My 2nd Crochet Market RESULTS | How Much I Made, Best Sellers, and Resale & Fake Crochet Vendors?
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- čas přidán 4. 07. 2024
- Well, this market was interesting and unexpected 😂 I had a decent yet slightly disappointing outcome, but I am very grateful and glad for the learning experience and profit! 😊🧶🫶🏼
00:00 Intro/General Overview of Market
03:00 My Experience
06:22 How Much I Made, Best Sellers, Etc.
14:47 What I Think Went Wrong
26:09 What I'll Be Doing Differently in the Future
30:54 Outro
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It’s so frustrating when “handmade markets” allow MLM’s and boutique resellers. I did an artisan market a couple weeks ago (totally marketed as handmade, local artists) had quite a few MLM’s. I just don’t get it lol
I don’t either, especially because it harms the integrity of the market itself and would discourage handmade business owners to participate in their “handmade” market. Like it’s not helping the market so why do it?? 🤦♀️
It’s definitely so hard to judge on what the best sellers will be because each market can turn out so different from the last. For me when I was doing my first markets chicken nuggets where one of my most popular items so I made a bunch of them and then didn’t sell any for weeks 😅 I’ve now got a bargain bin with a bunch of reduced items that I just want to get rid of haha
Ah that is so frustrating!! Hopefully they’ll start to sell again for you!! 🤞🏼
I have questioned the same thing about having too many options, but I can tell you the markets I have done that are more conservative or smaller areas, I have less variety and I have far less interest. It goes from the average 60% of people walking by AND purchasing down to about 40% even coming into my spot to look. Vertical displays are key, similar items together...whether that's price, use, creature, color, etc. Markets are just a whole new learning curve!!! Keep going. This is only your second market. I just did my 7th after starting my business in August....and I have over 300 sales just from those 3 markets (one was a complete bust because a massive storm came in and we had only 10 people turn up just before hahaha) and I"m STILL learning SO much. And it is so crazy to see how things can sell out one market and then the next, not even one sells. You can't predict it! Also, stay firm with your prices. Just because it doesn't sell in a few markets, doesn't mean it won't. The item is just waiting for the right home. Really. So I've only done our farmer's market a couple of times, the history museum (what?? and it actually was my median market for sales and take-home....was NOT expecting that!), and then we have this huge group of alternative vendors that do shows every month or so. This last one was 85 vendors and I had a comma in my sales total. So don't give up. I actually took your advice for the goals and it has been amazing! That history museum one threw me for a loop...exceeded my "best" goal lol. Keep bringing a variety of things, it's great because it will then appeal to a much larger crowd. Honestly, most of my plushies sell to adults to buy them for themself....no joke.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience & encouragement!! It’s nice to hear that other vendors are going through similar things and still find success! 🫶🏼
I’m a new vendor too, just had my first show with my sewn items. I pulled out some scraps and started hand sewing them while waiting for customers but made sure to keep interacting also. I know I like to see a vendor “making” so I know they’re selling their own art made with their own hands. I did make sales, not sure if the visual helped, but for sure “making” helped keep my anxiety down! ☺️ Keep up the hard work, and the research you’re doing, and thank you for the support for us out here. You’ll do great!
I like to crochet a bit during markets too, when it’s a bit slow!! Thank you!! 🫶🏼
Resale starts sounding more like a flea market. People go to those to get cheaper items. Definitely one to avoid unless you know your gonna get good foot traffic and not many of the same vendor. I do agree that fewer items may help with people looking and buying. Like pick the person you want to sell for and you will find your person if you keep at it.
I totally agree! Flea market is a good way to describe it. I'll definitely be avoiding resale/non-juried markets from now, it's just not worth the time that goes into participating in markets for me.
I totally understand the desire to be unique! I don’t want to go to any of my markets and see multiple fiber artist selling leggy frogs and myself as well because somebody is just going to buy whoever is selling theirs the cheapest or not see it as unique and worth purchasing. I have been searching far and wide for patterns that I don’t see very often and that are likely underrated and focusing on those as well as some of the popular stuff sprinkled in. I’m hoping to create my own patterns in the future in my own style that will set me apart. I hope to someday sell patterns but also keep some for myself to maintain that originality.
