Teach Soap

I was doing some research on potential craft shows for next year. It will be my first time at a show and didn't realized the process it takes to participate. I found one craft show that if you are chosen to participate the fee would be $340 for a 10 x 10 booth size or $240 for 5 x 10 booth. The vendor fees seems to be high in my opinion. What do vendors pay in fees and do you make enough sales to cover the vendor fee(s)?

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http://blissfulsoaps.wordpress.com/

$340 for one day would be too much. Our local craft fair charges $62 per day.

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

Dayum! That's insane lol. Most I have paid is $170 for 12ft x 4ft table allotment for an indoor market.

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

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http://blissfulsoaps.wordpress.com/

Can you look into fairs and stuff like that too? There must be more than one show in your area.

I used to run a small jewelry business and we sold at different events. Here are some of the ways I found shows and things I am doing now. Remember that you dont have to do just craft markets, there are all kinds of events out there where vendors are welcome. (motorcycle rallies, crawfish boils, heritage festivals, yeah its warms lets have fun, etc.)
Check with local Chambers of Commerce and Parks and recreation departments for upcoming events.
Local newspapers ( I just found out about a bridal show that I would love to do but its too late to sign up)
I also use Festival Network Online to find shows in my area.
Google, "events in ...whatever state you are in" there are lots of sites showing whats happening in TX.
make sure to check your local Lions, Kiwanis, Rotary, Knights of Columbus websites for events (our Kiwanis club is having a crawfish festival one weekend and Rotary is sponsoring the annual frontier days the next, both have vendor set ups)

Things I consider when signing up for an event:
Inventory, Do I have enough to support a large crowd?
Length (is it something I can handle on my own or will I need help, Frontier Days is a 3 day event till late into the evening, gonna need help)
Crowd size, will there be enough people to, at the very least, break even?
Typical income level of the area where the event is located. (no great study here, just look around the town)
Indoors/Outdoors: heat/cold will it damage my product line
Vendor fee, how many bars will I have to sell to make my rent back, break even, make a profit?
Is electricity provided for nighttime events (lighting) or is there an extra charge?
Distance to event: how much gas will I use, will I need a hotel, those will greatly effect the bottom line
Multi-day events: will there be security or will I need to pack up at the inventory at the end of the day and set it up again in the morning
And of course the vendor fee. My farmers market charges 20 bucks (4-hours)and usually comp's me one weekend a month. A nearby town charges 50.00 for a (7-hours)one day event. I start getting leary at anything over 100.00 because you just never know. BUT and its a BIG BUT, many times the vendor fee can reflect the anticipated size of the event and may very well be worth it.

I know spending patterns are different in different areas of the country but at my farmers market I usually walk away with 100.00 after the fee (Saturday before Christmas was double than that and they comp'ed my rent that day), and at the nearby town about 250.00. Both are in higher income areas.

Right now I am focused on growing my business and getting my name out there. I have netted several custom orders from people at the markets and I am starting to see some repeat customers.

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Dawn

I also wanted to add that I will probably be doing a "hunt for the hungry" event. Its great because its only 50.00 for 3 days, the down side is that there is travel involved and hotel bills. Both of which I wont really have to pay for. My mom is part of a dog association that sponsors the event and drags me to it with her. Since I am going to be there anyway I might as well sell some stuff. The other downside is the limited audience. It will be (for the most part) the same people attending all 3 days, so if someone buys on Friday they are not likely to buy again.

So add crowd turn-over to the list of things to consider...motorcycle rallies are a bit different though. they may look like a rough bunch but that is a hobbie that takes some money to maintain and they dont mind spending it. You will never know if that tatted up guy next to you is a doctor, lawyer, business exec. the women like their luxuries and to look good on the back of a bike, So don't discount them

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Dawn

[quote="dsgemmill] It will be (for the most part) the same people attending all 3 days, so if someone buys on Friday they are not likely to buy again. [/quote]

Don't discount that either! I know when I bought my first bar of natural soap, I liked it so much I went nuts trying to find a local place to get more as we had gone the last weekend of the fair. Unfortunately there is no place in my state that carries them so if I want any more of their products, I have to mail order.

LOL there is that!! Since this is a hunter focused group the majority will be men although I have seen almost as many women at these things. So I have been ramping up the mens fragrances, hunters soaps, mechanic soaps and so on.

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Dawn

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http://blissfulsoaps.wordpress.com/

Well, I'm planning to do my very first "show" at an Italian food festival that is five days long. My Sister is coming in from Hawaii to help me. It is huge festival and garners 60-80,000 people. The booth is 10x10, costs $600 and bring your own conforming tent. Don't have a tent? They set it up and rent it to you for another $100. They provide the business license, electric, and light.

It will be a huge test! But after the reaction to my products at Christmas from the 40 or so gifts I gave, I think it'll be great! Right now I have approximately 1700 bars made and I've got more to make! (Soap to my heart's content ~ are you jealous? ). My thoughts are go big and don't do a lot of them. This one comes twice/year, but I won't necessarily do the one in September. I just want to prove I can do it and see the kind of money I can make.

At the very least, it'll be so fun to see my Sister!

Jill

WOW Jilly, that sounds like the International Fest that Houston has once a year. I would love to do something like that, not sure I could convince family members to help out with it. But ONE day, that wont be a problem and we will just be rocking along

You definately need to let us know how that goes for you!

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Dawn

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http://blissfulsoaps.wordpress.com/

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~Shell

How much the show charges is (usually) a direct reflection of the number of people who attend. Generally speaking, it must be worth the price if they have repeat vendors. I have a few festivals that cost a lot more than that, but the attendance is 30,000 plus daily, so the traffic is there to make it very worth while. At shows like this you make more in one day than doing several week ends of the smaller craft fairs.

It does take a lot of inventory to do those big show though, and you need help. They are not the kind where your neighbor can watch your space while you run to the restroom. If you are nervous about doing a show, maybe you should start with a regular craft show, a one day, local deal, like a school craft fair. That way you get your feet wet and will have a better idea of what you will need. Those kinds of craft shows are usually only 30-60$, depending what area of the country you live in.

Whenever you are looking at booking a show, ask what the average attendance is and what the entrance fee is. Ask how many of the vendors have been there for more than two years in a row. How many vendor spaces do they have? And ask how many others are selling the same products you carry. Also ask if they are allowing commercial products or handmade only. And if you are at all concerned, get the name of some vendors and contact them to ask about their experiences.

ETA: Somehow I missed the last page of this thread, so my statement, while true, is not where we are currently! Lol I will leave it for others though.
Anyway, Congratulations on getting in and good luck at the Oyster festival! It sounds like it should be a good show.

Man, I was really tired this morning! So sorry! Good luck at the Italian Festival Jill!

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy