Exploring the Magic of Craft Shows and Handmade Merchandise

Part of my blog site is my mostly handcrafted items available for purchase in my online store (as well as on some other online platforms). What has been the result of that? Absolutely nothing. I haven't sold a single item from any place I have them listed online. It could be that I am just slow at getting new (or variations of) items listed or that I just don't get enough traffic to any of the online sites. Building an online presence is extremely hard, and I don't spend enough time building that. I refuse to spend money at this time to pay for marketing or to boost my visibility. I will suffer through this and hope that it changes in time!

The other way I sell my handmade items is at craft shows. I have a friend that has so graciously displayed some items when she is at a show that I wasn't at. (Thank you #rebekahjaneart www.rebekah-jane.com )The shows she was at were slow sales. Not a good sign as a newer vendor trying to make their way in the craft show world. Especially after I have spent lots of money to craft things - I need to make that back.

Paw Prints onthe Canal Vendor Event

I was a vendor at an event recently (Paw Prints on the Canal). I didn't do horribly; it could have been better. We got rained out the last hour (I missed a sale as one person got there just as it started to rain; all the other vendors packed up, so I followed). I made back my vendor fee, which is always my number one goal. Did I make as much as if I had gone to

work for that same amount of time? Nope! But as Gene said, I made some connections, talked to people, and got ideas. So it wasn't a complete bust.

After that show, I went to update my website - saying where my next shows are, only to realize, in typical form, I had double-booked myself. The drive time between events is 2 hours one way! Not to mention that one event starts earlier. Decision time, which one to cancel... Never an easy choice. So I won't be attending the Apple Cider Festival in Grantville this year. Instead, I'm going to a women's retreat for some self-help/self-care!

Two of my best sellers were not handmade items, but something I buy in bulk from a vendor site. Granted, both items were something I would have purchased if I had been there as a shopper. My spot was next to someone who did T-shirt pressing (she had 600+ designs to choose from and multiples of each design), and I feel like she did slightly better on sales. Hers were in a way handcrafted, but not in the same sense as some of my items. It left me wondering, is the handcrafted item truly a dying item that will never sell, and if it does sell, will it sell way under its true value?

As I ended the craft show day, feeling mostly satisfied, I wondered what I could do differently. What changes would benefit me, how to boost sales, etc. This led me to think, what are people truly looking to buy? Especially if it's not close to the biggest gift-giving days (Christmas/Hanukkah). Are you looking for that unique gift to tuck away for someone, buying for yourself, your pets? Is it that you prefer the mass-produced items (thousands of the same item to be found anywhere), or do you like the uniqueness of handmade, one-of-a-kind items?

I love crafting, so finding a way to put all my crafted items out in the universe seemed ideal. However, it's hard! I definitely don't need all the unpaper towels, cloth napkins, bookmarks, cat beds, and cat toys and assorted items I make.

When you are at a craft show, are you looking for those handmade, unique items, or are you looking for something that is more picture-perfect? Drop your thoughts in the comments, I'd love to hear what you have to say! (Be sure to check out my merchandise for sale after reading today!)

Till our tails cross again,

Mel

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