Craft Fair Lessons Learned

As most of you know, I was a vendor at the Aldersgate UMC Craft Fair on June 16, 2012.  The forecast was hot and sunny with a chance of showers, so I came prepared – sunscreen, sun hat, bottled water, umbrella, and plastic tarp.  I was hopeful and yes, downright optimistic!

Here’s what REALLY happened at the craft fair.

7:50 a.m. – Arrived at craft fair. No tables set up.  No booth assignments.  Foreboding clouds overhead.  The organizers were debating whether to cancel due to anticipated rain.  They decided to go on with the show.

8:30 a.m. – Told to choose a spot.  Table set up.  No rain.  I chatted with my nice vendor neighbor to the south with funky but cute yard ornaments made by her 14-year-old daughter.  Hope returns.

8:50 a.m. – Whoa, Nelly!  Look what just pulled up in the empty booth next to my spot.  If any of you are old enough to remember The Beverly Hillbillies, that theme song came immediately to mind.  Look at that truck!  More rust than metal.  And they kept it parked there ALL DAY!   The leader of this pack (flea market/garage sale—NOT  vintage) kept yelling throughout the day, “Come on OVER and open your wallets!!”

9:30 a.m. – Intermittent rain showers began.  No customers except church ladies.  Bless them.

9:40 a.m. – HEAVY RAIN with thunder (no visible lightning).  Hurriedly covered my wares with plastic tarp and sat under my umbrella.  No customers.

10:30 a.m. – Rain let up.  Uncovered merchandise.  A few brave souls ventured out to the craft fair.  Three sales.  I’m just $5.00 short of my break-even point.  I also did some English paper piecing.

11:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. – Intermittent rain showers resume.  Tarp on.  Tarp off.  Tarp on. Tarp off.  Tarp on.  Tarp off.  No customers.  Gave up on English paper piecing.  My templates were soggy.

1:30 p.m. – Hubby arrives to give me a short break.  He brought towels.  Bless him!!  He’s a keeper.  AND I have another small sale.  I am now exactly $1.00 above the break-even point.

1:45 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. -  The sun comes out!  It’s a beautiful day.  Shoppers arrive.  I make five more sales, but gross less than $100.  Worst craft fair experience ever.  I calculate how many Etsy listings I could have funded with the money I spent on booth and table rental and become mildly depressed.  I resolve to stick to indoor craft fairs in October, or juried shows that screen out junk dealers.   Jethro and Ellie Mae won’t be there, I’m sure.

The silver lining in this cloud?  I did not significantly deplete my Etsy inventory (now re-activated).  It was a valuable learning experience.  And I didn’t get a sunburn.

TTFN

LeAnn aka pasqueflower

http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com

http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower

http://www.facebook.com/pasqueflower