Crafts Fairs Conundrum - Sorry kind of long but any input is appreciated!

[Ricc Havens]

OK - First off let me state that I know things sell at different prices in different geographical locations. And, I know what items sell in some area won't have a market in other areas. So what you sell may not sell in my Northern Central Indiana region. And, I know the prices will vary by region also.

That being said - I did my first arts/craft show of the season on saturday. It was my first time at this particular art fair along Lake Michigan. The other vendors around me that I talked to did say they felt foot traffic was a little lower than in previous years.

I make and sell decorative bowls, some hollow forms, and boxes I also make and sell utilitarian items such as wine stoppers with Niles stainless "corks", coffee scoops made with the Woodcraft chrome scoop kit, multi-tip screwdrivers from the Woodcraft kit birdhouse ornaments, travel mugs with the stainless inserts, pop-up toothpick dispensers, yarn bowls, and yarn buddies (this is my first season with the yarn items.)

Last season wine stoppers, coffee scoops, birdhouse ornaments, screwdrivers, pop up toothpick dispensers sold really well at the craft shows. Coffee scoops I price at $20, screwdrivers for $20, wine stoppers with the stainless "cork" between $20-$40, birdhouse ornaments and toothpick dispensers for $35, travel mugs for $40, and wood bowls from $25-$60 depending on size. But, this time things that sold well for me at arts/craft shows last summer, fall and at Xmas bazaars did not sell well at all. Did not sell a single wine stopper or coffee scoop and they sold really well last season. Sold only a couple toothpick dispensers, one travel mug, a natural edge bowl, a red cedar bowl, some yarn bowls and yarn buddies. I sold enough to cover my costs and time and make a little profit but was disappointed overall.

So I'd like a little input from forum. Are wine stoppers a rapidly fading fad (I forgot to mention I have some in a small winery and the sales there have dropped too)

- I can't do live demos at this time as I don't have the money for a mini lathe. Plus, our small station wagon was almost filled with the canopy/tent, tables, and boxes of items to sell. I don't think I could have found room for a mini lathe and stand.

- What are you seeing as the hot item to sell this year?
- What's selling for you?
- should I consider items made from kits like keychains, game calls, shaving brushes, etc?
- Are my prices too high on wine stoppers and other items?
- do I need to lower my prices some based on what is selling in your market/region?
- I know a lot of you sell on Etsy and I do as well. But, again what sold last year isn't selling well this year on Etsy.

Things I have thought about trying are:
- peppermills. twist style or "antique" crank style? The antique crank style that suppliers sell look kind of cheap to me but I assume the sell if the suppliers keep stocking them. But, what should an 8" twist mill sell for? What should a antique style sell for?
- tops - the basic top that can be quickly turned in bulk quantities to sell cheap
- I'm not really wanting to - but do I add other "flat" woodworking items like cheese boards, cutting boards, kids pull toys,

I know pens are an option. But one guy that I know locally who only turns pens said his sales are dropping on Etsy and at the farmer's market he does weekly during the summer. So he wonders if the pen trend is losing appeal.

Thanks for your patience and input!

Ricc Havens
Elkhart, IN

[William C Rogers]

I'm in southern Indiana. I have done a few craft shows. I would say spring shows don't seem to be good for sales. Fall shows are much better. All I ever care about is making booth fee. I go because my wife does embroidery and she sells. I don't do many of the kit items, mostly bowls, vases small turnings. this way I don't need a large selection of kit items for people to choose from. Most don't even know what a lidded box is. For turnings i see mainly pens, wine stoppers, and ornaments. I do birdhouse ornaments, but other type sell better. September till first of December seem to be the best, but not outside and avoid those with the re-sellers if possible.

[Mike Goetzke]

Sort of on subject - last Friday we went to a White Sox game. Walking around I see there is a guy in back of left field turning full size bats from blanks! He had a crowd watching, so large that I didn't have a chance to see what he was charging.

Mike

[Steve Eure]

I do believe that the problems you are experiencing are not just in your area. They are all over. I went to several shows last year and swore that they would be the last. After the initial booth prices and the investment in gas, time, food, etc., I never came close to breaking even just for the materials involved. I have been doing much better by word of mouth lately. I am not into turning as a business, just want to make enough to be able to buy more supplies to feed my turning habit.
The problem with shows in my area of the country is everyone wants a bargain. They love the work but have no clue as to the actual cost of materials involved, let alone the labor.
I don't know if this would help, but I found a niche in 10-12" segmented salad bowls. Women seem to love them. I was just starting out doing segmented turning and really screwed up a practice bowl buy turning a small hole in the bottom. Instead of scraping the piece, I gave it to my wife as a small flower pot that she took to work to place on her desk. What soon followed amazed me. No less than 6 other women wanted bowls and flower pots. I was stunned to say the least. Who knew that a boo-boo would turn into a small business of bowl turning. And the best part is, they don't balk at the price. I really don't try and make a large profit, just enough to keep me in material. So far its been fun.
Even though this may not be the answer you are looking for, I think you just have to find that niche that everybody wants and no one is doing.
Good luck and happy turning.

