As someone who likes going to craft fairs, I think I contribute a lot to the first problem you mentioned, haha i LOVE window shopping and walking around and paying the vendors compliments, but I don't buy things too often. Not necessarily because the prices are off, but because of my own personal budget and I know a lot of cute things I adore won't exactly get use if I take it home with me. I think it says more about me and my shopping habits rather than the vendors and their prices
That's good insight and I can totally relate!! Honestly, I am a window shopper too 😂 But I guess that means that when I do buy something, I am very committed to it lol!
Hi there. My name is Sandy from Crochet Eh Canada on RUclips and I am a seasoned crocheter and vendor. I also have my own shop in a Market Mall. I can tell you from experience that its not your prices or your product. I get a lot of tourists at my shop and not many of them are buying. This year seems to be a "Building" year for a lot of crafters post Covid. People are keeping their money close to them. Don't be discouraged. Keep going you will be fine. It takes to find your stride in the craft fair arena. Good luck!
Hi Sandy, nice to meet you! First off, I think it is so cool that you have your own shop in a market mall! Congrats on that!! 🥳 Thank you so much for sharing your insight! It is really great to get encouragement from someone who has been doing this for a long time. I hope that as I do market in the holiday season, more people will have the motivation to shop! 🤞🏼💕
You did a great job! I was a pro fiber artist for many years, crocheting, tatting, knitting, and beading. You did a lot of things right! You are very organized and prepared. Having a second person is optimal and safer. Your displays were 3D. When you have shelves or pegboards, people can see your things from a distance. It is more interesting. You know your demographic and have wonderful items. Your attitude is great! You are not competing, that's right. If there is another crocheter, and a customer doesn't see what they want, send them to the other artist. Also, I hope you gave the vendor kids a discount. That's standard, and it feels good. There's nothing like the feeling you get seeing someone wearing your designs for the first time. Congratulations! Suggestions for improvement/tips: I feel like you didn't have enough items. With what you had, you could have used just one or two tables, although it worked out fine. You're going to need a lot more stock for the holidays! Do your own marketing on social media and in town. Let everyone know you will be there with exciting new items. Make your prices "sales tax included" for an even number, preferably with a zero at the end, and post a sign to that effect. That way, you don't have to make change. Attach your pegboards, shelves, etc., to the tables with vise grips or clamps. Use clothes pins to keep your tablecloths from blowing away. If you have hats (and you should), get a couple of cheap wig stands to display them. Chunky yarn beanies are quick to make and always popular. If you're not getting sales despite your prices being on the low end, raise the price! That's counterintuitive, but customers feel like they are buying something high-quality and unique. On the other hand, I always had some inexpensive earrings for impulse buys. I sold so many earrings! If you take in hundreds of dollars, sneakily put the money in a money belt under your clothes for safekeeping. Lastly, did you bring a kit with duct tape, scissors, extra clamps and clothespins, and a little dustpan and brush? It comes in handy, and you can help out a fellow vendor who didn't bring a kit. Again, you did a fantastic job and had a great first market! Keep up the good work!
I'm a crafter myself, my business has been going on for 9 months and you will notice the growth, we all struggle and start barely breaking even and just I believe 2 months ago I started making significant earnings but I kept investing, specially in my set up, economy is hard right now, so don't be discouraged by any means, keep getting your products out there and you'll grow organically. You have to make sure the organization has good publicity and the word is out for the market, try inviting your friends and family and take all the compliments with a big smile, that happens a lot, people just don't have money sometimes, so take the compliments and remember what they say for future markets c:
I've never been someone who has put myself out there or taken too many opportunities, and since having my crochet business I've really wanted to change that! I had my first market on July 15th and brought 92 plushies, I actually sold out of everything and really didn't expect that outcome AT ALL.. I guess it really depends on how marketed the event you're going to is, and the area you're selling in. I have my next market coming up in October and I'm trying to go the 2-3 popular markets a year route instead of 12 smaller markets throughout the year, that's just my personal guess on how I can have fun, have success, and not get burned out! But I'm really glad my first experience went so well, because now it's given me courage to keep going.
