Attended a craft fair today

[Steve68]

This was my third craft fair and I've done pretty well at all three. The thing I find strange is that I sell mainly slimline pens, rarely do I sell a Zeta, Epsilon, Sierra, Cigar or similar. In fact at all three fairs I've sold just one Epsilon, all the rest have been slims. I don't think my pens are overpriced and compared to many I've seen for sale on the usual social media and auction sites, I'm half price or less in most cases. My profit margin is basically nothing as it's my hobby not a business.
Is it because the slimline is a much more "accepted pen shape" perhaps?

 

[yorkshireman]

Years ago, before I started turning pens, I used to visit these craft fairs and look at the nice work but ‘scandalous’ prices. Now I visit a craft fair, look at the nice work and think - he’s not making any money at those prices.
Folks don’t appreciate the time and costs in making a pen unfortunately. Don’t give up Steven and don’t give your pens away!

 

[Penpal]

The age old question low margin high turnover etc. With the initial cost being so low 30 of our dollars is high enough. Beaut to sense the demand. Glad you profited and came out smiling mate.

Peter.

 

[wm460]

Find a price that you make some money to recuperate your cost and dont go below that.

 

[Frederick]

Hello Steven,

I wouldn't know how to sell my pens. I give most of mine away. I have Acrylic pens that I have cast with shredded B of E notes which I think have turned out OK. I even sent one to the Bank of England as a gift. I now have many and should really get rid of some. My question is, how much do you have to pay for a "patch" at a craft fair? I am sure it varies, but I am try to ascertain the average cost. I don't want to make loads of money; just cover my costs a little so I can buy more. Vicious circle

Regards etc

 

[Steve68]

I pay between six and 10 pounds for a table at a fair. I sell my slimlines for between 6 & 8 pounds each in a velvet pouch. Zeta's, epsilons, Sierra's and cigars are between 10 and 12 pounds depending on the materials. Obviously if I were to use expensive exotic woods or high end acrylic blanks then the price would alter to cover costs, but I'm talking about your run of the mill acrylic blanks etc.
I'm surprised how many people tell me that "no one really uses pens any more." Really?????? Do they sign greetings cards in blood? Maybe I'm just old fashioned but I use a pen. I understand what they mean in the respect of social media means we keep in touch in a digital manner these days. But a pen (I think) is as much a personal gift as a writing instrument. Maybe I really am just old fashioned?

 

[Gadget-UK]

Not done a fair yet but my son is determined to get me on one next year
He has a done a few this year and sold a lot of the pens I have made, average price for epsilon, sierra etc between £20 & £25, Slim lines for £10 to £15, Boxes extra but each pen has a velvet (type) sleeve.

He also sells other things, pots, bowls, Light Stands, Glasses (wooden stems) along with other things we / he / me make

He covers his costs, make an average £300 to £500 each time he goes out but pitch fees are more expensive, small fairs are about £25 and the larger ones can be anything from £50 up to £100

We are thinking of taking a small lathe to one of the Craft Fairs and make pens there..... We shall see

 

[Ray7756]

Not done a fair yet but my son is determined to get me on one next year
He has a done a few this year and sold a lot of the pens I have made, average price for epsilon, sierra etc between £20 & £25, Slim lines for £10 to £15, Boxes extra

We are thinking of taking a small lathe to one of the Craft Fairs and make pens there..... We shall see

Check out the insurance requirements for you to have a running lathe in a public place,, HSE risk assesments etc etc, its a great idea but think it will be a non runner, or prohibitavely expensive
Cheers
Ray

 

[Steve68]

I've been told I can't have a lathe with me due to H&S. Also we have to have a public liability insurance to attend many fairs. Not sure what damage a pen is going to do to someone but these days I suppose anything's a weapon.

Even at my prices I haven't made much but I suppose it depends on where you go. We have a big Christmas fair coming up soon so I have high hopes for that one.

 

[Gadget-UK]

Check out the insurance requirements for you to have a running lathe in a public place,, HSE risk assesments etc etc, its a great idea but think it will be a non runner, or prohibitavely expensive
Cheers
Ray

Oh the joys of Risk Assessments, Method Statements, Insurance etc etc
My day job is an advisor to the HSE I am a Health & Safety Officer, classed as an “Expert Witness” in the eyes of the courts (NOT as grand as it sounds Belive me)

I have spoken to a number of fairs and it’s not an issue having a lathe on site and using it, the lathe would need to be behind a screen and not accessible by the public (sort of enclosed), not an issue as I can make a clear Perspex enclosure.
Insurance can be a nightmare but as I deal with this most of the time, I can adjust my own, Indemnity, Professional and Public Liability Insurance to suit at little extra cost

Would be able to do this indoors with some major alterations but outside on a pitch would not be a problem.
As this is going to be next year, I will keep you updated on how it goes, how we do and what the outcome is

 

[Penpal]

You could preturn and prepare,finish the blanks and assemble at the stall when no one could really object surely.

Peter.

