About Me

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I'm Jackie and I live in the North East of England with my husband John and our Border Collie Cassie. I'm originally from Canada but emigrated to the U.K. in 1992. I work full time in I.T. but spend a lot of my spare time making greetings cards which I really enjoy.

Sunday 24 April 2011

Today was a steep learning curve!

Well folks,

Off I went this morning to a Craft Fair at a new venue optimistic and excited about my new products and a busy Easter Sunday Craft Fair with glorious weather.

The weather co-operated but I'm afraid nothing else did!  The stall holders were a rather 'tight knit' bunch with a couple of exceptions who were lovely to me as the 'newbie'. The rest were not particularly pleasant to say the least!

The potential customers were another breed altogether.  Craft Fair does not mean Jumble Sale.  Craft Fair means you are buying handmade and unique not dirt cheap tat!  To say these 'customers' had deep pockets was an understatement!  It wasn't even like some of us were making money and some weren't.  I would say you could count on one hand anyone who made a profit today.

It's such a lovely venue as well but badly advertised with no signs to say there is even a Craft Fair on in one of the many outbuildings on the site.  As for spacing out who sold what and limited the number of say card or jewellery stalls. That certainly didn't happen.  It appears that as long as you pay your table price, you can sell what you like.  This meant that we were overrun with jewellery and cards stalls and no one was making a profit.

Well you live and learn don't you?  I smiled and spoke to everyone who came through the door from 10:00 until we packed up at 2:00 and yes my face hurts from smiling and a lot of people ignored me but I will not let it change who I am and how I behave.

So as it stands I'm scuttling back to my lovely corner in Sunnyfield House on Saturday where I'm guaranteed a good crack with my fellow stallholders and friendly customers.

I'm now back at home with a well earned ice cold beer and looking forward to a takeaway curry for tea!

The stall by the way looked absolutely lovely.  Here it is!




4 comments:

  1. Never mind, love. Curry for tea & it's not a school night so we can stay up past 10pm!

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  2. Oh Jackie, I'm so sorry! That does sound like an advertising and organising shambles!
    Sadly there is an element too who think handmade should mean pennies. I'd like to see them try that with Dior or Picasso!
    Still, as you say, you learn never to touch that fair organiser again.
    Enjoy the curry and the evening with your lovely hubby and the Princess :) xx

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  3. Thanks Pat. I'm sure Dior and Picasso went through the same at some point! LOL

    I'm still smiling and I know all of the lovely things I have will sell but at the right venue and for a fair price!

    Back at Guisborough on Saturday and they haven't seen the new things yet!!
    xx

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