Incoming opinion: I think the patches are only half the product. Guides and scouts often create their own badges which they sell accompanied with a "challenge pack" which tells you what you need to do to earn the badge. There are often different levels of challenges according to ability and how much time you want to spend on it. You have to complete a certain number of tasks from various categories to earn the badge. I think if you created a more substantial challenge element to go with the patches, you're selling more of an experience. And buying experiences are popular these days.
I agree! I have it within me that I need to earn my badges (been in guiding since 5 and am a leader) and not have set criteria on how to earn this turned me away from getting. I want to support leana but struggle to justify without clear direction on it. This is a me issue I think! Also there is rebel badges as a non guiding or scout influence to look at for inspo on challenges I think - never used just lots of ads!
You're ! I found the patches pretty but since i'm not invested in the experience of each of them, I don't feel like I could earn them. And i've not even been in guides or scouts. All they appeared to be are conversation starters, and even then I wasn't sure how to go about it. I think a zine to go along would be helpful, maybe a lil questionnaire thing to put pen to paper and commit to what changes you're going to implement in your life. and then a hashtag, to show off having done these. And maybe a pack of like "do it with a friend!" or something. You're right that it all relies on the experience, which can start at a stall. But online is harder to get started on them and commit.
It sounds fun! I want to get the patches but I have no goals lol. 😂 but some tangible things I can cross off like ‘I’m doing that already’ or ‘I try that’s
Maybe prop up a cork pinboard on the table and pin the patches to it, so they are less flat. And so they are visible from a distance you could print and laminate some A4 size versions of the designs to decorate the front of your stall, with your “Positive Panic Patches” sign and a second one… “Are you up for the challenge?” :-)
Hellloooo! I was the mad middle aged woman that was over excited to meet you that day! I was on a random weekend visiting my Mum and we just happened to go to Lemington Spa and found the festival whilst wandering about. I was tellingher about you and then looked to my right and BOOM there you were! I then proceeded to wibble at you about the randomness of it and you were very sweet and humoured me and my fangirling 😂😂
I really appreciate this conversation. I knit and crochet and the amount of times people tell me I should sell items and that I’d “make a tonne of money doing it” is maddening. The look on their faces when I explain that a UK average size jumper in a very cost effective 100% natural fibre often costs me £30-£60 for materials alone and so I’m unlikely to make any money as people aren’t even willing to pay the cost of the materials for the finished item that could take me upwards of a full working weeks worth of hours to make is priceless.
I showed off my knits to my coworkers and they told me to sell them. They don't realise that a pair of mitaines took me a month to knit! It's so long and people aren't ready to pay for handmade products like that.
As someone who's worked at markets for around the last five years (not selling my own stuff though) I appreciate you talking about the costs! It can be really disheartening to have folks pass by your stall remarking about the price or just flat out saying they think it's a bad product. I think some people don't understand that the real world 1) doesn't have an algorithm that only shows you things that interest you 2) has real people with feelings who deserve your baseline respect and 3) is more generally sustainable? When you're viewing a business at the market, they can't hide poor treatment of workers behind a snazzy website or curated store. Not only that, but the majority of market sellers are there because they're trying to create a business that's focused around people, both the customer being treated fairly and catered to in-person, and the sellers / makers of the product getting reasonable wages and treatment themselves. I'm glad to see someone with your platform talk about it. And your stall looked fantastic, by the way! :)
Oh and as a former Edinburgh resident who's noticed you seem to like the city, there are a few nice markets that are more pop-up style you could look into! The Lunar Market happens monthly at the Voodoo Rooms (indoor bar, absolutely stunning) and I think the patches would do great there! It's very witchy, but I've definitely seen loads of maximalist/wholesome stalls there. I'd also suggest looking at some markets more in the north / Leith area! I'm very familiar with the customers there and it's totally your vibe.
I love how transparent you are with the costs of running a market stall - I'm not a business owner so this is not something I would normally think of but it is incredibly insightful! I bake as a hobby, and it occurred to me that should I sell the baked goods, I'd need to charge £5 per slice just to break even- for the ingredients and to pay myself minimum wage. That really brings into perspective how challenging it is to run a small business. It's eye-opening to see how equally challenging it is for independent businesses that sell non-perishable products
You could take big jacket or something like that , with more patches on it, and hang it on a hanger in front... like to be more visually clear and obvious than when it's on small shirt laying down.
I remember when you first launched these patches it kind of sounded like a short-term project that you just wanted to give a go, so I'm really glad to see you commit to it long-term!! I love seeing people give themselves & their ideas a chance, and it's even more fun when they take us behind the scenes :)
It was very cool to see you flex your business skills with this video! People who see me crafting are always saying I should start doing them for profit, but very few people understand how little profit there is in crafts/being an independent seller if you aren't working for free!
Loved this Leena ❤ I'm a jeweller and I make at least 60% of my sales at craft markets, so it was so fun watching you have a go at my job! Running a creative business is hard but so so fun. I think you did a great job finding a festival that fit your niche, I've learnt over the years that you have to find the right kind of event where your ideal customer is, for me that's art galleries and more pricey exhibitions.
I used to sell at several markets a year when i was running my etsy shop as a more "official" business, it is exactly as you say, the amount you have to pay for stall space/marketing gubbins and public liability make it quite unprofitable on the whole. It is however absolutely great to get out and meet other makers and customers, see what kind of things people gravitate towards and get real-time feedback. Christmas markets were most worth doing imo, I don't think I ever broke even at another time of the year....
My first and only experience was participating in a local D&D club booth at a fair, and my GOD. It was the three ex's - expensive, exhilarating, and exhausting. We weren't selling anything, just opening up tabletop roleplaying games to the public, but we bought snacks, dice sets for each player to take home, pencils, coloring pages for kids, fliers, our own tables/tents, etc... It was fun to talk with people about their RPG experiences, but never again. At least not without selling drinks or snacks.
