selling projects at craft shows

THOMRIDER · Post by **THOMRIDER** » Sun Oct 02, 2011 8:06 pm

Anyone have any experience with selling at local church craft shows.
What were you selling and did you make any profit?
Thinking of trying to sell some pens and Magic wine holders
Also some small turnings.

Let me know if you think I'm waisting my time
and money or could this be a nice
Little way to make some extra money.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Sun Oct 02, 2011 8:16 pm

I can give you this - - https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=5910&highlight=craft+shows

Also suggest you use the search function (above on red line) and you will find quite a few threads that discussed this very question.

Ron309753 · Post by **Ron309753** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 8:51 am

A friend of mine had a booth at our church's community fall festival. He sold a lot of little wooden shield and sword sets for boys.

Sincerely,

Ron309753

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 11:03 am

THOMRIDER wrote:Anyone have any experience with selling at local church craft shows.
What were you selling and did you make any profit?
Thinking of trying to sell some pens and Magic wine holders
Also some small turnings.

Let me know if you think I'm waisting my time
and money or could this be a nice
Little way to make some extra money.

I have seen and purchased from many different booths and have never been disappointed with what I bought or with how much I paid.

Whenever I do find a booth like this, I usually strike up a conversation with the operator. I find that many of this folks enjoy their interface with the public and that few are in the business to create a supporting income; the income that they strive for is supplemental.

Wooden toys seem to be very popular and are marginally profitable.

Wooden boxes, on the other hand, are popular but are not really profitable due to the amount of time involved to make a nice, quality box.

I tend to throw together a lot of "boxes" and really do not see them as extreme time consumers.

I have often thought that well made picture frames would be a good business but the cost of commercial frames has come down and wooden frames are being replaced by either metal or molded materials at a price I could not compete with.

Whatever you think you might want to sell, I suggest that you find a small show and set out to build an inventory for that show. Keep close track of time and cost of materials. Set the price so that you could make a small profit and then ONLY AFTER THE SALE determine your success.

I hope you find that you can compete will the low cost imports.

john · Post by **john** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 8:24 pm

I have been doing this for years and found that at the local high school or church sales, there is really no money to be made if you want to count your labour as an expense,( I don't). Generally the people at this type of show are there to support the organization and are looking for less expensive items, and labour dosen't factor into what they consider a reasonable price. Having said that, I have made a profit at all but two shows, but my pricing model is to calculate the cost of materials and then add on what I consider a reasonable mark-up for that item. I figure I make about $1 - $2 per hour of labour not counting the time at the show or to gather materials.

My first year of doing this, I calculated all my costs at year end, including tools materials, and supplies and found that I had lost about $600 on my woodworking. I preferred to think it only cost me $600 to enjoy my hobby.

I have also participated in a few shows that featured more arts than crafts and the potential for good mark-ups are better as people at these shows are more willing to consider the effort that goes into making hand made items.

My main enjoyment in doing the shows comes from the interaction with the people, both customers and other crafts people. It's always nice to be complemented on your work and to see and learn from other exhibitors. The other advantage is that it allows me to keep making things if I have an outlet. It helps pay for tools and I could only unload so many toys etc on the family.

My product line varies widely as I don't like making too many of one item and this adds to the labour effort as I do not produce more than three to four of the same items at once and even that is not often.

I am actually preparing for an annual high school Christmas show now and have three bread knives and two lighted snow men in production. My list of one off items for the show is long and based on experience, will never be completed.

Attached are a couple of pictures from previous shows. My avatar shows one of my more expensive projects.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

John

drl · Post by **drl** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 2:06 pm

Just to add my experience. I have made pens for a "quilt" auction fund raiser for a bible camp for the last few years. By having an "in" (son-in-law is director of the camp), I'm able to acquire maple and oak from trees (storm damaged) that have been on campus. I either make the pens entirely from that wood or use it in inlays for the pens. These pens appeal to alumni so they can have a "part of the camp" with them. Also woods (olive for example) from the Holy Lands also are appreciated. By the way olive really makes a nice pen. Of course I was not selling these but contributing to the cause. Pens have gotten from $25 - $80 apiece at auction.
Regards,
Dwight