Handmade 2

Yesterday me and Paul spent the afternoon at Handmade 2 selling some of our handmade goodies as well as some other work from a couple more VisCom students. It was a really great atmosphere and was really really busy all day, although general buzz seemed to be that people weren't selling as much as the last fair. Just goes to show you can't really judge how a days going to turn out?!
I made about £15 selling a few of my cards as well as some cupcakes that went down a treat, Paul managed to sell lots of his cute little illustrations and a few zines as well, so we both finished the day with a smile, (and a fair few extra cakes left over.) :)

 Here's a few photos of the day...

 

selling my work for real... exciting and really fulfilling when you receive first hand compliments, but just as frustrating when you watch the interested audience put your work back down and move onto the next stall with a sweet smile on their face... 

I kept noting things down throughout the day to consider for the next stall we might take up, if there is another Handmade event, or even to consider for one of the stalls in Bridget's Market Week coming up at the end of April.

• Have a half decent float... there's nothing more annoying for a customer when you can't give them the right change - you either lose money or they end up feeling awkward.. be prepared with LOTS of change!!!

• Some other stalls had a sign naming the people who were selling or their group/collective , this would have been a good to advertise ourselves, perhaps as a collective. Then people are perhaps more inclined to ask about you/make conversation/look up your name again. Even if we were a 'visual communications collective' just something to bring us together as a group and hopefully be recognised, rather than a couple of people just trying to sell some stuff... not a big problem, but I think it's something to keep in mind for any future events.
  

• Labels on products/for products ... Just helps with the presentation of the stall; again just to help the whole stall look much more organised and professional and invite people in to have a look, rather than a chaotic mess!

• I anticipated a few more cakes to be sold and I was even considering making another batch just before I left for the fair... but I'm glad I didn't as I only sold about half of them!! This made me realise the importance of considering the event, the audience and what will ideally sell best. I think it's difficult to work this out and these were the vibes going around at the end of the day as well when a few people were surprised at what they had or hadn't sold. I guess it's just a matter of trial and error to work out over a few fairs what seems most popular with the audience attending. I did notice that more practical things seem to sell much better; something that someone can buy and use straight away; notepads, badges, stickers, accessories, posters etc ... they seemed much more popular around the stalls and seemed to sell pretty well - so maybe it's worth considering how I can take my textiles ideas and put them into something that might sell better, and then continue to have a selection of cards ready to sell if anyone might be interested as well :)

• Looking back at the photos now, Paul and I both realise how crammed full our stall was, it's looking pretty chaotic to be quite honest!! It was kind of organised, but it needed to be a little more tidy and easy to see what was exactly for sale. Some of the stalls were really simple with a few things really well presented and I think that really helps attract people into the stall to have a nosy round... If I'm honest, if I saw this stall I'd be a little turned off to have to route through all the stuff! I think this could be helped with some baskets or nicely decorated bowls to perhaps present the wares in, I think that might help invite people into the stall to pick up and touch and look at things - making the experience a little more interactive means you can start chatting to the buyers and try and tactfully persuade them to spend a couple of pounds on your stall.

• We needed bags for things!!! When the first couple of things were sold, I realised it would have made sense to have little bags to put peoples' purchases in. Just some plain little paper bags would have been ideal. Thinking ahead, these could also have some business cards in of mine and Pauls' so that when people get home they can read up more about us and hopefully pass our details on to anyone else that may be interested in our crafts!