I am a keen crocheter and i spent about ten years trying to make money from my hobby - not heaps, just enough to cover expenses - before i realised online doesn’t work because people really need to touch and feel the products in order to buy them. I tried market stalls a couple of times and I think they would be worth doing if you were extraverted and enjoyed meeting the people that came to your stall. This was not the case for me. I found it soul crushing to have my energy drained for three hours, have people browse and not buy which felt like a rejection. I only ever sold zero or one item per market event. So I think your enjoyment of the experience is a really important factor. If it is fun for you it might still be worth it even if you don’t make money. In terms of my crocheting hobby, my circumstances changed so now i can afford to buy wool and lately I have been crocheting 🇵🇸themed beanies that I donate to a local bookshop and they donate the money to a refugee charity ❤️
I have tried selling at markets, both were financial disasters, I am a textile designer, I took a variety of items with different price points, my stall looked lovely, other stall holders were really lovely about it but there were no people- almost zero footfall so I sold a few tiny items but didn’t cover the cost of the train getting there…. X
I did a market in August selling my handmade coasters, I pinned a string of bunting along the front of my table and found it really helped jazz up the table. If I do a market again I think I want to add letters to each triangle to spell "Coasters" so that people know what I'm selling. You could also do bunting and then put a patch on each triangle maybe? Or, a pinboard style thing with the patches pinned on.
Hi from the States; just wanted to say that the purse patch is beautiful and is my absolute favorite! And is proudly sewn onto a secondhand green jacket that I got on Marchmont Street in London.
We loved meeting you at Leamington EcoFest! This is a brilliant run down of these types of events, which we always enjoy. They're a fab way to meet people and spread the word about what we do. Hope to see you there next year🙂
I go to markets a lot. I know the items will be expensive because I know how much materials cost, how much time these people give to create their items, how much it costs to even rent a stall, etc. But I try to only purchase things I really need (or that will spark joy) so I make a list of things I notice I could really use and then wait until there's a good market where I can find locally made, hand-made, unique things rather than mass-produced "soulless" products. I really REALLY believe in supporting the local community. BUT the single biggest (maybe the only) downside for me is that knowing how much the stall owners have put into it makes it hard for me to enjoy my experience. I get stressed if I see a stall that isn't having a lot of visitors. I don't browse any stall for very long unless I'm fairly confident I've already spotted something I want because I don't want to get their hopes up. Sometimes I'm curious about someone's craft but know that it isn't for me personally, so I avoid their stall entirely because I don't want to waste their time or insult them by not wanting to buy but MAN I wish I could go look closer. The anxiety and stress of it always means that, while I come home absolutely thrilled with what I found, I don't enjoy the experience of going very much. Hearing that people walk right up and go "They want THAT price??" or loudly voice negative opinions on something someone put their heart and soul into makes my jaw hit the floor. Couldn't be me!!
As a small business owner myself, who lacks a physical retail space, I’ve tired being a vendor at various pop-up markets… it is SO much work, and it wasn’t profitable for me either, so I made the decision to stop attending them, but it’s a challenge to find other ways to promote my work.
Just wanted to say that I once took a "starting a small business" course and there they said that only 20% of the customers you interact with make a purchase. So 1 in 3 is actually quite good. :)
Hi Leena, thanks for a lush video! I'm keeping up with commenting to add to the positive feedback for creators following your last video. Just bought myself some patches as I've had my eye on them for a while and this video tipped me over the edge yay! Was happy to see the stamp ones are sold out, it makes me happy that people are taking on that very worthy challenge. I think a really great thing about the patches is that the consumer can be happy when they sell to others because it helps us feel more people are getting involved. Fun to flip the idea that exclusivity has additional value to thinking that the more people that have them the happier I am to have one tooo!
I got some patches in the first drop and wear one proudly on the laptop bag I carry with me everywhere. I eagerly anticipate the day when I see another patch wearer in the wild!
On the "card only; no cash" thing, I think a lot about how many (usually marginalized) ppl in our society are excluded by the rise of "no cash" businesses. Children, unhoused people, etc. And I'm not blaming you for that; it's literally your first day. Just something I've been thinking about lately...
Indeed. I bet there's a card only hippie vibes business somewhere with a contradictory sign like "No one is illegal." Also skint people having to choose whether to leave money on their debit card or in their pocket towards the end of the month too. Sounds like Leena did take some cash in the end.
Finland has a huuuge patch culture among students. Everytime I see the Positive Panic Patches I think it would be a great place to advertise them. I will see whether I can find a green office or something at one of the universities and tell them about it 🤔
I love that you made a list and crossed it off. Very Ariel Bissett of you or at least I’m super used to her lists by now. I’m more excited that you got to get out there and talk to more people in person. I don’t remember how many videos ago you made it but you talked about finding ways to bring these topics up more naturally in conversation and it seems like this is a good way to practice that as well. Well done!!!
Great effort, I took some handmade Pompoms wreaths to sell at a craft fair in a pub car park. Took in a grand total of £25... so very well done on taking £300!
Very fun and very interesting video, thank you! I love crafts markets, even more now that I know and chat with some lovely creators I meet there. One woman that I met through commissioning an embroidery work has this great way of pricing her products: she writes down the time it took to make it on the label. It makes sense for embroidery, as it's such a slow practice. But of course, that doesn't showcase the total cost of making, packaging, selling, etc. Most of the creators I know are always a bit sorry for their prices, they know they aren't as cheap as people would prefer. I always try and remind them of the value of their art. It's worth asking a fair price and for them to be profitable!
I have so many memories of working for my family's coffee company at Saturday morning farmers markets starting in middle school and all the way through college. It was hard work, early mornings, rain or shine, but so many memories especially of the vendors I got to know over the years. Also, look at you AND Ariel both doing events with your cool patches and books! So fun!
Thank you for sharing! If you ever do this type of thing again you should definitely set the price at the same as you charge online. You can always lower the price or do a sliding scale discount if you want to.
I think somethjng you could try is propping things up or boards, having the clothes hanging on somethint etc. It makes it much easier to see what the stall is and also makes it look a bit fuller
I worked at a book fair for an alternative small publishing house. We made about 1,200 pounds in a week. I knew every book and the authors and I was very good at suggestions. But the money earned was just to keep us above zero. It was more promotion than actual sale.