OMG that's awesome!! I am so happy that you took the leap and had great success!! 🥳 I have my next market in October too! I am trying to do one market a month for the holidays (Oct-Dec) and see what happens. Like you, I also want to have fun and not get burnt out so I'm definitely gonna try to sell at shows that are bigger. I hope everything goes well for you and you have even more success than the last time!! 💕
@@bigdreamcrochet1549 Thank you so much!! I hope everything goes well for you too, and good luck! 💕 I think thats a great plan! I'm excited to make valentines day, spring, and easter stock for next year.
Bringing lots of stock is important. Congrats on selling out! Vendors make most of their money over the holidays. The days before Dec. 25th are crazy with people needing last-minute gifts. I always did great on the 24th.
So happy to have found your video. I have my first market coming up next weekend and am nervous and excited in equal measure! I’m expecting to have a similar experience as it’s very small and not well marketed but it’s only for 3 hours and I’m viewing it as a practice for bigger ones later in the year so I can learn how to set it all up, so my display and see what sells! You’ve really encouraged me to stay positive no matter what the outcome 😅. Thank you so much and good luck with your next ones!
That is so exciting!!! Honestly, have a small and slow market was not bad as my first market. I am glad that it was not hectic and that I got to practice my card reader and just see what happens! The experience of the market was definitely valuable. I think your market has already passed by the time I am replying to your comment, so I hope it went well!! 🫶
Congratulations on your first market! Sounds like you did really good. I think maybe a slow market for your first market is the best way to start, because you get the chance to get a feel for it before going for the 'real deal'. I'm excited to follow you on your journey :)
Thank you!!! & I totally agree with you! Of course I would love to have more customers come through, but a slow market definitely eased me into markets, which was good for my experience 🥰
i came from ur other video , so glad u had a good turnout!! not a big crowd but u made so much $$$ for ur first time!! amazing job fr 💘 cant wait to see what u do next
I have my first official market coming up at the end of September and I'm sooo nervous I wont have enough stuff. I also have a small farmer's market gig I started last week that I don't need to be there to sell. $25 for the rest of the season for $35 of passive sales the first week. Yes please! I'm committed to doing two with another pending if I can get enough stuff ready.
Whoops this is such a late response, but how did your market go?? I love that you also have a gig where you don't have to be there to sell your items. I've been interested in having some items up for sale at little shops around my town, so I am glad to hear that it is decent passive income for you! 🙌🏼
@@bigdreamcrochet1549 The farmer's market gig is doing good more now that I decided to set up a full table at the market after a fall fest I was supposed to sell at got postponed twice before I decided to backed out. I do much better as a full table than a small self with a few items on it. I can even take on commissions. I'm now a bit nervous of my first official holiday market. The organizer said they had a lot of crochet this year. I'm hoping most are amigurumi as that's not something I solely specialize in.
You did great! 👏 I have my first market in late August, and I'm so nervous 😆. Just a sidenote, it is illegal to collect sales tax unless your business is registered with your state. You would need a seller's permit or license from your state to legally collect taxes. I just wanted to share, I'm not trying to be rude but just sharing ❤❤
Thank you so much & good luck to you too!!! 🥳❤️ And yes, BigDreamCrochet is a certified business with my state so legally I’m all good to go! I def wanted to have that before I started markets because taxes are a big deal 😅
Do what the Aussies do - include tax in your total price, and in fine print you can provide the tax % if legally you’re required to. Total price: $11.00 ($10 + 10% GST). Btw, even though you’re not too worried about pre-market expenses, it may still be important if you’re trying to show how you prepared for a market. Discussing profits as gross or net, as well as expenses is helpful. Small businesses don’t do well because they either don’t break even or fail to gain net profit. At least, I was interested in that component as well. Haha Thanks so much for sharing your experience. Definitely a good baseline set up. 🎉
In CA, you register with your town. You need a sales tax certificate from the state as well. The tax certificate lets you buy wholesale--so much cheaper! You can also use it at yarns and craft stores to get out of paying them sales tax since your buys will pay sales tax.
