So I've Taken Up Wood Carving....

Pricing things for sale is always a problem with hobbies . You need to look around some craft fairs and markets to see what the going rate is.

This may look much too cheap for the effort you have put in but there are advantages to it. One is the fact that you then know that someone really appreciates what you have made. Another is that you need to sell them otherwise your house/garden will eventually get completely cluttered with them.

Selling them gives the incentive to make more and it's a good feeling to be able to chat to the punters about how you made them. You will almost certainly find that you will be given good advice and ideas by some of them.

The usual way to enhance the chance of a sale is to actually be working on something whilst at your stall and chat to them about how you do the work. It also makes you feel as though you haven't completely wasted the day if the fair is not too busy, as you would have made use of the time.

How you display your craft is another important factor to achieving a sale and clear pricing also helps. Having them on different levels tends to attract customers. This is easily done with a few different size boxes draped in a nice looking material.

As most people that come to your stall are unlikely to want to buy your product, although they could still be interested in what you do, your approach to them is important. A nice friendly smile (very easy in your case ) and a friendly 'Hello' is usually all you need. This opens the communication if they want to talk or ask you anything. Be careful about saying things like 'Can I help you?'. This will chase away the ones that are only looking. That may seem as though it doesn't matter as they weren't going to buy anyway, but you really do want them to be at your stall. Just the fact of people standing at your stall will attract others.

I've spent many years working at craft fairs and also teaching people to 'soft sell'.

 

It's Mrs Shiney that does the crafts but I used to do the selling and she spent the time chatting to customers and doing her crafts.

She started off by making pressed flower pictures, cards, bookmarks etc and now does painting, glass making (bowls, plates, pendants, dishes, T-light bridges etc), beading, different forms of jewellery, knitting, crochet etc.

She's having a coffee and cake morning in October for people to come along and look (no obligation to buy ) and, as you're only down the road, I can get her to PM you some info if you're interested.