To start with the bottom line: I sold $364 worth of stuff. Including 22 plate flowers, 1 teapot totem, and 6 or 7 rebar-pole combos. One plate flower was stolen, which was very disheartening because it happened before I sold anything. My friend and I split the booth cost so we each paid $30.

I was still setting up when the fair started, so I forgot to take pictures until the afternoon when our very attractive booth was looking a little tired and a lot of product was gone so I'd taken down some of the displays. Its too bad because it was really pretty at first. People stopped and commented on how nice it looked even tho they weren't interested in our products. It wasn't hard to be distinctive, cuz most of the other booths just had tables with stuff laid on them. There was a lot of diversity among the crafts and very few repeats (except jewelry)so it was a very good fair for shopping.

Somehow we lucked out and got a perfect spot. On a corner so we had two exposed sides right next to the crosswalk to the library book sale. The pics below are less than an hour before closing unfortunately. I set up with a friend who makes gorgeous purses and pillows out of antique bark cloth.
Her things were a little bit upscale for this fair but in addition to the little purse that I bought to carry to 2 weddings next month, she sold 3 others plus 1 pillow. So she was happy to sell anything cuz it was a test. One woman who really loved her things and bought a purse, suggested a fair that she thought would work better for her which was very encouraging. Our stuff looked awesome together even tho it was so different.

I got lots of good comments. First the crafters came and I could see they were thinking "I can make that" but I got lots of praise. I didn't tell people how I made them. But if another crafter asked because they needed a glue that would last outside for their product, I offered them my card and said they could email me, but that I didn't want to discuss it in the context of selling. Very few took me up on it. Toward lunch time, I started selling. Many times a person (woman) walking by would stop and look at the little trellis with plate flowers that I had out front in pleased amazement. Thanks to the helpful comments I had a picture of them in my garden with a description right at eye level on the trellis. We were set up in such a way that it was easy to walk right in.

So here are the end of the sale pics. I so wish I'd taken some earlier. The metal milk crate that has wrapping materials in the pic, was upside down with plate flowers hanging on it at the beginning, and I had another small trellis with flowers on the table as well. Sigh.

We anchored the corner with Katie's awesome big trellis covered with her bags, then my pot of flowers with 2 plate flowers at the back corner. I say back, but it is the first thing people saw who were passing by from the library.

Here is my small trellis, description and sign. The small trellis was covered with plate flowers at the beginning. This is where the stolen one was. A friend suggested the name Endless Summer and the little flower logo. I made the signs with my cutting machine at work and with some silver vinyl I bought by mistake.

I spray painted my old metal chair turquoise (it had been white and holding a plant in the garden.) It had 6 plate flowers on it at the height of the sale. Next to it was a small trellis with plate flowers, and the milk crate had plate flowers. The concrete pieces I brought to hold the table cloth and stablize the display pieces.

Thanks for looking, and for all the helpful suggestions. I was totally exhausted when i got home. Lots to load and unload and carry. And all those hours standing up and pretending to be friendly, lol. (I am friendly, just in a more quiet introvert way. I really put myself out there.) Then as soon as I got home, I had to pick up in the yard for the storm. I fell asleep on the couch with my little dog. I think I'd do it again. It was fun though very tiring. Hopefully it will be easier next time. I'd like to do one that was 10 to 2 instead of 9 to 3.

I'll post what I learned later in this thread once I've thought about it some more.

Kathy

Glad it went well for you and that you plan to keep on going.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I think I did them all. Lots of people asked for business cards which I had made with a special email (flowers.endlessummer etc.) which goes to my regular email box. Thank goodness nothing broke. A very small child did run up and grab a flower that was low on the trellis but it was secured to the ground with stakes and I had a piece of cement on the bottom.

Kathy

Marylee

Red glass goes! The 3 plate flowers with red back plates sold very early on. And an expensive clear glass one ($18 - my top price) that had 4 large red crystal beads and several dark cobalt blue globs sold as well. (btw I don't use red glass globs as they are dyed not really red and lose color over time)

My price range of $12 to $18 was good for this fair (I also had 2 that were only $10, 1 of which sold). People seemed to pick their favorite one without too much attention to the price. If I did a more expensive fair, I might raise the prices a bit.