Seeing your pitch and thinking: "That's what I learned to do at my scout group by selling cookies for camp money" and obviously other things. Watching Craig being the hard to convince client reminded me that my best friends parents were the best to train younger generations.
I started sewing in January thanks to you, and for the past few months I've been slowly planning for a craft market! I was actually pretty stumped about banners/signs/packaging because I also wanted to do it as low-waste as possible. So... I hope you don't mind if I steal (paraphrase*) all of your ideas.
Great video! At my churches Christmas Market a couple of years ago, I did a pop-up depop shop with some of my own clothes (and a few donations). It was very satisfying to see clothes go to others who liked them and even though I didn't make a huge amount of money (about £50 roughly) I enjoyed the experience and chatting with people who'd never heard of depop or vinted before x
If you like another one, go to ethical christmas market in Derby, it is in a lovely church building that I have attended for 3 years when I lived in Derby. No idea of the costing of things there - maybe check before you commit but it fits your vibe albeit more plants!
i've worked at markets before selling books, and the things that always attract people are: clear and colourful signage, and what i'm gonna call "mooching space" - (British) people want to stand around and browse for a while before they buy, so any corner spots, the edges of the table etc etc are going to be where they stand, so put things there if you want them to sell more!!
I used to make chainmail jewelry and I went to fairs like these for a couple of years with one of my aunts who made blankets and table cloths on a loom. I stopped after she died, the fun wasn't there for me anymore, even if we weren't close. You almost make me want to do it again (and I still have so much inventory tucked away).
This was a really interesting watch. I organise a Christmas market through my job and in my experience this sounds like quite expensive for a stall - ours are £100 for two days. But probably location, footfall etc all play a part.
Having a jacket or tote bag hung up with the patches would be a great visual! (I usually put patches on bags or thicker pieces of clothing) A cork pin board to showcase the individual patches could also be helpful!
I think you could make them more expensive individually and then do a comparatively better deal on them together. Like 5 per patch, 20 for the set! I would say with the way prices are going up people are used to paying at least that, especially for something so pretty and sustainable. I sell stuff at self-organised art markets occasionally and you do have to mark up a bit for your time and effort even to get it set up, be there all day and design/make/store/organise the things you sell. But you can make an OK profit if making the product itself is not too time-consuming. I does help to have more products, I think, to fill the table. That makes it look nice and keeps people there longer. But I'm seeing a lot of people in the comments with stall-improvement ideas that would work well for it! And if people are doing the actual climate dares on the patches, you're actually doing quite a bit of good, even if you don't end up making big profits!!
Thank you for speaking about the cost of doing things like this! I think a lot of customers and market visitors tend not to think about this when buying their goods. Great video 😊
Hi Leena if you go to leamington spa again you must go to the reuseful centre! it's an amazing charity shop who's goal is to avoid putting things into landfill so they sell literally everything for really cheap. They have a yarn and fabric section which I think you would enjoy ;)
I'm glad you had both a fun and a learning experience! I had an artists alley booth selling art and fanart at a large comic convention 2 years in a row and had a good time but also didn't make enough money to get into the black. It was weird how many people used the same excuse of "I dont have any more space on my walls" for admiring my prints but not buying them. But it was also heartwarming when teen/young adult attendees gushed over something I had made, especially if it was niche and they said they hadn't seen anyone selling art of this series anywhere else in the convention.
I adore these behind the scenes videos! I think it is so important for people to see the time/effort/maths involved in running things without the mass market "discounts" (i.e. not paying your workers a livable wage or the slightly less nefarious discount of bulk purchasing). One of the sewing channels I follow, HaleyMarieVintage, includes a breakdown of her supply and time costs for her projects. I've actually sent this to people in my real life when they have complained about how expensive handmade items are because I think its a great way to adjust the benchmark people have when thinking about prices.
That was really eye-opening. I always thought of market stalls as a relatively cheap endeavour and an 'easy-in' for sellling your own thing! I am less interested now in doing this myself, and more appreciative of those you do. I've been an avid market go-er, and I will think more about supporting now. Often I will see something original and cool but think oh I don't really need that though
I have found this video very helpful! I don't go to a lot of fairs or market stalls and certainly would never question an artist/maker/baker on their prices because I know how much work goes on into making things but I found it so helpful to get a break down of the costs that you have mentioned here.
I vended at my first event this past weekend, which was a much more fandom focused small scale event to dip my toes into. As someone who sells art online it was an encouraging step even if it did leave me exhausted by the end of it.
I actually do wish I had been there! If you ever do decide to do anything similar in future, do let us know! I actually do know a little about running market stalls as my two friends run a small business and markets stalls are part of it- lots of unexpected hidden costs involved, starting with the cost of tables, chairs and a gazebo! (Gosh those big ones are pricey!)
In my experience the ONLY products I've ever seen truly sell at markets have been small, cheap and "fun" so patches is a really good idea! ( apart from food products of course) Good to hear that you're happy with the outcome ❤ Personally I find it painful to visit markets like this, I almost feel obligated to buy, but I can't! I don't have the money, the need or room or simply don't like the goods they've so painstakingly produced 😢 Angsty!
Favourite part of this video was your bewilderment at the unexpected male customers that said "yeah ok, I'll take them all". I would have been surprised too, even though boys/men also like things you can collect/earn such as patches and also worry about the climate crisis. Think you did really well, though it's also so interesting to hear how the numbers don't add up. There's one market seller several friends and I like who does local artwork and the last friend that bought from her said "she's under-pricing" and I said she should've told her, plus I agree.