 

[Gadget-UK]

That’s always an option Penpal but what gave me the idea of a small lathe was from last Xmas at the Berlin Xmas Fair.
Chap had a stall, just selling pens, he had a lathe set up and was turning pens, difficult getting close due to the amount of people watching.
My daughter in law (she is from Berlin) explained that this is normal practice, people like to see things being made, she did ask and he had sold over 300+ pens in 2 days, its the only fair he does and it keeps him going all year just creating the pens for the next Xmas fair.
Average pen price €40

 

[Ray7756]

That’s always an option Penpal but what gave me the idea of a small lathe was from last Xmas at the Berlin Xmas Fair.
Chap had a stall, just selling pens, he had a lathe set up and was turning pens, difficult getting close due to the amount of people watching.
My daughter in law (she is from Berlin) explained that this is normal practice, people like to see things being made, she did ask and he had sold over 300+ pens in 2 days, its the only fair he does and it keeps him going all year just creating the pens for the next Xmas fair.
Average pen price €40

This is normal practice in Berlin ,,,,, we are all in europe, so are all governed by the same rules hse etc ,,, only difference is uk is the only one that sticks to the rules, and it costs us a fortune,, lets get the heck out of the EU and get common sense reinstated, coz at the moment we are screwing ourselfs
Ray

 

[Gregory Hardy]

I am just returning from a weekend show - set up Friday night, show Saturday and Sunday. I didn't have a stellar weekend by any stretch of the imagination, but the cheapest pen I sold was about $75 (approximately 58 GBP) and several were $125 (96 GBP). Half the pens were fountain pens. I had other choices, but these were what I actually sold...because I was "selling them." (Please keep in mind that I live in a VERY impoverished area. I spent most of the weekend watching people with more tattoos than teeth walk past to get to the sausage vendor - this was not a "high dollar crowd!".) When someone stopped, I viewed it as teachable moment, took the time to show them the difference between a Sierra and a Sirocco (a cheap kit and a quality one respectively) and nice pens sold. I will probably sell two or three of my custom (kitless) pens in the $250 range because I took the time to talk about the difference between a good pen and a great pen. I won't enter into a discussion of pricing. My only point is that penmakers on any level can, in fact, start to create a market for themselves that does NOT include "working for free" and DOES include selling a better pen to someone who might have been looking at a lesser-grade pen, thereby doing your customer (and yourself) a favor. If you are looking for volume sales, bang out cheap kits and sell them for nothing. I propose that there is a different business model that seems to work.
(Postscript: Another vendor was selling pens too. He spent most of his time at my booth complaining because people wouldn't buy his slimline maple pens for $10 (7 GBP). He was really too busy selling scroll saw art - which, by the way, was brilliant, and I am envious. While he "didn't sell" cheaper pens without teaching folks about the difference between pens, I sold pens, because I "sold pens")
End of sermon. Let he who hath ears listen.
Pax Vobiscum.

 

[Bammer]

I just wrote a long reply to this thread but decided I was being too critical. I would upset people.

 

[Steve68]

I just wrote a long reply to this thread but decided I was being too critical. I would upset people.

I for one can assure you that I wouldn't get offended mate. I'm very much open to constructive criticism

 

[Bammer]

I pay between six and 10 pounds for a table at a fair. I sell my slimlines for between 6 & 8 pounds each in a velvet pouch. Zeta's, epsilons, Sierra's and cigars are between 10 and 12 pounds depending on the materials. Obviously if I were to use expensive exotic woods or high end acrylic blanks then the price would alter to cover costs, but I'm talking about your run of the mill acrylic blanks etc.
I'm surprised how many people tell me that "no one really uses pens any more." Really?????? Do they sign greetings cards in blood? Maybe I'm just old fashioned but I use a pen. I understand what they mean in the respect of social media means we keep in touch in a digital manner these days. But a pen (I think) is as much a personal gift as a writing instrument. Maybe I really am just old fashioned?

OK Steve, you asked for it ..

Your prices are bloody ridiculous.

Steve, it seems to me you haven't thought it through at all. You are selling handmade wooden pens ... for £6 ... can't be that special then can it ? Zeta's, that take half the amount of time for a £10 ...

You have to think about what these actually cost you. Kit, Blank, velvet pouch, finishing products, sand paper, wear and tear on tools and machinery, electricity, display set up, fuel to get to these fairs, pitch fee, probably buy a coffee or 2, insurance.

Plus you haven't calculated in the time it takes you ....

Steve, these fair's are costing you money .....

if you take the easy bit, slimline, say kit for £2 + £3 for a blank .. so out of that £1 profit you got to pay for everything else, oh yeah, you giving a velvet pouch with a pen, .50p say, so now your down to 50p to pay for everything. .... can you see what I'm getting at ?

Selling cheap because you are a hobbyist is fine, but you are not doing yourself any favours.

People may think you are selling cheap because they are cheap.

What's a "run of the mill acrylic blank" cost you ?


Now, this is just my opinion and please don't be offended, I'm just trying to be constructive in my own neanderthal way

Brad

 

[Steve68]

No offence taken at all Brad. To be honest I can see nothing offensive in your post, just an honest opinion mate

My wood pens are cheap because I get the slimline kits in bulk from abroad and they literally cost me pennies. The non exotic wood I get extremely cheap or free.
Run of the mill blanks are a couple of quid from pencrafts. I pay between five and six pounds for a Zeta / Epsilon kit and usually buy a better blank for them.

Reading your comment I believe you are correct. My time I don't factor in as it's a hobby but I think you are spot on. I will have to re-jig a little

It often takes someone to point out the glaringly obvious.