My First Festival and Craft Fair Woodworking Booth
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- Опубліковано 21 жов 2013
- See the projects I prepared for my first woodworking booth at a festival and craft fair. I share some of my experiences and recap some tips that would be helpful for anyone who is thinking of trying this for the first time.
Visit my website - www.thecarmichaelworkshop.com
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Real nice job Steve. Thanks for sharing the experience with us.
My daughter in law is an excellent crafter and has set up at shows and sold squat. Like yourself, she is always positive and keeps on going to sales and sometimes hits the jackpot with one item and ends up taking orders. I have put my stuff with hers and actually sold a few items. Carry on Mr. Carmichael.
You always seem so joy filled! I love your ideas. You are up at 0130 but are going to get up early? Funny.
Thanks for the tips. There really is a lot of thought and planning that goes into selling at craft fairs. I did not realize how much prep was needed.
Hey Mr. Eureka Zone!!! Thanks! Good to hear from you Laney. I saw you keeked again. Looks like you are rockin' it down there in the sunshine state!
Thanks for the good tips Tyler! I will definitely make some adjustments for the next one.
Beautiful Family. And thanks again for the great video.
Steve, thanks for sharing! I appreciate the information and tips. I always appreciate your videos.
Really cool pen display
+Modern Builds Thank you!
I'm a green,, green newbie getting ready for craft show #1 and you've taught me a lot so big thanks!
Thanks Dean! Yeah, I'll make some adjustments and see if I can try again in the Spring.
Love the Eddie VanHalen tool chest! :D
Beautiful work!! those pens are AMAZING!!!
Thanks Robert! It's a lot of prep work, so I think making inventory far in advance is the key. I only had 2-3 weeks notice to make as much as I could. You should try it sometime.
Very good info Steve thanks for posting
Hopefully you'll have better results next time. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your time.
Thanks Mark! Yep, it was lots of fun showing my projects and just talking to people. Many of them I had met before but they did not know I did woodworking.
I know this video was a few years ago, but it was helpful. I have my first show this weekend. Thanks for the tips and video. Also, I really like your pen case too.
+SP Wood Art Awesome! Good luck with the show! You do beautiful work, so I'm sure you'll do well.
+Steve Carmichael thank so much my friend! You as well.
I like your idea about setting up a lathe, that seems like the kind of thing that would draw people in.
Well me again Steve, rainy here so on the tube I go and checking out vids of yours that I haven't watched and would like to say those bandsaw boxes are beautiful works of art for sure...Jimmy.
jim bettridge Hi Jimmy! Thanks for watching the videos today. Glad I could entertain you on a rainy day. I love making bandsaw boxes...can get really creative with them.
Very cool display!
Beautiful woodworking, and you like the Rolling Stones you must be awesome 😊, yes I spotted that!
Thanks Jim! Hopefully I'll have more time to prepare next time.
I know I'm way late yo this party but I wanted yo say thank you for sharing your projects experience at the booths ect. Not a lot out there about it I've found at the his point. I'm getting back into woodworking lately and I'm considering setting up a booth next season around here and looking for any tips I can get. Thanks again your awesome
Travis Skelton Hi Travis - Check out the Drunken Woodworker if you haven't yet...he has several videos with great tips on doing booths.
I subscribed to him aswell. He definitely has a lot of helpful information tips and projects also. I left a pretty similar comment on his recent video he was nice enough to take time to respond as well. Iv been a lot more active on UA-cam recently and have subscribed to several woodworkers on here. A lot of great guys seems like. Thanks for taking you time to respond. You really do some awesome projects and I appreciate what all you guys do for the woodworking community on here. Sorry that wound up a lot more long winded than I meant.
Hi. I would use a dark tablecloth to make your stuff pop. You have some great items but they seem to blend in too much with the table. Maybe use a burgundy, navy blue or black? It is wonderful that you have inexpensive items as well as mid range. You have some really clever ideas. How about a different style birdhouse. Camping is popular again. When you showed the 2nd to the last box you made it reminded me of a vintage trailor. I love how natural you seem doing your video. Thanks for the tips.
Great to see, Steve!
Excellent Video! Awesome Projects and Great Tips! 3 for 3 Steve, way to go man!!