Make a grogu plushie and men will buy it 😂 Also you should make more smaller plushies so there’s more volume to look at its so cool for example going in to a toy store and seeing how many things there are. Also a stand out piece like a really big crochet plushie to catch your eye.😊
Congratulations!! I had my first market last summer and it was a complete whirlwind, I almost wish mine was slower 😂😂 The mini maker thing is super cool! If only it was well advertised, I would hate for some of the makers to give up thinking their work isn't good enough because of the turn out :(
Omg I didn't even think about that aspect of a poorly advertised market!! 😥 I sure hope no one's confidence went down because of that... I hope the organizers of vendor events understand their responsibility and impact on the vendors since they really do have the power to make or break the event! 😅
@@bigdreamcrochet1549 I've only done one market that wasn't advertised well and it was AWFUL, it was in a church but wasn't even on their sign or anything. It was a free table so I didn't lose anything but my time. I made $0. Ever since then, I strictly go to markets that I know do well in my community and are well attended. Like our annual spring, Christmas and summer fairs. I hope your next one goes well! :)
Oh i totally get the age thing...i'll never forget that one time i wanted to buy a DVD free for Sale for people 12 years or older (German age restriction). I'd forgotton my ID and was turned away at the Cash Register. So i had to go home and return with my dad...I was 14 and a perfectly average height for my age as well 😂 And yeah, the people responsible for the market not showing up sounds weird. Glad it wasn't all negative for you though!😊
It’s really great to hear your experience doing your first market! I have my first one ever coming up soon and I’m really excited! I try not to fuss too much about how much I’ve spent preparing because I know this is going to be an experience that’ll help me in the future! Hearing you talk about not fussing over stuff like that is reassuring
Oh I am so glad you found it helpful!! I feel like having that mindset about market prep puts less pressure on you to do well or reach a certain dollar amount when it comes to sales, which makes the overall experience more peaceful and fun. I hope your first ever market goes well and that you learn so much from the experience!! 💕
When you said your demographic is you, I felt that! To me, I want to sell to young women my age. I acknowledge that it’ll mostly be kids who buy from me, but my target audience is really young women 18-30. People looking to have cute stuff on their desk or car or just to have! My question is, how do you find that audience? 👀🤣
Honestly, I am still trying to figure out that myself! 😂 In terms of markets, I am trying to sign up for ones that I know my demographic will be at. For example, since I want to sell to young adults/young women and possibly families with young kids, I chose to sell at a high school market next. So, the market is put on as a fundraiser for a high school club, which hopefully means that high schoolers and their families will come by to shop. That would be PERFECT for my ideal demographic! I'll definitely share how that market goes when its time! 😋
Craft shows are not what they used to be. The people making the money are the ones organizing the market. You need to be picky about which markets to do. Do only the best. The markets need to bring in the people for the vendors or they shouldn't charge you a big fee. I stopped doing craft shows a long time ago. I only do online sales. Don't charge people taxes. Just add the taxes to your items. People don't want to be asked to pay more money when they're ready to purchase. If you can do some easy cheap items along with your good items. It might help bring up your profits. Good Luck
As someone who likes going to craft fairs, I think I contribute a lot to the first problem you mentioned, haha i LOVE window shopping and walking around and paying the vendors compliments, but I don't buy things too often. Not necessarily because the prices are off, but because of my own personal budget and I know a lot of cute things I adore won't exactly get use if I take it home with me. I think it says more about me and my shopping habits rather than the vendors and their prices
That's good insight and I can totally relate!! Honestly, I am a window shopper too 😂 But I guess that means that when I do buy something, I am very committed to it lol!
