If you've read Finding Craft Fairs.... and Choosing Crafts Fairs.....by now you’ve put together a massive great list of events, shows and fairs, and you’ve worked out how you’re going to choose which ones you want to be at. Now, you’ve got to persuade the organisers that they want you there – a job that can sometimes be slightly harder than it needs to be. Most organisers are lovely and are pleased by the compliment your enquiry pays them, after all, you wouldn’t be calling if their event wasn’t good. But there are always one or two who have gone a little bit power crazy. If you can cope with working with those ones, here are some hints and tips on convincing them they need you at their event.
PART 3 - Getting Into Craft Fairs and Shows
- Apply early. This is hugley important if you are a jeweller.
- Make your stand and product different from all the rest, so even if you are going to be the third papier mache fish modeller at the fair, there is still room for you because yours is nothing like the rest.
- If possible, offer to do demonstrations of your craft whilst at the Fair. Organisers find this hugely attractive, as it brings extra punters in, and can be used as a pull in their advertising.
- If you can’t get in this time round, be nice and ask for your details to be held for next year.
- Be prepared to provide samples, as some organisers of big events like to see your work before extending an invitation. Sometimes photos will do – having a website can be very handy for this, as you can direct people there and save the postage.
- Many Shows are only interested in stands that sell only items Hand Made by the person selling them, i.e. no re-sellers. If you can truthfully say that everything you sell is all your own work, you will find yourself able to get into many more events (and often a better class of events too).
- If you can, be flexible with your stock. Offering not to sell certain lines that might duplicate other traders items can be a useful way of getting into otherwise fully booked shows.
- Once you are on an organisers mailing list, you will hopefully receive an invite to attend anything relevant. But if the date is getting near and you have had not heard anything, phone them. It shows you are really keen to be there and professional enough to be aware of the forth coming event. More often than not, they haven’t got round to doing the mailing yet, so all is well. But your letter might have been lost in the post….
Make sure you have also read