I just got hired through my local community college to teach the Art, Textile, and Pottery merit badge classes for Boy Scouts of America troops (don’t worry, the girls are scouts now too!), and watching this has made me so pumped! I might incorporate your framework of designing your own patches around topics you care about as an idea for the art badge. And I’ll DEFINITELY be sneaking in some eco talk when they learn and compare textile types :) Also, I have sold hand-sewn/printed textiles and up-cycled jewelry at markets before, so thanks for highlighting the costs and hard parts. It was especially hard when we were put next to a booth selling fast fashion at a market that was supposed to be all handmade 🫠
I have done pop-up art markets at breweries before and it can be a toss up on the turn out. I try to focus on the enjoyment of meeting other creatives and chatting with people throughout the day -- It can be a fun social activity in addition to getting your work out there :)
Yeah, your multi-day festivals and online sales help cover the overhead. Having a couple big ticket items or selling commissions is also an option. Figuring out the labor wage can take a while, depending on your sales. It's doable, but there's a lot that goes into planning your festival season.
I've done many art markers as both seller and helper and like you said, for a smaller creator, just aiming to break even is hard enough. the fees add up. but luckily some of them are one-time fees if you decide to pursue many markets.
Ordered the set just now and missed the 1000 only just! Very excited to put them on stuff! I think I can offer some insight into the market business because I've sold LGBT themed art before and it has barely any profit in it! I think people are meant to do it for passion over profit because if I paid myself a fair wage I definitely would have made absolutely zero money. I've tried two different models one where I paid a flat rent fee for a market that was permanent and I didn't have to man it or anything versus a market stall and they're both different but I think being in person if you like doing it is better and should be done for fun with less expectations!
I really enjoyed this video! I'm currently working on a fiction project that will involve me going to fairs and setting up a stalls, so this was a great insight and gave me loads of ideas. I'd love to see this type of video again! (and the patches are lovely, I'm definitely going to buy some to give to my friends with positive panic sales pitch)
Just ordered myself the purse! It's sooo cute, AND it's super easy to do. My LISA is already invested in the green fund (no oil money and investing in green technology) and it didn't take much effort at all to just select it. I will change my employer fund once the patch comes and then I'll put it on my work backpack:). Want people to ask me about it! Also, pink is my fav.
Public founded market fairs shoud exist (or maybe more if they exist already)... to help small businesses. Sounds like private ones are a good option to make your brand or product known by more people but not like a really profitable activity in itself. Very informative and entertaining video. ✨
I'm most likely to put my patches on a tote bag, and it would be very cool to have a bag with a printed/embroidered design that requires the addition of the badges to be complete! I realise adding more tote bags to the world is not the best idea, but can you sell stickers for them or something? Just a thought!
This is so cute! And it honestly made me want to buy the patches. Maybe I'll get them as a nice birthday gift to myself bext week ❤ thank you so much Leena
I'm part of a cat rescue, and often do stalls at car boots/craft fairs/Christmas fairs etc to raise money for the rescue. Becaue we're a charity, they often waive our table fees, we're obviously not taking a wage AND what we sell is largely donations that we haven't paid for - all this to say I genuinely don't know how people make enough at these events to cover their costs, because there have been times we certainly haven't. The number of people there, the weather, and a number of other factors out of our control all come into play of course. I think the right stall at the right fair would do incredibly, and it's just finding that right fair.
Just want to say, that if you intend to turn that princess Diana tea towel into the Afraid Upcycling dress you mentioned wanting to make... That's just too good. Too good. 😂
Spotting Craig is like spotting a wild animal. I'm so excited to see him in his natural habitat, but I don't want to disturb him. So I just whisper shout "CRAIG" really quietly at my phone.
I work in retail, and honestly, at 1:47 I'm having a mini panic on your behalf. By the way, I couldn't do what you do for a job. I'm not that motivated, and am too good at procrastinating.
A more cost effective way of selling these patches direct to consumer out in the world would be getting other people to do it 😅 E.g. a small business that sells small artists work, a weigh shop, a fair trade shop etc. getting your products into these shops and letting the sellers do the selling, they take a little slice, but your products get seen and sold into the world!
Ive thought about doing markets for my artwork but imagined I'd be unlikely to sell much in one day to justify it- just a hunch as I hadn't done any number crunching. This proves it i guess...
Love the video! I do regular art exhibitions - and it can be really tiring but equally as rewarding to speak with potential customers. When you say the "freelance" wage is £150 - i think it depends what freelance job is being done. I would price it as to what you would pay someone else to manage a stall for the day, rather than a generic freelance title. Which I would say is nearer £80-100. But also depending on whether you’re including travel, set up pack away costs (as you would have done!) Also, how do you define the difference between "freelance" and "self employed"? I consider myself the latter.
Incoming opinion: I think the patches are only half the product. Guides and scouts often create their own badges which they sell accompanied with a "challenge pack" which tells you what you need to do to earn the badge. There are often different levels of challenges according to ability and how much time you want to spend on it. You have to complete a certain number of tasks from various categories to earn the badge. I think if you created a more substantial challenge element to go with the patches, you're selling more of an experience. And buying experiences are popular these days.
I agree! Make a zine! Leena loves a zine.
I agree! I have it within me that I need to earn my badges (been in guiding since 5 and am a leader) and not have set criteria on how to earn this turned me away from getting. I want to support leana but struggle to justify without clear direction on it. This is a me issue I think!
Also there is rebel badges as a non guiding or scout influence to look at for inspo on challenges I think - never used just lots of ads!
You're ! I found the patches pretty but since i'm not invested in the experience of each of them, I don't feel like I could earn them. And i've not even been in guides or scouts. All they appeared to be are conversation starters, and even then I wasn't sure how to go about it. I think a zine to go along would be helpful, maybe a lil questionnaire thing to put pen to paper and commit to what changes you're going to implement in your life. and then a hashtag, to show off having done these. And maybe a pack of like "do it with a friend!" or something. You're right that it all relies on the experience, which can start at a stall. But online is harder to get started on them and commit.
Fully agreed!