This was an absolute great video! Very useful. Thanks
Thanks David! I've bought shadow boxes before but never made any. Might have to try it.
Hey Steve, great video, I would like to see some more of your pen turning projects, keep up the grear work!
Great ideas. The pen case and video display were especially innovative.
Thank you Sean! Doing craft shows is a lot of work. I haven't done one since, but would like to try again someday. Making lots of inventory was hard to get done and not really my thing.
Sweet stuff I woodturn and am having my first craft show on 8-21!
Steve,
I really enjoyed this video. I have been wanting to give a graft show a try for quite some time but never know how to go about it. I really liked the follow up segment and the list of tips.
Steve, čestitam i sve najbolje,sve ste bolji , samo napred, pozdrav Vama i vašoj porodici. S'poštovanjem!
Nisam očekivao naš komentar ovde 🤐 i to 8 god star
Steve, Here's a few things I have learned thru success and failure:
Price your items to pay yourself $24 - $35 / hour plus materials.
Draw people with small items. $2 turned tops for the kids work well.
Turn tops while you are there (your idea), and it draws people.
Sell unique and high quality items for premium prices (people are willing to pay for true quality - and it will set your stuff apart from the average "craft" item competition)
Good start! It gets better!
Steve you have done a great job. I do similar work you do, all the best mate and again great work..
The pen display is awesome!!!
Hi Steve,
This was a really cool video, lots of cool tips and tricks. It looked like a lot of fun to have a booth. If I can find a craft fair in Tasmania I will defiantly try it. Thumbs Up!
Thanks, Mark
Nice work, Steve. You have a nice display at the festival. You might not have sold a lot but that will come in time. Now every show is going to be a winner. And, as you said, you also got to support the school, which is never a lost cause. I hope to do some shows like that at some point in the future. Best of luck to you.
Thanks Brian! I plan to join in on the show in Nov. It's been a busy Rocktober and I've been playing drums every Saturday night, but I see the light at the end of the bar after this Saturday's Halloween gig.
Thanks! Yes, I was up until 3am the night before. I hope to have more time to get ready for the next one.
I enjoyed watching this video. Good work keep it up.
Thanks Steve!
I think I will do that next time. Since this was my first time, I kept it simple plus I wasn't sure if they would allow machinery at the school.
I know this is a long time ago but the band saw bowl things if you turn them upside down and drill a hole big enough for candles to fit in. It would make a cool candle holder
Funny you should say that, because at Christmas time I turn one over and use it as a base for a ceramic Santa that we have. It looks pretty cool.
Steve, i hope soon. I am actually going to buy my lathe soon. Woodcraft has it on sale for $70 off right now. I think you should definitely keep the business card holder in the design.
Great idea, thanks for sharing this information.
Thanks!
I enjoyed your story, you seem like you would be a good neighbor. I have done 1400 shows over 40 years and it is true what you say that the first year show is a slow one, very slow. Your work is excellent and clean so I hope you didn't take the reaction of the customers to heart or lack of customers. It was a tough show-good luck in future shows and would like to hear those stories as well, Alex
Hi Alex - Wow 1400 is a lot of shows! I may try again someday when I have more time to dedicate to the preparation and scheduling. With a full time job and family, it's all I can do to make a project video occasionally.
Good job Steve. I have been asked to do craft shows but hadn't crossed that line yet. Maybe one day.
Hey Steve good to see you branching out and selling some of your product. Don't be discouraged by low sales first off, woodworking items are really a niche item and can be hard to sell. Best way to bring people to booths is to really bring out color within your projects, add some colored bows or signs its a small additive but really helps. Also focus on your setup, I found the most exciting setup wins with the most sales.
Good luck at your next one! - Tyler
Steve, been catching up on some of your videos. Good stuff, also great that your daughter is working with you, mine has been in the shop with me for a few years now and loves to do stuff.
Some good information about shows and a nice varied selection. That is what I have found is good for most shows. My wife and I have been doing shows for about 3 years now, every show is different it does not matter how close the venues are even. Hope you get to another show or 2 maybe this spring and do well.
You can see some of our displays on FaceBook at Portable Pastimes if interested.
Thanks again for the videos I look forward to watching more of them.
