Points for a perfect hair flip. Me and Mum used to do the craft show circuit in the 80's - small suggestion for the patterns. Fan some out around the box that is holding them; making sure to leave 'flip space' in the box holding the rest of the patterns. People get right weird about flipping through things in boxes... display it so that it's artfully partially deconstructed and people suddenly have permission to flip through. People are weird. Don't know why. They just are. Any fair where you earn back your booth fee is a win. You never get paid for your time. Agreed that it's all about the public feedback and outreach. And these days just seeing people in 3D is a serious win. Well done. - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi
I sold from booths every summer for many years and discovered a few tricks. In your case, I would make up two or three dresses from your vintage patterns and hang "sold" tags on them so you won't lose your window dressing. A few summer hats from the 50s could be scattered around too. If you have a few items that aren't directly related to what you're selling, that also attracts browsers. It can be something as simple as a fishbowl of colorful saltwater taffy, 2 for a dime. Cheap paper fans would be great in Florida. These little impulse buys get people to open their wallets, prime the pump, so to speak. Have something interesting to do with your hands, being busy with a small project is better than staring at people. Dress like a seamstress, bright tape measure around the neck, wrist pincushion, cobbler's apron, etc. I used to spritz the air with what I called "money spray". It was a very high quality pine scent used by florists at Christmastime. Folks would get a whiff, slow down and linger without consciously knowing why. If you could find some flashy color photos from vintage fashion magazines, make copies, laminate and hang them strategically, these will also get older customers to stop and chat. Label your plus sizes prominently. You'll think of more things as business picks up. Watch what the big sellers ($1000+) do and copy their ideas shamelessly.
I used to help a friend run her jewelry booth back in the dark ages before ETSY. They were SO inconsistent with what people were after. Sometimes, every necklace would sell. Next year, just earrings, the year after Goth Stuff. She started keeping extra of EVERYTHING in her car, to refill the booth with as the day went on.
So interesting to see all the behind the scenes! I roast alive in Canadian summers so I will not dare to imagine Floridian (is that right?!?) summers. Thanks for taking us along
Love the lipstick! Anytime you’re self-employed, people think you make a lot more than you do. I was in real estate 10 years ago and the minimum per month just to BE a realtor was $1500 a month with fees and memberships, advertising, etc. There was a time I had took a part time job to support my full time job. I decided one day that it just wasn’t worth it. At least you learned what sells well and cam maybe streamline your inventory for the next one.
LOVE the tableclothes. I would have purchased them if I had been there. Hey, it was snowing and cold here, so I wish I had been there roasting along with you.
THANK YOU for explaining the cost (physical & financial and mental) to running a booth. Been doing it for over 20 years. Folks that jump into it really get a wake up call. My vintage fabric & patterns & clothing has to be sold at a venue that draws the right demographic. Once you figure that out then you can be more selective with your time and energy. OH, as for the heat and sticky of Florida. That is one of the #1 reasons I no longer live there and only visit if I have to. This body hates heat.
Oh, the joys of vending. As cool as I think what you do is, I will leave it to you and go back to my nice air-conditioned office lol. This was a good reminder of why I leave it to the pros. :)
I saw your thumbnail and proceeded to have Miss Piggy singing "Tropical Heat Wave" in my head all day. (Probably because we messaged about Miss Piggy the other day.) Had to you tube it and show my 16 year old son the video, he wasn't impressed but then I showed him "Put the lime in the coconut" - Homeschool wins.
Im glad I got to meet you! Sorry I was too shy to bring up being a subscriber but I'm excited about making a dress out of that green check rayon! I appreciate all the effort you put in to come on out.
It’s always a pleasure to see you, Stephanie!! 🤩 thanks for the shoutout 😁 thanks for breaking it all down, it was really interesting and good for any aspiring vintage sellers out there!
Events are always an adventure. I did four this year and mostly selling vintage glasses! Yup we are the last to leave as have to wrap it all and pack back in my sturdy storage bins. But like you I love chatting with people about the treasures I’m selling!
Think that you would have sold more dressed if they were placed according to colour? I was desperate to go and look at your Christmas theme stuff. Birdy
I am very very tempted by that skating fabric . . . but then again I still haven't worn my last couple of edge-print / tablecloth skirts that I made yet . . .
The banjos really made me laugh. Also, the fact that you listened to them all...day...long!!! I wish I was in Florida and could have visited your booth. I would have loved the fabric, patterns, and trim!!!
