Best craft fair ever in the books

[NC Scroller]

Saturday I had a craft fair at a local church. this was my fourth year there. I have been doing small fairs for 6-7 years now and was the best one ever. I more then double my previous best. Now I have money for more wood if only I had more places to store it.

I do want to thank the pattern designers like Steve Good, Diana Thompson and others who provide us with wonderful patterns and designs.

[wood-n-things]

I really like your setup. Those grids are nice but rather expensive. How do you get them to stand on their own. Were the mini birdhouses a good seller for you as well? Getting the standard going rate for those?

I agree with out the great designers some of us would be up a creek. Thanks guys and gal designers.

[Catlyn]

I can tell you had some beautiful projects.
I hope to be a-scrolling one day soon.

[NC Scroller]

I really like your setup. Those grids are nice but rather expensive. How do you get them to stand on their own. Were the mini birdhouses a good seller for you as well? Getting the standard going rate for those?

I agree with out the great designers some of us would be up a creek. Thanks guys and gal designers.

I sold only 5 bird houses. My pricing was $10 each or 3 for $25. One person bought the 3 for special. The grid wall was $15 each for 2'x6' selections. I found them locally in a store the sells new and used store fixtures and supplies. I did not buy all at once but have bought them as I needed. What is hard to see in the pics is the grid wall along the back is standing because the end racks are angled out at about 30 degrees. The two single pieces by the table does have feet.

For those who are newer at the craft sales I started with home made stands. Going to "real" display stands not only has made a major increase in my sales but has made setup, transportation and storage easier. I learned this from other crafters. BTW....check craigslist for grid wall and other display items. Often stores remodel and you can find some deals.


P.S. The black background on my display is a $3.00 flat sheet from Wally World.

[wood-n-things]

Scott,
Thanks for the response. It does take awhile to get the displays just the way we want them. The we come up with a new product and that needs a display modification..LOL

[DWSudekum]

Excellent setup Scott. I like that a lot. Looks like you had a really good variety. Thanks for sharing it with us.


DW

[will8989]

What a great display and variety. Do you think you would have sold more birdhouses if you had priced them at $8 ea instead of what you did? I, for one, do not do each price or 3 for. I have found that pricing doesn't go well with my customers. I sell my gift card holders for $5 and will be pricing my angels at $8 each. I use the card holders as an attention getter as I have them on Christmas tree that turns and draws people over to see what it is and they usually buy something else. Then, of course there's my husband singing "$5, $5 each for gift cardholders" to the Subway tune. I think he's inhaled too much sawdust.

[NC Scroller]

What a great display and variety. Do you think you would have sold more birdhouses if you had priced them at $8 ea instead of what you did? I, for one, do not do each price or 3 for. I have found that pricing doesn't go well with my customers. I sell my gift card holders for $5 and will be pricing my angels at $8 each. I use the card holders as an attention getter as I have them on Christmas tree that turns and draws people over to see what it is and they usually buy something else. Then, of course there's my husband singing "$5, $5 each for gift cardholders" to the Subway tune. I think he's inhaled too much sawdust.

I think the 3 for deals and the like helps to sell a few more items during the course of events but does not make or break a show. Face it we all like sales and deals. If you think about it, buying 3 of yours cost your customer $24 while mine pays $25.

BTW I only do deals with small items of $10 or less.

[will8989]

Whatever works, right?

[Mike_Fehring]

[QUOTE=NC Scroller;378621]I think the 3 for deals and the like helps to sell a few more items during the course of events but does not make or break a show. Face it we all like sales and deals. If you think about it, buying 3 of yours cost your customer $24 while mine pays $25. QUOTE]

I agree with NC Scroller about the deals. Talking with my daughter inlaw this weekend she was telling me about a marketing class that she took a little while ago and the instructor told them basically

Figure out what you really want for an item. lets use the example of how I priced my ornaments. Because I stack cut most of my little items I was able to come up with the price of I want $6.00 for each ornament. From there I priced them at $7.00 each or 5 for $30.00 (my want price of $6.00 customer saves $5.00 off by buying 5 of them)

I sold more sets of 5 ornaments at $30.00 then individual ornaments at $7.00 but got the price I really wanted for them.

She also told me that her instructor said that when you offer a buy 5 get 1 free the customer thinks they are getting a better deal then using the xx for xx pholosophy and that I may have done better that way. Like NC Scroller said most people like the deals and tend to go for them thinking they are getting more for their buck when actually they are not but you are making what you planned to get for each item in the first place.

I know this is not for everyone but it is commonly used marketing practices used in every day life. $1.00 ea or 6 for $5.00, buy 3 get 1 free. or even the 25% off deals in many stores. I am sure this maybe be up for debate on does this work or not?, how effective is this practice?, Is this being dishonest to your customers? lots and lots of possible discussion/debates

[NC Scroller]

Mike I think the key statement is this one.

[QUOTE=Mike_Fehring;380042]

Figure out what you really want for an item. lets use the example of how I priced my ornaments. Because I stack cut most of my little items I was able to come up with the price of I want $6.00 for each ornament. From there I priced them at $7.00 each or 5 for $30.00 (my want price of $6.00 customer saves $5.00 off by buying 5 of them)

Thank your DIL for her insight.