Shows and fees

[David Lehner]

For many years I did the two large craft shows in northwest North Dakota  The Big One is the name of the show. one in Spring just before Easter and the other in Early November before Thanksgiving. The December show was the better by far ... 3 to 4 times the sales of the spring show. I have not done the shows since 201o .. Flooded in 2010 and my shop was down for a couple years as I was rebuilding house and garage with enlarged shop.

I went to the Spring show this past weekend and was talking with some of the vendors about booth prices. When I last did the show the booths were $85.00 each (and I used 5 in my display). The prices are now $130.00 to $150.00 per booth .... and the admittance fee for customers is $3.00.  

I've been getting the "bug" to do some craft shows again but am thinking I will try some smaller shows first to get my name back out there...

 

Some of my show set ups shown ..... Have to sell a lot to justify $150.00 per booth

 

 

[NC Scroller]

I have not had much luck with spring or summer events in my area either. I do two larger events in November and they are my bread and butter. As to the fees one cost me $40 for a space. That one is free to the public. Roughly 900- 1,000 people attend. The other charges $75 for a space. This one charges $1.00 to attend. Roughly 1,500 - 1,800 attend. My experience people willing to pay to attend are also will to spend. At those prices I would have to know they typically draw over 2,500.

[WayneMahler]

Spring shows always seem to produce less in sales. Booths / Tables run an average of $35 per 8 - 10 foot space. I get 2 in the spring and 3 - 4 in the fall. I'll agree with Scott, people that pay a modest fee for entry seem to be more in the mind set to spend money. The first week end in October is The Apple Festival. Free to get in, vendors pay about $200 per 10 foot space. It is an outdoor show so a tent is a must and lasts 2 days. They attract an average of 45K - 55K people every year over the 2 day period. Needless to say you need a lot of inventory for this show. But very well worth attending.

[zimmerstutzen]

My Lion's club was considering a type of holiday craft show and we priced other shows in the area, spring summer and fall.  Prices were all over the map, (and some in space)   Frequently averaging in the realm of 60 to 100 for a 2 day weekend per 10 x 10 space.  Then there is one that is $200 for a one day outdoor show.  Best deal seemed to be $225 for a 4 day outdoor show, but they provide a three sided shelter with roof that can be closed up during the night. They also get a crowd of 20K to 40K people depending on the weather. We are having a simple little one day event with maybe 500 people stopping in.  

[ike]

I  do a lot of small shows only one in the spring and the cost of it is $10 per 10' table.It is a school project. then I do about 5 church sales and they are in the $20 range and I usually do about $200/ $300 ea. the other one is a larger show and the cost is $20 per table I expect it to go up this year. one of the shows has a limit of two tables .

IKE

[tuner]

You sound like your second guessing yourself, from the pictures people will know your name and your work if they ever saw it before, from a customer point of view it looks like both professional and friendly . Yes it takes a lot of sales to justify the cost but you have done it more then once Iam sure. Personal I say go for it and best of luck.

[lawson56]

Dave you have some Awesome work.   I have only done a few Craft Shows.and I have only paid $25,$30.did very well.but it has gone up quit a bit since then.I now do Flea Markets.and some of them are costly.

[bandaideman]

I have only done a couple a year and may do more now I have more time. the cost has been going up this year 30 and 40 dollars which is not bad. I have been fortunate to get my table fee with the first 1-2 sales. your set up looks great and to think of that many booths and supply them you must be a busy beaver all the time. Nice work.

[edward]

Very nice display, and awesome work, great job on both! edward

[AK Moose Nugget]

I have been checking 'show fees' here in Alaska also, for next year maybe.  Booth fees are $125 and up.  The big craft event in Anchorage is the Saturday Market, which runs every weekend from Memorial Day to Labor day.  IF I could get in, it's $100 per space with minimum 50% fees up front. Yikes!!!  

 

I'll have to find some church bazaars and such I guess for reasonable fees.  I 

I haven't been getting much saw time the past 10 days or so... hopefully 'life' calms a bit this week. 

[AK Moose Nugget]

Oops, great display, Dave. I got carried away in the post above.

[Jim Finn]

I do about twenty sales a year.   I have been doing this for about nine years. Eighteen of them are at a farmers market and all of them are out of doors.  The two  or three ,"once a year" sales venues are the best for me.  My space rental at the once a year sales are $85 per space, and I just need one.  They are 12' x 10' spaces.  My farmers market is every Saturday throughout  the summer and cost me $30 for two spaces =10' x 20'.  My prices are low and volume is high.  I would like to find some sales venues in November or December but, alas , good ones are not available here... at a reasonable cost. These are small craft shows.  The big ones are about 5000 shoppers  and the farmers market  is about 2000 shoppers,once every week in the summer.