Articles

Choosing the Right Fall Festivals for your Crafts

August 2010

A chill is in the air, the leaves are beginning to turn and the thoughts of everyone seem to be gearing up for Halloween, followed by Thanksgiving – it’s fall! That means it’s time for some amazing times at local fall festivals. What makes the best fall festivals for crafters? Where should you go and what should you do to ensure that you are able to maximize your chances of selling your craft products, no matter what they are?

The best fall festivals for crafters will actually differ with each crafter. For instance, you might find that you do better at your local town festival, while another crafter might do better at a regional event. Why is this? Actually, you’ll find several different reasons why not every festival is right for your needs.

First, you have to consider the area. Is your craft something that people in that particular area will want to purchase? This is especially important with smaller events. You should also consider the number of other vendors selling similar products. If you attend a small-scale festival, it can hurt your profits if you are just one of several vendors selling almost the same thing.

In this sense, larger festivals are better. At regional or even state-level events, you will find that even a large number of other vendors selling similar products will not hurt your profitability very much. Of course, for many crafters, it’s simply not possible to attend these larger events, as life has a habit of getting in the way. Therefore, if you find that you have to go to local festivals and fairs, make sure that you do a bit of research first.

Ask the event organizer how many other vendors will be attending that will be selling a craft product similar to yours. The best fall festivals for you will have a low number of similar products to yours, as well as a large number of festivalgoers. That leads to another consideration. Even smaller festivals can have quite a large turnout, particularly in areas with a strong sense of community. Ask the organizers how many people usually attend the festival. This will give you an idea of how much stock to take with you and whether you should prepare extras. With just a bit of forethought and research, you can find the best fall festivals for your crafts.

Comments

Havihg never participated before, I don’t know where to begin….....
I paint all sorts of Glassware, luncheon sets, glasses, pitchers, decorative plates, etc. I have no idea if they would even sell. I have been told that my work is beautiful, but as a beginner, I am not so sure.
How do I find an Events Organizer to ask about other vendors?

By Sylvia Paulsen on August 25, 2010

My question is similar to the previous posting—where does one begin?  I make unique hand-beaded pin-cushion “pillows” using old quilt tops and other unique fabrics.  Thank you for any advice you can offer!

By Marcia L. Garcia on August 27, 2010

I make hand crafted jewelry beaded etc. and don’t know where to begin. I would like to participate in a fair of some sort, I live in Suffolk County but I do not know where to start or how to go about obtaining info for vendors. Any assistance/advise you can offer would be greately appreciated.

By Jeannette Cruz on August 31, 2010

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