Craft Blog

Lets just ignore the gigantic gap between posts, okay? Between being completely swept off my feet with my new sewing biz taking off a LOT quicker than I had planned for, running around looking after the boys and working hard on finding mental stability despite everything that has been thrown at our little world in the last six months.

Anyway! Onto markets. This Sunday marks my sixth market in the last few months, and I am slowly learning the tips and tricks of the trade. I am selling handmade baby accessories, toys and most importantly, quilts, and, although I will be the first to admit that I am certainly no expert, as each market goes by I learn something new.

A few of the tips I’ve picked up:

• Different markets sell different things – I’ve been doing two markets on a regular basis now, one Artists market dedicated to handmade crafts, and a “Mums and Bubs” market, selling both new and used baby and child goods. I’ve found that the buyers at these markets are very different, at the Artists markets most people are buying gifts for others, so I’ve presented some of what is on my stall wrapped up nicely with a ribbon around it ready for gifting. At the Mums and Bub’s market, it’s usually parents browsing the stall, who are after practical items, so I make sure to stock up on bibs and clothing before the day.
• Good presentation and height is key – laying out your goods flat on the table makes it look like a jumble sale, you want your crafts to look good, to look like something that someone is more than happy to spend money on. Add different layers of heights (I use garden trellis at the back of the table), add some cute props and group like things together to make your table seem more inviting and more cohesive.
• Label prices clearly – if people have to ask you the price of something, it’s likely that they won’t bother. Have your pieces labeled clearly to avoid putting people off.
• Be prepared to be handed two $50 notes within the first half hour – this happens without fail, people get some money from the ATM and then turn up at the markets and empty your float. My items range from $3.50 to $18 (not including any quilts, which aren’t generally impulse buys at $100+), I have a float of $150 and always keep a few more $20s stashed in my purse just incase. One way to get around having to have too many different coins is to price everything in whole dollars.
• Get ready the night before – I lay out my clothes, pack the car and have my bag waiting by the door so I can just get up and go. My brain isn’t functioning early enough in the morning to be able to remember everything, so I have a checklist I go through the night before to make sure I have all I need – float, chair, bags, etc.

My most important tip is to not be afraid, my mother in law has been nagging me for years now to start selling some of my stuff at local markets, and I’ve put it off, and put it off, until one day something clicked, and within a few weeks I was a regular stall holder at two different markets and, much to my surprise, really enjoying it! The first time was nerve wracking, but now I spend all week looking forward to getting out, showing off my skills and having a good chat to lots of people.

If you want more tips on selling your hand crafts at markets, check out The Contemporary Handmade Alliance who are doing a series this week on exactly that – and they’re far more detailed and in the know than I am!

And if you’re feeling nosey feel free to check out my goodies at the Aisling Milis facebook page.

Related posts:

1. Craft market search!
2. Poll – Crafting For Cash
3. BrisStyle Christmas Markets