[Closed] Craft maker exhibitors. Advice required on increasing sales.

I don't know much about this sort of thing, but was listening to two traders talking at the Dorchester show. One was extolling the virtues of the Christmas market at the Bovington Tank Museum. He said the costs per 'pitch' were the lowest of any show, it is fully covered so benefits from bad weather and the spend was the highest of the year (sorry, can't remember what he was selling)

As it is just round the corner from you it might be worth a shot... (Pun intended)

No idea. But I can say it's a very nice clock.
[img] [/img]

No idea. But I can say it's a very nice clock.

I don't know much about this sort of thing, but was listening to two traders talking at the Dorchester show. One was extolling the virtues of the Christmas market at the Bovington Tank Museum. He said the costs per 'pitch' were the lowest of any show, it is fully covered so benefits from bad weather and the spend was the highest of the year (sorry, can't remember what he was selling)

As it is just round the corner from you it might be worth a shot... (Pun intended)

Flanagaj - got a link to your website so we can see your product? I'm after a nice clock for my workshop...

Instagram could be a better option with pretty things than facebook. Hashtags are important for people stumbling across your stuff though. Also, getting your product into a local friendly shop or 2, things people can see or touch are likely to sell better than things they can't.

Etsy also worth a look if you don't have a store.

Big money on advertising isn't worth it these days, getting people to spread the word of your product via social media however is worth a lot more.

If I saw that photo while flicking through the Grauniad's weekend mag I'd be googling to see where the clock came from. It's v classy - looks more Kings Road Heals than craft fair to me

[url=www.theconcretelab.co.uk]www.theconcretelab.co.uk[/url]

I am now also making them with either a walnut veneered face or a maple veneered face with white acrylic hour markers.

Your link isn't working flan, just takes me back to the forum.

[url= http://www.theconcretelab.co.uk ]http://www.theconcretelab.co.uk[/url] should work 🙂

@joeydeacon - thanks

Main issue for me.......Concrete + clock=£150
Nice though.

Should add that you might want to try giving a couple away for free - maybe get the local school(s) involved where the students design a clock for the school - the winning design gets made and given to the school, and the kid wins a prize - can then get local press involved and increase publicity? Or just send a couple of samples to popular interior design/lifestyle magazines/blogs for free publicity?

Basically anything like that gets your company name / web address out there.

Edit: Or approach local privately owned shops and see if they'd stock a few on a sale or return basis?

Also the clock looks totally different (and much nicer) than I was expecting - 'concrete related products' didn't have me salivating

you can copy and paste it tho 😉

those clocks - and the lamps - look absolutely great IMO. Out of my price range unfortunately but I'm sure you can find plenty of buyers...

My very limited experience of craft fairs (more art-related) is that you need to offer a range of products. With art, you can have prints retailing for £50+ but what really sells are greetings cards, badges and fridge magnets at £2 a pop. It's hard to find people who want to spend £100+ there and then, although I'm sure there are markets out there for these people!

I agree with the point about getting on Instagram, and also about hustling on Social media. It can feel embarrassing but if you set everything up you can be surprised by how much your friends and family will spread the word occasionally!

The Guardian thing is a good point too. You've got some really good looking photos there, that would look at home in any fancy lifestyle magazine. Spend a day googling them, and then emailing their features editor (or whoever) to ask if they'd be interested in doing a little piece on these unique and handmade etcs.

Also if you can get stocked in a local independent furniture / décor type shop it's probably worth it. They'll take a fair cut but it puts them in a space where people are looking to buy that kind of thing.

See, this is the problem with self-employment in this kind of area. It's all very well doing the fun bit, but if you want to make any actual money, you have to work really hard at the boring bit 😉

Sale or return in nice design houses worked for a friend and his designer woodwork/furniture business. We spent a day around London village delivering shelves and coffee tables - all sold in a couple of weeks, so orders came in...

I'd get in with your local interior design shops and spread from there.

Get in you car and visit them personally though, not via email!

And just a little thing - an indication of weight for the clocks may be useful. It may put some people off buying if they think they've got to get someone in to drill and plug a stronger hook (yep, many people can't use a drill!).