It sounds fun! I want to get the patches but I have no goals lol. 😂 but some tangible things I can cross off like ‘I’m doing that already’ or ‘I try that’s
Maybe prop up a cork pinboard on the table and pin the patches to it, so they are less flat. And so they are visible from a distance you could print and laminate some A4 size versions of the designs to decorate the front of your stall, with your “Positive Panic Patches” sign and a second one… “Are you up for the challenge?” :-)
Hellloooo! I was the mad middle aged woman that was over excited to meet you that day! I was on a random weekend visiting my Mum and we just happened to go to Lemington Spa and found the festival whilst wandering about. I was tellingher about you and then looked to my right and BOOM there you were! I then proceeded to wibble at you about the randomness of it and you were very sweet and humoured me and my fangirling 😂😂
I really appreciate this conversation. I knit and crochet and the amount of times people tell me I should sell items and that I’d “make a tonne of money doing it” is maddening. The look on their faces when I explain that a UK average size jumper in a very cost effective 100% natural fibre often costs me £30-£60 for materials alone and so I’m unlikely to make any money as people aren’t even willing to pay the cost of the materials for the finished item that could take me upwards of a full working weeks worth of hours to make is priceless.
I showed off my knits to my coworkers and they told me to sell them. They don't realise that a pair of mitaines took me a month to knit! It's so long and people aren't ready to pay for handmade products like that.
So truuuue ! And the people who say "oh could you make me one?"
As someone who's worked at markets for around the last five years (not selling my own stuff though) I appreciate you talking about the costs! It can be really disheartening to have folks pass by your stall remarking about the price or just flat out saying they think it's a bad product. I think some people don't understand that the real world 1) doesn't have an algorithm that only shows you things that interest you 2) has real people with feelings who deserve your baseline respect and 3) is more generally sustainable? When you're viewing a business at the market, they can't hide poor treatment of workers behind a snazzy website or curated store. Not only that, but the majority of market sellers are there because they're trying to create a business that's focused around people, both the customer being treated fairly and catered to in-person, and the sellers / makers of the product getting reasonable wages and treatment themselves.
I'm glad to see someone with your platform talk about it. And your stall looked fantastic, by the way! :)
Oh and as a former Edinburgh resident who's noticed you seem to like the city, there are a few nice markets that are more pop-up style you could look into! The Lunar Market happens monthly at the Voodoo Rooms (indoor bar, absolutely stunning) and I think the patches would do great there! It's very witchy, but I've definitely seen loads of maximalist/wholesome stalls there. I'd also suggest looking at some markets more in the north / Leith area! I'm very familiar with the customers there and it's totally your vibe.
kinda random but let me just say that the bit where you're practising your selling skills on craig is absolutely adorable. you two are the sweetest
I love how transparent you are with the costs of running a market stall - I'm not a business owner so this is not something I would normally think of but it is incredibly insightful!
I bake as a hobby, and it occurred to me that should I sell the baked goods, I'd need to charge £5 per slice just to break even- for the ingredients and to pay myself minimum wage. That really brings into perspective how challenging it is to run a small business. It's eye-opening to see how equally challenging it is for independent businesses that sell non-perishable products
You could take big jacket or something like that , with more patches on it, and hang it on a hanger in front... like to be more visually clear and obvious than when it's on small shirt laying down.
I remember when you first launched these patches it kind of sounded like a short-term project that you just wanted to give a go, so I'm really glad to see you commit to it long-term!! I love seeing people give themselves & their ideas a chance, and it's even more fun when they take us behind the scenes :)
It's so interesting the economics of this, it does make me question how anyone actually makes money from stalls/handmade goods!
It was very cool to see you flex your business skills with this video! People who see me crafting are always saying I should start doing them for profit, but very few people understand how little profit there is in crafts/being an independent seller if you aren't working for free!
81 badge sales might equal 81 positive actions for the climate! That's such a good outcome!
Loved this Leena ❤ I'm a jeweller and I make at least 60% of my sales at craft markets, so it was so fun watching you have a go at my job! Running a creative business is hard but so so fun. I think you did a great job finding a festival that fit your niche, I've learnt over the years that you have to find the right kind of event where your ideal customer is, for me that's art galleries and more pricey exhibitions.
I used to sell at several markets a year when i was running my etsy shop as a more "official" business, it is exactly as you say, the amount you have to pay for stall space/marketing gubbins and public liability make it quite unprofitable on the whole. It is however absolutely great to get out and meet other makers and customers, see what kind of things people gravitate towards and get real-time feedback. Christmas markets were most worth doing imo, I don't think I ever broke even at another time of the year....
My first and only experience was participating in a local D&D club booth at a fair, and my GOD. It was the three ex's - expensive, exhilarating, and exhausting. We weren't selling anything, just opening up tabletop roleplaying games to the public, but we bought snacks, dice sets for each player to take home, pencils, coloring pages for kids, fliers, our own tables/tents, etc... It was fun to talk with people about their RPG experiences, but never again. At least not without selling drinks or snacks.
I am a keen crocheter and i spent about ten years trying to make money from my hobby - not heaps, just enough to cover expenses - before i realised online doesn’t work because people really need to touch and feel the products in order to buy them.
I tried market stalls a couple of times and I think they would be worth doing if you were extraverted and enjoyed meeting the people that came to your stall. This was not the case for me. I found it soul crushing to have my energy drained for three hours, have people browse and not buy which felt like a rejection. I only ever sold zero or one item per market event.
So I think your enjoyment of the experience is a really important factor. If it is fun for you it might still be worth it even if you don’t make money.
In terms of my crocheting hobby, my circumstances changed so now i can afford to buy wool and lately I have been crocheting 🇵🇸themed beanies that I donate to a local bookshop and they donate the money to a refugee charity ❤️
I turned my "no books on a dead planet" badge into a bookmark for reading "feral". It lives in my scary climate books now 10/10 recommend!
I love having appropriate bookmarks for books! There's a pretty lacey one that lives in a book that's about Alaska in the wintertime
I have tried selling at markets, both were financial disasters, I am a textile designer, I took a variety of items with different price points, my stall looked lovely, other stall holders were really lovely about it but there were no people- almost zero footfall so I sold a few tiny items but didn’t cover the cost of the train getting there…. X
I did a market in August selling my handmade coasters, I pinned a string of bunting along the front of my table and found it really helped jazz up the table. If I do a market again I think I want to add letters to each triangle to spell "Coasters" so that people know what I'm selling. You could also do bunting and then put a patch on each triangle maybe? Or, a pinboard style thing with the patches pinned on.
