| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| crafter |
Posted - Jan 08 2012 : 1:58:10 PM
Hi Sisters-
I am in need of some help- this year Emily Anna and I are planning on doing our Farmer Market- they offer 6 Saturdays to sell your craft wares- so we would like to give it a try. I am wondering if anyone else sells at the market? What do you sell? How do you go about prices? I would like to make aprons, locker hooked hot pads, mittens out of sweaters and rag quilts(crib). We want to make sure if we are going to put all the effort into this that we make some money at this. We are not really sure how to go about this- so if anyone is willing to share some ideas I would so appreciate it! Thank you for you time!!
Lori |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| wandrinbear |
Posted - Jan 12 2012 : 09:11:06 AM
Thanks Ceejay for the ideas/info and Lori for your gracious reply.
I had thought about offering some ready made arrangements and then giving a $1.00 towards the next one if the customer returns one of my containers.
Ceejay I have been to Dolores several times and love your little town. That part of Colorado is so beautiful. |
| crafter |
Posted - Jan 12 2012 : 08:59:34 AM
Beth-
The more the merrier! I LOVE any and all ideas- so ask away and we all get learn! When people are willing to share ideas and info we have to be so thankful- I've seen where people don't want to share the knowledge- so this is wonderful!!
Lori |
| ceejay48 |
Posted - Jan 12 2012 : 08:12:28 AM
Beth,
There are several vendors at the market I am a vendor at that sell fresh cut flowers and it seems like they do well. Lots of folks are very interested in going home with a lovely bouquet of flowers.
Suggestions I would offer as I've seen this to be very successful.
- put together some lovely bouquets in inexpensive glass vases (I'll bet you could probably use canning jars too, that are no longer
safe for canning)
- also offer flowers that the buyer can pick and choose to make their own combinations. (One gal who also sells baked goods at our market
has the MOST BEAUTIFUL gladioli . . and I'm able to pick the colors I want and I love being able to do that)
- I also suggest checking your local markets/resources for pricing ideas. and for fees for markets.
As mentioned, every area is different with a different economic base.
Hope that helps!
CJ
..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665.
2010 Farmgirl Sister of the Year
Mother Hen: FARMGIRLS SOUTHWEST HENHOUSE
From my Hands - www.cjscreations-ceejay.blogspot.com
the "Purple Thistle" http://www.ceejay48.etsy.com
From my Heart - www.fromacelticheart.blogspot.com
Through my lens - http://ceejayscamera.shutterfly.com/
From my Hubby - www.aspenforge.blogspot.com |
| wandrinbear |
Posted - Jan 12 2012 : 07:45:42 AM
Lori, I don't want to hijack your topic but have been wanting to try selling fresh cut Cottage Garden flowers and this seems like a good place to ask. Any suggestions or thoughts would be appreciated.( Including that i should just start a new topic ) |
| Farmtopia |
Posted - Jan 10 2012 : 12:05:36 AM
Thanks Emily..and thanks CJ for the shout out f
~*~Dream all you dreamers~*~
View My Work:
art/dolls: www.vagabondcreations.blogspot.com
The Horse Drawn Project and Farming!
www.beyondvagabond.blogspot.com
View the blog and radio show!
Renegade Farming!: www.therenegadefarmer.com
N |
| Emily Anna |
Posted - Jan 09 2012 : 2:52:55 PM
Thanks for the good advice, Ladies!
I agree that presentation is just as important as what you are selling. Lori and I had talked about what we could do to doll the place up. CJ, love that you put a rug out! Bet your set up attracts people for sure!
The farmer's market we will be joining is really nice. It's not huge, but it seems to get enough traffic through it. Great atmosphere. So many friendly people, as well as vendors. The people who run it are nice and seem to do a good job.
Not completely sure of everything I will be trying to sell. Most likely will be a hodge podge of stuff. I told Lori that my section will be like the flea market of crafts. Lol! I would like to make a little money, but mostly I just want to go for the atmosphere and to be a part of it. I would like to make a little dinero though...only so I can turn around and spend it on more crafting items! :)
Thanks again for the pointers Diana, Zan, and CJ! Will have to do a little research!
Emily |
| ceejay48 |
Posted - Jan 09 2012 : 12:27:26 PM
Lori,
My hubby and I have been selling, in a craft booth, at our local Farmers Market for 5 years. I sell aprons and papercraft cards and journals and jewelry. I have made and sold other items, such as candy jars, pincushions, painted pots, etc. If they do NOT sell all that well for ONE season then I don't do them for the next. I didn't have aprons the first year and only made a couple, on a whim. the second year and that has been a "boom" for me. This past season was my 4th year selling aprons and it was my BEST year. My hubby does high dollar knives and woodturnings. He doesn't sell as much because they are high dollar, but he knows that will be the case.
