Craft Fair Extraordinare Feature Interview #4

Now, we all know that you can never have too many beautiful dresses. Little Girl Pearl dresses are NO exception! This seamstress spends a lot of time traveling, but when she is home, I believe that she sews a LOT. Her young daughter is usually the pretty subject of her lovely images. It is fun to see her grow throughout the years.

Little Girl Pearl uses some of the most amazing designer fabrics to sprinkle her booth with, and also sew with. She uses a lot of really bright colors, and it looks like her booth evolves all the time, as does her craftsmanship!!

I love how she has hung a white wall on one side of her tent, and then hung various coordinating fabrics from another wall of her booth. She displays super cute images of her girl in floating frames, giving them a nice, airy look.

Feel free to visit her on Flickr Here
and Etsy Here...



She was kind enough to answer a few questions, and here is what she said:

My name is Melissa McKeagney and I am the owner of little girl Pearl, a clothing company that features modern fabrics and classic styles for girls. I am located in Central New Hampshire in the middle of the woods. I love the quiet and am often inspired by hikes through nature. My website is http://www.littlegirlpearl.com and I sell on Etsy and at some local art markets.

My first show ever was in New York City of all places, about two years ago. I vended at Vida's Market which was an all children's product show. Everything for my display had to be compact because I traveled by air down to the city. Tables and chairs were provided, so all I had to worry about was my product and a few display items. I did extremely well and had wonderful feedback from everyone, but the show was modestly attended. However, I was very encouraged by that show, and next started selling at the Concord Arts Market in downtown Concord, NH, about 40 minutes away from my studio. It was a much easier gig even though it is outside. I didn't have to fly for one, and even though weather is a factor, I can take as much as I want in my Subaru!




I have also done the South End Open Market in South Boston, and have done very well there too. The only day I vended there happened to be the hottest day of the summer, so while I sweated and panted, I was very busy, and again had great feedback from customers.

To try to pick a favorite art market is difficult, because it depends on the weather one is outside, and also your next door neighbors. If the vendor beside you is pleasant and upbeat, it can make all the difference in the world. I've done very quiet markets customer-wise that I had the most fun at simply because my fellow artisans have made the day.

My target audience is a bit smushy because I think sometimes the smaller sizes inspire Aunts and Godparents who may not have been looking for that little new baby girl in their lives. But mostly it's Moms and Grandmothers who purchase my clothing.



When I'm doing a show, I try to blog about it, twitter it, and put it up on my facebook fan page. I also advertise in our local "Shopper" when I'm doing a local show because people actually see the ad, and I've had very good success with it. I don't send out postcards, because I have been slow to get up a mailing list. I don't usually do a giveaway or any kind of promotion, but if something is on sale, I mention it. I give out tons of business cards, and I think that is essential.

As far as my display goes, it is ever evolving. I think the most important thing is to use all the cubic space you have in your tent or layout, that is to say HEIGHT! You have to use the vertical space as best as you can. Not only does it draw a potential customer's eye around your space but it is visually pleasing as well. My biggest challenge has been my skirt display and I'm still working that out. Last year I devised an umbrella-quin, a collapsible umbrella for the twirl skirt with an accompanying dowel for the top that can be broken down and easily transported. This year who knows what I'll come up with! I like a cohesive looking space, and I think by keeping things simple and allowing my colorful product to stand out I've achieved that look.




I also think that by having a lot of different price points you will draw people in as well. My dresses are a little more expensive, but if someone doesn't want to take the chance on that, I have small inexpensive hair ties that anyone can afford. For me, accessories have been good add-on sales.

***This year I'll be concentrating more in Boston at the SOWA market (www.southendopenmarket.com), doing 6 dates there.

I'll be there on Opening Weekend, May 15 and 16
June 13, 27
July 11
Sept. 12
Oct. 3

I'll be doing 1-2 dates at the Concord Arts Market as well this summer.

The best advice I can give to any potential craft vendor is to be positive and love what you do. If you do those two things you are bound to be successful! Have fun!




Thanks so much Melissa! I have learned quite a bit from you!!

