Your Results of This Year (2024) Craft Sales

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

5 hours ago, jamieline said:

Had my second show. Was a little disappointed with results for several reasons. The attendance was not what I expected. They had a preshow which was Thursday night for two hours. Very low turnout for this night. Sat was the best day. Large crowd. Friday and Sunday were low. Did make a little profit which is always good but the cost of the event was high. I usually avoid these types of events but took a chance. Took place in a large center that had what they called the ballroom area and then the arena. I along with another booth were kind of between the two and off to the side. We felt out of the way some. They did put up some signs pointing our way after we talked with them but I think the attendance was down.

Did sell puzzles and birdhouse along with nativity items.

 

I wish we could see your display at a closer view but you look like that was a huge set up and you have a ton of stock. I would love a show like that. The room to roam is great. people feel more at ease because they are not so crowded in. Many times success of a show depends alot on the promotor and how well they promote it and get the word out. especially if it is a newer show. Shows that have been around for a long time just have their own following and word of mouth is a good promotor. Attendance is a big factor as well as if people are charged a fee to get in and/or to park then they are there with a purpose and will spend $$. usually free events are look and see people like street fairs is what I seen. Hopefully your season will get even better. Good luck and thanks for checking in here. 

[dgman]

7 hours ago, jamieline said:

Dan, where was your show setting?

It is a very large room at a local church. This Christmas Boutique has been done for 35 years so it has a great following and reputation. It is open to the public but is busiest after the different Masses through out the two days.

[jamieline]

5 hours ago, dgman said:

It is a very large room at a local church. This Christmas Boutique has been done for 35 years so it has a great following and reputation. It is open to the public but is busiest after the different Masses through out the two days.

One of my shows is at a church, outside event except for the bake sale which is inside. I have been doing that event for 3 years with each year getting better. If you apply early you can request your site which i do and have an excellent location. It's a two day event Friday and Sat. Sat is usually better but not by much. Both good days.

[JimNC]

 As said, attendance is important. Our best show was 65,000 people at an outdoor, 2-day, strawberry festival. We moved out of that area, and it would be a two-hour drive plus lodging cost for us now. Furthermore, this year we decided not to do outdoor shows because they are getting just too physically difficult for our ageing bodies.

Now we live in a rural area with a small population and just don’t get the attendance. Now a $600 one day show is good for us. If the show’s sponsor would charge a fee to get in am afraid the attendance would be almost zero. Just that kind of area it is (but we love it).

We are now leaning toward consignment shops. Some shops in our market either charge a fee for a 8ft. or 10 ft spot plus a small commission, usually around 10%. Some shops just charge a commission, usually about 40%.

We will post our results after the holidays.

[Bill WIlson]

A consignment craft shop recently opened in the nearly abandoned shopping mall where I live.  I stopped in there a few weeks ago, just out of curiosity.  Lots of different crafts, but little to no woodworking stuff.  I asked them how business was and they said it was surprisingly good, especially compared to their former location.  Even though the mall has lots of empty spaces, there is still some foot traffic there.

I've never sold anything.  I know enough about craft shows to know I really don't want to go down that path and internet sales is even less desirable for me.  But selling on consignment might have some appeal.  I'm not looking at this as a means of income, rather an outlet for boredom, should that be needed, after I retire.

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

1 hour ago, Bill WIlson said:

A consignment craft shop recently opened in the nearly abandoned shopping mall where I live.  I stopped in there a few weeks ago, just out of curiosity.  Lots of different crafts, but little to no woodworking stuff.  I asked them how business was and they said it was surprisingly good, especially compared to their former location.  Even though the mall has lots of empty spaces, there is still some foot traffic there.

I've never sold anything.  I know enough about craft shows to know I really don't want to go down that path and internet sales is even less desirable for me.  But selling on consignment might have some appeal.  I'm not looking at this as a means of income, rather an outlet for boredom, should that be needed, after I retire.

