I only set up my business at the latter end of 2011, mainly by buying lots of goodies from my favorite website eBay. Eventually my spare bedroom was overfilling and beds were replaced by desks and storage. There is only so many items of jewellery a woman can own (apparently, source:Husband) so I took the plunge and decided to try and sell my jewellery.
My husband set me up a beautiful website, a facebook and twitter page. I spread the word about these as much as I could, I made a few sales thanks to my lovely family and friends but found it difficult to get the website out to the people of the world.
Many years ago I attended craft fairs with my mum, there is a brilliant one in Haslingden, Lancashire and I knew this was the way forward. After some research I applied to a few upcoming events, only to be rejected as they were full for jewellery stalls. Then came a phone call from Geoff at a company called craft promotions asking if I wanted to do a fair that very weekend. I agreed but wasn’t fully sure I was prepared. I had to crack the whip, roping my husband in to help. It was a hectic weekend, with extremely late nights.
The day of the fair was finally here, with the car packed to the brim, the flask filled with tea and a handful of sandwiches, we set off to Goosnargh, it couldn’t have been a more beautiful little village. The day went well, we met some fantastic people who have become good friends. It is such a great way to sell your products and helps you to market and promote yourself, to find your strengths and weaknesses.
I signed up to a number of other fairs with the same company, although some of them were hit and miss. I still cant decide whether they are viable. It can be an expensive day, with your stall cost, petrol, food and the fantastic products for sale by other crafter’s. The more I look into craft fairs nowadays the more I find, it seems they are everywhere and maybe there are too many.
This year I have decided to hold back for the moment and try to promote my website, whilst I visit some other fairs and see how they are going. There is a fair this weekend in Whalley, I know a few of the crafter’s who will be selling their wares and hope to pop by.
To anyone out there contemplating whether or not to try a craft fair, DO, take the plunge, they are fantastic, they are run and attended by brilliant people, they are an excellent place to network and socialise. I will be booking some more as soon as I have rebuilt my stock from the mad rush at Christmas.
I have had lots of your products and they are all beautiful. Keep up the good work.