[Perry Hilbert Jr]

I make Christmas tree ornaments and donate them to the local lion's club to sell during their annual holiday decoration fund raiser. What sells one year may not sell the next. If I bring my lathe and make items there, those items sell well. Folks like to see things made. To many, a bowl on the shelf is not much different than the monkey pod salad bowls sold at K-Mart and such. Watching something being made gives them an investment in the object also. I can turn, sand, friction polish and add a screw eye to an ornament in about 5 minutes. Folks pay $8 each for them, even though it might not be the one they saw made. The materials cost me about 25 cents each. The first year, I made larger figurines and they took me about 20 - 30 minutes each and sold for the same price. Hopefully one of the reasons for the increased production is that I have improved as a turner. There is a fine arts show nearby. Paintings and lithographs that sell for thousands of dollars. Fancy bowls, lidded boxes, etc would be better sold there than a nuts and bolts holiday decoration sale. Some crowds just don't buy some things.

[Nick Schepis]

... And the best part is, they don't balk at the price....

Curious as to what that might be. Care to share?

[Reed Gray]

All time best, and some what consistent shows were Christmas times, and in tourist areas and events. Only time people spend as much money as they do at Christmas is when they are on vacation. Summer festivals, especially if they focus more on food, alcohol, and entertainment are generally not very good. Art and Craft shows are always hit and/or miss... Daily use bowls, and plates/platters always seemed to sell for me.

robo hippy

[Ralph Lindberg]

My perceptions:
Pens, bottle-stoppers and everything else that is "easy" to turn sell slow, simply because anyone that can "turn" appears to make them. I see people selling just pens/bottle-stoppers/etc.

I make tops, but only to give away for Holiday shows.

Utility bowls are a general seller.

Larger (7 to 11 inch) pepper mills appear to sell better then the 4 inch ones.

Kitchen kit items sell OK (Pizza cutters, ice cream scoops, etc)

Specialty items, that basically only we make around here are solid items: These include:
Seam rippers (made from Ditz style rippers not kits)
Hand irons (angle cut wood irons that paper crafters and quilters use)
Nostepinne(see knitting items)
French style rolling pins (in many sizes, with and with-out taper).

We also have eye-candy. Really impressive items that people don't see most places, they don't sell often, but they get people in the booth: Art bowls, oval (no I'm not kidding, actual oval) bowls or platters, vases.... things that impress people, even if they don't buy them

[Steve Doerr]

I have done 4 shows already this year and have had a very successful time at each one of them. I learned long ago to stay away from arts & craft fairs and go strictly to the juried art fairs. I sell mostly bowls and hollow forms and my wife sell natural edge bowls and pendants. I will take along a few pens but they are usually the high end fountain pens. There will be a few pen sellers at some of these shows but in general they do a very limited business. The other thing that I found out is that at most arts & craft fairs shoppers are looking for items that are the "current hot item" and don't want to spend more than about $25. At the art fairs, it is not uncommon for me to sell 4 or 5 high priced items in the $375 to $500 range. These shows have all been in Missouri. So, I would think not a whole lot different than Indiana.

[George Guadiane]

I only do a few juried art shows a year. I'm near Daytona FL. My current deal is to do shows that are no more than an hour and fifteen minute drive from home. That way we can at least sleep in our own bed. Nancy (SWMBO) makes doing shows possible and she's better at marketing my work than I am.
I don't make any of the smaller things, but one of my club friends does a lot of juried shows and says that things ARE slowing down. They actually travel throughout the state so they probably have a better understanding of what the markets are like here for smaller/utility items.
The bigger economic picture looks like many people who used to be buyers a decade ago are still not making enough money to have expendable income.

[Randy Heinemann]

The longer you do shows, the more you will realize that, while there may be some trend at a particular location over several years, the amount you sell and what you sell will vary a lot. I doubt it's a random thing, but people's spendable income, employment levels, tastes, desire for functional versus art items, and many other somewhat unpredictable factors affect your sales.