Craft Fair Extraordinaire Feature Interview #3

Today I am featuring another righteous babe! Becky OH! Fabulous Custom Handbags has a most amazing purse setup. She is another seamstress with a professional looking booth and even more professional skill set. Her purses are just sweet, and it looks like they take ages to sew up each one. She also has a bridal line that appears to be hitting just the right target audience. Every gal wants something really special on her most important day! In her booth setup, she displays 11x17 images of beautiful ladies modeling her bags. I recommend this to everyone! If a customer walks by and see someone he/she wants to look like, he/she is sure to stop. I tried this with baby pictures, and it really worked well. I am sure in Becky OH's case, it is the same, probably better :)




Here is her interview...

1.) Please Introduce Yourself
Hi, I'm Becky O'Neil of Becky OH! fabulous Custom Handbags. I make stylish handbags from beautiful fabrics here in my New Hampshire studio.
You can find me at www.beckyoh.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Beckyohhandbags?ref=ts
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/beckyoh/

2.) What form of art/craft do you make?

I make handmade fabric handbags.

3.) When did you start vending at Craft Fairs? Were you successful at first?

I think it was 2005 when I started doing events. I was very successful and it fueled me to do more!

Becky's Booth at the Prudential Artisan Market, Boston.

4.) What is/was your favorite Art/Craft Fair you have ever attended/vended at and why?

I adore doing so many shows here in New England- it's hard to choose a favorite. I love the city crowds at the SOWA market in Boston and the DeCordova Art in the Park is a very special event too. The level of creativity at both these events is amazing.

5.) What was your least favorite Fair to attend/vend at? Why?

Well, handmade is very important to me. I think my customers want unique and artistic things. My least favorite events were those shows I did in the early days that were not handmade only. I don't really want to compete with mass-produced items.

6.) What tends to be your target audience?

Women 20-50 and my bridal line attracts brides of all ages.



7.) Do you ever do marketing for your upcoming shows, or do you leave it to the Show Coordinators? If you do promotions, how do you do them, and do they seem to work well? Do you ever do giveaways at shows? Give out lots of business cards, etc...

It always pays to promote yourself, you be responsible for every part of your business. That being said, a great promoter is worth their weight in gold.

8.) Have you ever helped put a show together or run a show? Which one(s)?

No, running a good show is like a full-time job. I leave it up to people more organized than myself : )

9.) How have Flickr, Etsy, Facebook, etc helped you expand your crafty business?

I use flickr as an ongoing portfolio and a catalogue of new fabric for clients. I also meet other creative people there through their photos and get loads of inspiration on photography techniques. My facebook fan page is a casual way to keep connected to my customers.


Her corner booth at SOWA.

10.) What do you think the difference is between an Art Show and a Craft Fair? If there is any difference...

I think people expect to see more fine art such as painting, sculpture and photography at Art shows and more practical art at Craft shows.
I do love that the line is becoming blurred and the artist community embraces all kinds of creative work.

11.) If you wish, please list your upcoming shows for 2010 and beyond.

I am always updating my event page- www.beckyoh.com/Events&links.html
I will be at the SOWA Market again this Summer- www.sowaopenmarket.com/index.htm
Other events will be posted on my website as I am notified.

12.) Any words of advice for people who do not think their setup is as good as it could be? What is your most successful layout for a table or booth. Be as general or specific as you want.

When I m not working on my handbags, I am thinking about booth design. I feel it is important to present your products in an uncluttered way so the customer can see what you are offering. I have to weight what I can lift, carry and fit in my car with what I wish my dream boutique on wheels would look like.
My advice to to stand back and take a picture of your booth each time you set up and look at it from a customers point of view. Items plunked down on a table may be easy for set-up, but will it draw a customer from across the room?
I have to be flexible in my booth design because you never know how your space will be arranged. I like having modular pieces that can be stacked or rearranged easily. My tall screens are a favorite as well as my free standing box mirror.
Sometimes I am inspired by a walk through the hardware isle or antique store. Don't limit your imagination when it comes to your display!

13.) Any closing remarks?

Shows and set-up can be stressful, but I love meeting other artists. We can learn so much from each other!


Early morning SOWA booth picture. Opening weekend of the South End Open Market, Boston.

We Make London Show : Applications Due Feb. 26th!!

Please visit their blog HERE...

We are excited to announce the details of our Summer fair.

It will be held at Chelsea Town Hall, Kings Road, London, SW3 5EE on the 26th June 2010.

This will be our 6th fair and our second at Chelsea Town Hall. It will also take place a few days after We Makes 2nd birthday so it will be a fun summer event.

We are now open up the application process for this fair.

The deadline for applications is midnight on 28th February.

