June Craft Fairs

I attended two craft fairs last month.  I was back at Little Fox and tried a new craft fair "Made in Watford" at The New Watford Market.

Watford was a last minute addition to my schedule of events, I saw it advertised in the local paper.  It was the first one of its kind and I was excited to be a part of it.  However, this was the worst event I have ever attended!  I don't normally like to be so blunt and negative especially as a lot of work went into the event and the advertising beforehand.  In theory it should have been great but some of my fellow stall holders packed up and went at 2:30pm, I stuck it out until it closed at 4pm.

The new craft fair has been introduced to attract people to the market.  The new market reopened in Watford in a new location last year and according to the permanent stall holders it isn't getting the footfall and a lot have had to close their stalls.

When we were there a lot of the usual stall holders didn't open so it looked closed.  Part way through the day we decided to move our stalls out on to the High Street (we did get permission) and I wish we had thought to do that earlier.

I usually say that you need to give events a few goes before making a decision, but I have done enough now to know which are good ones with potential, and sadly I don’t think Watford has much potential.  I was also open to the elements, although the market is undercover it's not indoors. Thankfully it was a sunny, dry day but it was very windy and I needed to add ribbon to my display to tie items down, which isn’t great for customers browsing or the appearance of my stall. You can never guarantee the British weather and my previous experience with an outdoor event gives me another reason not to do this one again. Ah well, at least I tried it, I would have regretted it if I hadn’t.

Thankfully I was back at Little Fox the weekend after which was a more positive experience.  I attend this regularly and you probably have read many times how I enjoy it so all I'm going to say about it this time is, it was another good one.  You can read about my previous times at the Little Fox Market here.

I haven't any more craft fairs booked until August now when I will be back at Royston.  The organiser has done so much to promote this event, including yarn bombing the town, which made the local press and even the BBC news website! I'm looking forward to going back there as this is another one of my favourites.

fizzi~jayne x

Psst.... you can see the craft fairs I have booked for the rest of 2015 here.

Don't Forget your Father's Day card....

Father's Day is on 21st June 2015 and I have a range of handmade Father's Day cards in my shop for your special Dad.

Men are always challenging to buy for don't you think? And to be honest I find them challenging to design for but I love a challenge and I hope you like what I have created....

Last order date to a UK address is 16th June 2015 to receive your card in time,  if you are posting it onward please allow extra time to order.

I will have these cards at the Little Fox Market this Saturday.  I always look forward to this craft fair and this time there will also be new foodie stalls including a micro brewery. Funnily enough my hubby is now more than happy to help me set up after hearing this news!

fizzi~jayne x

May Craft Fair and why success isn't always measured in sales....

This month I have only done the one craft fair, I was back at the Little Fox Market.  It is always a friendly atmosphere and the majority of the stalls are regulars like me so it's nice to catch up and see what everyone has been making.

This time around we were in competition with a local festival and it was either going to work for us or against us.  Unfortunately it was the latter and the fair was quieter than usual but it's not all bad as the press were there from two local papers and one of them took a picture of me! I'm yet to see if I have made it into the paper or if I am on the cutting room floor.

Obviously it is always good business to make your money back but success isn't always measured in sales....

• Being a regular at a craft fair means you can build relationships with stall holders and customers which can turn into sales at a later date.  Fairs are as much about meeting people and spreading the word as they are about selling. 
• There are still customers who bought my products, which is such a nice feeling.
• It's local advertising, and not just to potential customers but craft fairs are often attended by boutiques and independent gift shops looking for local talent. You don't know who might be picking up your business card!
• Craft fairs are a great opportunity to update your mailing list and hand out cards or flyers.  Sales maybe online after your craft fair instead of on the day.
• Being a part of a regular craft fair means when it comes to the Christmas season, shoppers will already know about the market and where to shop for their unique, handmade gifts plus my customers know where to find me.
• Craft fairs are a great place to try out new products and get feedback on your range.
• Some days are going to be quiet, that's just how it goes.  This craft fair is well organised and advertised and having had a good 2014 there I am remaining positive for the future dates I have booked for the rest of this year.

A view from my stall

I'm back at the Little Fox again on June 13th and you can see what other craft fairs I have booked for the rest of the year here.

Before I go meet my neighbours from this fair....

ellsey bellsey

The Soap Cabin

fizzi~jayne x

Back at The Little Fox Market....

On Saturday I kicked off the craft fair season of 2015! I went back to The Little Fox Market in Rickmansworth.

