Selling at a vendor bazaar...

kcwaterguy · #1 11-04-2006, 09:59 AM

Well, my son's preschool is having a Vendor Bazaar as a fundraiser for his school. They charge $25 donation for the table and you can sell at this event. (I spent another $10 with the City to get a vendor license... what a crock)

I did not and won't have enough to truly sell at this event... who would have thought the last month would FLY by and be full of other things. So I have some bookmarks and a couple of cutting boards to actually part with if they wanna take but I think this will have major traffic as they advertised on the radio and TV. SOOOOOO I was going to make up order sheets for commisioned pieces.... that an OK idea?? I waived donating a piece to the Silent Auction and told them I would donate 5% of my sales at the show to them and 10% of commisioned sales. I think this is fair and hoped this would convince people to order/buy from me. I know the Mary Kay, PartyLite, Tupperware, etc people probably won't be doing this.

Advice, concerns, ability to stop time so I can knock out more sellable pieces?

Thanks Sean - KC

PS - will have display examples of my 6"x6" trivets, the keepsake box I made Ansleigh, a coaster set...

Lynn O. Doughty · #2 11-04-2006, 10:07 AM

Good luck on your show. Be careful with commissions. It's fun in the beginning but it can quickly turn into your working for someone else while what you really want to do is pushed to the back of the worktable.

kcwaterguy · #3 11-07-2006, 01:52 PM

Well day 1... 9am to noon.... 0 sales and lots of how nice, pretty, etc etc etc

Other vendors like Mary Kay, Partylite, Tastefully simple, etc... basically day 1 for all vendors a DUD.

I did hear from others that are return vendors... Day 1 = browsing and go home to ask hubby day!!

Day 2 9am to noon then 5pm to 8pm so hoping better results

Sean - KC

Marci MN · #4 11-07-2006, 02:09 PM

I was wondering how it was going for you.

When I used to do craft sales many many years ago, the first day was 'look' the second day was 'thinking and another look' and the third day they usually came around and bought. Sometimes its a matter of other vendors selling and using that money to come buy off your table.

Good luck.. I'll keep my fingers crossed for ya.

kcwaterguy · #5 11-07-2006, 02:47 PM

Too funny Marci because I have been browsing and I am looking at offering a couple vendors in trade...

Christmas for Kate will be easier if I can swing that....

Sean

kcwaterguy · #6 11-09-2006, 04:06 PM

Ok final report and although I was disappointed overall and really up until the last hour, I did make back my money and made some.

So I got 2 orders for a coaster set and sold 3 bookmarks. Have potential order (or trade - a soy candle maker lady) of another coaster set plus maybe a jewelry box smaller than the keepsake box I made my girl.

Was invited to do a bazaar for $45 donation for a church raising money for playground equipment for the 18th... once the orders came in on this, I told them definately because I think their traffic due to advertising and such will bring better returns.

Overall a C+ experience selling my stuff for the first time.

Sean - KC

Marci MN · #7 11-10-2006, 12:53 AM

Thanks for the last day report. I'm glad you werent skunked..

It will get easier. I know next year is my selling year. I have been working on building up inventory. But I'm still going to have that 'beginner's jitters since its been ages that I've had a table at any show..and this will be the first on putting carvings out.

I'm glad you got orders.. your getting your name out there then.

Callynne · #8 11-10-2006, 09:08 AM

Sean, I'm glad you came out ahead too! I have lots of friends that do the vendor thing (not carvings though) and they have really had some bad shows.

They also have some of the most wonderful things in their homes that have come from trades. One friend, every time I comment on how much I like something, she just smiles contently and tells me what she traded for it! They travel all over the United States doing shows and they have some of the most unusual and beautiful things I have ever seen!

Good luck with the next one, you with yours too Marci!

Deborah

knotthead britt · #9 11-10-2006, 06:49 PM

i hope ya'lls craft shows don't turn out like ours have.now the ones you can get in have turn into fleamarkets.i have done 4 craft shows this year,and all were turned into fleamarkets.the last one, last week, in giant letters on top of the application was no fleamarket stuff!!!!!!there was two craft tents.me with carvings and a laddy with quilts.i always enjoyed doing them because you meet alot of intresting people.you just can't sell crafts at fleamarkets

whittlewomen · #10 11-10-2006, 08:20 PM

If you find out how to stop time....I'm interested. I have the best intentions, but time gets away from me and things take longer than I think they will. Oh well, If we could turn back time I think we'd sing like Cher.