Today didn't get off to a good start!!

I slept through two alarms, first Jones' and then mine 15mins later - and he didn't think to give me a boot out of bed!!

It was gone 9 when I woke up - shot downstairs and phoned Bob (organiser) who said that he'd keep a stall and if I phoned when setting off he'd have the ATC cadets ready to unload.

Had a quick cuppa and turfed the cat out.

I arrived at Ruthin in the rain just after 10 - ATC ready and waiting, a nice tall young lad clipped up my tarpaulin for the back and plastic sheets for the side and I had everything in place before 11!!

Not many customers around so I had another coffee and an organic lamb sausage butty - goodly discount 'cos I used to work with Mrs. Cig Oen Organig Aran.

There were a few showers through the day so footfall not what it could have been but I did OK - not great but not too bad and a few people came for another tin of the cream they'd had before during the autumn.

Good job I hadn't made up more than one of each gift set 'cos just 4 of the smaller ones sold (and three of those were the same, I did have time to pack one before the next sold fortunately.

Now I'm trying to work out how to dry a 3m square tarpaulin and two large plastic sheets!

Arghh, not a good start! Outdoor fairs are really not on in the UK during the winter, it's ok when you're busy but a long day if you're not. Good that folks are coming back for more of the same.
Same here today, few customers but those who did show spent money, gift sets and multibuys on soap so actually turned out ok in the end.
Can't suggest anything for the tarps though

Shame about the rain (both of you  ).  At least there was some good to be had out of it 

Good you throw the sheets over a few chairs lined up and pray for a dry day tomorrow 

The tarp and plastics are still in the car (along with everything else).

We don't get any sun this time of year and a dry day is a rare thing! I'll have to get my stock out first tomorrow then have a think.

No more markets until March now.

Ooh, sounds soggy. Good job you knew the organiser! Glad it was a good day for both of you.

Well it's the sort of mart where everyone knows the organiser - he emails monthly a week before each mart to remind us and check that we're all going.

6pm tonight there was a thankyou email from him.

Apart from the fairly reasonable sales I forgot to mention that I had an invite to put my felt pots and bags in a showcase in Theatr Clwyd foyer (they do ask 30% commission for sales - but that's better than selling to a shop).

It wouldn't work out much different than wholesaling, would it? By the time you deduct your 17.5% VAT and then their 30%.

We had terrible weather here too, got much worse this evening. Sick of the darned flooding everywhere.

Eire

I'm not VAT registered - so VAT is included in my price and also in their 30% as they would be selling for me , not buying from me - more like a gallery than a shop.

If I sold to a craft shop I'd be selling to them at 50% of the price they'd be selling at (which would be the same as my direct selling price) - so AFICS 70% is better than 50%.

Ah! I understand. That's good publicity, could end up being a very worthwhile wet and windy day. Congrats.

Eire