fence with the candy idea. I had forgotten about Peppermint Patties. I'm afraid I'd eat more than I'd sell!
I just got home from the Dollar Tree and I bought a 10 pack of matchboxes there (for $1). I am going to try to alter them and see what I think. I figure they'd be a cute, cheap, item that I could sell. If I sold them for $1 that would be a pretty good profit. I am trying to come up with a lot of easy, low-priced items. That way if they don't sell I'm not out a ton of time and money.
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Your matchboxes are so cute and so much easier than cutting, folding, etc. And so sturdy too! I have a church auction for the teenagers tonight where they bid with points they have earned and was wondering what else I could bring tonight that wouldn't cost a ton or be too work intensive---since I have been working like mad to get things together. I think I can handle those! So cute! I am sure you will sell those quickly.
Thanks, for the encouragement. I was amazed at how easily they went together. I think the cost to me will be somewhere around .15�-.20� each. You'll have to show us what you make when you're done!
-Christel
Quote:
Originally Posted by bound4london
Your matchboxes are so cute and so much easier than cutting, folding, etc. And so sturdy too! I have a church auction for the teenagers tonight where they bid with points they have earned and was wondering what else I could bring tonight that wouldn't cost a ton or be too work intensive---since I have been working like mad to get things together. I think I can handle those! So cute! I am sure you will sell those quickly.
I have been reading those 51 pages of the other craft site over the past month!! There seems to be mixed opinions on whether or not cards sell...but it never hurts to try!
Something I'm going to be selling in my craft fairs next month are:
- Christmas tree boxes with jelly beans in them -- advertised as table favours
- small spice jars with jelly beans as Grinch poop ;)
- nugget cello bags with 6 nuggest
- Christmas fudge
Last year I made the sour cream containers - I think they were about 4 x3 or 4x4 and put m&ms in them and sold them as Elf/Snowman/Santa poop - I sold them for $1 each and marketed them as table favours or classmate gifts. I sold all I made (about 30-40) and took orders for another 80!!
Oh, and I'm thinking of trying the infamous Denise's lotion, too. I have some cute little bottles that I've been wondering what to do with, so if I can figure out a good way to decorate the tops, I'll do that, too!
i think a good selling point is when people feel like they are getting a bargain. Say your cards are $2 each, can you do 6 cards for $10 (or Buy 5 Get 1 Free)? You are 'losing' one card per every 5 sold.... but i know if i was going to have bought 3 or 4 cards anyway, I would buy the 5th to get a free one...
i have heard of doing raffles, where you have a sign up book for people's emails (let them know, this is your mailing list for product information), and at the end of the day you pick a winner from the names (written on slips of paper and drawn from a hat LOL). You could raffle off a nice item, something a bit of 'Wow'. I would go to a booth to sign up to win an item and probably buy something while i was there.
Try to think of Psychology class.... learn your buyer LOL. If this is a Temple Beth-El craft fair, Christmas may not sell so well LOL but instead you would do better selling little bags of Gilt or even snow-themed items. Do snow themes sell well in hot climates? I always wondered....
-laura s
I agree. Most of the stuff I'll be selling will be under $5. I will probably make some sets of 3x3 note cards but I don't plan on making any other cards. I will make a flyer that advertises my classes and also that I offer custom work.
For now, I cannot stop making these little altered matchboxes. I've done 5 today, while caring for my three kids. I think I will have a few on display done up as wedding favors to try to drum up some custom orders.
-Christel
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommyspencer
I think, too, that $5 is often a key amount for people. If it is under $5 it feels like a good deal. Over $5 and I might think twice... ;)
My friend asked me the same thing. Ironically there are matches in there. My intention was that they'd sit on a shelf (with a candle) or on the back of a toilet. Of course if the buyer wants to put something else in them they'll be able to. I am really loving them. I'll upload the photos of the other ones I've done after my kids go to bed. I hope they sell as well as I think they will.
-Christel
Quote:
Originally Posted by sbohay
Your matchboxes are very cute!! What are you putting in them? I actually went and bought some today, as you inspired me!!
I don't know if this is what you are talking about, but I made these tags for a class that I've had (am having) in September and October. I will be packaging the tags, 24 to a pack (4 of each design) and offering them for $5 at the craft fair. They're just in a clear envelope with a decorated Top Note on the top.
-Christel
Quote:
Originally Posted by nanci fanci
What are soap bibles and what are those little envelope/bags with the tag called in the previous thumnails.
