Christmas Craft sale.

Wonderful! Glad to hear you did well last weekend. Was hoping you would post a discussion about the Christmas craft sale. Are you doing more this holiday season? I always sold more smaller items at craft fairs. What sold fast for me was an item that could hang anywhere and the word "hug" was in the middle with a typewritten saying about hugs. Many sales were made by parents who wanted to give something a little extra to their kid's teachers as a token of their appreciation.

Do you have pics? I would love to see how they turned out. I am about to reclaim my craft room and hope to get back into my work. Any ideas as to what is popular now would be wonderful.

Hi Jill I am so glad that you did well Hugs to you

I was called in the middle of last week to do a show when another vendor backed out of the show. I'm very glad I was called! The show was very well supported by all the local communities and there was a great deal of traffic throughout the show. I to noticed that I was selling a lot of lower-priced items, but it seemed that almost everyone was buying something and very few people walked out of the show empty-handed. It was also quite a bit of fun, as the organizers and vendors were all very friendly. I did sell, as holiday gifts, a couple of high-end items and it did appear that people are buying smaller gifts this year. Given our economy, it's very understandable, but it was good to see people buying! Hopefully the trend continues for my show this weekend to! I hope everyone has a successful show this holiday season!

Hi Jill, I am not creative like you but I am so pleased the sale went really well. I always pick up a new decoration for the tree each year that are handmade from a local craft sale, knitted snowmen or painted wooden ones. One of my friends loves homemade jams and mustards and I can usually find something for her at one of the Fayres too. Last year I made jam myself for her but no time this year to do that. Huggles. Ellie :D

It's great that you did so well with small craft items! Back when I used to do the craft show circuit, my biggest sellers were always items that sold for $2.50 and less. I couldn't make enough little twig wreaths decorated with flowers to keep them in stock. I think this year, with financial times so tough, a lot of people are looking for very inexpensive items that they can give as tokens since they can't really afford big gifts for everyone.

I'm glad your craft selling went well. I make baked goods for friends and family, which helps to lower my expenses. Happy holidays

[i]Hi jillhill, wow..that is cool! I wish I have skills like yours too! LOL! ANyway, when I was a student, my sister, friends and I used also to make our own card and we will sell it to our friends! It's fun really![/i]

I think the time is exactly right for doing well with small craft items. People might not be able to excuse a higher ticketed item - but the little gifts are handy and the low price tag is an added incentive. congratulations on thinking ahead and the good success you reaped from it. I am happy for you!

Congrats on your successful craft sale! Good for you. Wow, that's really saying something in this economy. You may have hit on something, making smaller items that don't cost much. People feel like they can just pick up one or two and not spend so much money. That is wonderful. It's so great to hear good news in these tough times.

Congratulations, I am so glad that you did well.

I used to love to go to craft sales. They don't seem to do alot of them here where I am now, but I'm hoping my new town I'm moving to does. I haven't done crafts in years, but I remember one year when money was really tight so I made most of my gifts for family. Many of them loved the items I made. Glad you had such a good sale, that always helps.

Congratulations on a great sale! I absolutely love crafting but there aren't too many ways for me to sell my items. So I pretty much just stick with giving them away for Christmas gifts to friends and family. Thanks for the good advice though!

I've always wanted to do craft shows, but I never know what to make that would sell. I am afraid of spending a lot of time making a particular item, and then not have it go over well. How do you decide what to make? How do you go about making contacts? Do you only do shows where the tables cost a certain amount? Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. :)

I was wondering how hand made items were doing in this economy. Like you, I didn't think people would be buying much, but I'm glad they did!

Congratulations, jillhill...and yes, the whirlwind begins! I live on a small Island, and we have Craft Fairs at each end..a weekend apart! My most popular item is "scallop angels" that sell for $2.50, they are tree decorations! And fun to make! My bigger items such as; Cowichan sweaters, knitted throws, etc., did not sell nearly as well! Maybe a reflection of the economy! The only more expensive item, that sold (actually I got orders for) was my personalized pergamano cards! (Hence my name, pergammano (sp.differently)! Little gift boxes from re-cycled Christmas cards sell well, too! Would love to see pics of your items.....as you are so talented! When my son comes home I will see if he can post the scallop angels for me! Congratulations & cheers!