Fresholi | Melting Pot Café

Just come across this website - Living Heritage (http://www.craft-shows.co.uk/index.htm) organise craft shows and country shows across most of England.

Thanks EJ, excellent wombling as ever  ;)

I don't know what their rates are like - Keilly might have more info.

They list corn Dolly demonstrations - but I couldn't find a corn dolly maker on the list of craftspeople - and only very few soap makers.

Great website, and they seem to promote excellent shows, sadly not in my area, apparently, waahhh  :bawl:

Not any in my area, but looking at the venues I bet they are pricey.
Thanks for always finding these things for us.
Kim

I've sent off for an info pack, will report back.

Hi there
I did a Living Heritage show at the weekend in Sandringham. They are one of the most expensive shows to do - it cost me £350 for a standard stall but they do get people through the gates - but this weekend people did not seem to be spending - it might be either the crunch or the holiday period - and also there were 5 of us selling soaps/creams/bath thingys!! I did ok but some people did not even take their table money back which is a bit gutting as they probably would have had to pay for digs and petrol aswell!! There are cheaper shows around but I quite like the atmosphere and organisation of Living Heritage and have booked in for another 5 shows through the year with them, I have put a couple of photos of my stall from this weekend on my website - www.madaboutnature.co.uk if you want to get an idea of the size and quantity of stock you need!
Hope this helps!! :)

Need a big car for all of that Keilly  ;) :mwaha:

Thanks Keilly.

Takes a lot of stock to cover that amount of stall fee and make a worthwhile profit on top, I'm assuming that was the fee for the 3 days.

Yeah, it was a 3 day show - and I only have a small fiesta - it's like a tardis sometimes with the bumper nearly dragging on the road!!hahaha!! :mwaha:

 :( I have done LH shows over the years, latterly they have been poor - alas - most large event organisers will report the same - many have gone to the wall over the last couple of years:(
!
As a result many now turn a blind eye to "bought in" products - they need to sell the space

It depends what you want - coverage or to make money.

Coverage - may be good.

To make money - look at cost of stall - then fuel - at least 30p per mile - overnight stay  £50- pay yourself £5 per hour etc

HTH

Soph

Very sound advice! Thank you for all that info.
I am a scaredy cat, lol, I'd be way too nervous to do a big show like that at the mo.

I wonder if they charge less if you're demonstrating a craft, some shows do. (not that you can demonstrate soapmaking - unless a powerpoint/similar demo counts)

Looks good!
I've only got a small fiesta too (aka Betsy Purple Sparkle Car) - she does very well for packing stock into! Just doesn't work when I need to take tables etc too, but fine for fairs where they are provided.

They are expensive though.