The Ultimate Survival List - Craft and Vintage Fairs

Ok , ok... so "survival" may sound a little dramatic. But trust me with this one. When I was a child I used to help my Grandmother on her stall in Shrewsbury Market selling her handmade pots, lamps etc. I thought at the time that getting up whilst it was still dark, wearing gawd knows how many layers etc was hard work enough. I had so much fun; learning how to make cash transactions, talking to customers and occasionally being trusted with the coffee run. I didn't like the scary basement much. 

Childhood ignorance is bliss because (Of course) I never thought for a second that Nan had worked very hard; she never complained, was never in a flap, she talked to everyone like a friend and money was never discussed with or around me. (Nan, if you have access to wifi wherever you are, I am SO sorry, I get it now.)

So, whether you are just starting out, a seasoned pro or a lovely helper (mine were pretty top notch)... hopefully you will find something here that inspires/clicks/works (maybe even a "Phew! I nearly forgot that! Thank goodness for this blog, I will tell everyone about this blog... Kim seems nice. ")


1. Have more stock than you think you will sell on the day. 

 Especially if you do bespoke or personalized items.  You should be giving out business cards and (if you are doing it right) hopefully a bit of traffic online during and after every event. Do not be caught short. 
If having a lot of stock is an issue (you may have a smaller stand or have a last minute booking and have limited production time), do have some way of showing your extended range other than online. Put together a board or folder.      

2. Promote, promote, promote!

I am talking Facebook, Twitter, Instagram... all of these things. Not just on your profile, not just friends and family. Give yourself time to research relative groups on Facebook (Etsy, Handmade networking groups)  and twitter hours ( handmadehour , onlineCraft, uksmallbiz) as well hashtags for your local area such as BrumHour).  Of course, if the event you are going to has a link, share it. If they have a group, post in it. 
If you can, maybe promote a special on-the-day benefit or discount but don't feel obliged to do so. 
Only share decent photos of  your products.

3. Have an itinerary

Even the most organised and coolest of cucumbers should have one of these; especially if you have helpers. (Hi again, Nan). Make sure everyone knows the itinerary. Do not cry if itinerary does not go exactly to plan. (See number 9).

4. Ask for all possible details about the stall itself (dimensions etc)

I learnt this one the hard way. Most market /event organizers are pretty happy to give you all the information you need (I mean, you are paying to be there, after all). But sometimes descriptions and estimated proportions....let's just say they fall short. If this is a recurring event, try and check it out as a consumer before your stall. Ask on the groups on Social Media if anyone has sold there before. Tell the events co coordinator EXACTLY what you need from them including measurements, electric, available light, location of your stall in relation to other things (toilets, smelly food, entrance etc).

5. Do A LOT of research on your chosen fairs and markets

As above. Only, well... I would say I am confident enough to try and make any stall look reasonable due to the emergency box (number 9). With the event itself, that is not really in your control. So do your research...and a lot of it. You have worked to hard to part with your money for anything less than an event that offers you the chance to make a profit. 

6. Customer service

As someone who has worked in a lot of retail environments and genuinely likes meeting people, this should be really easy. The thing I hated about mainstream, high street stores was feeling as though I was pestering people. So, getting the balance right is important. Be pleasant and smile...genuinely! Talk about the products you have worked so hard on. Be sociable, ask questions. And don't do a "me" at my first stall i.e. self conscious. Just relax, have fun. Don't over think it!
P.S. For the love of god, do NOT be that stall holder who is constantly on the phone.
P.P.S. Being friendly is great. Knowledgeable is superb. Panicking a bit when you dont sell as much as you wanted, understandable. But knowing your worth and the worth of your hard work when faced with a haggler (who may be thought this was a car boot sale)...crucial. 

7. Presentation

There is no excuse for a messy, disorganized stall. None. If you have a top sheet, iron it. If you don't know anything about visual merchandising, research it. Have enough stock for replenishment. Have a real think about the first impression you want to give.

Pssst... Pinterest can be awesome for ideas.

8. Business cards

Order more than you need. Have enough for replenishment. Hand them out with purchases. And (should go without saying) make sure all links and contact details are up to date and available.

9. Checklist/emergency box

The contents of each of these will be different depending on what you sell and make. Here's a brief glimpse at mine : 
- Repair kit : needles, thread, scissors, pins, sellotape.
- Separate cash for coffee.
- A bottle of water
- Phone charger
- A few bits of make up /hair brush
- Air Freshener
- Body spray/hand sanitiser if you are a smoker


10. Product knowledge

You made this stuff. You know everything there is to know about it. Think about how you want to share that knowledge. Don't be self deprecating. Chances are that if a customer is there, they already want to shop handmade/unique products. Knowing why your products are special is part of the lovely experience of non high street shopping.

