how to sell crafts?

emmie

Ive just been working on a selection of glass paintings and jewellery, and would love to sell some of it..does anyone know any shops that would be interested in buying homemade crafts, or better still craft fairs?

foamcutter

Emmie, in the Louth Monaghan and Down area there is craftmark.ie who help and support local craft/artists. I think it is run through the Louth county enterprise board, there could be something similar in your area.

The national crafts fair is on at the RDS from the 6-10 of December.

Good Luck

smileygal

Hi,

Taking a stand at the RDS Christmas Fair in Dublin/ the associated one in Cork is very very pricey. Only worth it if you are a full time business. The other way to do it is to share a stand with someone you know, halving the costs and having company while doing it/someone to look after it while in the loo/lunch.

I would imagine markets that do crafts would be better or festivals. Beware of craft shops taking too much of your profits!! After all it's handmade!!

There may be community-organised Christmas fairs in towns and villages in Nov./Dec.


Good luck

Marksie

Do You have a LEADER group in your area.. i am part of the laois craft group and we are linked with the laois LEADER group.. we had stands in the ploughing championships and the LEADER tent was half price E450! (225,000 visited) There was also a contingent from the Wales leader group as well as mayo, clare etc.

I got oublicity on RTE the afternoon show and in the local papers twice ... PM me and i will let you know what the sales were OK?

Submit to the craft council of ireland..once accepted they post you out a newsletter with lists of craft fairs and all sorts of stuff.

Check your local newspapers...
search for county fairs during the summer.. do a google search and you may be able to get a spot in tha fair there.

I found out that the festival of world cultutes had a craft fair... will be doing that next year.

As for shops.. create a catalogue and call in on spec with a selection.. its hard nosed but you may pick up sales

Also THe RDS showcases in january and that is where shops look...

Work on presentation and a glossy brochure..it will pay dividends

Remeber dont undervalue your product, markets in general are not a good idea.. except the "farmers markets" these ARE good.. i know a fellow candlemaker who is making good money at these (athy). i have anumber somehwere for that PM me and i will give it too you

and dont forget the interent... set up a website
Where are you based?

karen harper

you will get more fairs over ireland through www.irishcraftupdate.com/blog

here is a list to start you off....

Drogheda Arts Festival (outdoors)
Dates 3rd May, Marquees supplied
Trading Saturday from 10am – 6pm
Cost is €70.00 for a craft trader and €110.00 for a food trader.

Bray European Day Festival (outdoors)
Dates 9th- 11th May, Marquees supplied
Only European stalls please apply
Trading Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 10am – 6pm
Cost is €195 for craft and €300 for food for the weekend.

Tattersalls International Horse Trials (outdoors)
Dates 30th May to 1st June, Marquees provided
Trading Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 10am – 6pm.
Please contact the office for more information.

Dublin Docklands Maritime Festival (outdoors)
Dates 30th May to 1st June, Limited number of Marquees provided
Trading Friday 12 noon – 7 pm, Saturday, Sunday and Monday 11am – 7pm,
Cost is €360.00 for a craft trader and €600.00 for a food trader for the
weekend.

Farmfest, Athenry - 20th June
Trading Hours 9.30am and 6.30pm.
Please contact our office for more information

2 Serpentine Park, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland
Telephone: 086 8274839 Fax: -016675313

Also:

The Viking Ship Departure, East Essex Street, Dublin 2
Date 28th and 29th June from 10am – 6pm
Only stalls in keeping with the Viking era
This event is Free of Charge.

The Midlands Home and Garden Festival, Belvedere House
6th – 8th June
Cost is €360.00 for a hot food unit
and €255.00 for a snack/beverage unit
and €255.00 for a craft stall for the weekend


The Mallow Home and Garden Festival, Cork Racecourse
27th – 29th June
Cost is €360.00 for a hot food unit and
€255.00 for a snack/beverage unit
and €255.00 for a craft stall for the weekend

Bray Summerfest (outdoors)
Dates 17th to 20th July
Trading Thursday to Sunday from 10am – 8pm
Cost is €350.00 for a craft trader and
€520.00 for a food trader for the weekend

New Ross Summer Festival
Dates 18th – 20th July
Trading Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 10am – 8pm
Cost is €210.00 for a craft trader and
€255.00 for a food trader for the weekend.

World Fleadh, Port Loaise (outdoors)
Dates 9th to 10th August
(The market is on the main street this year)
Trading Saturday, Sunday from 10am – 8pm
Cost is €180.00 for a craft trader and
€260.00 for a food trader for the weekend.

Electric Picnic Music Festival, Stradbally, Co. Laois
Dates 29th, 30th, 31st August

Please contact our office for more information
Please contact our office to request application forms for any
of the above events.
VSC EVENTS LTD UPDATED MARKET
LIST FOR 2008
2 Serpentine Park, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland
Telephone: 086 8274839 Fax: -016675313
Email: festivaladmin@eircom.net

That is just one company that supply me with information

I would say that many craftspeople that have done the RDS christmas fair over the last few years are stopping now...it will be replaced with other people trying it out...just to say the cost is unnessary. I have booked the RDS myself and I dont know where they come up with their prices!
Karen