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With the loop ties if you are nervous about people getting them off,you could ask the customer if they’d like you to cut them off after purchase.

I know exactly how you feel. In the Uk toys have to be safely tested, so there's not a lot of them. I sell mostly clothing and wall hangings. I have been doing the same monthly market for 6 years. Someone new has taken it over and is squashing more and more stalks in. She has changed the layout for next month. I'm dreading it because my regulars know exactly where I usually am. I love your thermal printer. I must look into one.

I totally understand the frustration. I sell custom tumblers and was at an event a few weeks ago that had 265 vendors and at least 15 other tumbler booths. 2 of which were a few booths down from me. I made my table back and a few dollars more. I think going forward for me I'm going to make sure I know that the event coordinators are actually limiting the numbers of different vendors.

Thanks for sharing your opinion!! I have my first vendor event next weekend and hearing this is really eye opening! I have been watching your videos for a while now and have learned a lot already from you!

Thank you for the realness and honesty in this video!❤ It is so true, and I don’t hear many creators talking about the difficulties of this kind of business. For me, this s my full time job, but I am having the same issues. I Haven’t been making as much as I did in previous years at the same markets.

Good luck prepping for your market! I’m doing the same currently 😊 posting market prep videos every Monday until my event! 😊

I am so nervous about my next event. Not only did the coordinator admit she doesn’t keep track of what crafts are coming but we pick our own booth. It is great to pick you want a corner or not etc. but on the map only lists their personal name so all accountability is off the coordinator grrrrrr. It is a hometown event at my kids school so I am giving it one shot #cross fingers crossed

It is so much better to see a realistic point of view. I've got my 1st market coming up, and that's exactly what I've needed to hear. There is so much positivity to spread around with markets, which is absolutely fine, of course! But it adds so much pressure to it. Realistically, it's not always going to be a successful time. I'm sorry you're going through a sucky point in your markets, and I really hope business picks up for you 🤞💖

you can offer to remove the tag before bagging and just stick it in the bag loose. if the customer says no just say ok please use scissors to remove it. I feel your pain regarding the money back for your booking. Organisers take note, customer loyalty is a big part of market strategy and not allowing your customers to purchase as returning customers year after year is a big mistake. Markets thrive or collapse not just on customer attendance and your organisation skills should include consideration of previous years' success stories. DUH!! Sorry Manda just a wee vent of my own. I appreciate you!

I absolutely love talking to other crocheters at markets, especially when they are going out there trying to sell their creations! It's really inspiring to see what people make and to just socialize. On the other hand, nearly every event I have gone to recently, someone says something like "wow, crochet plushies are everywhere", which is honestly a bit frustrating, especially when others are pricing significantly lower than your items, or there are a dozen crocheters at one event. It's a really hard mental battle to fight, and kind of disheartening to see the market saturation. Thank you for sharing, hopefully your markets go well! ♥

I’ve been seeing a lot of other crochet plushie TH-camrs have declining sales as well. I think we’re at a peak of crochet plushies because everyone and their mother are selling them. It used to be that you can make anything and it would sell so you could just make a bunch of whatever you felt like making. HOWEVER- now that there is more competition you need to research what people want and stick to making those things. And you need to make them really well. So quality and uniqueness is important now too. Just a change in the market. But the market will naturally begin to eliminate a lot of crocheters because what they make won’t be able to compete and people will give up crocheting. And that will leave the diehard crocheters who love it, make the best quality items and are able to keep up with trends.

I have done markets with lots of crochet booths. Competition is great. Finding your talent will make you stand out.

Many crocheter have similar thoughts about the process of the amount of crocheters at the same event. I’m trying some higher priced vendor fees events and seeing if that helps with fewer repeat vendors. Hope it works. Love the Dracula!

