Teach Soap

Well I have my very first craft fair in just under two weeks and I wondered if anyone could give me any tips? Kinda nervous is probably an understatement, I'm quite shy around new people and total strangers(!) so have a feeling it might be a bit of a challenge. My little boy is being looked after by nanny and my husband is coming with me but he's quiet too! Lol

Any tips of any kind will be appreciated

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Sarah x

Say hello to people walking by. Don't sit in the back and read a book. People will ignore you if you do. Bring as much as you comfortably can. Make sure you have plenty of change. It's helpful to have a little first aid kit, duct tape, paper towels, some water, sunscreen and a hat if need be. Smile!

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Hi, YummyMummy! Good luck at your first craft fair! I'm kind of a shy person, too, and I always feel a little nervous before the show starts, but I usually have fun at craft fairs and meet lots of nice folks.

Soapbuddy is right, it's important to smile and greet people and make that initial contact and connection. I find that I stand most of the time at a craft fair, but maybe that's just me. I just feel weird sitting down. And don't forget something to eat and drink!

If it's okay, I thought I'd share the link to a blog post I wrote on craft fair tips instead of listing them again here: http://wonderturtlesoaps.blogspot.com/2 ... -tips.html

Anyway, those are my tips. I hope they help! And best of luck - you'll do great!

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- Jenny -
My soapy blog:
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dont forget to not only try to chat up the customers, but the other crafters too!

Thank you all for replying and giving me tips I feel a bit better about it all now.

jrose729 - thanks so much for posting a link to your blog and that was so informative that I've been buying little bits here and there on eBay while reading it! Lol some things I never even thought of so thank you!

I'm actually getting really excited now. It's a week tomorrow and so far I've built up some good stock so just a bit more to do.

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Sarah x

Hey, YummyMummy,

So glad the blog post was helpful!

I guess the craft fair is in a couple of days now? Good luck - I hope that it is a great success and you sell loads of soaps! Have fun!

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- Jenny -
My soapy blog:
Follow me on my

Hey!

Yes it's tomorrow now and I am so shattered already from the build up to it! I have a good stock and we did a practise run tonight and the table should look pretty I'm going to take some pictures so I'll have to post them tomorrow if I get chance or the day after. Not only that but my best friend had her baby girl yesterday so it's been pretty manic lol! Hopefully after tomorrow I can have a good relaxing day and get to bed before 1am! But hopefully it will be worth it.

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Sarah x

Good luck! Would love to see pics.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Ah poop, I've come in too late for this one! I had my first ever craft fair at the beginning of the month and yes it's scary, and involves a lot of work but it was so worth it!

How did it go Yummymummy?

Hey all,

Well the fair was ok actually. A HUGE learning curve for me really. I had sales so that was good. I also had a rather rude woman declaring to anyone who would listen that my bath bombs were too expensive and she was very VERY loud about it. I had to bite my tongue because I was on the verge of telling her it was my livelyhood she was slagging off rather loudly! I was given the worse table in the place because we weren't a regular to the craft fair and a few other people who were new to it complained and said they didn't have enough room etc so they wouldn't be doing it again - well at that particular craft fair anyway. I had put on my booking form I was bringing another table so we could add depth but we were jammed against a wall with no possible movement at all. The regulars at the craft fair all had great tables though. Also the upstairs of the town hall is used for weddings and you guessed it, it was in use that day and for a few hours out of 6 total hours they filled the hall and it stopped people coming in to look at the craft fair. Plus the weather wasn't super. So anyway, not meaning to be negative but it was a learning curve!

But we definitely had some positives, as it was so quiet the hubby went into the town centre and handed out business cards to tourists/hikers as advertising and even went into all the little crafty shops asking if they would be interested in stocking bath and body products and gave them my card. I just about got my money back from paying out on the table but I figure we got some advertising in there so that's always good. A friend came to see me as she lives near the place and bought a few things, plus my mum brought my boy to see me and it was great having a hug and it gave people something to coo over and talk to me about (as well as soaps!).

We were the only ones there who were under the age of 50 so I think people may have thought we looked out of place. Sometimes I certainly felt out of place thats for sure! I will be doing a couple more craft fairs this year but they are big outdoor ones and will have tons of stalls rather than just 12 like yesterday. Plus closer to home as boy, did I miss my son!!
I'm really going to concerntrate on the online side of things and see craft fairs as a good advertising point to do every quarter or something.

Anyway, wow that was a long post wasn't it lol! I LOVED my stall and how it looked - I have taken pics I just need to get it off the camera (which I'll try and do now) and then I'll upload it

Thanks for thinking of me though and asking about yesterday

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Sarah x

I think you did well considering. Yes, it is a learning curve. It will just get better and better from here. Good luck on your next one!

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Well I have managed to get the pictures on and this is our stall:




And this is my gorgeous boy! Thought I'd add a picture as I spoke about him - he'd just finished some BBQ'd food and had been in his sand pit and paddling pool hence looking a bit grubby lol!

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Sarah x

May I give you a suggestion? That yellow tablecloth is competing with the color of your pretty products. I would try cream or off white instead. I would also put something under the back end of your white baskets so they are elevated and could be seen better.

Your little boy is a cutie!

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Thanks Soapbuddy! The lifting the backends of the baskets up I never even thought about. So I'll definitely try that next time! The tablecloth buying was down to my husband and he forgot so it was a mad dash for them on the actual morning and they had no white tablecloth! So I got the one most appropriate but I totally get your meaning, I thought if I stared at it too long it may have given me a headache lol!

Thanks, I think he's rather cute but I think I'm highly bias

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Sarah x

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.