If you’ve been crafting to participate in holiday craft fairs, you’ve probably got a few fairs under your belt already. With more fairs on your calendar, you’re rushing to fill the orders you got at the earlier fairs and restock your inventory for those fairs that remain. Even if you’re not crafting to sell but want everyone on your list to have a hand made gift, you may feel a bit frazzled.

This newsletter is here to help – with some quick projects you still have plenty of time to complete, some strategies for those upcoming craft fairs and some tips that have served me well during busy holiday seasons past.

Wishing you and yours a magical holiday season filled with love and gratitude. May the warmth and joy you shine on others be reflected back on you!

Eileen

Craft Fairing When Your Inventory is Low

I developed a few strategies to use at craft fairs when I was short on inventory. Some of them work so well, I now use them all the time. They save me from doing too much work on spec (that may never sell); they maximize my display space; and provide follow-on orders to keep me busy with firm orders (my favorite kind!) for months to come.

Some people will only buy if they can take their purchases with them. Others may be visiting and leaving tomorrow or the next day. For these customers, you need to have a few of each item that they can carry off with them.

But other customers – perhaps the majority –can be enticed to place firm orders and even pay in advance.

Involve Customers in the Design Process

One of my most popular products is a reversible cloth panadiere . In the beginning, I made up as many as possible for each fair. Some would sell and that was good; but comments like, “I like this side but not this one.” or “I wish you had one in red.” bothered me and made me rethink my selling strategy.

Now I make just one for each fair; but sell even more than before! I set my sample atop a pile of fabric swatches with a note in the sample panadiere saying, “Design your own panadiere here! One week delivery available.”

For me, delivery is easy because I am in my store, 18 hours a week and customers can pick up there. Since they’ve paid in advance, they have incentive to follow through. But I still make sure to get contact info for my customers because, believe it or not, there are people who forget!

Finally, if someone wants to buy the sample, I collect the money, put a sold sign on it and ask that they pick it up at the end of the show. If they can’t, I deliver.

At a fair last week, I had one customer interested but she said, “I’m just not good at remembering colors. Could you come to my house and help me select the two swatches?”

So I went and we had fun going from room to room choosing colors. In the end, she ordered four: one each for two bathrooms where she will use them to contain toiletries; one for her desk to serve as an in box; and, of course one for the dining area for bread.

Get your 2006 Bead Style Calendar at Aunties Beads, projects for every month included.

Solicit Custom Orders

This time of year, I put a sign near my greetings cards that says, “Christmas is coming. The goose is getting fat. Please put an order in this ol’ gal’s hat.” In front of the sign is a Santa hat with contact cards for people to provide their contact information. Alongside this display is a catalogue of past designs I have done and a small sign that says, “All your graphic design needs – Custom designs and quick delivery!”

Often people start leafing through the catalogue looking for Christmas card designs and end up ordering not only those, but also items from other sections. You never know what will strike any one person’s fancy; so have samples of as many different items you can come up with.

Be as creative in your business dealings as you are in your crafting. You may be pleasantly surprised at how flexible customers can be and how much they enjoy collaborating with an artist like you!

Quick Holiday Projects

Darling ornaments even your kids can make.
Ribbon Angel Ornaments.
Bread Clay Christmas Ornaments.
Christmas Photo Bookmark.
Gold-washed Etched Votive Candleholders.
Christmas Collage Card.
Fabric Gift Bags.
Lighted Holiday Potpourri Jars.
Holiday Wine Glass Charms Pattern.

Click here for all my Holiday Craft Ideas.

Adjust Your Attitude

Don’t let the hustle and bustle of the season spoil your holidays while you rush to make everyone else’s perfect. Prioritize your to-do list and go at it methodically – not frantically. My mantra this time of year is, “What needs to get done, will get done.” The rest isn’t essential.

The same holidays will come around in exactly another year. So the materials you bought for this year need not go to waste. Tell yourself you’ve got a head start. Pre-assemble the remaining holiday materials and store them in shopping bags labeled with the project’s name and the month you should complete each one. Then put notes on your 2006 day planner like: “March 1 – make beaded Christmas tree ornaments”; “June 1 – sew glittery gift bags.”

Finally, be sure to leave a little time for yourself each day. Find a quiet place and take a fifteen minute mental vacation with a cup of coffee or whatever. Do some shoulder shrugs and neck rolls. Stretch out your arms. Meditate, pray or let your mind wander. This isn’t work time; it’s time for you! In fact, I think that’s what I’m going to do right now. Aaaaaaaah.

Shop Holiday & Seasonal products at Better Homes and Gardens. Shop BHG.com for Christmas.