I just had a event today and l didn’t do l terrible it was my 3rd market I would say l made 100-200 dollars and the most l have made was $547 l do live in a small town though and go to small towns to sell I fill the same way

I have never not had an event give priority to previous vendors. I assumed that was just standard practice, silly me. Have you considered niching? That's a good way to set yourself apart from other doing similar things. Lastly, if you make under a few 100k a year as a business you really learn to budget your money through out the year. It is always scary and feels like riding a roller coaster but it is doable. The majority of my income is made in Q4, that money stays in the bank and gets used sparingly through out the year. It's also essential to have multiple streams of income to help counter balance the lean times. But everyone has their own comfort levels with their finances, so I get it. They would have to drag me back to the "work force" kicking and screaming. XD Hang in there, you got this!

These bulb pins are amazing. I use them as stitch markers. After the plastic ones constantly smapping and me being a klutz pulling out my yarn, they are now my preferred stitch markers. Also the cable tie trick is amazing. I'd love to hear your thoughts about it after your market. Maybe take some corners with you, just in case. Loved the video and your thought on saturation of the market. I think it very much depends where you are. But i agree woth the others, diversifying is definitely the way to go. Or being unique in what you make. Maybe there is a niche within the niche, somehow.

I completely stopped doing events in the summer for it is just not worth it with the time and effort I put in to everything and then I wouldn't really make a positive profit, and hardly make my vendor fee. And I have been facing the opposite effect where organizers have no cut off and one event had about 8 (including myself) and the other one had 2 others.

Commenting to say I disagree

I instantly was like ✨ ooh new vlog area ✨ 😂

I have a tagging gun and I take scissors with to my market and I always ask if I can take the tag of for them. Those tags you have is definitely better and safer

You're vibe is so amazing! I love watching your videos 💜 (I'm horrible about taking after pictures of my events..lol) but! I do have some set up videos on my TH-cam (they're shorts, as I'm not sure of myself to do actual long filming..lol)

That vampire is awesome!!!! About craft shows, I think crocheting is a fad, and eventually will die away quietly until the next resurgence. I wore crochet long vests in the 70’s and get the chuckles that the granny square clothes are back. Even made a sweater for my granddaughter😂. I applied for a craft fair I have been a vendor before and was rejected because they had enough crocheters already but told I am on top of list for this year. It’s probably just as difficult for the organizers too as they get a lot of grief from some. Hopefully you will get into some other fair and do even better!

I wish that organizers would give preference to repeat vendors. If you have done a show for years, you shouldn't be the one let go.

My first market last year, someone saw all my crochet items, and then decided that they were going to start crocheting, and immediately just started making items that they saw me selling, for super low prices. They were definitely not selling quality, this person had JUST started crocheting, and it showed in their work. And bc we were in the same rural community, I was being undercut at a bunch of markets, where people didn't want to pay for this person's work bc it didn't look great, and didn't want to pay for my work bc this new person had a foot tall cow being sold for $15, so why would they buy mine for $30? And it's a real kicker because there wasn't anyone doing any crochet and selling it like mine in the area, I was in one of the few last places to not be oversaturated. I've since moved to a different province, and have started aiming for more fan conventions, and trying to make my work as original as possible, and staying 10,000 feet away from overly popular crochet designs because even people who aren't crochet booths are selling those items.

I too am frustrated with the market being over saturated,,, I bought another embroidery machine and have started doing zipper bags and some other small embroidery things to help me make sales when there are so many crochet peeps at events

I literally got denied a spot twice in the last couple months for the same reason, and it was shows that I’ve done regularly, so it was a little disheartening so I totally get it. I’ve had this thought for a while now, how it kinda honestly sucks that it’s become so popular, for this exact reason. Thanks for your honesty! ❤ that being said I do get excited for friends who get into crochet, so it’s not that I’m hating on new crocheters.. Js lol

yeah i felt everything. idk why they have to keep accepting so much or even lie about it. i got lied about it one day n shifted to making things for crocheters , not even 2 days later someone who followed me ( had to remove them from following ) they suddenly wanted to sell things for crocheters too. i found to be really picky with events n accept that with certain amount of vendors , it's okay that there is gonna be some of us but shouldn't be A LOT

I love my Munbyn! Also I definitely appreciate the rant, it's good to see all sides of a crochet business. I agree about the oversaturation of the plushie market, which is why I'm trying to have 75% of my table not be plushies. But I target a different demographic than you. Also, you could offer to cut off the tag when someone buys a plushie!