A couple summers ago I looked into a booth at a fair, and all the fees absolutely killed it. The car stuff, sounds like if you're going to be doing a lot of fairs, it would be worth getting a trailer.
How am I able to purchase, or even look through your stash of pattern. Tried to find them online but no luck. Love you show, by the way, wonderful stuff, thank you X x
Hi Ann! I have my shop linked to my UA-cam channel, but if for some reason it isn’t working you can find all the patterns I have available at www.backroomfinds.com
Points for a perfect hair flip. Me and Mum used to do the craft show circuit in the 80's - small suggestion for the patterns. Fan some out around the box that is holding them; making sure to leave 'flip space' in the box holding the rest of the patterns. People get right weird about flipping through things in boxes... display it so that it's artfully partially deconstructed and people suddenly have permission to flip through. People are weird. Don't know why. They just are.
Any fair where you earn back your booth fee is a win. You never get paid for your time. Agreed that it's all about the public feedback and outreach. And these days just seeing people in 3D is a serious win. Well done.
- Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi
I sold from booths every summer for many years and discovered a few tricks. In your case, I would make up two or three dresses from your vintage patterns and hang "sold" tags on them so you won't lose your window dressing. A few summer hats from the 50s could be scattered around too. If you have a few items that aren't directly related to what you're selling, that also attracts browsers. It can be something as simple as a fishbowl of colorful saltwater taffy, 2 for a dime. Cheap paper fans would be great in Florida. These little impulse buys get people to open their wallets, prime the pump, so to speak.
Have something interesting to do with your hands, being busy with a small project is better than staring at people. Dress like a seamstress, bright tape measure around the neck, wrist pincushion, cobbler's apron, etc. I used to spritz the air with what I called "money spray". It was a very high quality pine scent used by florists at Christmastime. Folks would get a whiff, slow down and linger without consciously knowing why. If you could find some flashy color photos from vintage fashion magazines, make copies, laminate and hang them strategically, these will also get older customers to stop and chat. Label your plus sizes prominently. You'll think of more things as business picks up. Watch what the big sellers ($1000+) do and copy their ideas shamelessly.
Yeah... If your metrics get weird, it's because I'm linking people to this video every time that someone says that I need to sell my craft projects.
Oh now THAT made me laugh!! Link away!
Very realistic review of the hidden pitfalls and bonuses of participating in a fair , craft show, or flea market.
You are a very hard worker! Vintage selling is not an easy way to make money but collecting the merchandise is super fun
I used to help a friend run her jewelry booth back in the dark ages before ETSY. They were SO inconsistent with what people were after. Sometimes, every necklace would sell. Next year, just earrings, the year after Goth Stuff. She started keeping extra of EVERYTHING in her car, to refill the booth with as the day went on.
I find similar results at craft fairs also. I do them more for exposure and reality check than for big sales. Glad you survived the heat and all. 💜
"Constantly Banjos" sounds like a band from the Appalachians... ;)
As a person FROM the Appalachians, I can confirm.
The people are the best part about fairs...the sweaty-ness not so much. lol That skating fabric is gorgeous!
“Oh my goodness I can help you with that” is you in a sentence and just 1 of the many things I love about you ❤️
Heat and daylight at 5pm in December *looks confused in Canadian*
😂😂😂 YUP! The joys (if you can call it that) of living in Florida.
Watching in wonder from snowy England
So interesting to see all the behind the scenes! I roast alive in Canadian summers so I will not dare to imagine Floridian (is that right?!?) summers. Thanks for taking us along
Love the lipstick! Anytime you’re self-employed, people think you make a lot more than you do. I was in real estate 10 years ago and the minimum per month just to BE a realtor was $1500 a month with fees and memberships, advertising, etc. There was a time I had took a part time job to support my full time job. I decided one day that it just wasn’t worth it. At least you learned what sells well and cam maybe streamline your inventory for the next one.
LOVE the tableclothes. I would have purchased them if I had been there. Hey, it was snowing and cold here, so I wish I had been there roasting along with you.
THANK YOU for explaining the cost (physical & financial and mental) to running a booth. Been doing it for over 20 years. Folks that jump into it really get a wake up call. My vintage fabric & patterns & clothing has to be sold at a venue that draws the right demographic. Once you figure that out then you can be more selective with your time and energy. OH, as for the heat and sticky of Florida. That is one of the #1 reasons I no longer live there and only visit if I have to. This body hates heat.