I've been looking for patterns that I don't see everywhere too, but I did cave and make some mushy-pops for my upcoming market. ;)
I feel that too!! Sometimes best sellers can be very popular patterns & multiple vendors sell it. It’s an advantage & a disadvantage 😅
Am surprised the air pod cases didn’t sell. I thought that one would have been a winner. I wouldn’t make any big changes to what you sell. Just based off of this market alone. As it doesn’t seem like it’s the correct market for you. Good luck for your market in December.
I thought so too! I had no buyers for them at all 🥲
Just a couple of things to think about. I’ve been doing markets which we call craft fairs in New England😂 for a while now. The same ones actually for years and my experience is that it always changes as far as your product. I started with just fingerless mittens and paper crafts to now crochet and sewn items with little amount of the paper things. I would say keep plugging away but don’t make changes to drastically. Your generation for sure likes the accessories. This year I have bag/purses to try out. You will go nuts trying to figure out what people are thinking year after year!! I do think this market isn’t the one to have you change up things just yet. But I love how you are researching/planning how you want to move forward!! TFS
Thank you for sharing your experience & some encouragement!! I think you’re right, it’ll just take some trial & error to figure out what items my customers really like.
My niece asked me for 5 emotional support pickles for her coworkers for Christmas. Now I need to find the right green color in my stash. Hopefully. Lol
They turned out to be one of my best sellers this year!! Who knew everyone loved them so much 😆
I would love to see a bit of your setup, perhaps there is a way to keep your large range, and make sure your color selections that are visible/markets are well grouped and tell a great story. Keep it up! I am doing my first one in November, that I am already regretting a bit, because I didnt do my research in advance, and I know its going to have MLMs/Direct sales. - so we will see how it goes.
I shared a bit of my setup in my most recent market prep video & I also share on Instagram! I will post some pictures on here though. 😊 how did your market go??
i've been doing markets since march and only one of my beanies had sold and it was a candy corn colored beanie !! im hoping better luck for next year!
Beanies were a big hit for me either this year, which was surprising!! I’m hoping that too 😅
Omg, same thing happened to me with my pumpkins 😂 I only sold one mini pumpkin and I don’t have a market until Dece,bear, so I guess those will become gifts for friends and family😅
Isn’t that so weird?? Like I thought it was pumpkin season 🧐 I’ll be saving the 27 pumpkins I have for next year 😂
I brought pumpkins to my October market and none of mine sold. I understand the frustration.
So frustrating!!! They are such cute decor & gifts, I really can’t explain why they didn’t sell 😢
I've noticed that a lot of the vendor events that I have been to have been MLM and resellers too. I think it's just how they are at some of them.
You’re totally right! I found a market that explicitly stated “no MLMs & resellers” & had a LOT more luck at that one than other markets I did that allowed them. It’s worth holding out for those handmade only markets!
how do you spot resellers, especially those who buy cheaply from say temu and resell as their own? i wouldn't want to give my money to people like that when i go browse at a market
also i feel like you dont have to be so concerned about being ~unique~, this market is kinda exceptionally bad and not really worth re-evaluating yourself over
Most of the time, reseller's prices are SUPER low. Like one a couple bucks for a crochet plushie. Perhaps I can make a video on how to spot them once market season picks back up again! Thank you for your kind reminder, this market really did make me question what I've been working on, but you're right! This market was not really meant for me.
I had no idea people do the crochet reselling. That’s ridiculous and disappointing.
Yeah, it really affects the creators who don't resell. Disappointing for sure!
market sounds awful. let the buyer (of the booth space) beware.
Yeah, I won't be going back to that one 😅
Definitely, don't do a market like that.
I never will again! 😂
Keep making what you enjoy making, you don’t need to narrow it down. 🧶
Thank you Peggy! 🫶🏼