I was sent a lovely magazine called Homestyle Sewing. I got the Christmas edition which is full of really pretty things to make for your home, for gifts and for children as well as a free pack of felt decorations to make.
Apart from gorgeous bags there are tutes on velvety bears, fairy costume and pincushions amongst other things. The pictures are beautiful and the instructions clear and easy to follow. I love that this magazine concentrates on sewing projects for hand and machine and that the finished projects are something I would want to make. You can get more information about this magazine here and here
As I am preparing for my craft fair this weekend I thought I would mention some of the things I've found to be helpful when taking a stall. If you are selling bags try taking an adjustable clothes rail. This can sit next to (or even over one end of) your table and display quite a number of bags providing they have shoulder straps or arm handles. The advantage is that people can look and touch the bags but not take them away unless you get them off the rail. I always put a ticket on every with the price clearly visible, that way potential customers don't have to ask the price - some people seem reticent to do that! Make sure your web address is on the ticket too. Try to make your prices reasonable but don't undersell your goods. A good rule of thumb is the cost of making the item (fabric, wadding, handles, hardware etc) plus 25% for your time plus 10% for craft fair costs. Of course this doesn't really represent the true cost of the item (things like wear and tear on your machine, electricity, time spent in prepation for the fair, and so on) but usually it arrives at a saleable price. Better to sell what you make than take it home again! Think about how your stall will look and take a pretty table cover as well as any decoration or personal advertising you might want. I also take business cards with my details. I round my prices up to the pound to minimise having to give change. Take plenty of one and two pound coins as unbelievably people will give you £20 notes for quite small purchases. Check with the venue to see what they provide including the stall table, chair, heating, and parking. Take snacks and drinks, a money purse or holder that you can keep on you, pens, sticky tape, blue tack, paper and plastic or paper bags. If possible take an assistant so that you have time to walk around the venue yourself and also you'll have cover for nipping to the loo or going to get a drink etc. Observe craft fair ettiquette, don't poach space from someone else's stall, do "mind" another stall if asked, and do chat to other stall holders. If you've never had a craft stall why not give it a go? It's fun, it get's you known and you might make a small amount of profit. If you are a craft stall veteran please leave any of your tips in the comments.
2 comments:
Thanks for commenting on my blog, Christine. I was also really saddened by the result of the vote on women bishops. When I see how many women priests we have (three out of four full-time clergy in our deanery) the church wouldn't survive without them.
Your tips for stall holders are very timely! Costing one's work is so tricky. The magazine looks good; I'll have a look for one. It looks as if I'm going to have to forfeit my subscription to Sew Hip/Simply Sewing as I declined to change to an e-magazine format.
Good luck on Saturday.
Regards
Margaret
Best of luck tomorrow, I hope it goes well :)
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