Pricing isn't always the problem or incentive to buy either. You will probably do better over the long run entering juried shows rather than craft fairs, but that means you have to have at least some unique and more "artistic" pieces to submit for the jury. Also, if you repeat the same shows from year to year, your products can't be exactly the same each year or your sales are likely to drop off at a repeated show.

It's a difficult and unpredictable business doing shows. Hopefully doing shows is a supplement to your income because very few can make it just doing shows. If it is your only source you will need to most likely do shows all year round in the warm climates in winter included to have a shot at making it.

[Bob Bergstrom]

Sort of on subject - last Friday we went to a White Sox game. Walking around I see there is a guy in back of left field turning full size bats from blanks! He had a crowd watching, so large that I didn't have a chance to see what he was charging.

Mike

Might have been better than the game. Was that the night they won one. I’ve heard of turning reps showing up at ball parks and drawing crowds. They are fast and good!

[Bob Bergstrom]

I believe the sell web sites are competing for every buyer’s dollar. I would suspect craft shows are having similar problems as brick and mortar stores. Shopping online is cutting into everyone. Etsy, Facebook, EBay and even Craigslist. Small businesses are selling online just to stay in business. Woodcraft and Rocklar also.

[Harold Balzonia]

I do 4-5 art/craft shows per year. I started doing them a few years ago because I ran out of people to give my stuff to and I realized I can more than pay for my hobby with a few good shows. I only sell bowls for the most part (it's 90% of my inventory). Prices range from $30-$300 depending on size and complexity. I only use wood that would otherwise end up in a landfill or a chipper or a fireplace so my material cost is very low, but I spend a lot of time preparing wood to be turnable.

I've made some observations on your topic based on my experiences. Maybe it will help...

1. At this stage, I only go to juried art shows that are "destination" type events (unless there is a show in my small town where I want to support my local community in some way). "Craft" shows are for bargain hunting customers. "Art" shows are for afficianodos.

2. Your booth set-up and presentation matters. I wish it didn't, but it does. People have to like your set up. There has to be a "flow" around the tables and stages for the work to sit at different eye levels. My booth set up is the worst part of my presentation. I really need to improve it! Greet everyone who stops by.

3. Try to have a niche or a signature type of style. As soon as I figured out how to "save" unusable wood, I made a market for myself. I doubt I'm the only turner who does this type of work, but it's all I do for the most part, and now people are recognizing my work on occasion.

4. Be able to accept all payment types - cash, credit, debit, venmo, Apple Pay, PayPal, all of it - and make sure people know it.

5. Engage with your neighbors and help steer people to their booths, as well. I can't tell you how many people have bought something from me after saying "one of your neighboring booths told me to come check you out..."

6. Utilitarian items sell best right before Mother's Day and Christmas time. "Art" sells year round.

7. Tell people everything you know about the wood you used. What type, where'd you get it, what's it generally used for, is it locally sourced, is there something unique about this species? Buyers love knowing the provenance of the wood itself.

8. Never think for a minute that a higher booth fee means better customers. Best show I ever had was at a local art show and a guy came in and bought my entire inventory of resin/wood hybrid bowls. The cost to set up my booth for that show was $25. Including the couple of commissioned pieces I got ordered from that show, I outsold every other artist in the show combined. You just never know...

9. Remember, as an artist/craftsman, people aren't just buying your product - they have to buy into you as an artist. If they wanted bowls or bottle stoppers, they'd head to Walmart or Williams Sonoma. They have to want to support what you are doing as an individual. It took me a while to come to grips with this reality as I had always hoped that my work would just "sell itself." Sometimes it does, but if I want to sell more stuff I have to tell people about me, and my work.

As I have learned and applied all these concepts, my shows have been much more consistent. They still fluctuate, of course, but I almost always reach my expectations and I've never lost money by going to a show.

[Steve Doerr]

Well said Harold! You have hit the nail on the head on many of your points. I had two people at my last show make comments about the attitude of some of my neighbors and how they won't go into a booth, no matter how much they like the art, if the artists doesn't greet them or say hello as they are passing by. The other thing, I've learned, is never, never judge a customer by the way they are dressed. I've created one customer that comes to see me, and buy, every time I do a show in St. Louis (about 4 to 5 a year). He looks like he's homeless but always pays cash.

