Comments on: The Direction of the New Craft Fair http://handmadeforprofit.com/2009/03/the-direction-of-the-new-craft-fair/ How to start, manage and market an art or crafts-related business at home. Wed, 07 Jul 2010 22:09:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Michelle http://handmadeforprofit.com/2009/03/the-direction-of-the-new-craft-fair/comment-page-1/#comment-1155 Michelle Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:58:34 +0000 http://handmadeforprofit.com/?p=523#comment-1155 The Farmer's market and craft market is catching on here in Maryland. I left a comment under the Ronay's article, but want to vouch the same for this article too. I believe rural places, albeit in the West or where I live - the Mid-Atlantic region, there is a viable market for craft items at places like farmers markets making for a match made in heaven. I work part-time, a few days a week, in an late 1800's church turned into a antique and craft boutique with a big focus on merchandise made within the state. The shop attracts people for different reasons as it is in a good location, housed in a well known landmark in the community, and the shop owners have fun events/sales too. For example, two years ago they had an Elvis weekend, celebrating his birthday and had a sale on everything Elvis, served Elvis' favorite food, dressing up like Elvis and of course playing Elvis' greatest hits. To date that weekend generated the most sales ever. This summer the owners are planning on having a small craft show open to local artists on the property and a road side antique/craft sale on the property. On occasion the owners allow nurseries to sell flowers in front of the shop. These promotions have generated a lot of publicity and great sales while at the same time helps in educating the public about the historic landmark. Other nearby locations such as old fashioned mills and farms are now offering art/craft shows too. I am finding such places turning to crafts people as an effective marketing tool to boost tourism in the area, awareness of what the farms and mills offer, and most importantly keep them generating money. This is appealing to many in today's economy as it offers a great way to spend a day learning about local history in an inexpensive way yet giving patrons the ability to BUY a piece of history and support the community. I love this article, very informative and gives me hope as an craft person that we are still in a viable market that appreciates homemade craft objects. - Michelle The Farmer’s market and craft market is catching on here in Maryland. I left a comment under the Ronay’s article, but want to vouch the same for this article too. I believe rural places, albeit in the West or where I live – the Mid-Atlantic region, there is a viable market for craft items at places like farmers markets making for a match made in heaven.

I work part-time, a few days a week, in an late 1800’s church turned into a antique and craft boutique with a big focus on merchandise made within the state. The shop attracts people for different reasons as it is in a good location, housed in a well known landmark in the community, and the shop owners have fun events/sales too. For example, two years ago they had an Elvis weekend, celebrating his birthday and had a sale on everything Elvis, served Elvis’ favorite food, dressing up like Elvis and of course playing Elvis’ greatest hits. To date that weekend generated the most sales ever. This summer the owners are planning on having a small craft show open to local artists on the property and a road side antique/craft sale on the property. On occasion the owners allow nurseries to sell flowers in front of the shop. These promotions have generated a lot of publicity and great sales while at the same time helps in educating the public about the historic landmark.

Other nearby locations such as old fashioned mills and farms are now offering art/craft shows too. I am finding such places turning to crafts people as an effective marketing tool to boost tourism in the area, awareness of what the farms and mills offer, and most importantly keep them generating money. This is appealing to many in today’s economy as it offers a great way to spend a day learning about local history in an inexpensive way yet giving patrons the ability to BUY a piece of history and support the community.

I love this article, very informative and gives me hope as an craft person that we are still in a viable market that appreciates homemade craft objects. – Michelle

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