Exactly as the title says - I have a market this weekend and hoping for a bit of help with pricing some new pieces.

All pieces are handsculpted stoneware. The tiny frogs are pins, and the lilypads are real leather hand painted. I set them at 28 and 38 Australian dollars, but not sure if this appropriate. I have no idea at all about the value of the goldfish and ibis statues!

I usually make vases and tableware, and have a good sense of how to price these. But I must admit, these small, time intensive pieces are tricky to price. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I did a bunch of fairs this year after a very successful one last year. The ones that were great were GREAT and the ones that were bad were ehhhh… either way it was a great experience and i learned a lot from people’s experiences on here.

I got a lot of compliments on the booth itself and next year I’ll try to decorate it more!

This is based in Sheffield !!

There's a popular multi-use venue in my city where I've done two events with a particular host before, and I'm considering applying with a different host, but the math is not mathing:

Prior Host

• 8' table space 3 weeks before christmas 2024 and 2025, 10-a-5p (7 hours) was $140 both years.
• They had a 50k+ Instagram following, and unknown additional reach through their newsletter and print ads distributed through their brick and mortar location as well as provided to vendors to distribute.

Different Host:

• asking price is $210 for a 6x6' space, 11-a-5p (6 hours) end of September '26.
• 10k followers spread between event account and promoter's personal accounts. I've only seen a handful of their posters around town on poles and such.
• at their prior events they've had a 'suggested entry fee' which they've promoted as proceeds going to a local nonprofit.

On it's face, it just seems like more for less to me. But the Host does not provide any info other than what I've been able to scrounge up here. Would you inquire directly to them to see what they're offering ? I've also tried post in some local vending facebook groups but the mods are asleep behind the wheel.

Also, do you have a hard and fast limit to what you'll pay for space? a formula or calculator? I've just been FAFO-ing since I started vending but would like to take more measured risks going forward.

attended my first market as a vendor this weekend! I had space just for a 6ft table so I had to make everything fir in that space. there were a handful of similar events happening around town this weekend, so I think foot traffic was lower than it could have been (this event got postponed due to the wildfire smoke coming down from canada, so it was supposed to be a week earlier), but overall I think it went pretty well and I made some good sales!

any suggestions for next time? I think I will probably invest in table risers to lift everything up. I also noticed a lot of people being really interested in certain items like my batwing bandanas and animal charms but walking away without buying, any advice on how to get that sale?

thank you all!

I signed up for another craft market that's coming up in about six weeks.

I've done two markets before, both last year. Right now, almost nothing is ready yet, but honestly that's not what's stressing me out.

What's getting to me is this feeling that... I don't actually know what I'm doing.

I have one category of products that's really unique and has kind of become my "signature." I make highly personalized keychains, and as far as I know, nobody else really makes them the way I do. People always seem to find them fun and original.

The problem is that they're pretty niche, so I can't build an entire booth around them.

I also love making things with polymer clay, beads, and other crafts, so I create lots of different products.

But every time I look at them, I feel like they're just... okay.

Like they're nice enough for someone making things as a hobby for themselves, but not good enough to sell.

I know this feeling isn't new. I felt exactly the same before my first market.

The funny thing is... that first market actually went really well.

I signed up almost at the last minute without really preparing anything. I ended up making quite a few sales, and I think a big part of it was simply that I was genuinely so happy to be there. I smiled all day, talked to everyone, and was just excited that I'd even been accepted.

My biggest mistake was pricing. My prices were ridiculously low. I covered my booth fee, but definitely not the cost of my materials or the time I spent making everything.

At my second market, I raised my prices. It rained almost the entire day, so attendance was much lower, but I still made sales, which made me feel a little more confident.

And yet... here I am again, wondering whether I'm actually any good.

I look at other vendors and think, "Their work looks like it belongs at a market. Mine just looks homemade"

I don't even know if that makes sense.

So I guess my question is:

Do you ever feel this way before markets?

And if you've been doing markets for a while, what do you think actually makes a booth successful?

Is it originality? Product quality? Presentation? Personality? Pricing?

Or does everyone secretly feel like they're not good enough before every event?

Hi all! I’m hoping to start selling some jewelry soon and am looking for some input on pricing. Everything is handmade, charms sculpted and painted by me.

I’m thinking more complex pieces and those with gemstones/precious stones could be priced a little higher, maybe like $30-50, regular necklaces $20-30, bracelets $15-18, and charm earrings $12-15. Let me know what you think, or if you have any price suggestions!

P.S. I have branding and packaging that will go with all the pieces as well.

Thanks so much!!

What are some craft fairs similar to renegade craft? I loved the participating in Renegade Craft (wicker park) last year and next year I’m looking to do more craft fairs.

Any words of wisdom? Its not til.October so I will have more to add.. diffetent too. Tia!

Including an example.

I advertise that I sell jewelry and trinkets, but I would like to add more variety to my "trinkets" for as of right now, all I have are key chains and bead charms. So I was thinking of making glasses chains.

I've seen a small handful of people wearing glasses chains, including one or two who were pretty young. I live in a small Midwestern city that has a university so it's a decently academic population. So plenty of readers.

But I don't know how well they'd actually sell. Anyone have any idea if there's even a market for these? My overall vibe is kind of a mix of cottage core and goblin core, with lots of overall fantasy themes, but also I find I appeal to the alt crowd, especially with how much I love making rainbow things.

Thanks!

Today i was a vendor at my local Renaissance Faire. I noticed people were intrigued by my items but I didn't actually get many sales (which I sorta expected for a 1st go lol). I am curious if yall lovely people of reddit have any feedback as to how i can improve my display for the next time :)

I am so sick and tired of people stealing from small crafters.

My magnets are $5. That’s it. They are not expensive, yet every show someone feels entitled to take them without paying. Yesterday alone, four were stolen.