I sold consignment for about 5 or 6 years. I was in 3 of the largest malls in NJ. Paramus Park Mall, Garden State Plasa mall, and Woodbridge Center Mall. Each mall had 2 floors and the people I was renting from had a store on each floor so I was basically in 6 stores. Skeffington and Allen was the name of the stores. They were a craft oriented seller and they had many different crafters and some beautiful work. They charged a commissioned fee which included the space 8 X 10 feet, they handled all sales and paid all taxes. They took orders for you or at least the names of interested people. They called you when your display needed more stock or if there was any problems. The more stores I was in the better discount I got. I went all in and have to say at that time malls were still a thing. Not so much these days. Holidays and especially Christmas season they did fantastic. They  had enough personel to watch and handle sales in each store. Toward the end of my stay with them, they sold the business and got out of it and the people who took over did not have the same talent to continue. I started getting lots of theft and breakage. I had to pull out. It was not worth it. but when i was doing well I had my hands full because I had to stock those stores as well as do 5 craft shows. I had 6 but dropped one of the lesser shows. I was the only scroller and working a full time job  was a challenge. Luckily I had some stock built up for shows before I went into the stores.

After I left I had looked into a couple other consignment shops in the area but was not impressed with the traffic and location. Those are big factors to consider. because if no one sees it they can not buy it. Plus the price. As In my case I did not mind paying higher prices because of the write-offs and the bottom line. It was worth the travel to stock stores and also sell my product because I uped all my prices in those stores. I was alot younger in those days. I could never do that now. Plus malls are basically kid hangouts today. I can remember when I had to go restock those stores I had a hard time finding parking spaces. Now you can park right up to the mall even at Christmas time. I did at one time look into getting one of those Kiosks in the center of the malls to sell stuff. but they want ridiculous prices plus you have to man it all the time. 

Wish you luck if you go down that route of consignment.  

[Bill WIlson]

Thanks JT for the insight.  I'm not sure I would ever pursue this avenue.  Like I mentioned, it would only be as a hedge against retirement boredom.  My post-retirement plans aren't very well defined, so I'm just kind of spitballing stuff that might keep me out of trouble if I burn through the honey-do list too fast.  

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

10 minutes ago, Bill WIlson said:

Thanks JT for the insight.  I'm not sure I would ever pursue this avenue.  Like I mentioned, it would only be as a hedge against retirement boredom.  My post-retirement plans aren't very well defined, so I'm just kind of spitballing stuff that might keep me out of trouble if I burn through the honey-do list too fast.  

Always can journey down the same road I did and that was start a new hobby like turning pens and other small objects. Yes it is a more expensive hobby but you put your mind down a different road and learn new things. I am having a blast. Scrolling is not fun for me any more. 

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Just bumping this to top again because more shows should soon be happening the closer we get to Christmas. My brother stopped by a church show I use to do before the pandemic that did OK. But it just started up again last year and I did not go back because new owners and it is a shell of itself. he walked the show in about 20 minutes. He use to help me with my shows and was a huge help so he knows the circuit and actually knows a few of the vendors that came back. They said it is not very profitable and there is not many shows around any more. This is what I am finding too. Unfortunately I am getting older and would be tough to do shows again so my inventory sits in storage. 

Anyway anyone doing shows please post here. Thanks.

[Wichman]

I did a show yesterday. Annual senior citizen center craft show. We have 90k population in the metro area. 300 attended. Sales were poor, $80 in sales vs $50 booth fee.

I'm done as a business.

[Joe W.]

On 11/10/2024 at 9:43 AM, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

Events like car shows and street fairs, parades are tough places to sell crafts because those people are there for specific things.

Yep - I got an invite to set up at our state agriculture museum for their event and experienced a poor outcome. 
Made enough to cover the space rental and a just few dollars more. 
Like the earlier car show I set up at, the folks were primarily there for the this other event's many offerings (tree decoration contest, etc.) 
I was only one of 13 other vendors, and from what I think I saw, their sales were also light. 
Many people attended but most kept walking. 
Sales were disappointing, but a couple conversations did happen that will result in future sales, one of them likely on a recurring basis.
Because of that, I'm OK with the cost, time, and effort that went into setting up at that event.   
You just can never tell where a conversation with someone will take you.
The craft event did end on a sour note though - - - After the event, first I discovered the receiving hitch pin for the cargo carrier went missing in cold weather and after sunset. 
My wife brought me a replacement and went back home.  But I had to call her a few minutes latter because SUV would not start. 
Luckily, home is only 4 miles away, so my wife rescued me a second time with a jump.   
Ah, the joys of scroll sawing sales.  Thanks for listening.
 

