the discussion of full time crocheters vs hobby crocheters hits hard. i crochet full time and do markets and am also often outpriced by smaller booths with much cheaper prices :-(
If it makes you feel any better, my worst show had a $40 fee, and I sold NOTHING. Throughout the day, I'd say there were less than 20 customers who walked through the show. The organizer did NO advertising. It was in a hotel conference room, and there wasn't even a sign in the lobby directing guests to the craft show. Never doing shows by that organizer again!
wow, i'd be fuming mad. i'm so sorry you had this experience! i have a full time job but i crochet a lot and probably charge less than i should ONLY bc i *have* to sell my stuff or i simply cannot crochet anymore. regardless of the pricing though, you are spot on that they should have figured out what was going to be sold and limited those vendors or at least be upfront and tell you there are X amount of other crocheters. i honestly think i would ask for some $ back. i mean, you didn't even break even if you consider the TIME you had to sit there, the TIME it took you to load and unload... OMG i'm getting even more upset as i'm typing!
Yes I’m so mad! I absolutely don’t blame hobby crocheters who charge less, as anyone can charge what they want, it’s just that I was surrounded by so many of them! 😭
THANK YOU for pricing your plushies Accordingly!! Makers who price too low hurt those (like you and I) who need to properly account for their time. I am so sorry about this market. I would not work with that coordinator again. All that said your plushies are beautiful!
Welcome to Ontario. So many crocheters are doing amigurumi and plushies. Try not to be disheartened. Mall "craft" shows really have not been doing well and usually the organizers of them are in it for their own profit only. I do craft shows and markets as well. The warmer weather is coming and with it outdoor events that attract tourists, families and kids. It will get better. If I could offer one small but of advise, perhaps offer a bit wider selection of crocheted items to attract the "I don't have any kids to buy for " crowd.
I have been thinking about finding craft market is my area. Have been thinking about making my niche as wearables and/or household (ex. washcloths, scrubbiness, shawls, baby items and cardigans). Have noticed some are juried q/markets. Here they limit multiples of the same craft to ensure that vendors do not go what you have seen at this particular market. How do go through the selection process for signing up for craft market/shows? Have you applied for juried craft market/shows? Do you talk to the organizers of a craft market/show prior to signing up to see how many other crocheters in you niche they may already have or plan on letting into the event? What are your thoughts of juried to non-juried market/shows? I know that with the juried shows they may only let one or two in an event if different products are made (example crocheters that make totally different products plushies/amigurumi to wearables/household). Non-jured whereas they will accept multiple venders making the same or similar products. What are some other tips can you give when selecting the right market/show venue?
Hey, I have definitely learned my lesson to always ask if they will limit similar vendors. I have always been to juried shows where they do limit similar vendors which is why I didn’t think to ask. I think juried shows are much better as they try to ensure success for each vendor. When they don’t limit similar vendors it makes me think they accept anyone willing to pay for a table, to pocket that money themselves.
@@CrochetCustoms thanks for your response. I can understand where you are coming from where the organizers are wanting to pocket the money. I would not mind if someone else would do plushies/amigurumi and I do what was mentioned in above comment. Too me that would be fair.
I have been having a hard time getting into markets as most of them already have a crocheter. So buy not getting in I am not making money. Looks like the market is getting saturated with plushies.
You must account for the economy so pricing higher to pay yourself doesn't always work. You could have had a "sale" to help break even with the booth fee. Think about of time you actually wasted by not selling, and price accordingly to that particular market... less "loss", so to speak.
That's very wrong attitude. If she would drop her prices, she would have to sell twice more items to make same 60 dollars. She would still waste her time at the market, moreover, she would have to spend twice more time at home making those plushies. If the economy is good enough to pay any other worker, it's good enough to pay crafters. You don't go to a restaurant expecting to pay less for your food and service because of the economy. Waiters get their salary despite the economy. Why should it be different for crafters? It's not the pricing that's a problem, it's people's mentality.
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This is one big reason I don't spend much time making plushies. I love them but I like making practical things more.
Plushies have always been selling more for me. I have made wearables and things that have a use, but they never really sold 😢
the discussion of full time crocheters vs hobby crocheters hits hard. i crochet full time and do markets and am also often outpriced by smaller booths with much cheaper prices :-(
If it makes you feel any better, my worst show had a $40 fee, and I sold NOTHING. Throughout the day, I'd say there were less than 20 customers who walked through the show. The organizer did NO advertising. It was in a hotel conference room, and there wasn't even a sign in the lobby directing guests to the craft show. Never doing shows by that organizer again!