Oh, the joys of vending. As cool as I think what you do is, I will leave it to you and go back to my nice air-conditioned office lol. This was a good reminder of why I leave it to the pros. :)
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for breaking it down and showing exactly how much money was made. No one ever values their time
That was my goal. Not just immediate gratification but big picture.
I saw your thumbnail and proceeded to have Miss Piggy singing "Tropical Heat Wave" in my head all day. (Probably because we messaged about Miss Piggy the other day.) Had to you tube it and show my 16 year old son the video, he wasn't impressed but then I showed him "Put the lime in the coconut" - Homeschool wins.
Setup sounds EXHAUSTING. I want to do a fair someday but dang all that setup!
It is exhausting. But I did get to meet all kinds of lovely people. So in the end it was worth it.
Great breakdown on the way “it really is”when you host a booth!
You’re a star. You’re building an image. Keep at it.
Same hat for convention artist alleys and art fairs. conventions are a working vacation but it's still time energy gas and hotels!
Im glad I got to meet you! Sorry I was too shy to bring up being a subscriber but I'm excited about making a dress out of that green check rayon! I appreciate all the effort you put in to come on out.
It’s always a pleasure to see you, Stephanie!! 🤩 thanks for the shoutout 😁 thanks for breaking it all down, it was really interesting and good for any aspiring vintage sellers out there!
AAAAH! I live less then an hour away, I had no idea there was a vintage fair... I am such a looser.
You are NOT A LOSER! It is all good!
@@StephanieCanada meanwhile total props for surviving the heat that wont seem to break!
Events are always an adventure. I did four this year and mostly selling vintage glasses! Yup we are the last to leave as have to wrap it all and pack back in my sturdy storage bins. But like you I love chatting with people about the treasures I’m selling!
Think that you would have sold more dressed if they were placed according to colour? I was desperate to go and look at your Christmas theme stuff.
Birdy
I am very very tempted by that skating fabric . . . but then again I still haven't worn my last couple of edge-print / tablecloth skirts that I made yet . . .
I did enjoy the vlogs etcetera. And I was distracted by your fabulous red bow necklace.
This reminds me of selling t-shirts at the wool festival. A lot of work, and a lot of being outside.
The banjos really made me laugh. Also, the fact that you listened to them all...day...long!!! I wish I was in Florida and could have visited your booth. I would have loved the fabric, patterns, and trim!!!
That’s skating fabric 😍😍😍 if only I lived in Florida❤️❤️❤️ great video as always that’s for sharing what it takes to participate in these.
Wow what a cool event to be a part of xx
That bow necklace! Your booth looked great!
I hate Florida too. The heat, the heat, the heat, the bugs. But I love my family so hello sunshine.
Lordy, I'm tired after all that. You must be totally knackered! The stall did look lovely, though.
Love the transparency of this video! Resell is a lot of work!
Looks great. If your too hot come on up to Canada 🇨🇦. It's beautiful. Haha. Looks like fun. Love your necklace. Did you by much??
A couple summers ago I looked into a booth at a fair, and all the fees absolutely killed it.
The car stuff, sounds like if you're going to be doing a lot of fairs, it would be worth getting a trailer.
Love your necklace!!!!
Thank you!! I got it ages ago and it doesn’t have a maker mark.
wow that live banjo playing?
Sure was!!
@@StephanieCanada OH MY GOD
Your hair is curly. Try the Curly Girl method x
Was that at the starlight cafe on Corrine dr?
If I was there Id have bought something, sorry I'm in New Zealand a bit of a treck :)
How am I able to purchase, or even look through your stash of pattern. Tried to find them online but no luck. Love you show, by the way, wonderful stuff, thank you X x
Hi Ann! I have my shop linked to my UA-cam channel, but if for some reason it isn’t working you can find all the patterns I have available at www.backroomfinds.com
Thank you Stephanie x x
OMG I want that Tristan Fabric!! You should really update what you have available on your website!! ::wink wink:: 😀
I mean, I can… the Tristan was a pipe dream to sell. I am still so in love with it.
@@StephanieCanada I can understand why. It's a stunning print. If you decide to sell it, please message me. ;-)
You made more than local minimum* wage!
*Minimum wage not necessarily being a living wage
That’s actually kind of a feat. Congratulations!