Hopetoun House

I've been wondering all weekend about how to post about this Fair.  Weighing up the benefits of honesty over maintaining a chipper front.
If I had done the post on Saturday night it would have been very depressing reading but today it is a bit of a mix.
Hopetoun House Fair is a well established Christmas shopping Fair - I don't know how long it has been going but certainly a few years.  A percentage of the door money goes to Macmillan and the rest of the proceeds to the running of the house.  There are about 60 stalls spread out between the ballroom, the main house and the tearooms.  It has the reputation of being a lucrative show to attend, despite the £300-650 cost of the stalls.
Mum helped me to set up the stall on Thursday and it looked very pretty - we were in the main hall, just to the left of the door.  There was a lot of natural light and though it was cold with the opening and closing of the door we were also next to the fire which made up for that.  I spent my day worrying that I wouldn't have enough stock.

Ha!  On Friday there were masses of people, the place thronged with manic shoppers. I sold 2 handmade items, some cinnamon sticks and a few pretty bought in Grand Illusion Christmas tree decorations.  I came home absolutely despondent - Sally kindly gave me a lift and listened to me wail on about giving up and Chinese imports.

On Saturday it wasn't much better, though at least we sold more hand made things and managed to make eye contact and talk to some of the customers.  Thankfully  on Sunday I sold more - people commented on how lovely the stall was, they were interested in the fact I made things, they bought more than one item.  It was a relief, though the event hasn't made me masses of money at least I haven't made a loss.

So it all leaves me wondering what went wrong.  Was it the wrong market for me - the Sunday shoppers were notably younger than those on Friday and Saturday, they also tended to be from outside Edinburgh, from Perth, Stirling or Glasgow.

Does handmade just not sell as presents when it is not a specific craft event?  The one thing that helped on the Friday/Saturday was that the other proper handmade stall that I rate highly - a Perthshire company making lovely things from vintage materials - was also having a terrible time.  Co-incidently this was the one stall that I would have bought things from (if I had made any sales myself!)

Was it location?  The next to the door stand which looked so promising actually turned out to be a backward move from the ticket desk, a lot of people bypassed us altogether, heading for the stalls they could see in front of them and then due to the one way system they never came back.  My sales went up after a kind head guide started to point to my stall as she gave people their tickets.  I would never again take a stall in this position - I also found that it suffers from the "I don't want to buy something as soon as I come in" syndrome.

I don't know.

I post this not to sound gloomy but because I regularly get emails from people who start doing Fairs and find it difficult to make sales.  They often assume that they are the only ones not selling and that it is something they are doing wrong.  They aren't, but not that many people admit to doing badly, it is as if they are admitting to failure.

Anyway, on the up side I don't have any stock worries for the fair next week end at the Green Gallery!  As seems to happen, I woke up this morning with a sore throat and swollen glands - my body obviously knows that I can take today easy - so I shall pack up orders and unpack the van and do very little else.

Comments

[Heather]

I'm not sure what the answer is - I remember having a terrible time of it at Fairs - there would be those customers that made me feel as if it were all worth it - but on average I would come home feeling as you did.

Bringing this all down to basics - if you take the cost of the stall minus sales : does the profit margin on the difference more than pay for the time and effort you and your mum spent on it?

If yes - honestly yes, Then it was a good fair. If no. Well its no.

As to the reasons - people like to mull about - they aren't all buyers sadly. People are shy of the handmade - I came to the conclusion long ago I was a minority not the majority.

On Saturday - cold and drizzly I was in Oakham with the boys. A great, affluent little market town. There were alot of people about but hardly anyone in the shops actually buying - Wilkos & Tescos however was heaving.

You could change your name to Snappo's and have done with it!

[Heather]

I forgot to say - your stall does look lovely and I would have certainly looked to buy.