Also the clock looks totally different (and much nicer) than I was expecting - 'concrete related products' didn't have me salivating

that's not a bad point either 😆

This stuff is way cool at the moment. Brutalist architecture, 20th Century modernism, MNML living, all that. If you can hitch your wagon to that particular movement you might draw a few people in. I mean look at this instagram page - 100,000 followers and all he does is post pictures of concrete buildings...

https://www.instagram.com/brutal_architecture/

Unfortunately, plugging on social media is not my strong point. I am going to contact some of the magazines to see whether they may be interested in putting the product in the magazine in return for a free clock that they can then use in a competition.

Unfortunately, plugging on social media is not my strong point.

Sorry - but in this market, you need to learn this skill.

Edit - you seem to have links to every social media outlet going on your website. Narrow it down a bit - FB, Instagram, Pinterest to start with and expand if necessary.

Edit 2! - only the Facebook link seems to work. Delete the others if not used?

Edit - you seem to have links to every social media outlet going on your website

My whole business is based around fairs, mainly Christmas markets. I used to do loads but now only do Cardiff (starts on Nov10) and Bath (starts Nov24) both of which account for about 75% of my salary. You need to contact a couple of markets and though they will be full you need to get on the waiting list as there are always people that pull out last minute.

I don't do FB, twitter or instagram (I can barely cope as it is). I get some sales through my website (am I allowed to put it in.....www.welshslateshop.co.uk). Prices range from £5 to £100+ which is important for the markets and make sure you have enough stock. My first day on a Christmas stall in Cardiff I sold out of everything. The best markets will cost loads and there is a premium on the best locations. I always think cheap rents on some markets are cheap for a reason.

Any other advice you need just email me through my site.

Good luck

https://www.etsy.com/uk/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=etsy_uk&utm_campaign=search_uk_uk-en-src-brand-exact-uk&gclid=CL6u_eum_c8CFRG3GwodjjcEDQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/?gclid=CMji3JCn_c8CFQcQ0wodkhkC0g

Craft fair to me brings to mind items from a few quid to perhaps £50.
The sort of place I might wonder in and buy something if it caught my eye.....while I like the look of your stuff, I wouldn't part with that much cash at a craft fair.

How about ETSY and like others have said get a presence on Facebook and also look at selling stuff through stores who are more likely to attract the kind of customer who would spend £150 on a clock...

We were accepted on Not on the high st, but wasn't convinced it was the right market so never finished the application. Etsy seems to be full of nice products, but sold for a pittance.

Two friends of mine, started in a shed make from discarded garage doors, they had to work HARD on the plugging, trade shows, media, visiting every shop, now they make a living from it.

[url= http://www.mineheart.com/ ]Mineheart[/url]

The designing and making bit is only a tiny bit of the whole story. If you're really certain you're not up for that bit (I wouldn't be) then perhaps contact an existing design studio? See if you can sell your stuff direct to them, they do all that but you make less money.

My whole business is based around fairs, mainly Christmas markets. I used to do loads but now only do Cardiff (starts on Nov10) and Bath (starts Nov24) both of which account for about 75% of my salary. You need to contact a couple of markets and though they will be full you need to get on the waiting list as there are always people that pull out last minute.

I don't do FB, twitter or instagram (I can barely cope as it is). I get some sales through my website (am I allowed to put it in.....www.welshslateshop.co.uk). Prices range from £5 to £100+ which is important for the markets and make sure you have enough stock. My first day on a Christmas stall in Cardiff I sold out of everything. The best markets will cost loads and there is a premium on the best locations. I always think cheap rents on some markets are cheap for a reason.

Any other advice you need just email me through my site.

Good luck

Do you use galleries or just sell direct to the customer through your web site and via Christmas fairs?

Difficult thing if like me, you love the creative side and making things but are rubbish at selling yourself.

I make furniture, lighting, sheds but this is alongside a full time job so can't really plough everything into it.
I have a few things at a local shop who sell items from craftspeople. I've sold a few bits but not much.
Also done a local show, Made in Leamington which is good to do, but as mentioned, people are unwilling to spend much and quite honestly don't appreciate individual pieces and high craftsmanship in my experience. They still expect Ikea prices.

Beautiful clocks though and I'm sure you'd do well to visit lots of interiors shops with them.

I have mixed feelings about social media. It's all so fleeting.

