My First Craft Fair Experience Was..YIKES!

Let's sit down and chat about my first-ever Craft Fair Experience. Needless to say, it wasn't the most amazing experience ever but with time and a little help from my little AI journaling app I've found some key positive takeaways and I will share those here as well.
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[@lt-ug2pz]

Just what I need to see going into my first

[@GuinspiredCrochet]

I'm sure it'll go better! But hey if it doesn't, at least you got out there and did it. Just showing up is half the battle! You got this!!

[@heatherscreativecorner]

Your table looked great! I've never done a craft fair before but I can only imagine how nervous I'd be! I'm sure the next one will go better now that you know what to expect!

[@GuinspiredCrochet]

Thank you Heather! :) It was super nerve wracking. I was shaking all while setting up and the first hour or so, but then I eased up and it wasn't so bad. You should definitely give it a shot some time if you ever want to do it. :D

[@thesonnetsilence]

Your table looked great! I'm sorry you didn't have the best experience. Orginization and foot traffic can make or break a fair for sure. Whether you choose to do another fair or not, everything you did and created is amazing, and you are 100% most definitely a fiber artist! For me, it’s always awkward at markets when someone comes up to my table, and is really excited about something, only for their family member/friend to try and talk them out of it😆I never know how to respond in those situations lol. I have also have had people verbally express they are leaving my table to go back to another vendor to buy from them instead lol

[@GuinspiredCrochet]

Awn thank you so much for the kind words. that first awkward experience almost happened to me. Though it's usually just kids who are like, "Look at this!" and the parents just walk away. HAHA That second awkward experience though...oof. That's awful. Thanks for sharing. Now I know some of the things to expect and not take them so seriously if they should happen to me. :P

[@critterscrochet795]

Ashley don't get discouraged. I used to do cradt shows. What I found was that what didn't do well at one show, sold really well at another. It depends a lot on the area and people.

[@GuinspiredCrochet]

Yah that is my hope. After I recover from this haha I will need to look for another and give it another shot.

[@novagnomecreations]

Your table looked great!! You should be so proud for going outside of your comfort zone and trying something new, especially something scary. I have not done a craft show yet, and while I do want to I am also terrified and pretty sure I would want to cancel when it got close so badly that I am not sure I could do it 💀😅

[@GuinspiredCrochet]

HAHA! Thank you Nova! You have no idea how many times I almost emailed to cancel as the date got closer. I know exactly how you feel...but if I can do it, you TOTALLY can! You are mega talented!

[@marina_m11]

Ashley, you did great! So many learning experiences here, which is giving you a lot to process and reframe. I’m glad you have that tool at your disposal to help with that. Your table looked beautiful and you should be very proud of yourself that you did not quit, & you did it in spite of your anxiety. That is a major success! I have found in life that just showing up, saying yes, is everything. You did it!

[@GuinspiredCrochet]

Thank you! Yes. SO much to process and that little tool of mine has been super helpful. Also reading these comments here from you certainly makes me feel so much better. I almost did quit as I usually do so you're right, it's a major win that I even did it in the first place. :)

[@marina_m11]

@@GuinspiredCrochet /3 That's the spirit my friend, you got it! You're awesome and we love you, thanks for sharing your vulnerability with us, I'm sure it was helpful for others too. Have a great day!

[@91msJill]

I've never been a vendor at a craft fair, but I can say that sometimes, I get scared of the feeling of "confronting" them if I decide not to buy their item, so when they approach me whole I'm looking, I immediately walk away so I don't feel the pressure to buy something. It's a huge step to do this though! They say the first step is the hardest, but I think the second is the hardest. You can do this!

[@GuinspiredCrochet]

Thanks for the input! Yah I get what you are saying. I tried not to look so expectant. The plan was to keep myself busy with a crochet project, but I forgot the stuffing so I was stuck. 😆

[@Ookleton]

Your table set up looked great!! Don't be too discouraged, I've been to a very poorly organized craft faire and been disappointed similarly, but have also been to events that get a lot of foot traffic. I think there are just a lot of ebbs and flows with these events and there will be some that you will definitely make a good profit at! :)

[@GuinspiredCrochet]

Thank you! Yah. I’m not going to continue being discouraged. I know that I’ll have a successful market at some point in the future.

[@rachelcreatez]

sadly, most of the time you need to adjust based on the particular event. I make jewelry so i specifically make the batch based on the event- location, will there be a lot of kids, what kind of vendors will there be, ect. I tend not to make a lot for markets because i’ve found that people don’t like overcrowded tables.

[@GuinspiredCrochet]

You bring up great points. Next time I will definitely keep these factors in mind and adjust accordingly. Also that's another reason why I need that second table. My single table was a bit overcrowded. Thanks for the pointers!

[@carolinewallace6926]

My first craft show went a lot like yours! And I just wanted to say, don’t sell yourself short. You are most definitely a fiber artist. ❤

[@GuinspiredCrochet]

Awwn! Thank you! I just figured I would fake it until I make it. 😆

[@mishellegarrett9243]

I think your table was well done👍

[@GuinspiredCrochet]

Awn thank you!!!

[@HookedOnWishing]

Whaaaat ? Reallly ? You can't cuddle BBQ sauce heheeh keep your chin up, your doing great things 🧶🧡 roll the dice again with a different venue.

[@GuinspiredCrochet]

Haha! I should make a BBQ sauce plushie that you can actually cuddle. 😆😆 Thank you so much. I'm definitely going to keep my eye out for another. 😁

[@ASquareGranny]

Your table looked terrific, Ashley! Also, it legit took GUTS to put your creations and yourself out for the public eye. THAT is absolutely success, imo. You broke even and you learned. I’m not only proud of you, I admire you for doing the fair at all. If you decide it isn’t a good fit moving forward, you will have no regret (for having not tried it), you know? Well done. ☺️🫶🏻🧶🐧🩷

[@GuinspiredCrochet]

Thank you Lisa! I'm very glad I did it and I certainly learned a lot for the experience. I think I will do them again, just maybe not in that area, or that particular one.