La Befana

I hope to make it, I’m excited to see your items. The tote bag looks wonderful!

I’d love to see more patterns, I love everything I’ve made so far from your patterns!

Hope to see you this weekend.

Cindy

The totes look amazing and I’m sure you’ll do wonderful! You have such an eye for detail and your creations are always beautiful! Good luck…I agree with Cathi above – maybe you could make fat quarter packs to sell too.

Good luck to you Kathy! Your projects all look wonderful, with a perfect combination of the fabrics. You have a very good feeling for that. So different from many things I’ve seen. I certainly do not think you should be worried. Have a very good time (O:

I like the kits idea that Cathi mentioned. Even if you had supplies for some of your patterns that people could pick up, that would be helpful to a bazaar goers. Could you take special orders for a few items? I love buying fat quarters too. How about button bundles, bangles or other notions that would be fun to pick up?

Even setting out a few free patterns might draw people to your booth. Have fun! I wish I could come.

Jody

Hi There,

Those totes are so FUN! Great pattern and love all the different combinations! Let me know if/when you need a pattern tester

So, words of wisdom from someone who has done this before? I have many words, don’t know if they are wise, but…
1. Have you seen this list of craft fair advice from The Small Object?
• http://thesmallobject.com/stenopad/wordpress/?p=1111
2. Tote bags look better hanging than sitting. You may even want to stuff them with something so they have lots of shape.
3. I am LIVING the “I’m not going to have enough to sell!” So you only do the best that you can. Every time I have a show, I keep meaning to make some smaller items like simple wallets, etc…and I never get to them, because the profit I would make is so small. I’d rather make one more bag than 10 mini wallets, and the profit would be about the same.
4. Assembly line – make 4 or 5 of something at once. It truly does cut down on the time/item – but freaks you out because none are done until they’re all done.
5. Are you making some of your rubblework scarves? I’ll bet they’ll do well. Do you have a dummy to drape one over – because she would look elegant in a turtleneck, scarf around her neck and totebag on her shoulder!
6. If you’re making notelets & notetakers, the notelets sell better, in my experience.
7. I’m sure you’ve read lots of general advice about this sort of thing, things like wearing comfortable shoes, bringing plenty to eat/drink & duct tape etc… All of that is helpful, but the most helpful advice of all is that you have to engage the customer. You have to figure out when to just say hi and when to schmooze, but interacting with the customer makes all the difference.
8. Give your daughters the task of predating and writing (or stamping) Pink Chalk Studio across a bunch of your sales slips. I ALWAYS flake out on writing all that I want to write on the sales slips – you want to be as quick as possible at the time of sale so that you don’t make the customer wait, plus you want to sell to someone else.
9. Keep your money in an apron or a bag that you keep around your neck – you never want to worry about where that has gone to.
10. Have a pad setup (in a notetaker of course) to add people to your mailing list.
11. Have a space for people to write checks that is separate from where you’re merchandise is. The last picture in this post shows the stand my husband built for this purpose (it’s like a tall, skinny bookcase. I keep plastic baskets with bags and other stuff I need to sell on the shelves accessible on the back. Plus my diet coke.) This is a new addition and I love it – before that people would scoot some notetakers out of the way to write, and I ended up with a notetaker with a pen mark across it – ouch!
• http://candiedfabrics.wordpress.com/2008/10/21/return-to-normalnot-really/
12. Have some special order slips made up so you can quickly write those up – if you’d like to do that.
13. Bring some red sticky dots in case someone buys something but doesn’t want to take it just yet – then you can make it sold but keep displaying it…I’ve gotten a few special orders this way.
14. Don’t hold something for someone unless they give you the money.
15. Be prepared with an answer when someone asks for a quantity discount. Um, have two, the nice one and the forceful one when they don’t like your 1st answer.
16. Have fun and rake in the dough!

I’m sure there’s more, but this is all I can think of now, and we’re switching over to Fios as we speak, so I’m gonna run out of internet for awhile…

The totes are great. Love the fabric combinations.
Have a great time.
Andi

Everything looks so nice! I wish I could be there too to shop “in person”! Some of the things I always forget to do, but are super important- get your cashbox ready early in the week (a few 20’s are helpful, it is amazing how someone always comes with a 100 dollar bill and needs change), a sign for what you accept (just printed out on a piece of 8 1/2 x 11 paper “Pink Chalk Studios takes cash, checks and Visa” or whatever, your packing materials- bags, stickers, etc. for packing up what people buy, your cards (lots of people like taking a card with them to contact you for more or when they realize they wanted to buy something and didn’t), tablecloths for your tables (or material? That would be cute…), a small dolly for bringing your things in and out (they make nice little collapsible ones), a banner for your booth or table (if you already have one made, if you don’t, don’t worry about it!), and I agree with Myrnie, something that won’t be too expensive for people for stocking stuffers is always a great way to draw them into your booth. Another thing that I have found is sweet to have is something for kids. Something under $1.00 if possible. Usually they are looking for something to buy for Mom or Grammy for Christmas and they have been given some spending money. Hope that helps!

Kathy, you always make the neatest things. I love the tote bags! You have such a good eye for color. Wow! I like the idea of you having your patterns and fat quarter bundles to sell. They will make nice stocking stuffers. I think some quilted bookmarks might be nice to sell as well. I’m sure you will do really well. I can’t wait for the update. Good Luck!!

Make sure you have plenty of business cards with your web address on them, and display them so people can pick one up even without a purchase. Good luck. The totes you showed in the post are cute!

The totes are super cute and I am sure will be a success! I just did several craft shows in the past week and a half. The shoppers right now are looking for good deals on handcrafted, but will definitely spend the extra money for a well made stylish bag. I would have lots of lower priced items for stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, girlfriend gifts, etc.

So exciting! Good luck – I hope you sell out!

LOVE what you’ve got already and I do think it will all sell.
~I think the kit idea is good with pattern and fabric included
~ how about the mini tins from your Sept. 16th post
~ maybe some simple holiday table runners or placemats
~ your most recent quilting bee square would make a great wall hanging or hotpad or …

I’m thought out for now

Oh how fun! I’ve been thinking about starting a stockpile of things I make and selling them at some point in the not too distant future. And I’ve begun to overthink the process. Will I make enough? Will I make too much? Will people think I have no talent at all?

So I’m looking forward to hearing about your experience.

I agree, your mail sack is amazing, and if you have some made, should definitely be present at your table (your notebooks also are amazing, and I think somewhat unique). I’m sure you’ll have lots of your business cards so people can look up your website to order more stuff. If your kits & products don’t sell out, I’m sure your loyal blog readership will be interested in them . Also, if you can manage to make wallets (to match your cool new totes, or your mail bags) to sell for under $10, that might be good for several reasons. Introduction to your wonderful fabric combinations and a reminder that they could have an awesome matching bag perhaps online later on, or a reminder of how well the fabrics work together if they buy the kit or look up the kit online later, less expensive items as some bloggers have pointed out seems to be in demand this season, and also advertising for your site as the buyer and possible secondary receiver see your wonderful work and label. Take this with a grain of salt as I’ve never sold at a craft fair before, but it seems reasonable .

Kathy, this is terrific! One question– where do you get your labels?

Kristi