[Russell Neyman]

In my advertising/marketing days I often said, "People shop in the Cadillac showroom, but they usually buy Chevrolets." My point is the previous point about having an attention-getting display is important to draw people in to your booth. Hopefully, they'll oooh and ahhh over the two or three show-stoppers, but you need to have a smaller, less expensive product nearby that gives a hint of the larger one. So show your magnificent hollow form, and then offer some small ones, too.

[John K Jordan]

Ricc,

Afraid I don't do craft shows and rarely try to sell something - I turn for fun and to teach where I can. However, I do enjoy making a few things that have sold well without trying too hard, some I didn't start making until I got requests requests. I do turn a boxes, stoppers, pepper mills, tops, gavels, bowls, small platters, occasionally pens and more but always give those away.

What has been in demand and/or has sold well have been thin spindles. Maybe this is because few people seem to turn thin spindles, I don't know.

I got started making "magic" wands when the Harry Potter books were released. One day I took a lathe, wand blanks, and a bunch of pre-made wands to a spot on the sidewalk and turned wands while people waited and sold the pre-made wands. I sold everythinig I took, prices from $25-$60. Some people waited nearly 3 hours to have one custom made. (I made $1750 in those three hours.) Several asked for more finely crafted wands than I could make in a few minutes and came to my shop later for custom wands. Even long after the Harry Potter books I still get requests for wands when someone sees one. I never advertise or have tried to sell on the internet but I suspect if I did I'd have more work than I could do. (Hey, I'm retired, not interested in another job!) Something really fun - I've even had requests for these from a few well-known pro turners!

I started making conductor's batons after a request from a friend. I either give them away or sell for $75, but I only make one when someone asks.

I got started making equestrian crops for Hunter-Jumper use after I gave to a large horse barn owner who wanted them as presents for her competition team. I made a bunch for her and have had several requests later, again without advertising or trying to sell them. The last one sold for $200 after I told the lady I'd give her a discount from the $300 price a friend quoted! I've probably accidentally made $3000-4000 with these but I haven't been counting.

I often get requests for fiber-arts related items: drop spindles, supported spindles, yarn bowls, niddy-noddys, lazy kates, and replacement spinning wheel parts. You can get good prices for these depending on the quality. For example, there are lots of cheap drop spindles sold for $10 or so but one with fine craftsmanship made from special woods can easily be sold for $60 or more. Yarn bowls can fetch more. Turner Mike Stafford told me he can make on "ort bowl" a few minutes and has sold piles of them at $35 each to needle-point craftspeople.

One problem with most of these things is (with the exception of the wands) they probably wouldn't sell at craft fairs. For the rider's crops, for example, you would have to actively research, seek out the markets, and probably sell on commission through a specialty company, or travel to the large competition events. A good market for fiber-arts things are yarn stores and local spinning/knitting stores clubs. Some contacts I've made are though people I meet bacause I have llamas and alpacas.

Another problem is thin spindles can be difficult to make compared to many other things. Some have told me of repeated failures until I showed them techniques I use.

I'm sure there are MANY other niche markets that are wide open if you can find them somehow. Might have to do some digging! Some years ago I read an article from a guy who sold custom gavels political and judicial markets - once he became known for them customers sought him out.

Here are a few pictures of some of the thin spindle items. (I've probably posted all these photos here before.) I use both exotic and local woods. I don't think I ever took a photo of the drop spindles.

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If you are interested, feel free to use any of my design ideas. As I said, I'm not interested in another job so any competition won't affect me! (I've done several demos on thin spindles, another coming up in a few months.)

JKJ

[Ricc Havens]

John,

Thanks so much for the response and all the info and ideas. Spindle turning is my weakest skill. Especially as you mentioned - thin spindles. If you are going to be passing thru northern Indiana anytime soon I love a lesson! :) (I don't drive as I'm considered legally blind so coming to TN won't be easy or affordable with my limited disability income budget)

I have always enjoyed seeing your posted photos of your work. I will save this forum discussion as a bookmark so I can refer back to it.

Thanks
Ricc

[Alex Zeller]

I'm not into craft shows but how about getting a video monitor connected to a laptop. You could film yourself turning and then play the videos at the show. It would help convince people that you aren't buying them from China and marking up the price for a fat profit. It would also help attract people to your both as people like to watch stuff in general. How many times have you watched "How it's made". A monitor should fit easier into your car, it's probably a little lighter, and there's no mess to clean up. As I'm sure others have said, you need to find a niche that others aren't selling or doing to set yourself apart.