Hi from the States; just wanted to say that the purse patch is beautiful and is my absolute favorite! And is proudly sewn onto a secondhand green jacket that I got on Marchmont Street in London.
We loved meeting you at Leamington EcoFest! This is a brilliant run down of these types of events, which we always enjoy. They're a fab way to meet people and spread the word about what we do. Hope to see you there next year🙂
Really enjoyed this video, though not what I was expecting based on the title😊
I go to markets a lot. I know the items will be expensive because I know how much materials cost, how much time these people give to create their items, how much it costs to even rent a stall, etc. But I try to only purchase things I really need (or that will spark joy) so I make a list of things I notice I could really use and then wait until there's a good market where I can find locally made, hand-made, unique things rather than mass-produced "soulless" products. I really REALLY believe in supporting the local community.
BUT the single biggest (maybe the only) downside for me is that knowing how much the stall owners have put into it makes it hard for me to enjoy my experience. I get stressed if I see a stall that isn't having a lot of visitors. I don't browse any stall for very long unless I'm fairly confident I've already spotted something I want because I don't want to get their hopes up. Sometimes I'm curious about someone's craft but know that it isn't for me personally, so I avoid their stall entirely because I don't want to waste their time or insult them by not wanting to buy but MAN I wish I could go look closer.
The anxiety and stress of it always means that, while I come home absolutely thrilled with what I found, I don't enjoy the experience of going very much.
Hearing that people walk right up and go "They want THAT price??" or loudly voice negative opinions on something someone put their heart and soul into makes my jaw hit the floor. Couldn't be me!!
As a small business owner myself, who lacks a physical retail space, I’ve tired being a vendor at various pop-up markets… it is SO much work, and it wasn’t profitable for me either, so I made the decision to stop attending them, but it’s a challenge to find other ways to promote my work.
Just wanted to say that I once took a "starting a small business" course and there they said that only 20% of the customers you interact with make a purchase. So 1 in 3 is actually quite good. :)
Hi Leena, thanks for a lush video! I'm keeping up with commenting to add to the positive feedback for creators following your last video. Just bought myself some patches as I've had my eye on them for a while and this video tipped me over the edge yay! Was happy to see the stamp ones are sold out, it makes me happy that people are taking on that very worthy challenge. I think a really great thing about the patches is that the consumer can be happy when they sell to others because it helps us feel more people are getting involved. Fun to flip the idea that exclusivity has additional value to thinking that the more people that have them the happier I am to have one tooo!
I got some patches in the first drop and wear one proudly on the laptop bag I carry with me everywhere. I eagerly anticipate the day when I see another patch wearer in the wild!
On the "card only; no cash" thing, I think a lot about how many (usually marginalized) ppl in our society are excluded by the rise of "no cash" businesses. Children, unhoused people, etc. And I'm not blaming you for that; it's literally your first day. Just something I've been thinking about lately...
Indeed.
I bet there's a card only hippie vibes business somewhere with a contradictory sign like "No one is illegal."
Also skint people having to choose whether to leave money on their debit card or in their pocket towards the end of the month too.
Sounds like Leena did take some cash in the end.
Finland has a huuuge patch culture among students. Everytime I see the Positive Panic Patches I think it would be a great place to advertise them. I will see whether I can find a green office or something at one of the universities and tell them about it 🤔
I love that you made a list and crossed it off. Very Ariel Bissett of you or at least I’m super used to her lists by now.
I’m more excited that you got to get out there and talk to more people in person. I don’t remember how many videos ago you made it but you talked about finding ways to bring these topics up more naturally in conversation and it seems like this is a good way to practice that as well. Well done!!!
Great effort, I took some handmade Pompoms wreaths to sell at a craft fair in a pub car park. Took in a grand total of £25... so very well done on taking £300!
Very fun and very interesting video, thank you!
I love crafts markets, even more now that I know and chat with some lovely creators I meet there. One woman that I met through commissioning an embroidery work has this great way of pricing her products: she writes down the time it took to make it on the label. It makes sense for embroidery, as it's such a slow practice. But of course, that doesn't showcase the total cost of making, packaging, selling, etc.
Most of the creators I know are always a bit sorry for their prices, they know they aren't as cheap as people would prefer. I always try and remind them of the value of their art. It's worth asking a fair price and for them to be profitable!
I have so many memories of working for my family's coffee company at Saturday morning farmers markets starting in middle school and all the way through college. It was hard work, early mornings, rain or shine, but so many memories especially of the vendors I got to know over the years.
Also, look at you AND Ariel both doing events with your cool patches and books! So fun!
Thank you for sharing! If you ever do this type of thing again you should definitely set the price at the same as you charge online. You can always lower the price or do a sliding scale discount if you want to.
You prepping for the market less than two days before the event gave me anxiety 😂
I think somethjng you could try is propping things up or boards, having the clothes hanging on somethint etc. It makes it much easier to see what the stall is and also makes it look a bit fuller
I worked at a book fair for an alternative small publishing house. We made about 1,200 pounds in a week. I knew every book and the authors and I was very good at suggestions. But the money earned was just to keep us above zero. It was more promotion than actual sale.
Selling them for £3.50 for the stall and then the same on the website is such a smart business decision, elastic demand etc
I’m so glad I watched the video within 48 hours!!! Your books patch has been on my birthday wish list for ages! Yay
Seeing your pitch and thinking: "That's what I learned to do at my scout group by selling cookies for camp money" and obviously other things. Watching Craig being the hard to convince client reminded me that my best friends parents were the best to train younger generations.
This was the prompt I needed to get those patches - except as a guide leader these are totally going on my camp blanket when I've done the challenges!
I started sewing in January thanks to you, and for the past few months I've been slowly planning for a craft market! I was actually pretty stumped about banners/signs/packaging because I also wanted to do it as low-waste as possible.