Omg!! Some people are clearly hosting these shows just to pocket some money 😢
Ughhh I’d be Mad. It’s happened to me before. 😖
wow, i'd be fuming mad. i'm so sorry you had this experience! i have a full time job but i crochet a lot and probably charge less than i should ONLY bc i *have* to sell my stuff or i simply cannot crochet anymore. regardless of the pricing though, you are spot on that they should have figured out what was going to be sold and limited those vendors or at least be upfront and tell you there are X amount of other crocheters. i honestly think i would ask for some $ back. i mean, you didn't even break even if you consider the TIME you had to sit there, the TIME it took you to load and unload... OMG i'm getting even more upset as i'm typing!
Yes I’m so mad! I absolutely don’t blame hobby crocheters who charge less, as anyone can charge what they want, it’s just that I was surrounded by so many of them! 😭
Nooo! Having a failed market is so discouraging!
THANK YOU for pricing your plushies Accordingly!! Makers who price too low hurt those (like you and I) who need to properly account for their time.
I am so sorry about this market. I would not work with that coordinator again.
All that said your plushies are beautiful!
Thank you!!
It's not like we can force the hobbyists to stop. They're also entitled to doing what they enjoy.
Or the organizer could have told you and let you decide.
This is what uk markets are like lol
Welcome to Ontario. So many crocheters are doing amigurumi and plushies. Try not to be disheartened. Mall "craft" shows really have not been doing well and usually the organizers of them are in it for their own profit only. I do craft shows and markets as well. The warmer weather is coming and with it outdoor events that attract tourists, families and kids. It will get better. If I could offer one small but of advise, perhaps offer a bit wider selection of crocheted items to attract the "I don't have any kids to buy for " crowd.
Thank you so much! I’m definitely excited for the warmer weather 😊
I have been thinking about finding craft market is my area. Have been thinking about making my niche as wearables and/or household (ex. washcloths, scrubbiness, shawls, baby items and cardigans). Have noticed some are juried q/markets. Here they limit multiples of the same craft to ensure that vendors do not go what you have seen at this particular market.
How do go through the selection process for signing up for craft market/shows? Have you applied for juried craft market/shows? Do you talk to the organizers of a craft market/show prior to signing up to see how many other crocheters in you niche they may already have or plan on letting into the event? What are your thoughts of juried to non-juried market/shows? I know that with the juried shows they may only let one or two in an event if different products are made (example crocheters that make totally different products plushies/amigurumi to wearables/household). Non-jured whereas they will accept multiple venders making the same or similar products. What are some other tips can you give when selecting the right market/show venue?
Hey, I have definitely learned my lesson to always ask if they will limit similar vendors. I have always been to juried shows where they do limit similar vendors which is why I didn’t think to ask. I think juried shows are much better as they try to ensure success for each vendor. When they don’t limit similar vendors it makes me think they accept anyone willing to pay for a table, to pocket that money themselves.
@@CrochetCustoms thanks for your response. I can understand where you are coming from where the organizers are wanting to pocket the money. I would not mind if someone else would do plushies/amigurumi and I do what was mentioned in above comment. Too me that would be fair.
I have been having a hard time getting into markets as most of them already have a crocheter. So buy not getting in I am not making money. Looks like the market is getting saturated with plushies.
Yes, I find everyone started crocheting with the goal of making extra money
Same here! I think everyone is hopping on the crochet train.
You must account for the economy so pricing higher to pay yourself doesn't always work. You could have had a "sale" to help break even with the booth fee. Think about of time you actually wasted by not selling, and price accordingly to that particular market... less "loss", so to speak.
That's very wrong attitude. If she would drop her prices, she would have to sell twice more items to make same 60 dollars. She would still waste her time at the market, moreover, she would have to spend twice more time at home making those plushies.
If the economy is good enough to pay any other worker, it's good enough to pay crafters. You don't go to a restaurant expecting to pay less for your food and service because of the economy. Waiters get their salary despite the economy. Why should it be different for crafters?
It's not the pricing that's a problem, it's people's mentality.
you should ask for at least part of your money back and explain why.
That’s awful :( not a good organizer at all!
I guess my lesson is learned!
@@CrochetCustoms the lesson to be learned should be the organizer and not the artist
@@MoniqueinCanada true, now I’m always gonna ask if they limit similar vendors