[barb.j.enders]

17 hours ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

Just bumping this to top again because more shows should soon be happening the closer we get to Christmas. My brother stopped by a church show I use to do before the pandemic that did OK. But it just started up again last year and I did not go back because new owners and it is a shell of itself. he walked the show in about 20 minutes. He use to help me with my shows and was a huge help so he knows the circuit and actually knows a few of the vendors that came back. They said it is not very profitable and there is not many shows around any more. This is what I am finding too. Unfortunately I am getting older and would be tough to do shows again so my inventory sits in storage. 

Anyway anyone doing shows please post here. Thanks.

Interesting that you say there are fewer shows.  One of the complaints I have been hearing/seeing is there are too many shows here.  It seems that there are 4 - 5 each weekend, particularly at this time of year.

I am doing a big one today, last show I have booked.  I did it last year, first time.  Sales were about my average - $600 aprox.  Last year's foot traffic was over 1000.  Here's hoping.

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

3 hours ago, barb.j.enders said:

Interesting that you say there are fewer shows.  One of the complaints I have been hearing/seeing is there are too many shows here.  It seems that there are 4 - 5 each weekend, particularly at this time of year.

I am doing a big one today, last show I have booked.  I did it last year, first time.  Sales were about my average - $600 aprox.  Last year's foot traffic was over 1000.  Here's hoping.

Yes Barb here in NJ the amount of shows or should I say large shows is way down after the pandemic. You always will have the church shows and small gathering shows. We use to have large Convention arenas put on craft shows that drew 100,000 people easily. We had many schools open their doors to shows and allow the large campus area for shows. Those were the ones I did years ago. Long gone. There is one that is hanging on and from what I heard they were way down in attendence this year. I did not even see any advertising on FB or other social outlets for it. they usually do alot of advertising. We have probably more shows down the shore from what I can tell. people love their nautical stuff down there. But that is too far for me to travel these days. I use to do 3 church venues and 3 schools. The schools were the best because of the area available. I was hoping to read that maybe craft shows were making a come back when I started this thread. There was a time here too when the complaint was there were too many shows. That stated happening back in the late 80's and early 90's when crafts really took off and that is when I jumped on board. A couple things have curtailed the show scene. Not enough crafters, more retail vendors applying and that drove away the crafters. Some juried shows do not let them in but there is always that fine line as to what a craft is. Plus these show sponsors make their money on table fees and sometimes admission money.  Plus online sales has made this country lazy. I am reading and there were a few news reports that said there is a trend toward in store shopping again so maybe there is hope. One last thing is craft show insurance for both sponsors and for crafters have become mandatory which is another expense. Just some of my thoughts. 

[Millwab]

I only do one event all year and that is demonstrating at our county fair. I’m in a building that demonstrates crafts from the 1800’s and I take my treadle scrollsaw.  They don’t charge anything for the space since we’re doing the demonstrations (which would have been a deal killer for me). They do let us sell things and for most of the others in the building it is their primary business or side hustle.  After my first year there (strictly an educational endeavor) I was encouraged to bring some things to sell, so the following 3 years I’ve brought a variety of projects but centered mostly on puzzles and word art. Even though I probably underprice things, my sales have been good enough to keep me in materials for the year and a few woodworking toys.  Didn’t want another "job" after retiring but making inventory for the next fair gives me something to do and I can cut things at my leisure.  A win-win.

[barb.j.enders]

Well,  I did my last show of the season yesterday.  And what a show!  I did almost $1000.  Best sales I have ever had since I started selling.  I had friends doing one, at a school, on Saturday and they barely made table costs.  

[rjweb]

Barb, I can relate to that you had a good sales day, your projects are beautiful, glad it worked out, RJ

Edited December 2, 2024 by rjweb

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

2 hours ago, barb.j.enders said:

Well,  I did my last show of the season yesterday.  And what a show!  I did almost $1000.  Best sales I have ever had since I started selling.  I had friends doing one, at a school, on Saturday and they barely made table costs.  

Everybody was at your show. Good to hear you did well. Not bad for a few hours of work. Now get busy making new stuff.