Heather
x

[Pipany]

Hello Jane. It's bizarre isn't it? I honestly think fairs suffer from the fact that people go there excited and desperate to buy the kinds of things they see online and in magazines, but once they get there are constantly waiting to see what the next stall holds before letting go their hard won money. Eventually they get back to the door and so buy just one thing before they leave. And yet, in tescos, etc they will buy, buy, buy. Is it because in the backs of their minds these places come under the banner of 'necessities' and therefore they are already expecting to buy? I don't know, but pschology plays a huge part. The theory about location is a good one.
Don't lose heart Jane. Your honesty does you credit and is a major reason I read your blog regularly. Your stall was beautiful and maybe it will be the smaller fair next weekend that will pay off. Good luck anyway and take it easy today xx

[nonnie]

Really sorry to hear about the fair Jane but good for you for being as honest as you always are. Your stall looked lovely so I have no real idea of what went wrong other than the reasons you suggest. I've got my next fair on Saturday and it's the one that I'm hoping will be a good one as it's in the centre of Bath. But I must admit I'm getting nervous. I have the feeling that you will do a whole lot better at your next fair if it is a smaller event. I'm not sure about these big fairs really. You've got plenty of stock so today, keep warm and look after yourself.

[Samantha]

Hi Jane,
I agree with you about location. I have been near the door before and people do tend to walk straight past!

I don't know what else to add other than your stall looks beautiful.

[Debs]

Big hug to you Jane. Your stall looks fabulous and people need to wake up and think beyond the cheapest common denominator.

Perhaps location was an issue and perhaps smaller craft fairs are a better option although presumably they have a limited amount of potential sales/income for you and others in your position.

A bientot, Debs

[carolyn]

Well it cetainly had nothing to do with the stall wich looks beautiful. Sounds very much like the old "location, location, location" thing and a "one way system". I never buy without having a good look around first, it drives the males in the family crazy, but I think there are a fair few women like me so, only being able to make one pass at a stall would have been useless for me as a shopper.
I also think that it is still a little early for some folk to think about Christmas, in a couple of weeks time they will be buying virtually anything they can find!
Have never really thought craft fairs were that good for selling, apart from the really big ones at eg. Burgleigh. People do tend to look a lot more than they buy. Unfortunately I don't have any real alternatives to suggest either.
Anyway I'm sure next weekend will be better, after all it will be Dec! Take care of yourself this week so that your fit to man the stall.

[French Knots]

Your stall looks inviting with a good mixture of things to catch the eye. Being backwards from the ticket desk must have contributed and I think the tendancy to have a look round before buying too. Hope your next fair has everything flying off your pretty shelves.

[snapdragon]

Thanks for the support - actually if I had sold as well on the Friday and Saturday as I did on the Sunday then it would have been a good Fair - I would possibly have sold out.
It was just the 1st 2 days were so depressing, particularly the Friday when I really just sold the silver baubles and cinnamon sticks.
Other stalls, selling bought in items did well - so I don't think it was a general not buying thing - though I think sales in general are down this year.
I wondered whether, when buying presents, the point is the gift giving rather than the gift - which explains the popularity of bland or novelty presents, the jokey book, the new board game, the box of chocolates or set of chutneys. It also explains the popularity of brands like Cath Kidston or Emma Bridgewater as presents, rather than more unusual small scale pottery or textile crafts that the recipient maybe won't recognise. It is easier to decode the gift giving if you know the brand, the price, the style. I assume that this carries over to perfume Heather?
I had a lot of time to think on Friday and Saturday . . .can you tell?
J
x

[Al]

Do you know what Jane? Your post is just too familiar to me. We've been in this situation more than once. Sometime it is just that it's a dud fair and the punters coming in don't appreciate the work involved in what you do, but I think more often that not in the present climate people just don't have the cash to buy on a whim. We find that most of our buyers consider exactly what they want and we often hear the phrase, I love it but I haven't got anywhere to put it etc. People are far less impulsive with their purchasing now than even 5 years ago (I know I definately am). There is also the dreaded competition from our foreign friends that manage to produce items of good quality for pennies - ethics or not. Just hold on to the fact that those that buy from you do so because your stuff is just gorgeous and though they might not buy much this time, they'll be back. I know this is true, we're making stockings for repeat customers at the moment. One lady is ordering her 5th in as many years.
Your stand was lovely - some you win . . . .
Love Al xxxx

[caireen]

Ooh... did people have to pay to come in? Psychologically they may feel they have just paid out, and want to have a good look round before indulging again - so maybe location? Would love to study this. The right hand corner furthest from any door is the fortune corner in Feng Shui - would love to observe this to see if it is fortuitous. All about chi, so you got to slow it down when it's rushing past and bring it in when there's none - at a guess. Hope you will have an abundant stand at the Green Gallery, and hope you feel better soon. Cx

[caireen]

drat, I mean the left hand corner... righthand is relationship - the two obviously are linked, because wealth also comes through other people... so maybe not such a big error! xx

[Pippa Long]

Sorry to hear you had 2 bad days. I used to do Craft Fairs back in the 1970's and it doesn't sound as if anything has changed. Your stall looks wonderful, so much hard work - good luck for future stalls. Pippa.

