Any good craft fairs in Devon?

[Former_Member]

Hey everyone.

I only managed my first craft fair last week. it was a bit of a disaster but itching to do a new! Anyone know of any good ones?

Thank you!

[Former_Member]

which one did you do? did your work fit in with the visitor type and other sellers?

[LynnBaileyPrintmaker]

I’m hoping there’s someone else on the team with experience of craft fairs in Devon who can give you some suggestions...

But this Stallfinder website should be worth looking at. Let us know if you spot something of potential interest. https://www.stallfinder.com/event/county/devon/0/

It’s important that your craft is a good fit for the venue. It always a good idea to attend fairs that you are interested in participating in before you stump up the fee for a stall yourself. Ask yourself – 1, Does this look like a well organised event? 2, Is it well attended and well publicised? 3, Do the visitors look like the demographic that tend to be interested in your craft? 4, Is there already a glut of your particular craft, or can you fill a niche? 5, Are people who make similar stuff to yourself under cutting you or is there an expectation of a professional price for a professional product? 6, Do the stall holders look happy? Talk to them....

If you can identify why your first attempt was a “disaster”, you are now in a better position to make sure your next attempt is a success!

Other than that, I don’t think I can be much l help to you. I do open studios in Exeter and have had experience of one major art fair so far, which I did as a way of getting my work out of Devon.

Do let us know how you get on.

[Former_Member]

My first one was in a church and I ended up in what was apparently a 'great position'. But they choir turned up (organised by another person, not the same lady who did the craft fair), and they set up next to my stall and took up half the aisle space in front so people couldn't get at my stall.

It was poorly advertised too meaning people didn't know we were in there until they started singing. So naturally that was the busiest time of the day and I missed out completely!

I'm attending craft fair number 2 in Croyde on the 26th and I've heard it's very popular. Lots of the stall holders are regulars and rave about it, and it looks more crafty, rather than fete like. If that makes sense... It's also bank holiday during half term, so hopefully it'll be quite busy too!

Will let you know how I get on, as they do a weekly fairy too :)

[Former_Member]

Hi Megan! Sorry to hear your first experience wasn't great. I've done lots of fairs and found the best way to work out what was good for me was to do every event I could. Now, I focus on country fairs in the summer and country house fairs at Christmas. But I know other people who do very well at school fetes, and my best ever day was at a small village fair!

I've got a few events coming up, listed on my 'about' page. Do come and say hello if you visit any of them!

Best of luck for the next one
Denise

[LynnBaileyPrintmaker]

Reminder - you can list your events in Etsy Local https://www.etsy.com/local

It appears as an up-coming event on your shop page.

[Former_Member]

Thanks Lynn, I really need to get to grips with everything i can do on etsy!

[LynnBaileyPrintmaker]

To be honest Denise, I suspect that I’m only scratching the surface myself. But that’s where teams like this can be helpful by all of us sharing the bits we know and pick up along the way.