We will then let everyone know if they have a stall by the end of the second week of March.

To apply please email us for more details and an application form at wemakelondon@googlemail.com

Craft Fair Extraordinaire Feature Interview #2

Today, I am super excited to present to you, Syko. She is one of my favorite artists, and her setup is quite stunning. I have been inspired time and time again by her clean lines, and whimsical imagery. She makes beautiful greeting cards and sews fabric shapes onto the fronts of them. Also, she does a lot of hand-sewn goods too. She uses black thread to outline a lot of her images, and I think that is so cool. It appears that she is beginning to design a large line of fabric/textile designs too! Wow, what an all around artist!

Please visit her Etsy Shop here to see more beautiful items...
Or her home page of her website here...

Please read more about her below. You are sure to be impressed!


1.) Please tell us a bit about yourself:
Name/Company Name: Kajsa Wikman/ Syko Design
General Location if you want: Helsinki, Finland
Website or Contact Info:
syko.typepad.com
syko.etsy.com

2.) What form of art/craft do you make?
I make whimsical appliquéd textiles, such as bags, pillows and art quilts. I also have a collection of printed work, my postcards is my best selling product.



3.) When did you start vending at Craft Fairs? Were you successful at first?
My first fair was a Christmas fair 2001, it wasn't a huge success :) The more I learn, the better it gets.

4.) What is/was your favorite Art/Craft Fair you have ever attended/vended at and why?
Aura Street Market in Turku (Finland) because it is a young, fresh event in a good location. And most important a roof over your head is included in the price even if it's an outdoor fair!



(She had fabric with her logo printed at Spoonflower, and uses this as a background display! How unique and interesting. This takes her display to the next level.)

5.) What was your least favorite Fair to attend/vend at? Why?
That must have been an outdoor Christmas fair in pouring rain. The booth was expensive, I had a fever and there were no customers at all. The only people I saw were people taking their dogs for a pee. I promised myself never to participate in an outdoor fair without a decent roof...

6.) What tends to be your target audience?
Women all ages.

7.) Do you ever do marketing for your upcoming shows, or do you leave it to the Show Coordinators? If you do promotions, how do you do them, and do they seem to work well? Do you ever do giveaways at shows? Give out lots of business cards, etc...
I announce it on facebook, my blog and my website. I don't give away stuff for free, but it is very effective to have a bargain basket! Lots of business cards too!




8.) Have you ever helped put a show together or run a show? Which one(s)?
-

9.) How have Flickr, Etsy, Facebook, etc helped you expand your crafty business?
A LOT! I wouldn't be working full-time with my craft if it wasn't for Etsy and flickr. And my blog. Gave me the confidence and the positive feedback I needed to get started! Facebook is great for marketing local events.

10.) What do you think the difference is between an Art Show and a Craft Fair? If there is any difference...
No idea.

11.) If you wish, please list your upcoming shows for 2010 and beyond.
-



12.) Any words of advice for people who do not think their setup is as good as it could be? What is your most successful layout for a table or booth. Be as general or specific as you want.

Stand out! Dare to be different! Choose one background color for the booth. Use neutral baskets and shelving to display your crafts, you don't want to them to steal the attention from your creations! If you have a small table, use high, light shelves on top of it to get more space. Have many of each item and group similar products together. That makes it easier for the customer to see what you have to offer.





A special thanks to Kajsa for her words of advice!! Thanks for reading and have a lovely day!!

Craft Fair Extraordinaire Feature Interview #1

I believe it is super important to learn from the pros when it deals with craft fairs, so I am instilling some help! Today, I am featuring Thomas Park Gifts, a wonderful woman who sews beautiful things for women and children. Her color palette is light and airy, with a bit of feminine whimsy.

Here is her interview:

1.) Name:Andrea Thomas-Lambe, Owner Thomas Park Gifts
South Boston, Massachusetts
www.thomasparkgifts.com



2.) What form of art/craft do you make?
I design and sew children & women's clothing and accessories.

3.) When did you start vending at Craft Fairs? Were you successful at first?
I originally owned a brick & mortar shop so I was limited to doing shows but closed my shop two years ago and have since participated in weekly shows. All in all, my first was probably 3 years ago which is when I started to sew.