So... I hope you don't mind if I steal (paraphrase*) all of your ideas.
Great video! At my churches Christmas Market a couple of years ago, I did a pop-up depop shop with some of my own clothes (and a few donations). It was very satisfying to see clothes go to others who liked them and even though I didn't make a huge amount of money (about £50 roughly) I enjoyed the experience and chatting with people who'd never heard of depop or vinted before x
So interesting to see the behind the scenes! That was lots of fun :)))
If you like another one, go to ethical christmas market in Derby, it is in a lovely church building that I have attended for 3 years when I lived in Derby. No idea of the costing of things there - maybe check before you commit but it fits your vibe albeit more plants!
i've worked at markets before selling books, and the things that always attract people are: clear and colourful signage, and what i'm gonna call "mooching space" - (British) people want to stand around and browse for a while before they buy, so any corner spots, the edges of the table etc etc are going to be where they stand, so put things there if you want them to sell more!!
I used to make chainmail jewelry and I went to fairs like these for a couple of years with one of my aunts who made blankets and table cloths on a loom. I stopped after she died, the fun wasn't there for me anymore, even if we weren't close. You almost make me want to do it again (and I still have so much inventory tucked away).
This was a really interesting watch. I organise a Christmas market through my job and in my experience this sounds like quite expensive for a stall - ours are £100 for two days. But probably location, footfall etc all play a part.
Having a jacket or tote bag hung up with the patches would be a great visual! (I usually put patches on bags or thicker pieces of clothing)
A cork pin board to showcase the individual patches could also be helpful!
I think you could make them more expensive individually and then do a comparatively better deal on them together. Like 5 per patch, 20 for the set! I would say with the way prices are going up people are used to paying at least that, especially for something so pretty and sustainable. I sell stuff at self-organised art markets occasionally and you do have to mark up a bit for your time and effort even to get it set up, be there all day and design/make/store/organise the things you sell. But you can make an OK profit if making the product itself is not too time-consuming. I does help to have more products, I think, to fill the table. That makes it look nice and keeps people there longer. But I'm seeing a lot of people in the comments with stall-improvement ideas that would work well for it! And if people are doing the actual climate dares on the patches, you're actually doing quite a bit of good, even if you don't end up making big profits!!
Thank you for speaking about the cost of doing things like this! I think a lot of customers and market visitors tend not to think about this when buying their goods.
Great video 😊
Hi Leena if you go to leamington spa again you must go to the reuseful centre! it's an amazing charity shop who's goal is to avoid putting things into landfill so they sell literally everything for really cheap. They have a yarn and fabric section which I think you would enjoy ;)
What a fun adventure :) Thanks for taking us along.
I wish I’d watched this two weeks ago, I immediately clicked the link at the end and then was devastated by reality 😫
I'm glad you had both a fun and a learning experience! I had an artists alley booth selling art and fanart at a large comic convention 2 years in a row and had a good time but also didn't make enough money to get into the black. It was weird how many people used the same excuse of "I dont have any more space on my walls" for admiring my prints but not buying them. But it was also heartwarming when teen/young adult attendees gushed over something I had made, especially if it was niche and they said they hadn't seen anyone selling art of this series anywhere else in the convention.
I adore these behind the scenes videos! I think it is so important for people to see the time/effort/maths involved in running things without the mass market "discounts" (i.e. not paying your workers a livable wage or the slightly less nefarious discount of bulk purchasing). One of the sewing channels I follow, HaleyMarieVintage, includes a breakdown of her supply and time costs for her projects. I've actually sent this to people in my real life when they have complained about how expensive handmade items are because I think its a great way to adjust the benchmark people have when thinking about prices.
I always love supporting market sellers, it’s so eye opening to see the costs that go into it! Great video 😊
Thanks for sharing this! So useful!
That was really eye-opening. I always thought of market stalls as a relatively cheap endeavour and an 'easy-in' for sellling your own thing! I am less interested now in doing this myself, and more appreciative of those you do. I've been an avid market go-er, and I will think more about supporting now. Often I will see something original and cool but think oh I don't really need that though
I have found this video very helpful! I don't go to a lot of fairs or market stalls and certainly would never question an artist/maker/baker on their prices because I know how much work goes on into making things but I found it so helpful to get a break down of the costs that you have mentioned here.
I vended at my first event this past weekend, which was a much more fandom focused small scale event to dip my toes into. As someone who sells art online it was an encouraging step even if it did leave me exhausted by the end of it.
I actually do wish I had been there! If you ever do decide to do anything similar in future, do let us know!
I actually do know a little about running market stalls as my two friends run a small business and markets stalls are part of it- lots of unexpected hidden costs involved, starting with the cost of tables, chairs and a gazebo! (Gosh those big ones are pricey!)
I love shoping at independant markets and had no idea how much the upfront costs are! I loved this video and would love to see more expierments!
Leena’s are the only videos I like before even watching them
In my experience the ONLY products I've ever seen truly sell at markets have been small, cheap and "fun" so patches is a really good idea! ( apart from food products of course) Good to hear that you're happy with the outcome ❤
Personally I find it painful to visit markets like this, I almost feel obligated to buy, but I can't! I don't have the money, the need or room or simply don't like the goods they've so painstakingly produced 😢 Angsty!
Very interesting video! I love going to markets and fairs, and have always been curious about the business side of it. Thanks for the video, Leena!
Favourite part of this video was your bewilderment at the unexpected male customers that said "yeah ok, I'll take them all". I would have been surprised too, even though boys/men also like things you can collect/earn such as patches and also worry about the climate crisis. Think you did really well, though it's also so interesting to hear how the numbers don't add up. There's one market seller several friends and I like who does local artwork and the last friend that bought from her said "she's under-pricing" and I said she should've told her, plus I agree.
Sold 😁 I've had my eyes on these for ages I love the idea so much!