Hi! I DMed you on instagram yesterday. I love all of your content so much. Speaking of difficulty with markets, I am having a hard time finding markets in the Philly/South Jersey area and I have only worked one other market so far. I know you mentioned you keep a list of markets that you do well at. Is there any way you could share some markets that you've had great experiences at? :)

I use clothing tags from amazon to hold my price tag. You can actually pull them apart and reuse them. Kids would have trouble and could still rip the plushie, but parents don't seem to have an issue and I offer to remove the tag while they are purchasing. I use amazon australia, but this is what they are called "clothing price tag bullet head swing tags labelling string lock ties twine". I am also finding it more difficult in Australia selling amigurumi. Some events don't have a saturation policy and they are too many of the one stall. I try to stick with a company that won't allow more than 2 of the same stall type. Of course that means I don't always get approved, but all we can do is try right.

I think with any business you need diversification. The crocheters who are doing well have multiple streams of income, such as patterns, sponsorships, online courses, etc. I agree craft shows especially outdoor ones can be unpredictable and there are definitely more plushie crochet booths than before. You are smart not to quit your day job, as crocheting has always pretty much been a hobby for most as production is limited. However, I am seeing more and more who are adding other products to sell beside crochet, such as stickers, glasses, mugs, tshirts, etc. THey also have online stores, so maybe that might be something you want to look into. Good luck going forward and keep going we love you and your video journey! <3

I love your vids. Keep going hun. It’s good to show all aspects of the business. It must be so frustrating for you but you’re good at it so keep plugging away xx

I’m glad you are learning new ways to price and set up your plushies. I don’t think you are ranting and complaining. Good luck with your market!

Kudos to you for sharing the realities and unpredictable outcomes that come with selling. Love all your stuff and sending positive energy that the markets start turning around for you 💞

I was thinking of you today when I saw this set-up with sports nets as a side wall to peg things on at a market. I'll link the video but it is a long one but basically just wanted to show you how she set up the net wall and that it just folds up and is very lightweight. It's probably not what you're looking for right now but the concept is awesome and good info for future ideas th-cam.com/video/9SaXsm8d5QE/w-d-xo.html

I wouldn’t worry too much about how they will get the plastic ties off of the amigurumi, when I worked at Walmart we used those and kids had no issues removing them😂 I feel like it’s a good thing there are new people selling their plushies but, at the same time , it could become over saturated. I’ve been crocheting for 10yrs and doing Ami for 2yrs, I just started my TH-cam channel two months ago but, I’ve noticed more and more crocheting channels as well as new sellers at markets. I’ve only done markets for 5yrs.

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I love him ❤

Love this short video love the vampire you made so 😊

I LOVE your transparency and breakdowns ❤

I actually set up next to another crochet artist on purpose last week (were really good friends have different styles) and It helped draw a huge crowd for both of us for the whole market. However having more than 3 of a kind at markets is messed up and it’s 100% a method coordinators do to sell more spaces and make more money. I stay away from those markets and call them out constantly 😂

Thank you… Going to make some this weekend!!! You’re so sweet.

instagram.com/p/C-SvQo6ORVq/?igsh=MTR5MDdwcTllcjRxNA==

What pattern did you use for the dogs and cats on your front table?

That is SO CUTE! ☺️🩸🧛🏻‍♀️

From my experience I've always done well at events with other crocheters and honestly the events where I was the only one were some of my worst (my minimum to consider something a good market is 500 usd for reference) i think everyone can win in this craft and your attitude about the situation can greatly affect sales.

So sweet!!

Girl you are cracking me up! I’m referring to the sonogram picture😂of course he’s your son! All our pets are our children!!

He's is cute

Awesome!!