Hi there. My name is Sandy from Crochet Eh Canada on RUclips and I am a seasoned crocheter and vendor. I also have my own shop in a Market Mall. I can tell you from experience that its not your prices or your product. I get a lot of tourists at my shop and not many of them are buying. This year seems to be a "Building" year for a lot of crafters post Covid. People are keeping their money close to them. Don't be discouraged. Keep going you will be fine. It takes to find your stride in the craft fair arena. Good luck!
Hi Sandy, nice to meet you! First off, I think it is so cool that you have your own shop in a market mall! Congrats on that!! 🥳 Thank you so much for sharing your insight! It is really great to get encouragement from someone who has been doing this for a long time. I hope that as I do market in the holiday season, more people will have the motivation to shop! 🤞🏼💕
You did a great job! I was a pro fiber artist for many years, crocheting, tatting, knitting, and beading. You did a lot of things right! You are very organized and prepared. Having a second person is optimal and safer. Your displays were 3D. When you have shelves or pegboards, people can see your things from a distance. It is more interesting. You know your demographic and have wonderful items. Your attitude is great! You are not competing, that's right. If there is another crocheter, and a customer doesn't see what they want, send them to the other artist. Also, I hope you gave the vendor kids a discount. That's standard, and it feels good. There's nothing like the feeling you get seeing someone wearing your designs for the first time. Congratulations!
Suggestions for improvement/tips: I feel like you didn't have enough items. With what you had, you could have used just one or two tables, although it worked out fine. You're going to need a lot more stock for the holidays! Do your own marketing on social media and in town. Let everyone know you will be there with exciting new items. Make your prices "sales tax included" for an even number, preferably with a zero at the end, and post a sign to that effect. That way, you don't have to make change. Attach your pegboards, shelves, etc., to the tables with vise grips or clamps. Use clothes pins to keep your tablecloths from blowing away. If you have hats (and you should), get a couple of cheap wig stands to display them. Chunky yarn beanies are quick to make and always popular. If you're not getting sales despite your prices being on the low end, raise the price! That's counterintuitive, but customers feel like they are buying something high-quality and unique. On the other hand, I always had some inexpensive earrings for impulse buys. I sold so many earrings! If you take in hundreds of dollars, sneakily put the money in a money belt under your clothes for safekeeping. Lastly, did you bring a kit with duct tape, scissors, extra clamps and clothespins, and a little dustpan and brush? It comes in handy, and you can help out a fellow vendor who didn't bring a kit. Again, you did a fantastic job and had a great first market! Keep up the good work!
Hi Leigh, thank you for all the advice!! There is a lot of good info here 💕
you seem like the sweetest person ever and your products are sososo cute! congrats on your first market!
Omg thank you Anna!! 🥹💕
I'm a crafter myself, my business has been going on for 9 months and you will notice the growth, we all struggle and start barely breaking even and just I believe 2 months ago I started making significant earnings but I kept investing, specially in my set up, economy is hard right now, so don't be discouraged by any means, keep getting your products out there and you'll grow organically.
You have to make sure the organization has good publicity and the word is out for the market, try inviting your friends and family and take all the compliments with a big smile, that happens a lot, people just don't have money sometimes, so take the compliments and remember what they say for future markets c:
That's great to hear, thank you for sharing your experience!! I hope your markets get better and better as well!! 💕
I've never been someone who has put myself out there or taken too many opportunities, and since having my crochet business I've really wanted to change that! I had my first market on July 15th and brought 92 plushies, I actually sold out of everything and really didn't expect that outcome AT ALL.. I guess it really depends on how marketed the event you're going to is, and the area you're selling in.
I have my next market coming up in October and I'm trying to go the 2-3 popular markets a year route instead of 12 smaller markets throughout the year, that's just my personal guess on how I can have fun, have success, and not get burned out! But I'm really glad my first experience went so well, because now it's given me courage to keep going.
OMG that's awesome!! I am so happy that you took the leap and had great success!! 🥳 I have my next market in October too! I am trying to do one market a month for the holidays (Oct-Dec) and see what happens. Like you, I also want to have fun and not get burnt out so I'm definitely gonna try to sell at shows that are bigger. I hope everything goes well for you and you have even more success than the last time!! 💕
@@bigdreamcrochet1549 Thank you so much!! I hope everything goes well for you too, and good luck! 💕 I think thats a great plan! I'm excited to make valentines day, spring, and easter stock for next year.