Sorry I totally forgot to post the peppermint pattie bags we sold last evening...I will put a post it on my forehead to do it this evening. We sold over 200 cards at the craft fair. I would say an even mix of holdiay and other. We had over 400 to sell. Not too bad. The left overs will be put to good use too.
blessings.
Sorry I totally forgot to post the peppermint pattie bags we sold last evening...I will put a post it on my forehead to do it this evening. We sold over 200 cards at the craft fair. I would say an even mix of holdiay and other. We had over 400 to sell. Not too bad. The left overs will be put to good use too.
blessings.
Thanks for letting us know about the cards. Good to know you sold so many!
My friend asked me the same thing. Ironically there are matches in there. My intention was that they'd sit on a shelf (with a candle) or on the back of a toilet
Ha ha! That's great!! I pulled all the matches out of one last night and realized that you can only fit a couple of candies or one nugget in them. So maybe I'll leave the matches in!! How much do you sell them for?
I'm going to sell them for $1 each. I think that's a good deal. Most of my stuff will be less than $5. I went to the Dollar Tree and bought all that they had this morning (19 packs). I think that making 200 will be good. The profit margin on them is pretty high. About 80� per matchbox.
A few other things I'm doing... Snowman Soup for $5 (if I can still get the pails at Target) and I bought some plastic popcorn "boxes" at the Dollar Tree this morning. I'll put a bag of microwave popcorn and a few candy bars in there and market it as an "add-a-Blockbuster / movie theater-gift-card" type of thing. That way I am not buying the gift cards, just providing the packaging. Both of these should have a profit margin of about $2.50. I probably won't make many of them though, maybe 5-10 of each. I will do the peppermint patties but I'm not sure how I'll sell them (individually or in "sets"). I will be making my gift tags (see above post) and also sets of clear bags with toppers for people to add their own treats to. Kind of a pre-made goddie bag kit. I'll be making gift card holders, some to hang on a tree and some not (as not everyone has a tree). I'll sell these for $2 each. I am considering making ornaments but don't know if it'll be worth my time. I'm also considering making sets of 3x3 notecards.
Anyone else want to share what they're doing? I feel like I'm hogging this thread.
OK, can I get some opinions out there? I just made these little "treats" and thought that they might be good for my upcoming craft fair. The question I have is this... how would you feel about buying a food item that had been handled by someone else? I could put factory wrapped treats in there but don't think it would be as cute as loose M 'n M's What do you think?
I will get some supplies for the soap bibles today, and can make them up to show you on the weekend. :-D
Can't wait to see them.
I went to Wal-Mart this morning and could not find any peppermint patties, they have re-done our store and seem to be selling mainly their store brand now. :(
OK, can I get some opinions out there? I just made these little "treats" and thought that they might be good for my upcoming craft fair. The question I have is this... how would you feel about buying a food item that had been handled by someone else? I could put factory wrapped treats in there but don't think it would be as cute as loose M 'n M's What do you think?
-Christel
Adorable, but personally I don't buy food/candy that is not individually wrapped. I don't make it for gifts either. Bummer, because there are so many cute things that could be done!
__________________ julia www.juliascreativemusings.blogspot.com
OK, can I get some opinions out there? I just made these little "treats" and thought that they might be good for my upcoming craft fair. The question I have is this... how would you feel about buying a food item that had been handled by someone else? I could put factory wrapped treats in there but don't think it would be as cute as loose M 'n M's What do you think?
-Christel
Really cute treats!
I can see your point about being loose/handled, but they appear sealed and fresh in these containers to me. Could you put clear tape around the lid to seal them further and give the buyer confidence in the product, or would that ruin their appearance?
Would it be possible to have a large covered bowl of M 'n M's on your table, scoop them out with a ladel, and fill the cups in front of the buyer so they can see you aren't handling the food, then just pop on your decorated lid. ( I would certainly be attracted to a table by a large, colourful bowl of M 'n Ms! :-D)
I mean a large glass bowl (like a round fish bowl shape) or glass jar for the M 'n Ms!
Last edited by purplepatch; 10-01-2009 at 12:29 PM..
Reason: clarify description
OK, can I get some opinions out there? I just made these little "treats" and thought that they might be good for my upcoming craft fair. The question I have is this... how would you feel about buying a food item that had been handled by someone else? I could put factory wrapped treats in there but don't think it would be as cute as loose M 'n M's What do you think?
-Christel
If you told me that you filled the jars using a spoon and never touched the m&Ms, I'd be totally fine with that, but I'm not too much of a germophobe.....you might want to get their opinion, LOL! They are really cute, by the way!
Craft fairs -- What's selling these days?