[John K Jordan]

I'm not into craft shows but how about getting a video monitor connected to a laptop. You could film yourself turning and then play the videos at the show. It would help convince people that you aren't buying them from China and marking up the price for a fat profit. It would also help attract people to your both as people like to watch stuff in general. How many times have you watched "How it's made". A monitor should fit easier into your car, it's probably a little lighter, and there's no mess to clean up. As I'm sure others have said, you need to find a niche that others aren't selling or doing to set yourself apart.

That's sounds like a nice idea. I think you can get a monitor now that will play a video or slide show (perhaps almost as good as a video) from a memory card or disk.

Maybe a big photo frame like this? http://www.bigeframe.com/

[Ricc Havens]

Alex & John - great ideas thanks!! Although I would have to learn editing so I can edit and bleep out the salty language that is heard from time to time!:D

Ricc

[John K Jordan]

Alex & John - great ideas thanks!! Although I would have to learn editing so I can edit and bleep out the salty language that is heard from time to time!:D
Ricc

Learning to edit video would be very useful. Fortunately, both the hardware and software needed these days is SO much cheaper than not too many years ago. The learning curves now are far easier for the novice as well.

Some ideas: I suspect a video like that is best played without sound for a craft fair environment, either completely silent or have soothing music added which could be turned way down if needed. I can't imagine you'd want voice on the video competing with interacting with the customers. Appropriate labels placed over the video but out of the way could help the viewer understand what is going on, e.g., "Making a Pepper Mill" with subheadings like Wood selection, Drilling, Shaping the outside, Assembly, etc. Best done in controlled lighting with a clean and consistent background - plan the shot and background to provide an uncluttered space on the screen for the text. Shoot each step of each project several times from different angles with identical blanks then edit to simulate multiple cameras. Might be best with a second sound track with audio narration "voice-over" - almost always better than narrating while turning. For ambient background sound always record the lathe and tool noises (without phone ringing, kids yelling, talking -- or cussing!) then edit that into the video at a controlled volume - this can be very effective to add dimension to the video. Note that it's best to plan things ahead of time and write and follow a script - the actual time for each step doesn't matter much since it can be cut as needed in edit. Another thing for a professional looking video - keep transitions to simple cuts or occasional cross fades. Using flipping and rotating/zooming/scrolling transitions scream "clueless amateur"!

It is guaranteed to be a LOT of work (I used to create technical videos as needed for my work) but it would probably make you stand out in the crowd and provide a professional credibility. Also, put the video on the web somewhere and point to it on your business card or the flyer you hand out at the booth and with a purchase.

JKJ

[Mark Greenbaum]

Regarding the arts & crafts show venues - I used to do a number of shows in upstate NY as a gemstone cutter and jeweler. I hardly ever sold articles of value at the shows, mainly because of my pricing being so high no one carried that much cash; and it was before cell phones and swipe devices.

So, I gave it up - but last weekend I setup at a friend's neighborhood yard sale in a pretty posh area of Nashville. I sold quite a few smalls that were mainly practice pieces made from left overs of large bowls. Things like small lidded jars, and ornament birdhouses. I did have my Square device to be able to take credit cards, but never had to use it. I will engage each person and tell them the story of each piece of wood (locally obtained from my yard, or nearby, what type of wood, and comparisons of growth rings between species, etc.). I could see the connection that some people have to the local trees, and it's heart-warming that folks like to share their stories too.

I think next year, I'll have platters, urn and bowls there to see if there's a market for more pricey articles. I even thought of getting a used mini lathe and demonstrating to draw even more interest, but the that sounds like work, but the show must go on. I like the idea of make a video and having it play on my laptop. That seems a bit easier than hauling a lathe and tools.

[John K Jordan]

...I even thought of getting a used mini lathe and demonstrating to draw even more interest, but the that sounds like work, but the show must go on.

The times I've set up a lathe it was a huge draw. I think of it as an educational outreach, especially for kids - most people have never seen a lathe and or have seen chips fly. They are astounded at how the wood can be shaped by a tool held in the hand. I usually give them thin pieces of wood and sometimes they want to take chips home.

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[Alex Zeller]

For the more expensive pieces you are trying to sell you could have the video of you making it. If a potential customer showed real interest in a piece then you could ask them if they would like to see how it was made. While it's playing you could a simple narrative of what's going on, not drone on boring though.. I think it would go hand in hand with what Mark was saying about giving the history of where the wood came from. Even if you don't sell what they were looking at I'm sure you will make a good impression and if you give them a business card or flier you could get a future sale. It would take a little learning as you would need to figure out proper lighting and camera angles as well as how to edit video but that's just a new aspect of the hobby.