We have a new organiser who has taken on the reigns, Katherine from Glowbeads. She did an amazing job for her first fair.

It was nice to catch up with some of the regular stall holders and see some new ones.  The Little Fox always has a good mix of craft, vintage and food stalls. 

I added a new feature to my display for my wall hangings....

I bought a garden trellis that I painted with Annie Sloane chalk paint, et voilà!

I use 'S' hooks to hang my products from the trellis which gives me flexibility with my display. 

I was opposite The Maverick Kitchen again, look at these beautiful cupcakes....

After a days work I couldn't leave without treating myself to one of their cupcakes that have been looking at me all day!

This was sooooo yummy! 

You can see all the craft fairs I have booked for this year, including the Little Fox at Rickmansworth in my Craft Fairs tab.  I've booked dates right through to Christmas! How organised am I?!

fizzi~jayne x

Christmas craft fairs....

It's been a crazy few weeks, well it is that time of year! I had my last craft fair on 6th December and I've been finishing lots of orders plus a winter bug came to visit me (I don't have time to be ill!). Anyway, this post isn't about 'poor me' and what a bad blogger I've been for not popping by to say "Hi" recently, I want to show you the photos from the craft fairs I did in November and December....

My stall at Royston before opening

Royston was a new one for me. It was the second one that was organised by the lovely Laura from Kozmic Dreams and she did a fabulous job organising and promoting it. There were two floors of handmade goodness. It was a busy and successful day with lots of visitors.  It was a friendly and upbeat atmosphere. Laura is looking to do more, I hope she will and she'll have me back!

Everyone getting ready at Royston

My stall at the Radlett Winter Fair 2014

The Radlett Winter Fair was another new one for me and was a very festive affair with Santa and his reindeer. 

A real Reindeer!

We had singers on the stage behind my stall getting everyone in the festive mood, although it was hard to talk to customers at times!

I've been back to The Little Fox Market in Rickmansworth, twice.

The soup was yummy!

I'm usually opposite The Maverick Kitchen, her cupcakes are sooooooooo delicious. The Little Fox is not good for my waistline!

Not everyone appreciated the countdown!

My coasters have been popular, making perfect stocking fillers and Secret Santas

I like this photo I took of my Reindeer Christmas Decoration

Having been to a few craft fairs now I'm starting to see familiar faces and make friends.

This year has been all about trying different craft fairs and I think I have found some really good ones to focus on next year.  Expect to see me back at the Little Fox in Rickmansworth and New Milton Craft fairs.  I hope there will be more in Royston and Radlett too.  Due to the success of bespoke orders this year which has been unexpected, but fantastic, my online shops have been negelected. I will need to give these some TLC and I'll be relaunching my shops with new and exciting products in 2015. 

I'm now finishing off the last custom order and I'll hopefully finish my Christmas gifts I'm making in time!

Are you ready for Christmas?

fizzi~jayne x

Psst.... My Etsy and Folksy shops will be closed from Friday 19th December 2014 until 29th December 2014 so I can take a much needed break and enjoy family time.  I may not be taking orders or making new products but I will be popping up here and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter so please come and say hello! 

October Craft Fairs....

What a busy few weeks! I've attended three craft fairs, three weekends in a row. 

I started them off by going back to the Little Fox Market in Rickmansworth.  This was my second time here.  I love this market, you can read about my first time and why I think it is fab here.  I wanted to have a home for fizzi~jayne to be seen regularly and I think I have found it, yeah!  (As long as they will have me back!!)

My stall at Little Fox Market, Rickmansworth

I also went back on tour to New Milton, another favourite. I went to their Spring fair and immediately applied for their Autumn fair. This will be another venue I will return to in 2015.

I was next to a seller of fabulous bags and I have been treated to one of them for my birthday! It was hidden away before I had a chance to take a photo so like me, you will have to wait! In the meantime you can check out her stuff here

I was in Harpenden last Saturday, this was my third time here.  I haven't done so well at this one so I won't be back there for a while.  It doesn't get the footfall the others do and there are too many other card sellers. I did get an order by another stall holder for bunting based on the design I have for my stall, which is exciting and flattering.  This could be the start of a whole new range?!... 

My stall at Harpenden

I had a new display of Christmas decorations and my new chalk boards had their début.  My focus this week will be to add my new products to my Folksy and Etsy shops as they are starting to look bare after my craft fairs.