Bringing lots of stock is important. Congrats on selling out! Vendors make most of their money over the holidays. The days before Dec. 25th are crazy with people needing last-minute gifts. I always did great on the 24th.
Enjoy you .. I love your yarn on the pegboard. You are a beautiful young lady.
Thank you so much! 😋🧶🫶🏼
So happy to have found your video. I have my first market coming up next weekend and am nervous and excited in equal measure! I’m expecting to have a similar experience as it’s very small and not well marketed but it’s only for 3 hours and I’m viewing it as a practice for bigger ones later in the year so I can learn how to set it all up, so my display and see what sells! You’ve really encouraged me to stay positive no matter what the outcome 😅. Thank you so much and good luck with your next ones!
That is so exciting!!! Honestly, have a small and slow market was not bad as my first market. I am glad that it was not hectic and that I got to practice my card reader and just see what happens! The experience of the market was definitely valuable. I think your market has already passed by the time I am replying to your comment, so I hope it went well!! 🫶
Thanks for the update. I think you did really well for your first market! Keep it up!
Thank you!!! I can’t wait for the next one 🥰🫶🏼
Great beginning. As you do more it will get better. Congratulations
Thank you!! I am definitely excited to grow and see where these markets take me 🥰
Congratulations on your first market! Sounds like you did really good. I think maybe a slow market for your first market is the best way to start, because you get the chance to get a feel for it before going for the 'real deal'. I'm excited to follow you on your journey :)
Thank you!!! & I totally agree with you! Of course I would love to have more customers come through, but a slow market definitely eased me into markets, which was good for my experience 🥰
i came from ur other video , so glad u had a good turnout!! not a big crowd but u made so much $$$ for ur first time!! amazing job fr 💘 cant wait to see what u do next
Omg yay!! Thanks for watching both & following along!! 😋💕 I am so excited for more markets!!
YAYYYYYYY I am so happy for you! Congratulations on your first market!!
Thank you so much Sierra!!!! 💕
I have my first official market coming up at the end of September and I'm sooo nervous I wont have enough stuff. I also have a small farmer's market gig I started last week that I don't need to be there to sell. $25 for the rest of the season for $35 of passive sales the first week. Yes please! I'm committed to doing two with another pending if I can get enough stuff ready.
Whoops this is such a late response, but how did your market go?? I love that you also have a gig where you don't have to be there to sell your items. I've been interested in having some items up for sale at little shops around my town, so I am glad to hear that it is decent passive income for you! 🙌🏼
@@bigdreamcrochet1549 The farmer's market gig is doing good more now that I decided to set up a full table at the market after a fall fest I was supposed to sell at got postponed twice before I decided to backed out. I do much better as a full table than a small self with a few items on it. I can even take on commissions. I'm now a bit nervous of my first official holiday market. The organizer said they had a lot of crochet this year. I'm hoping most are amigurumi as that's not something I solely specialize in.
You did great! 👏 I have my first market in late August, and I'm so nervous 😆.
Just a sidenote, it is illegal to collect sales tax unless your business is registered with your state. You would need a seller's permit or license from your state to legally collect taxes.
I just wanted to share, I'm not trying to be rude but just sharing ❤❤
Thank you so much & good luck to you too!!! 🥳❤️ And yes, BigDreamCrochet is a certified business with my state so legally I’m all good to go! I def wanted to have that before I started markets because taxes are a big deal 😅
@@bigdreamcrochet1549 ❤️ ❤️
Easy way to avoid this would be to include it in your total price to give yourself that buffer. Avoids additional charges anyway.
Do what the Aussies do - include tax in your total price, and in fine print you can provide the tax % if legally you’re required to.
Total price: $11.00 ($10 + 10% GST).