Zan has given you the best guidance and I totally agree with her. Each market is different . . the way they are operated, the economic base of the community, their fees, rules and regulations. I couldn't agree more with checking all that out and to see if there is someone else selling what you want to sell. Fortunately, for me, I'm the only "apronista" at this market and my prices are reasonable. When I sell them at a Christmas Bazaar in a neighboring city (50 miles away and very different economics) my prices are higher. I have lots of customers who return because they can count on me and the quality of what I make. Several of them tell me they are "collecting" my aprons. Just this past year I was able to get orders from local restaurants and am selling them on consignment through a local farm-to-table restaurant, but I've been working on this and building this little business for 4 years. AND, it's only been in the last 2 years that local folks really know they can call me year round, come to my house, place an order and do "business" all year. I've also been told that I don't "just make aprons" that what I create are "works of art".
I, too, can't stress the importance of display and appearance of your booth. . . decor, neatness, GOOD signage. We even put down an oval braid rug. I'd say that I display my aprons with LOVE . . I try to show them off, show the styles, the prints, the special touches . . I wear aprons at market and bazaars. I ask my customers to wear them after they buy them. This past summer, every Saturday I took pictures of a customer wearing their new purchase and posted to my blogspot. Friendly interaction with your customers is of utmost importance . . . don't hover over them, but remain ready to answer questions, etc.
This past summer, while I was out of town, my hubby sold aprons for me at market. An ex-Marine came buy to look at what was offered for men. He wasn't interested in what was there but my hubby told him to stop by when I had returned. He did and he marched up and said "you've missed the boat by not making aprons for men". I pointed to the ones I had for men, and also told him I'd be happy to make him one according to his wants. He was an ornery kind of guy, but we hit it off right away. I took his order, delivered it the next Saturday and the next week after that he ordered another one . . .and in a few weeks bought one for his wife. We always engaged in friendly banter and he always gave me a hug when he came to market. I'm sure I'll see them again this coming season.
I hope that helps a bit. If there is anything else I can offer that might be helpful, let me know.
I wish you the best!
CJ
..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665.
2010 Farmgirl Sister of the Year
Mother Hen: FARMGIRLS SOUTHWEST HENHOUSE
From my Hands - www.cjscreations-ceejay.blogspot.com
the "Purple Thistle" http://www.ceejay48.etsy.com
From my Heart - www.fromacelticheart.blogspot.com
Through my lens - http://ceejayscamera.shutterfly.com/
From my Hubby - www.aspenforge.blogspot.com |
| crafter |
Posted - Jan 09 2012 : 08:17:37 AM
bump |
| crafter |
Posted - Jan 08 2012 : 6:19:50 PM
Thanks for the great info- I can start making some calls to find out fees and other info. I know I made aprons before for my church to sell at our farmers market and they went over very well, but I do not think they had them priced high enough...our church has a booth that all monies earned goes to missions..I just want to make sure that it is beneficial for Emily and myself!! Thanks again! |
| Farmtopia |
Posted - Jan 08 2012 : 5:46:40 PM
Ok, I just remembered another: make sure your display stands out--extra effort with a little decor, some brochures and/or business cards explaining who you are or what you do, and a smile often go a long way to selling things!
~*~Dream all you dreamers~*~
View My Work:
art/dolls: www.vagabondcreations.blogspot.com
The Horse Drawn Project and Farming!
www.beyondvagabond.blogspot.com
View the blog and radio show!
Renegade Farming!: www.therenegadefarmer.com
N |
| Farmtopia |
Posted - Jan 08 2012 : 5:44:26 PM
Hi Lori--I've actually managed a farmer's market, and know several who have done farmer's markets. Since I don't know your area, my best suggestion is to go to several in your area BEFORE YOU COMMIT to selling at the market--as close to the area of the market you intend to sell at--and check them out.
What do you see? What are the prices like? Are the prices close to anything you would sell your items for? Because if they are too low for you, note that you may have trouble selling your items to people "looking for a deal." What is being sold? Do you see too many booths selling the same items you are selling? If so, again, you will have trouble selling items when there is a glut of them already there.
Also, is this a well attended market? Are there lots of people there? I wouldn't want to go through all the effort of creating items for sale and then just sit there all day.
Finally--does the market seem well run? Are there staff there to answer any questions? Do the people at the booths seem friendly? Is the atmosphere something you like?
And...almost forgot...you may want to check each market to see what regulations and requirements they have of you--each market seems to differ with fees/regulations they have on their members.
Good luck!
~*~Dream all you dreamers~*~
View My Work:
art/dolls: www.vagabondcreations.blogspot.com
The Horse Drawn Project and Farming!
www.beyondvagabond.blogspot.com
View the blog and radio show!
Renegade Farming!: www.therenegadefarmer.com
N |
| gramadinah |
Posted - Jan 08 2012 : 5:42:42 PM
I priced my things from Etsy. I was shocked what they priced things at but sold lots and everyone said that my prices were right on.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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