craft show

[Spookhouse]

Any of you do craft shows? If so what do you carve and sell the most? Is it worth it?I've considered doing one but i wonder if people will buy little carvings and woodspirits or if it's a futile attempt. I never really see wood carving at craft shows around here.

[santagibbs]

Yes I have been to juried Craft shows that have had small carvings.. Mossy Creek for on in Perry , Ga. Santas.. I am sure there are shows that accept carvings. Charlotte

[Spookhouse]

Do they sell well at a typical craft show is what im wondering.

[Tom-H]

In my expertience at these juried craft shows, if you can come up with a nice little carving and sell it for $8 to $10 you will be successful. Things that people will buy for other as gifts. Christmas tree ornaments are a good example. Plan on lots of the less expensive carvings, but do include some higher end stuff in a very nice classy display. Tom H

[Goody]

I have slowed down on the craft show circuit. The promoters want high dollar for a space and unless you do high volume its hard to make your money back. Craft shows have changed in this area people want a bargain. Recently we were at a show and people would see the price tag and offer you less like a flea market. I have walked down the midway at some of the Juried shows and could pick out items that are from third world countrys with something done to them. The promoters don't care they got thier money for the space. We do one show a year now. Its a community street fair. We do well at this show.
Goody

[Spookhouse]

Thanks guys im probably just gonna do a few craft shows at local high schools. I just needed to know what typically sells and how the people react to prices. Thank you all you've cleared up my question quite nicely.

[Kenny_S]

I have to agree with Goody on the imported stuff/junk. It is amazing how cheap the labor is in the third world to allow for importing and selling the junk cheaply here in the states. Equally amazing is, some of these third world countries don't believe in Christmas or know what Santa is but make Christmas related products.
Strange also is a promoter one their flyers stated locally hand made items ot products but allow these imports. Goody sated it best, The promoters got their money.

My wife and I had a couple tables at one thaty advertised locally hand made products and our prices were right with every one else but the peolpe selling Imported Christmas Items. Was told by one couple that I was to high on my carvings and nothing over $40. I think some equaled out to about 40 cents and hour but I had a lot on hand and wanted to move it. Hand carved but the couple went next door(table) and bought. Just goes to show you that people will use their pocket book to govern their lives.

hey don't getme wrong, I believe in bargins also and look for them but buying imports over locally made stuff. No way. Hobby Lobby and Michaels are getting really bad about that and customers flock by the hundreds.

Ok Ok, I will get off my high horse!

I wish you the best on your selling venture. But if you don't sell, at least you have Christmas presents to give out.

[owlhause]

Hey Spookhouse! (I love that name!) I've been doing shows for over 15 years and by far Santa carvings have sold the best for me...Halloween pieces come in a close second followed by wood spirits.

A lot of those High School shows can be really good.

As far as juried shows go...yes, the better ones are very expensive to do but if you can produce enough they can still be worth it. Subscribe to " Sunshine Artist" magazine to get good reviews and contact info for juried shows.

Good Luck!

Greg

[Eleanor]

Just to hop on that high horse for a second, I go to a lot of craft fairs and note how little money people are willing to give for good work...I blame consumer culture, where the emphasis is on how MUCH stuff you buy, most people would rather buy numerous mass- produced cheap items made by workers in poor countries than save up for one real treasure. At a ceramics festival regularly held here near London, a Scandinavian group always come and charge 10x as much for their work as the British or Germans, they are bewildered that we ask so little and steadfastly refuse to lower their prices to match ours, I don't know if they sel!! Their work is exquisite though! I guess they still have a preindustrial corner of the market for artisans in Scandinavia!