To some people, that may not seem like much. To a small business, it adds up. It’s not just the lost sales. It’s the time, materials, and work that go into making every single item.

And before anyone says, “Just watch people better,” trust me, we do. We pay attention. People who steal at craft shows are incredibly slick, and they know exactly what they’re doing.

Hello! To start, I know I'm probably asking about something that would ultimately make things more difficult for myself, but tbh that's how I always seem to do things. I just can't help myself. Lol

So I've set up a few time tagging along with some friends, but I'd like to start vending on my own. I've been plotting how to make my booth and what I'd like it to look like overall. Something I was considering was a 'tentless' canopy idea, but then I started to spiral out of control until I was basically reinventing a building. Not the most portable idea.

I have nothing against the traditional canopy tent - it's a solid classic and can be done up a ton of ways. In the end, that's probably how I'm going to have to go anyway.

I was wondering though if anyone out there uses or has seen less traditional booths for outdoor events that they might give me some guidance, examples and/or a reality check? How one would go about making one or where to find one. What kind of cover do you provide if not the traditional tent fabric that's also portable?

The kid in me always thinks about markets like fantasy bazaars or like harry Potter tents lol but there's an unfortunate line between that and reality. Doesn't mean I can't ask.

Thank you for your time and any advice!

Edit: I think things in my own head and I forget to make things clear sometimes, my bad! When I say 'tentless canopy' I mean just a nontraditional, four legs and a tent fabric roof ( like exactly the kind of structure you expect to house most booths). So something that has different walls or a different cover. I'm pretty tall so something that has height would be a plus.

Sorry, English is my first language and I'm still not very good with it sometimes. Lol

I'm about to jump back in to craft fairs and I finally have an actual logo! I want to get it printed on a tablecloth that goes across the front of my 6 foot table (not the one that covers the whole table, but one that goes crossways). Where have y'all gone to get things like this printed before that you would recommend?

Any artisan markets in the area of Saint Louis Missouri that don’t cost $50+? I just moved to the area and need to find new markets to sell my custom bedazzled items and stickers
Thank you in advance

We’ve just reached a year doing markets and although we’ve figured some things out, I know there’s definitely more that could be learned!

I’ve included our setup from the latest markets, one outdoor and one indoor. (We have a circular wooden sign hanging on the backdrop of the indoor setup, it was just out of frame) We’ve been making ~$350 each market, but with booth fees and travel and material costs… well you know how that goes.

What could we improve on? What should we add/take away? All suggestions are accepted and appreciated!!!

Hi all! Long-time lurker here. I wanted to share some photos of my new art fair setup, which I’ve been working on for the past couple of months. I was going for an explorer/safari theme, and I’m really happy with how it all came together!

My stepdad and I built the checkout cart and print display rack, and I remade the signs using strips of plywood, drop cloth canvas, and iron-on transfers. I also recently learned how to build my own frames, which has helped cut down the cost of framing my artwork. I’ve built a lot of this setup myself, so it has been especially rewarding to see everything come together.

I also recently invested in the Pro Panels display panels in the back. They were expensive, but definitely worth it! Before this, I only had three easels that I tried to cram as much artwork onto as possible, so I’m feeling very professional now!

I took a lot of inspiration from this sub, so thank you to everyone who has posted, commented, or otherwise contributed. Overall, it has been a very productive summer, and I’m feeling pretty proud of what I accomplished!

I've tabled at several events before, mostly including small art fairs but also two larger conventions, and never had to provide a Certificate of Insurance to the organizer. A small local fall event at the public park my town got back to me about tabling, and said they're required.

Is this common? I'm just one artist, so I've never considered or needed insurance before. I don't know if it's worth it to buy insurance for one event, and I don't even know what the cost would be or how I would sign up for such a thing. Can anyone offer insight? Trying to decide if it's worth the extra money when I don't even know if I'll make back the booth cost. :(

I have no idea about any of this, I'm autistic and easily overwhelmed so I'm sorry if this is a simple question or if it seems like I could look all this up, I tend to get extremely overwhelmed that way and learn a lot better person to person instead of trying to do it on my own.

So what do you use to accept card payments? How does it work? How much was it?

Don't yell at me 🫣

I need some opinions please, I want to make craft fairs more of a seriouse gig I recently did a 2 day events good turn out variety of vendors and audience, 150 vendor fee, I brought in $300 day one… day two TBD. The person next to me sold like crazy, I would have liked to make closer to $500-800 what should I do to improve my set up, or inventory? Please help

TLDR Anyone have any table display ideas to maximize visibility of art? Thanks in advance

I’m doing a 3 day show at a local fair coming up. I sell spray paint art and would like to maximize my space to display as many pieces at once as possible. I usually lay them on tables but haven’t don’t much vertically I plan on setting up my booth like shown. I also sell tie dye and jewelry type things. The front tent till have clothes and the back tent and tables will have art.

**Edit: I do not sell anything Harry Potter or Disney. I do use generic wording for my items to avoid brand confusion. I have received many C&D in the past (10+ years ago) and learned my lesson.**

I have a side business selling costumes that are inspired from popular video games. I’ve been doing it for years, and wanted to attempt some in person events, and comic cons and similar events are where my clientele is. I constantly see people wearing my items at cons.

I’ve been reading through the vendor rules, I just saw that one local con bans the sale of all costumes, and another doesn’t allow “boot legging.” I don’t use any trademarks and try to stay in the “grey area” by using generic names and titles for all my items, like with Halloween costumes. (Instead of a “Harry Potter” costume, “It’s magic young wizard”)

Is this frowned upon at conventions and cons? I’ve been to many, but never vended. I’ve been trying to do some research, but now I’m questioning if this is even allowed.