Btw, even though you’re not too worried about pre-market expenses, it may still be important if you’re trying to show how you prepared for a market. Discussing profits as gross or net, as well as expenses is helpful. Small businesses don’t do well because they either don’t break even or fail to gain net profit.
At least, I was interested in that component as well. Haha
Thanks so much for sharing your experience. Definitely a good baseline set up. 🎉
In CA, you register with your town. You need a sales tax certificate from the state as well. The tax certificate lets you buy wholesale--so much cheaper! You can also use it at yarns and craft stores to get out of paying them sales tax since your buys will pay sales tax.
Considering how little traffic there was, I think you did great to make as many sales as you did!
Thank you!! I am definitely pleased with the results 😋💕
Make a grogu plushie and men will buy it 😂
Also you should make more smaller plushies so there’s more volume to look at its so cool for example going in to a toy store and seeing how many things there are. Also a stand out piece like a really big crochet plushie to catch your eye.😊
Those are great ideas, thanks for sharing! 😋💗
Congratulations!! I had my first market last summer and it was a complete whirlwind, I almost wish mine was slower 😂😂 The mini maker thing is super cool! If only it was well advertised, I would hate for some of the makers to give up thinking their work isn't good enough because of the turn out :(
Omg I didn't even think about that aspect of a poorly advertised market!! 😥 I sure hope no one's confidence went down because of that... I hope the organizers of vendor events understand their responsibility and impact on the vendors since they really do have the power to make or break the event! 😅
@@bigdreamcrochet1549 I've only done one market that wasn't advertised well and it was AWFUL, it was in a church but wasn't even on their sign or anything. It was a free table so I didn't lose anything but my time. I made $0. Ever since then, I strictly go to markets that I know do well in my community and are well attended. Like our annual spring, Christmas and summer fairs. I hope your next one goes well! :)
Oh i totally get the age thing...i'll never forget that one time i wanted to buy a DVD free for Sale for people 12 years or older (German age restriction). I'd forgotton my ID and was turned away at the Cash Register. So i had to go home and return with my dad...I was 14 and a perfectly average height for my age as well 😂
And yeah, the people responsible for the market not showing up sounds weird. Glad it wasn't all negative for you though!😊
Hahahah it's so funny when those things happen, I can't believe she thought I was 12 like what?? I just graduated college 😂
It’s really great to hear your experience doing your first market! I have my first one ever coming up soon and I’m really excited! I try not to fuss too much about how much I’ve spent preparing because I know this is going to be an experience that’ll help me in the future! Hearing you talk about not fussing over stuff like that is reassuring
Oh I am so glad you found it helpful!! I feel like having that mindset about market prep puts less pressure on you to do well or reach a certain dollar amount when it comes to sales, which makes the overall experience more peaceful and fun. I hope your first ever market goes well and that you learn so much from the experience!! 💕
When you said your demographic is you, I felt that! To me, I want to sell to young women my age. I acknowledge that it’ll mostly be kids who buy from me, but my target audience is really young women 18-30. People looking to have cute stuff on their desk or car or just to have! My question is, how do you find that audience? 👀🤣
Honestly, I am still trying to figure out that myself! 😂 In terms of markets, I am trying to sign up for ones that I know my demographic will be at. For example, since I want to sell to young adults/young women and possibly families with young kids, I chose to sell at a high school market next. So, the market is put on as a fundraiser for a high school club, which hopefully means that high schoolers and their families will come by to shop. That would be PERFECT for my ideal demographic! I'll definitely share how that market goes when its time! 😋
Craft shows are not what they used to be. The people making the money are the ones organizing the market. You need to be picky about which markets to do. Do only the best. The markets need to bring in the people for the vendors or they shouldn't charge you a big fee. I stopped doing craft shows a long time ago. I only do online sales. Don't charge people taxes. Just add the taxes to your items. People don't want to be asked to pay more money when they're ready to purchase. If you can do some easy cheap items along with your good items. It might help bring up your profits. Good Luck
Thank you for your advice!! 🫶🏼