I just got hired through my local community college to teach the Art, Textile, and Pottery merit badge classes for Boy Scouts of America troops (don’t worry, the girls are scouts now too!), and watching this has made me so pumped! I might incorporate your framework of designing your own patches around topics you care about as an idea for the art badge. And I’ll DEFINITELY be sneaking in some eco talk when they learn and compare textile types :)
Also, I have sold hand-sewn/printed textiles and up-cycled jewelry at markets before, so thanks for highlighting the costs and hard parts. It was especially hard when we were put next to a booth selling fast fashion at a market that was supposed to be all handmade 🫠
I have done pop-up art markets at breweries before and it can be a toss up on the turn out. I try to focus on the enjoyment of meeting other creatives and chatting with people throughout the day -- It can be a fun social activity in addition to getting your work out there :)
Yeah, your multi-day festivals and online sales help cover the overhead. Having a couple big ticket items or selling commissions is also an option. Figuring out the labor wage can take a while, depending on your sales. It's doable, but there's a lot that goes into planning your festival season.
I've done many art markers as both seller and helper and like you said, for a smaller creator, just aiming to break even is hard enough. the fees add up. but luckily some of them are one-time fees if you decide to pursue many markets.
Ordered the set just now and missed the 1000 only just! Very excited to put them on stuff!
I think I can offer some insight into the market business because I've sold LGBT themed art before and it has barely any profit in it! I think people are meant to do it for passion over profit because if I paid myself a fair wage I definitely would have made absolutely zero money.
I've tried two different models one where I paid a flat rent fee for a market that was permanent and I didn't have to man it or anything versus a market stall and they're both different but I think being in person if you like doing it is better and should be done for fun with less expectations!
I really enjoyed this video! I'm currently working on a fiction project that will involve me going to fairs and setting up a stalls, so this was a great insight and gave me loads of ideas. I'd love to see this type of video again! (and the patches are lovely, I'm definitely going to buy some to give to my friends with positive panic sales pitch)
So interesting to see the behind the scenes, I had no idea what the cost of having a stall at this kind of market would be. Thanks for sharing!
Just ordered myself the purse! It's sooo cute, AND it's super easy to do. My LISA is already invested in the green fund (no oil money and investing in green technology) and it didn't take much effort at all to just select it. I will change my employer fund once the patch comes and then I'll put it on my work backpack:). Want people to ask me about it! Also, pink is my fav.
This has really inspired me to revisit my goal of shopping small! Especially with the Christmas season coming up. Great video, as usual! 🥳
Public founded market fairs shoud exist (or maybe more if they exist already)... to help small businesses. Sounds like private ones are a good option to make your brand or product known by more people but not like a really profitable activity in itself. Very informative and entertaining video. ✨
Up the prices for sure
I love love the phone and book one but shipping worldwide just makes me rethink it .. they are just beautifully designed though ❤
I think your prices are wayyy too low, I know you want them to be affordable but having it be a sustainable project is far more important!
I'm most likely to put my patches on a tote bag, and it would be very cool to have a bag with a printed/embroidered design that requires the addition of the badges to be complete! I realise adding more tote bags to the world is not the best idea, but can you sell stickers for them or something? Just a thought!
This is so cute! And it honestly made me want to buy the patches. Maybe I'll get them as a nice birthday gift to myself bext week ❤ thank you so much Leena
I'm part of a cat rescue, and often do stalls at car boots/craft fairs/Christmas fairs etc to raise money for the rescue. Becaue we're a charity, they often waive our table fees, we're obviously not taking a wage AND what we sell is largely donations that we haven't paid for - all this to say I genuinely don't know how people make enough at these events to cover their costs, because there have been times we certainly haven't. The number of people there, the weather, and a number of other factors out of our control all come into play of course. I think the right stall at the right fair would do incredibly, and it's just finding that right fair.
This was really interesting!
I'd been planning on picking up the patches for a xmas gift for my eco-conscious ex-scout family and this is the perfect time! 🥰
Just want to say, that if you intend to turn that princess Diana tea towel into the Afraid Upcycling dress you mentioned wanting to make... That's just too good. Too good. 😂
Spotting Craig is like spotting a wild animal. I'm so excited to see him in his natural habitat, but I don't want to disturb him. So I just whisper shout "CRAIG" really quietly at my phone.
Literally doing a stall at my local craft market for the first time this saturday! chair massage!
Ooo good luck!!
I work in retail, and honestly, at 1:47 I'm having a mini panic on your behalf.
By the way, I couldn't do what you do for a job. I'm not that motivated, and am too good at procrastinating.
The sunflowers look better in the cans anyway I think :)
Me hearing that £150 is a ‘low day rate’ as someone who works in a library and earns £12.50 an hour. 😂 😭
I mean PAYE jobs are very different, you have sick pay, redundancy pay, maternity pay and insurance and liability all wrapped up in that (hopefully!)
@@leenanorms true true
A more cost effective way of selling these patches direct to consumer out in the world would be getting other people to do it 😅
E.g. a small business that sells small artists work, a weigh shop, a fair trade shop etc. getting your products into these shops and letting the sellers do the selling, they take a little slice, but your products get seen and sold into the world!
I think for the type of item and the size of the table, it might be good to share one with someone else that might want to sell something small
I would love to come to a stall in the future if you ever do one near the east anglia area!
Ive thought about doing markets for my artwork but imagined I'd be unlikely to sell much in one day to justify it- just a hunch as I hadn't done any number crunching. This proves it i guess...
Very insightful
Love the video! I do regular art exhibitions - and it can be really tiring but equally as rewarding to speak with potential customers. When you say the "freelance" wage is £150 - i think it depends what freelance job is being done. I would price it as to what you would pay someone else to manage a stall for the day, rather than a generic freelance title. Which I would say is nearer £80-100. But also depending on whether you’re including travel, set up pack away costs (as you would have done!)
Also, how do you define the difference between "freelance" and "self employed"? I consider myself the latter.
Beautiful new frames! They lok nice with your autumnal colours.. Do they have a brand name?
Did anyone in Germany order patches and can tell me if you had to pay import fees and/or customs?