Your products page just comes up as blank for me, although clicking on the slider on the front page does work.

[url= https://twitter.com/dorsetbloggers ]Dorset local bloggers[/url]

If you were to ask these guys for someone local who could do some social media for you you'd likely find someone who could help, however, expect to be asked to pay a fee.

I sell/create brand awareness for safaris costing upwards of £10K (and up to £100k) at craft fairs, so I wouldn’t be too quick to write them off as not being suitable for £150 clocks. Pick your craft fair though as they’re not all equal. As others have said they’re a bugger to get into and when you’re there you need to know what to do and how to do it. Go and check out a few as a punter and talk to other exhibitors (when they’re not busy obviously).

Repeating what's been said previously, designing and making the products isn’t the same as running a business. Having said that it seems you’ve got a good product which is half the battle. I suggest seeing if your bank’s business manager or local chamber of commerce can recommend someone to talk to (for free) who will go through the other aspects you need to make a company succeed. Most of these are things you would have had to put into a business plan, had you needed investment or a loan in the first place.

We had investors from Day 1 and they became our board, even when we were two guys working out of a spare bedroom. It was a fantastic discipline to have to explain things to other people on a quarterly basis. They were also a great sounding board for new ideas or disputes between us. Hopefully you’ll have seen the value of outside help from the excellent advice in the replies above.

Good luck.

We were accepted on Not on the high st, but wasn't convinced it was the right market so never finished the application

http://www.handmadeinbritain.co.uk/

This exhibition is on at my place just now very crafty and very good quality.

I really liked the first look at the lamp. However £275 😮

[img] [/img]

Nice looking lamp, but what puts me off is that the cable isn't internally routed, and I don't like the fact its not touch on and off. Switches are so 20th century 😆

The I found this similar light (different designer) £420 😮
[img] [/img]

Maybe give some posh shops a call and ask them if they want to stock your stuff?

Unfortunately, plugging on social media is not my strong point.

We were accepted on Not on the high st, but wasn't convinced it was the right market so never finished the application

See, now, to be brutal, it sounds like you want to sell stuff (and it looks like well made, quality stuff) but you can't be arsed doing the legwork that's involved.

It's all very well doing the fun bit, but if you want to make any actual money, you have to work really hard at the boring bit

This.

Cheers Flan.

I did put a couple of the massive wineracks in to galleries etc but it didn't really work out due to the weight and awkwardness of the slate. I also wholesaled to shops but that was a lot of work for very little return as they want to buy at approx half of retail price. They will also say that they will buy loads off you every month but this never materialises. Are you prepared to sell your clocks at 50%?

Saying that if you have 100+shops it will be worthwhile. But getting to 100+ shops is the hard work - lots of trade shows all over the country. A guy on the markets used to provide his product to over 650 shops including the big department stores, and was employing 17 people. His turnover was huge but he lost a contract and decided to pack in wholesaling and just does the markets. Now he has no stress, no employees to worry about, does not need to pander the needs of shops and more importly earns more now than he did at his busiest.

If you do decide to go down the markets route you need much more range (there are a couple of stalls around that sell clocks)and you could do something similar to my range but whether it's cost effective is another matter. Don't worry about social media, I have never done it.

Regarding this year's markets there is more chance that you will get on in Cardiff than Bath and if you do a market in one of those wooden sheds be sure to bring your display to the front of the shed. All the newbies usually set up with a couple of tables inside the stall. This does not work as the public do not walk into the stall, as they don't want to feel under pressure to buy. So take your display to them and they can clearly see your products from the pavement.

@danradyr1 - I did consider the galleries, but decided that I don't want this to become a job which involves churning out product after product for little return.

if you do a market in one of those wooden sheds be sure to bring your display to the front of the shed

Nice looking products but the prices....

Reckon you need to speak to this guy

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I think you need to get your products in some shops, posh design shops etc

I think to do well at craft fairs you would need some cheaper products- I'm not saying drop your prices but come up with some ideas that can be sold for £50ish?

I also wonder whether concrete work surfaces might be a money spinner.

I don't make stuff to sell but used to run an art / craft gallery and take peoples work to art fairs. So heres my observations if you're taking work to fair (and its also pertinent if you want shops or galleries to stock your work.....