4.) What is/was your favorite Art/Craft Fair you have ever attended/vended at and why?
I would have to say that my favorite would have to be my weekly shows. I have a "VIP" pass which lets me participate in three shows which run from May through October (with a few breaks here and there). The South End Open Market is my main market and I like it the best because of all the friendships I have made over the years and my regular customers. The promoter of this show works very hard on promoting it and it is now in it's 7th year. I also was fortunate enough to be selected for last years Holiday Event and that was great fun!

5.) What was your least favorite Fair to attend/vend at? Why?
My least favorite was an event that included a lot of random businesses and not just handcrafted items. In general, I try to keep my prices fair but since there is a lot of time that goes into my product, it is hard to compete with mass-produced items.



6.) What tends to be your target audience?
In the Spring and Summer my target audience is young mothers/fathers that are looking for unique clothing for their children. My reversible dresses fly of the rack and it keeps me pretty busy.

7.) Do you ever do marketing for your upcoming shows, or do you leave it to the Show Coordinators? If you do promotions, how do you do them, and do they seem to work well? Do you ever do giveaways at shows? Give out lots of business cards, etc...
The only real promoting that I do is listing my events on my websites & sending out the occasional newsletter . I recently joined Facebook and have my fan page HERE so I will regularly list events and promotions there. I did offer a coupon on the back of my business cards but honestly did not get the results I anticipated. I may try again this year with a few give-away type promotions.

8.) Have you ever helped put a show together or run a show? Which one(s)?
I am very active in helping with my weekly shows (South End Open Market, Mashpee Open Market, Providence Open Market & SOWA Holiday Market). It gives you a whole new understanding of what goes into an event! Everyone has a special request and it is just impossible to please them all. I have run shows on my own and co-managed. I really enjoy it but it is a lot of hard work.

9.) How have Flickr, Etsy, Facebook, etc helped you expand your crafty business?
I have not had luck with Etsy but love sharing on Flickr and Facebook. Since Facebook is brand new for me, we shall see...

10.) What do you think the difference is between an Art Show and a Craft Fair? If there is any difference...
An Art Show to me would probably be more "Fine" art and less craft. I don't really like the word "Fair", prefer open market or festival. I think a lot of people get the wrong impression from Fair.

11.) If you wish, please list your upcoming shows for 2010 and beyond.
I will be participating in numerous shows this season. The first being the 37th Annual Heritage Craft Fair in Framingham, Massachusetts. I have many applications out but most shows are juried and decisions have not been finalized. I will definitely be at The South End Open Market on Sundays beginning Opening Weekend, May 15th & 16th and runs through October (excluding holiday weekends). I regularly update my Events section on my website!



12.) Any words of advice for people who do not think their setup is as good as it could be? What is your most successful layout for a table or booth. Be as general or specific as you want.
As I used to own a brick & mortar store, merchandising was an ongoing process. My goal with my booth is to make it as inviting as possible. You have to draw the buyer in. Bright colors, neatness and uniqueness are key elements. PLEASE take the time to iron your tablecloths and have them completely cover your tables. Clear signage is important too. I try to change my set up from year to year and of course seasonally as well. I constantly look on flickr and get feedback from other crafters on what works for them. I like to think a little outside the box on displays. Try to make it flow and relate to the product you are selling.

13.) Any closing remarks?Markets, festivals & fairs can be a great way to make money but they are also wonderful ways to learn too. I have had some terrible shows financially but have walked away with great tips, new friends and fantastic ideas on ways to improve. Network, observe and remember to always be positive. No one wants to be around a negative vendor!

New To The Blog: Craft Features!!

Please stop back often to see who is featured! I will be finding my features on Flickr, and if you'd like to be featured, please comment below to any of the posts related to this.

Thanks to the future participants!!

Toronto's Erotic Arts & Crafts Show

Whoa, what a freakin' funny idea! I found out about Toronto's Erotic Art and Craft Show today while searching through Etsy! I saw these funny buttons by Sweetiepie, and I HAD to learn more :)

A blurb from their home page says this:
"We're the home of the Toronto Erotic Arts and Crafts Festival and web site that features awesome erotic crafters and artists around the web. This year's fair will be held at the Gladstone Hotel on Saturday, February 13th.

The Toronto Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair is a one-of-a-kind sexy fair that brings together artists and crafters just in time for Valentine's Day. Knitters, crafters, zinesters, card makers, and artists of all types will be creating erotic objects for this one day celebration of DIY sex and romantic culture."

I can't exactly post many of the pics from their featured crafters, but I can show you the fun buttons that Sweetiepie shows...