I have a weekend off before I do three more in November.  Next Month it is all about craft fairs in places that begin with an "R" (coincidentally!).  I am back in Rickmansworth, then in Royston and then Radlett for their Christmas Craft Fairs.  I've not been a stall holder at Royston or Radlett before so I am excited to be going to new venues as well as go back at the Little Fox.

fizzi~jayne x

My month in pictures ~ June....

Well hello July, you took me by surprise!

Thank you June, you were a lot of fun....

The Little Fox Market at Rickmansworth....

The Foxy Café that makes a great coffee/ My stall/ A close up of my stall/ Bunting that was hung around the hall

Hubby and I had a week off and went to Dorset for a few days....

Lulworth Cove/ Something which I guess is for pulling boats on to the shore at Lulworth cove/ Durdle Door

 

We were so lucky with the weather and there are some gorgeous, unspoilt beaches in Dorset. I love being by the sea, it's so peaceful and relaxing.

 

Mmmm, Food ~ Menu from the best fish restaurant/ Mackerel Pate with edible soil and radishes / Afternoon Tea

We went to an amazing fish restaurant, Verveine in Milford~on~Sea.  You pick the fish you want from what was caught that day and then the marinade you want with it.  The food was amazing, the atmosphere was friendly and relaxed. It was perfect for a special dinner for two!  If you are in the area and like fish I would recommend it but I would recommend booking.

Hillier Gardens ~ Mermaid glass sculpture/ Bumble Bee metal sculpture / pretty purple flowers

Hillier Gardens are beautiful and there is so much to walk around, I'm sure we didn't see it all.  It was a great opportunity to take lots of pictures and experiment with my camera settings.  I wish I took pictures of the flower names so I know what they are!



Pretty flowers and a glass sculpture

 

Monkey World ~No holiday is complete without a visit to a zoo!

 

Steam Railway ~ I love the old signs at the station

 

The steam train we travelled on to Swanage Station/ A stop off at Corfe Castle / Old cases at Swanage Station/ I love old posters, so I bought these postcards as a souvenir.

Meeting crafty folk....

Trip to London for a Crafty Cuppa arranged by Laura from Bugs and Fishes ~ A sculpture in Hyde Park / Natural History Museum where we met / we wondered down to the Serpentine Sackler Gallery/ I love my red shoes!

Meeting the #CraftBlogClub crew in Nottingham ~ Left to right, me, Emma and Katie/ I came across a Vintage shop next to the station and found these cameras, I was so tempted to buy one/  I loved this shelving unit which was also in the vintage shop/ Katie made me this crochet hook wrap, love it!/ Teapot floral display

New products ~ wall hangings and coasters....


Brand new products made this month, I will get these in my shops asap! ~ Live, Love, Laugh Heart Wall Hanging/ Pack of 4 Distressed Heart Coasters/ Country Heart with Flowers and Butterfly wall hanging.  What do you think?




Custom orders this month for the arrival of twin boys and Serena's 40th Birthday


I've started the design process for Christmas and I received my first delivery of festive supplies!....


I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

Also this month I attended another Enterprise Nation, more of that later....

 

 

fizzi~jayne x



Pssst.... I will be at Harpenden Arts, Craft and Antiques Fair tomorrow. For more details go to my Events and Craft Fairs page.

Little Fox Market, Rickmansworth....

At the weekend I had a stall at the Little Fox Market in Rickmansworth.  It is a fabulous market!  It has a relaxed and friendly feel about it.  There is a good variety of stalls, no stall was selling the same type of product which is great for visitors and there is less competition for us stall holders!



My Stall

My helpful assistant, sorry Hubby, particularly enjoyed this one as there were a variety of food stalls. He did his bit supporting local businesses by spending lots of money on chutney, jam, and bought a savoury muffin for his breakfast and a burger for his lunch!

There was a steady flow of customers coming through.  Although the regulars were saying it was quieter than usual, I was very happy with my sales so I have high hopes for future ones especially in the run up to Christmas!

You can enjoy a cuppa at the Foxy Café.  They do great coffee!

I loved the attention to detail by the organiser, with the bunting and the inside gazebos making it visually appealing and adding a crafty touch to the hall.  There is an outside area with undercover stalls and some benches to relax and enjoy the sunshine, which came out in the afternoon.

Loved the fabric bunting

It has been my most successful fair so far this year and I met lovely customers and stall holders so I'll be back! 

Keep an eye out on my "Events and Craft Fairs" page for future events.

fizzi~jayne x