Think of your work like a litter of puppies. Its easier to find homes for your puppies if people have the whole litter of 8 to choose from. When you're left with one, not so easy. People need the choice - because part of the decision to buy is choosing your favourite.

Thats the dynamics of selling this sort of stuff so make works in families - similar but unique. If you take a family of 10 pieces to a fair and they're works that will sell they'll sell like hot cakes until you've got 2 or 3 left. Then those last ones won't shift (theres nothing necessarily wrong with those three - refresh the stock and they'll probably sell). But if you only take 3 to start with you'll struggle to sell anything.

So you need to be well stocked - several ranges of work at different price points and a good choice of each.

You can then have one to two big ticket special items. You won't sell them but they bring people in - they also establish a value for you more affordable items. They can be a source of a commission too.

Craft and maker markets can be a minefield - a lot are shite and are just an excecise in emptying stallholders pockets.

Craft-buyers are a very particular breed - its a niche of a niche. The kind of person who'd buy contemporary art of craft is within a segment of the market that would also include esoteric hifi collectors, early tech adopters, and so on. Cumulatively all those markets together represents less than 2% of the population. Your potential buyers - as in the people who would go to a craft fair and actually buy something rather than have a look round, chat and have a bit of cake - are a fraction again of that.

Unless the people organising the fair know who they are selling to and are bringing those kind of buyers in then all you'll actually get are people [i]who like looking at [/i]craft. You'll pay for your stall, they'll pay an entry ticket then walk around a look, just like they would in a museum. There are a lot of people who like to do that - look, talk and enjoy but leave with nothing.

So you want to be sure the market promoters are shit hot and are bringing actual buyers in amongst that larger group of keen lookers.

Its also wise to target fairs where work is similar to yours in terms of quality and style. If you to a commercial art dealers you'll notice that the artists they represent are quite same-y. They've got a network of buyers who's taste they know so they present work to them that suits those tastes.

So avoid fairs where buyers would have to get past decoupage kit assemblers and pen blank turners to get to you. It doesn't matter that your work is better than yours - your buyer will have turned round at the door. Try and find somewhere where you'll be amongst peers, the more makers like you there are there the more buyers or work like yours there will be.

Lastly - look up your local arts development team - some, but not many, will have support and advice for craft makers and some are very good at marketing and promoting local makers work.

Nice looking products but the prices....

Ignore advice on prices from people who themselves don't actually buy craft. People who do buy... its an affliction rather than measured decision, they couldn't advice you either as its not a rational thing to do.

One thing I would add is some of the exhibitors I have seen in craft fairs look a bit grumpy, very few seem to say helo and start a conversation.
I'm sure they loose a few sales !

If your not easily found on the Internet I won't be buying from you. Etsy and Not on the highstreet are usually my first stops. You need to be Internet savy. If your website feels broken I am certainly not going to be putting my credit card details anywhere near it. I can buy direct from your website yes? But the trouble is, buying online you can't feel the product so with no reputation (recognisable and known brand name - not something that you can get overnight) I have to decide whether to buy on some photos. Upto about £75 would be possible for me to buy based on this. However, I know that you need to make a living so should probably be looking for a rate of about this amount per hour of work you put in. How efficient are you at making your products? Lots of waste (including time, repairs and reworking) or are you minimising costs and giving yourself time to get your website working and plug yourself on social media? Sorry to sound a bit corporate but in my opinion all this needs to be addressed to make money. I Am Not An Entrepreneur.

As said above most buyers at craft fairs expect quality but aren't willing to pay for it. They have little idea of the time and hard work put into goods being sold.

I sell my stuff through facebook and a local shop that takes a percentage. Some goods are displayed at home. Once you get your name out there, word of mouth will spread.

The best place for you I believe is selling your products on a sale or return basis in interior design type shops (as mentioned above).

Good luck, because making anything decent at the moment and getting a fair price for it is difficult to say the least.

This Christmas I have my stuff booked into a nice shop that hosts a Christmas fair. They sell on my behalf, taking a cut.
Thus all advertising is sorted.

One fringe benefit of doing craft fairs at christmas - if you're in amongst a good peer group of makers there tends to be a bit of a swap-mart as the fair ends. A nice way of doing your christmas shopping 🙂