[Caroline]

Hi Jane - I hadn't seen your blog until just now - and now I can see why you were pleased that I posted mine! I think all the comments you've had from people are lovely and encouraging but actually, as we know, it wasn't necessarily anything to do with location - it was mainly price and brand. I think that if it looks like something that could be stocked in the high street people feel comfortable giving it. I think we could (and will be) discussing this one for ever - but at least there are evidently lots of supporters out there!

x Caroline

[snapdragon]

Caroline - I think that you are probably right about people not wanting to take the risk of unique when it is a present. I buy a lot of handmade or vintage presents butI can see that it is less risky to give someone a Bridgewater mug than an antique lustre one - though I know which I would prefer.
My mother has an antique shop and finds that people will by antique jewellery as presents but not usually other things.
I always ask for old things from her and my brother - If I wanted a Bridgewater mug I'd probably wait for the sales.
Jx

[marie]

Hi Jane,

I have had several similar experiences this year and I was beginning to think that I am the only person having this problem. I put a lot of effort into my presentation and my products, yet seem to end up taking most of it home.

I know that no-one wants to admit to failure, so I don't generally blog about quite how badly I have done at some of the events I have attended.

Marie

[Louise]

I used to do antiques & collectors fairs with my mum and the positioning of the stall made all the difference to our day's takings, especially if you are in a spot where when they get to your table they had already spent all their cash! I had lunch and a mooch at one of our popular garden centres yesterday with a friend and you would be amazed at how many people were in a frenzy around the 'Chinese imports', I am afraid they just want to spend nothing on rubbish. Please don't give up, there are many people out there that appreciate the workmanship, time and cost that goes into your crafts, it was just unfortunate that not many of them visited the fair on that day.

[Michele]

Hello
I have found you via Nonnie and the subject of Craft fairs is very topical for both Nonnie and myself. I heard from Nonnie today that the craft fair that she attended in Bath last weekend did not go well... this is depressing for her and myself as I am doing the same organisers fair this weekend and have my suspicions that it will not be a resounding success..having done one earlier in October that was a non-starter. There are 'Craft Fairs' & 'Craft Fairs' and it is finding the right one with the right customers in the right place... luck and intuition have a part to play in the success.
I wish you well in your next venture and will look back to see how you are getting on.
Michele

[Charlotte]

ah - I had a similar experience last weekend and I wrote about it on my blog - although I must confess i was a bit nervous to. It's hard to say you didn't have great success isn't it.

I am still wondering what to do - but, like you, I am feeling very happy that I'm now well stocked!!

Charlotte

[The Vintage Magpie]

ARRRGHHHH! It makes me so cross that people like you with your beautiful stall full of beautifully handmade items have to suffer at the hands of the general public, who would rather throw their money away on cheaper foreign shoddily made imports. There.. its off my chest. I've just been reading about Fiona's fair at Nonnie and Michele's from Cowboys & Custard. Its so frustrating. I wish you all the luck in the world. Us crafters who appreciate the work that goes into these beautiful crafts have to stick together!! x

[cally]

Picked this as a post to tead from your archives as I've experienced it from both sides of the stall. It's such a hard call. As a maker I was always utterly baffled and despondent about it all. Since giving up fairs and now being at them solely as a customer I've noticed one key thing that makes a difference. As someone with not much money (none just now) I really want to support hand makers, but I also know it costs more. So sometimes when pass I feel like, oh no, I probably can't afford anything and I'll feel guilty about that so I'm just going to walk right past rather than put us both through that little mill. What makes a difference for me is if I can easily see form a distance that there are some really small really low priced items (usually it's cards or something) that I can buy for a pound or two. That way I feel I can support the maker, and of course it then gets me into the stall to see the wider range, which may or may not be as pricey as I thought. ANd evenif it is, at least i'm there to think 'hey, mum would like that for her birthday'.

As a blogger I also feel like if I can't afford to buy, I can support people by mentioning them on the blog, or by email to specific bloggers who's blogs are maybe more along those lines than my own.

I still hope to back on the selling side of the stall one day so I really appreciate this kind of discussion on line, anything that can help us all get a positive experience from these events.