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anyone interested in a Cooperative?

Jimjam66

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I was offered a stand at the Handmade Spring event at the O2 in April, but for various reasons I won't be able to man the stand in my own right. Obviously I could just turn it down, but i wondered if a few of us might be interested in doing it together? The expected footfall over the three days his 60,000 and I can imagine many will be well-heeled.

Any interest or other ideas? The stand cost is just under £500.
 

Grump

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The stand cost is just under £500.

That's just a start mate they will want you insured to the hilt.
Look a lot further into this before I declare any interest but I think my answer for the moment is thanks but poke it.
 

stevenw1963

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Neil will be the one who will know all the ins & outs about these events. I'm sure he'll be along shortly to quote the 600 pages of waffle, containing the elf n safety and nose picking procedures that you have to comply with before being allowed anywhere near such an event!!!

Too far for me anyway Dave.
 

Jimjam66

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Brian, I already have all the insurance necessary. The only other thing they require is a Risk and Method Statement - got one of those too! Bob, I'm not sure how much more you need to know?
 

Grump

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In that case young David I might be interested.
Certainly on further discussion at least.
 

Neil

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I was offered a stand at the Handmade Spring event at the O2 in April, but for various reasons I won't be able to man the stand in my own right. Obviously I could just turn it down, but i wondered if a few of us might be interested in doing it together? The expected footfall over the three days his 60,000 and I can imagine many will be well-heeled.

Any interest or other ideas? The stand cost is just under £500.

David,

To any unknown quantity such as this, and it is far from foolproof but is one of the only ways of narrowing the odds, try and find this show on the internet. It would appear that the assumption is that people will go because they are en route to the Miranda appearance, that appears to be it, and the assumption that all will turn up in time to go shopping. How many times have I been to a concert at Wembley and said, Oh I think I'll go along two hours early just in case there is a craft fair in the forum?

I went to the Dome as it was then more times during the construction than I did the following year and havent been since so dont know what to expect but it is fairly isolated and you will need to make a positive decision to make a day of it, there's no passing trade as such. The show is on the 11, 12 and 13th April. 11th April is the start of school holidays (??) and is a working day. Miranda appears at the O2 at 1900 on Friday, where are the numbers coming from outside that? Saturday shows are at 1330 and 1900, so there might be some passing trade after the first show, that is stragglers from the show, but who goes to the show? Are they our target audience? Lets be honest Mr and Mrs Morning Star dont buy our pens, neither does Mr and Mrs Sun Reader. The Times and Telegraph (the latter notably) have panned her shows success as incomprehensible. My target market is Mr and Mrs Joe Average, 35+ preferably with kids who go shopping together.

Cant see them at the O2.

Its a single marketing event with a narrow sector of society, and that is inherently dangerous, the risk is huge. I cant even find out what time the show opens and closes, but I cant see any of the evening show goers suddenly deciding to take in 300 stands (which will probably be closed anyway). And dont forget there is another show on, the Handmade Nursery show. the 20,000 I am sceptical about, I think this is pie in the sky accounting. The O2 holds 20,000, therefore as its open for three days it'll get 60,000 through the doors, or will it be three shows at 20,000. Sunday, I think I'll pop out to the O2 as there is nothing else to do just in case there happens to be a craft market on that doesnt appear to be marketed?


Hmmmm. Need a lathe bed extension, need a longer barge pole me thinks.

But having panned the show it'll probably be great and everyone will make a fortune. I'll still be broke though cos I wont be there!

Sorry David, I dont want to appear negative and thanks for mentioning it but from a preliminary look it doesnt stack up to me.
 

Grump

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Wow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Consider yourself told init?

Seems at £50 it might be worth a punt at it but at £500 to much to lose. "I am out" as the Dragons say
 

paulm

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Neil is the sense of reason here, so you know what I'm going to say too.

I am out.

Thanks for asking though David, the idea was good. Perhaps we should arrange a penfest somewhere. And when I say we...
 

PhillH

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Hmmm, I see Neils POV so maybe at 500 quid it might be a bit rich.

What about doing one of the CLA fairs as a group ? If that's not standing on Neils toes of course !

I'm only thinking CLA fairs as they are usually a well heeled bunch, although not spending money is probably how they get and stay well heeled :nooidea:

Just a thought?
 

Jim

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A monkey is quite an amount, which probably is the biggest put off .. Thanks for putting this to the members David .. :thumbs:
 

Jimjam66

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Its funny how sometimes you don't think of the obvious until someone else suggests it - spurred on by Neil's comments I googled the show, only to find a string of hits along these lines.

:goesred::goesred::goesred:

Sorry I mentioned the show, let's all go back to what we were doing ...
 

Neil

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Jeepers - have you seen the pictures of that show? It looks gloomy, tatty - you could go on for ages! wonder if Handmade Spring will actually happen?
 

Jim

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Its funny how sometimes you don't think of the obvious until someone else suggests it - spurred on by Neil's comments I googled the show, only to find a string of hits along these lines.

:goesred::goesred::goesred:

Sorry I mentioned the show, let's all go back to what we were doing ...

Reading some of those comments it is unbelievable that people can get away with such advertising .. :rolling:
 

Neil

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What is even more distressing is that it seems TSA can't or won't do anything about it.

I've seen the bit about the Trading Standards on facebook and its a difficult one, Trading Standards deal with dodgy, counterfeit, dangerous or ill described goods, what was the issue here and who was sold what? Trading Standards aren't the people I would approach on these occasions, If there has been a direct lie, or the adverts clearly misrepresented what the punters or stall holders got for their cash. I know this is a bit brief, but they have no powers to insist that the organiser reimburse the stall holders, that would have to be, if not voluntarilly (SP??) by an order of the court. It is unlikely that Trading Standards would take action as the alledged offender is not a resident or resident trader and the problem will have gone away after that weekend.

I have seen one trader who obviously had more money than sense throw a small claims court action against an organiser, but the organiseer had scrubbed his web site and it was all a bit, he said that etc, pretty subjective and it was a case of good money after bad. If people keep their ear to the ground he wont be organising much more, his cv on Linkedin is a pathetic justification of a reported 20 year successful career in media event management.

One of the things that sounded the alarm bells for me was when I looked at his website, it said

"Of course selling stuff is important. But equally important is seeing and being seen. That’s why we invite retail buyers and talent and media scouts to Handmade’s events for free."

Anyone who makes and sells on this scale will not care a toss about retail scouts, he quite clearly is not in touch with his exhibtors! Important seeing and being seen??? cobblers, dont make an ounce of difference what events you are at, if anything being at that delapidated car boot sale can only do your image harm!
 
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