Hi!
I am trying to find some worthwile fairs to go to in Scotland to promote my baby products. Without wanting to step on anyones toes, does anyone have some ideas? I am thinking about the baby fair in Glasgow, which I think is really scay as apparently there are 14000 people coming! (its in the SECC) Otherwise, I have found some shops that want to sell, (mainy in and around E'burgh) and will go to smaller fairs in East Lothian and E'burgh. Just wondering whether there just isnt very much in Scotland or I am not searching in the right places?

M

Hi,

have you checked the cost of the SECC? My brother and SIL used to sell cloth nappies on-line and took a stall at the baby show there - it cost a FORTUNE. After everything was paid for they took home £80. It was a lot of work, and they did enjoy it, but they never did it again.

This was about 3 years ago, as I was pregnant at the time so they gave me some comps, so my memory might be hazy but I remember they said that the  SECC charged for everything, the electicity,  the use of extension cables for the electricity, a chairs ... probably more as well.

FWIW, we didn't buy anything that day. We did a lot of looking, and liked a lot of things, but no buying.

Sorry, I don't mean to be negative, just wanted you to know what my SIL's experience was. And if everyone's experience was like that, they would be no baby show every year, so obviously works for a lot of people.

polly

Hi Polly
Yes I know Secc is enormously expensive, but I thought it might be a way to get my product 'out there'. I havent decided on whether I am going to do it this year though, I feel I have to be a bit more organized to be able to tackle a show thats so big!

Yes, I do remember that the show was, to use that good scottish phrase, heaving. You could hardly move - prams, bumbs and MILs. I think it was on for 2 days, possible 3, so it would be a good chance to get your name known and out there. Probably most people lose money at the actual fairs, but make up for it when the customers go home and look up the web addresses from the business cards they picked up that day. (Mum and I went to the craft fair in October and bought some things, but took a lot of business cards and bought some more later).

The Baby Show in the SECC runs for 3 days (fri, sat, sun) costs (wracks brain) something like 150 a sqm for a basic shell, min is 2x1m you get a name plate over the stall, it's lit, and there's carpet and partition walls. You also get a basic listing in the guide that they hand out to everyone as they come in. You can pay extra for storage in the back, but if you're there, and talk to the guys you can get a space no probs. The big expenses happen if you need electricity or a phone line. Of course kitting out the shell is deceptively expensive, but if you've had stalls before you'll know that 
I did it 3 times, (selling real nappies actually, what was your bros shop called polly?) 1st year was frigging awful, but that was more down to my lack of experience, 2nd year was brilliant, 3rd year I get shafted by supplier who also took a big stall and sold my products cheaper than they sold to me so was (for obv reasons) another bust.
The thing about it is that folk pay something like £8 just to get in, and they want their bargains (of course) but if you hit the right note it's a sweeeet ride
Let me know if you want to hear more about this particular baptism of fire
And I'm going back this year to help a mate who helped me out for 3 years, so I guess it's her turn to call the shots lol

They were called CottonBots. They had an internet site that did well, as they sold a bit cheaper than most internet sites, but suppliers wanted a minimun selling price, which meant that they couldn't compete with the bigger sites so they gave up. Pity, as they had some gorgeous real nappies. They had their stall in March 2007.

It is very hard to find & get into some of the big fairs up here. The cost is really what puts me off a lot of them. The trade fair is on at the SECC at the moment, £170 p/m, then you have your stand extras, lighting, props, backdrops, which ain't cheap either and this is for a stand where you don't actually sell anything (on the day).
Can be a huge gamble to do some of the bigger fairs but one I'm most likely going to delve into this year. Miranda have you looked at the Morningside Makers? They have regular fairs http://www.craftfairsscotland.co.uk/Events.htm
You could also see if there are any local craft associations near you, they give you a regular stall usually in different venues so you will get a feel for where is right for you & your products.

Cottonbots eh?... bells are ringing... I don't know if i am remembering them or another site who sold stuff way below rrp, but i always wondered how those i found could do it as i had to sell above a certain price most of the time. Even if i wasn't bound dropping the price too far wasn't easy as the mark up on nappies is rubbish   I take it they had to close down too? it's a tough world, the baby poo catcher world  :mwaha:

When some suppliers found that Cottonbots sold below the rrp, they made them up their prices to a minimum rrp. The suppliers said that they had to maintain a minimun price as it wasn;t fair on those who sold in shops (?). Needless to say, when bro and SIL up'd the prices, the sales fell. So yes, they closed down.