I'll be attending my first, small, craft fair in a couple of weeks and am quite terrified! I have tried to make a guess at all the things I'll need to remember and have lots of lists.
Would any of you experienced exhibitors be able to suggest any tips for a first timer? Something you wish you had known when you first started yourself? Or even words of encouragement - the nearer it gets the more convinced I am that I'll go home and have sold nothing...............
I will be selling simple bath products for starters, and will add to them as I go along and soap next year perhaps. Any kind of advice will be very gratefully recieved

Oh why did I get myself into this....

Good Luck Gwen! I'm sure it will all go really well, and if it doesn't, it's all part of the learning curve. When I was selling, I learned that it isn't possible to predict how well things will go - it's in the lap of the Gods. Venues where I expected wonderful sales could be very disappointing, and then conversely, when I didn't expect to sell very much - I did. Just take it in your stride (easier said than done, because bad days can be soul destroying -  this happens sometimes, you just need to be aware of this) - expect both good times and bad. It's best to think about your average performance, rather than individual events - I'm sure that you will do well overall and well done for taking the first step.

You'll need a decent sized cash float - Sod's Law says that your first two customers will hand over a £20 note for something under a fiver (best to price things in even 5p or 10p steps so that you're not fiddling round with coppers.

Check whether chairs are provided.

If you're on your own get talking to the neighbouring stalls (then you can ask them to watch your table while you go to the loo).

Pin a smile on your face - but keep changing the style so it doesn't become a fixed grin.

Have ready some chatty lines about your fragrances and ingredients - but don't pounce on potential customers straight away.

Have a few unwrapped samples for people to pick up and smell.

If it's all day take "tidy" food but take a decent sized bottle of water anyway.

Take something to "fiddle" with - stuff to wrap or decorate but best not to take a book or magazine, it doesn't look good.

If it's on grass take a plastic sheet or something to put on the ground under your table.

And DON'T WORRY - most stall-holders are friendly people.

It's the most exciting but also the scariest day when you do your first fair.
 I found that I would forget the stupidest of things so I made myself a check list with things like sellotape, cloth, scissors, pen and paper (to write down all your sales) etc and kept them in one container and then I checked it a hundred times before I left. And if it was an outside event I'd take plastic sheeting to cover my table (just in case).
Hope you have a fantastic day   

Thanks  you Scott, ElaineJ and Theresa, I will keep it all in mind. And also your words of encouragement when I'm there and my knees are knocking

Best of luck with this - just reading your post gave me the collywobbles cos I know just how scared I'd be at my first market (not done it yet, no where near brave enough).  You must take pics and show us and I'm sure you'll be fine - people will already be on the lookup for Christmas pressies.

Oops did I mention the C word?  :mwaha:

Take lots of cards and leaflets to hand out and a pad and pen

At first I took far too much of everything, I now take much less but still far too much! If you haven't got what they want they will just buy something else, my daughter, who helps me and has always worked in retail, tells me too much choice is not good it just confuses them, but I still think of all the things I haven't brought with me

Your stuff is so colourful, eyecatching and unusual I am sure you will do well and your customers will soon recognise your passion for making it

Good luck

3 Things....

1.Take your own food! There can be very tasty treats at some events but they all eat into your profit, which is why you're there presumably.
2. Set up your stall at home, as you finish things, add them to your table, mess around with different layouts till you find one you are happy with. Little cards with a bit of info and prices are a good idea too.
3. GOOD LUCK! I hope you do very well and really want to see the pics 

I did one a while ago with m jewellery. The thought is scarier than actually being there.

Good luck, and enjoy it.  Don't forget a flask of tea/coffee.

Can't help much with any pointers as I have never done a fair but I want to wish you the best of luck and lots of customers.  Please post some piccies won't you 

Don't worry Gwen, you'll be fine.  We've all been there, its like the 1st day at nursery  :mwaha:

Good luck   

We've done quite a few craft fairs, and to be honest, they're not great.  Perhaps we've been unlucky and the recession is not helping.  We now concentrate on MBS fairs, which are much more viable.   You must ensure that the organiser has done his or her advertising and promotion properly, otherwise you'll find few folks passing through and lots of tumbleweeds....

I did find the first couple of fairs very unsuccessful, but to be honest so did all the regulars. I have just done my second farmers market. There was hardly anybody there and the other stall holders again had problems themselves. This is a quite poor area and the recession has hit quite hard. I did a bit better this time though, I improved my presentation and packaging and this certainly helped.
What is/are MBS fairs? Is it a fairs organiser? I have searched a lot round here but there seems to be no organiser of fairs or even many independent fairs so finding sales outlets is difficult. I haven't developed my products fully enough yet to look for retail outlets.

Fairs are so hit or miss but I think in recessionary times we need to offer the customer something extra special. Whether it's giving samples, multibuy discounts or whatever. Packaging & products needs to be desirable, catch peoples attention and hold it!

I do so agree Corrie, but tracking down the packaging I want has been tricky. I am currently sorting out my soap SA with Scott, when he returns to the forum. So I have started looking for suitable packaging particularly little boxes, so far with not a lot of success!
Certainly the products that have been re packaged have sold a lot better. I also found some of my old beads from many years ago, so I used them to make simple tie on tags. They have been surprisingly well recieved and I gave one to a customer to go with a product that I hadn't put tags on. She was absolutely delighted, out of all proportion to what I had given her. Something I will remember. I find your packaging pictures very inspiring and they are encouraging me to try harder!