All the ones with centers that looked like "real" flowers sold, except the acrylic chrisanthemum. The little plates from toomuchglass and some other small plates shaped like flowers that I had picked up are worth looking for. Also the one glass flower center.

Gold glass and medium green were not popular. I didn't have any dark green but I suspect it would have done better. The one blue plate also had a blue "real flower" center, so in that case it was the total package.

All types sold so it is good I had a variety, even tho I might concentrate more on the colors and styles I mention above in the future.

Bring a lot more than you think you will sell. As my inventory dropped so did my sales. I displayed all 37 pf's at once. I should have had more to replenish/fill the spaces, and I think I might have kept selling. I think I'd bring more totems next time because they would keep it interesting even if they didn't sell they would attract buyers in.

I didn't think about covering the back side of the table and booth so I had to split the difference and didn't get quite the look I wanted. Even tho shoppers were not walking by it, the back of the booth was visible from the street and people approaching on the cross walk. I will bring extra table cloths to make sure I can cover everything if necessary.

Even a folding tv table in back of the display to wrap the flowers on would have been helpful so I could wrap and bag the flowers standing up and keeping an eye on things.

I wouldn't want to do this alone

I forgot to get change on the day before the sale. Fortunately I remembered in the evening and the manager of restaurant where I am well known gave me some small bills for a check.

I had an old very heavy 6 foot table. I was jealous of those light ones that other people have. But as I think about it, I realize that it would be hard to tip my table over. I had a lot of breakable stuff on it. I think I should probably keep using it even tho I can barely carry it by myself.

My question: If I set up in a wealthier town, maybe with my friend with the bags again, should I raise my prices a little? I'm thinking may be $15 to $20. Easy to make change.

I don't understand prices like $17.50. who wants to keep track of all those quarters? That was the price of some rather nice silver ware wind chimes. I liked her booth too.

Thanks for reading and thanks for your help.

Kathy

I think your prices are very, very reasonable & if you're going to a more upscale place, $15 -$20 sounds fair. Love your unique ways of displaying your wares & also having one in the potted plant!

Congrats...yes, loading & unloading, is hard work...I agree...DH & I do that w/barnwood birdhouses, benches plus...we gave up on our heavy tables & have purchased the lightwt ones (well worth it for your back!) ...& they are very sturdy...so I think you'd be ok w/your cement items you brought for weighing down. (our's are 8' tables).

Anyway, great news! good sales! TFS! Jeanne S.

What do you mean by "real" flower centers? What are you using? My husband will be selling his mobiles. I sure hope that he sells some because they are a work of art.

I've read all of the suggestions and will take them to heart!

Arlene

lol- sorry, I love typos.

it's better than copper Poop...

thanks for sharing- been looking forward to your report! this amount you made was tremendous! and you made a lot of good observations that the rest of us can think about!

I also used a vintage suitcase to carry my wrapping paper & bags. I set it up on the plastic totes that I packed my items in, and it was always a hit with my customers. I also bought craft paper bags, the kind with the handles, or at Goodwill I'd buy gift bags and use those to put my customers purchases in. They just loved it...I know I get excited when I have a gift bag rather than a plastic bag!

You can also find lightweight 6' folding tables for around $40. Easy to put up and easy to handle.

I would put out about half my product at a time, and then bring in a new piece as one sold, and I offered to hold a customers purchase while they shopped. When they came back they'd see something new and have to buy it too! I also priced my items ending in .95, like %19.95 rather than $20, there is something psychological about that, they see it's under $20, so they 'justify' purchasing it. I kept a roll of nickles in my bag, but rarely did people want their change. I got an old bankers bag and kept my $ in there, and kept it packed up in my suitcase. Every week (or every show) I'd add $50 in change to keep it stocked, because inevitably I'd get a bunch of $20's and have to make change.

By "real flowers" I mean little plates that look like flowers, that were made intentionally to look like flowers, like 3 of the 5 in this picture. BTW, this pic was taken before I added a few embellishments to the others which helped to hide the geii.

This is a blurry picture because it is a closeup from a larger pic. This little center is a dish shaped like a flower, (cost me 25 cents at a yard sale).

So when I go to yard sales I'll be looking very closely for such things.

Kathy