Why Handmade is for everyone

I know I am not alone when I say that I adore a lot of old fashioned “things”: smelly old books, thrift shops, music, films, 1950’s style dresses, berry picking, the fox trot and friends who call their children George/Molly/Arthur rather Princess Tiiami Crystal. Ok, ok… there ARE limits to how far I will go with the adoration and when it comes to, you know, sanitation, washing clothes by hand and women not having the vote. I’m not a heathen.  In summary, it seems that I …and a lot of you out there are craving a nostalgic, romantic buzz more than ever.

As a product of this unquenchable thirst, I would like to talk about the ever increasing community of Craft and Handmade businesses. My own small business (Vintage Crafts Company) was set up about a year ago. Not all of our products are necessarily cohesive with the Vintage Aesthetic (see Dinosaur Rucksack) the name is a nod to the skills that were predominant in a bygone era eg. Designing your own patterns, embroidery, hand stitching, crochet, up-cycling etc. For certain events we also work alongside consultants for old fashioned sweet making and aromatherapy/herbal products. So …you get it… we celebrate the vintage skills of the past by bringing them into the present.

Like many of us crafty blighters, our skills were passed to us from relatives at an early age; the relative for me was my rather remarkable Grandmother. I spent A LOT of time at my Grandmother’s house from early childhood into maturity and for many years, the skills and ethos behind them lay dormant. She lived in the countryside, grew her own vegetables, tended her own orchard, made pots from local clay, made her own clothes (ours too. Including a ballet costume inspired by Giselle with hand stitched sequins), nutritional and traditionally prepared meals, instilled a love of classical literature and Singin' In The Rain into her grandchild at the earliest age possible. She had converted her attic into a haberdashery haven/ photography dark room and it was there that I learned how to baste and bind, dart and darn etc. These skills came in VERY handy when making costumes and props for Theater productions, as well as for personal use (i.e. when you realize you’ve forgotten someone’s birthday and can knock them up an adorable, one-off cushion). Phew!

Vintage skills are not the only thing that I want to talk about; the ethos behind them is equally as important. Perhaps it is the sole reason as to why we should keep these expertise alive … you know, besides the palpable logic that the vintage look is “so hot right now.” We as a society tend to over-romanticize the past (and let’s be real, being a mantua-maker in the Victorian era would bring in about 9 shillings a week for 13-14 hour shifts. Nothing romantic about that).  Rose tinted glasses aside; the idea of being self-sufficient (if you are a crafter) or purchasing something unique, personalized and handmade as a consumer… is a much more wholesome and rewarding activity than constantly striving to keep up with the weekly/monthly disposable trends that many of us indulged in when we were younger. (At University I would redecorate my room every time my student loan came in… I still loathe myself for buying an IKEA bedroom set and not investing in a particularly beautiful antique, solid wood chest of wardrobe of the Narnia variety).

Unlike Victorian times (I reference this era because, generally, fashions that are cyclical tend to only go back as far as 19^th Century for inspiration. i.e. You don’t tend to see the re-emergence of many Tudor garments. See Neck Ruffles) the consumers of handmade goods don’t have to be particularly wealthy in order to have a bespoke item crafted for them. That fact alone makes my heart beat a little faster; not only can I, Kim Cormack, own something that was designed and produced just for me and my hard earned cash, but, as the Creator of Vintage Crafts Co I can make someone feel special (friend, colleague or complete stranger) through something I have made.

What started as a hobby for me is now something that I can take forward as a company. How wonderful is that? Of course, one does have to be careful that the pleasure that this works provides isn’t overshadowed by deadlines for produce; balance and organisation is essential. The rewards of this predominant trend are impressive in all areas, both for the crafter and the customer. Here are just a few:

Crafter:

• ·         An instant sense of achievement. Eg. “This product was in my head an hour/day/week ago…now it is a tangible object. I am awesome.”
• ·         Knowing that your market, although sensitive to some trends, are always loyal. (Nostalgia junkies and those with an eye for high quality, unique products tend not to suddenly turn into consumers who redecorate their bedrooms/change the entire contents of their wardrobe based on this week’s fashions. See above reference to being a student).
• ·         You can make someone else have that handmade, romantic buzz. Whether you embroider their favourite animal on to a product, up cycle their jumper belonging to a loved one into a jumper or make aprons in a re pro version that their Grandma used to wear.
• ·         Being part of a community. See Craft and Handmade 
• ·         You can make money.
• ·         You are your own boss.
• ·         I personally think that the link between creativity and emotional/physical well-being is a substantial one. Let those creative juices flow.

Customer:

• ·         An alternative to the High-street marketplace. I.e. you will never go round to your friend Ellie’s house and realize (horror of horrors) that she has the same home accessories as you.
• ·         You have the opportunity to express yourself through other people’s work. Ok, you could do this with a mass produced T shirt saying “I love Sewing” from a chain retailer but technically you haven’t endorsed that fact. If you support creativity, new businesses, local talents and keeping traditional skills alive… be selective with your riches.
• ·         Value for money
• ·         Being part of a community

So, I think my work here is done. For now. Watch this space for crafting tips, advice, vintage love and articles.

Get crafty!

😗