Chris
Hi Chris! Thanks for checking out my videos. I enjoyed doing the festival. It's a lot of prep work though. Hope to do another one sometime. I liked your page.
Thanks! I might do another one next Spring.
Very informative, thanks for sharing.
Thanks Bill!
You are very talented. Like your videos and your work.
Aww shux! Well thank you Sandra! Appreciate the compliments.
Hi Tom! I had a hard time pricing stuff too. It is a challenge price items so that they will sell, and at the same time, make it worth the time and effort.
Great video. Hope the sales are better next time.
Steve, Thanks for sharing you had a lot of great advice, The advice was well organized and all in order! Sounds like you just left from hobbyist to professional. WTG... hopefully business will pick up for you brother!
Thank you Dragan! I love translating your comments to see what they say!
Nice work. I use a neighborhood Flea market to sell some of the things I make. Plus you can clean out all the junk you don't want anymore.
Thanks good video,
Roland
Thanks! Yes I plan to do a pen display case video soon. I didn't have much notice so I opted for birdhouses that I could knock out quickly.
Thanks Bill! I found it was harder to make 4 or 8 of something than it is to just do one and be done. I think making batches is where the work in woodworking comes from. lol
Thanks Olly!
I appreciate ye telling aboot(sp intentional), ye booth experience. [thinking through, people are there to have an experience and see whats out there.] Follow up business(at best) , will happen after and through 'word of mouth'(how most work cascades). As long as you stay positive, do what you do...things will follow.
Thanks, I haven't done another one since then. Just got busy with other stuff. I found that making multiples of projects to stock a booth just isn't my cup of tea, at this time in my life anyway. Maybe when I retire.
Nice video, thank you for posting. Your tool box reminds me of Eddie Van Halen"s FrankenStrat.
Thanks Ken! Yeah, I've always been a huge fan of Eddie. The tool chest was my father's and it was kinda beat up. I knew I couldn't get it to a clean factory paint job, so I decided to stripe it and embrace the dents and scratches.
Great video! I agree with you on the music program. Don't they have shop on the curriculum? I grew up in a really small town in PA, 300 kids 7th grade - 12th, we had woodshop. I just wish I had paid closer attention..lol
You're a cool guy, Steve. Good luck on selling your stuff - it'll go!
Love your van halen tool box
Thanks, me too! It looks pretty cool.
Hi Jeremy! Yes I want to do a pen display case video soon. I want to design one like nobody has seen before.
Thanks!
My current plans are to do a local Christmas show featuring my Santa and Snowman carvings. Your video worked out perfect with timing. I'm going to use your suggestions as I plan my event. I had done a flea market about 10 years ago selling unfinished items like benches and shelves. My event was not that good because I did not know how to price. Later at the next flea market I hit a happy medium on pricing and sold everything thing I had. I'll let you know how this Christmas show goes. Thanks..
Thanks man!
Thanks! I think I will do a video on making a pen display case once I work out the details.
i took wood shop and metal shop in 7th and 8th grade in junior high. then mechanics in high school. but ya idk why they dont teach those classes anymore in schools. ya i was thinking of trying to make something to make some extra cash. why not sell it on amazon or ebay though then you dont have to waste gas and time going to the craft fairs though they are still cool to see what everyone else is doing.
Hey! Yes, I sold a bunch of Guitar Hero guitar stands on ebay a few years ago when the game was hot. It was great but they seem to have raised their fees since then. I plan to stay focused on making project videos for a while and might try another booth in the Spring.
Thanks Dusten! I don't think the schools in our county have a wood shop program. I hear they have been diminishing along with music and PE programs. I wish I could have gone to wood shop when I was in school.
Hi David - We sold a wood license plate, a cross, a scrollsaw picture, and a cat/mouse door topper set. Seems like there was something else too but I can't remember.
You are just the cutest thing. I love your positive attitude and your delivery is practical and organized. I enjoyed watching your video and I love handmade wooden items. I just subscribed and will check out your items. Take care and good luck with sales.
Aw, thanks Elle! Thank you for watching and subscribing. I try to do a new woodworking video every week or two.
You should do a video in the own display with the business card holder that you built.
Thanks Richard. Yes, I used a flatbed cart to haul the boxes. Forgot to mention it.
Steve please do a pen display case video, that wood case was perfect. I do craft fairs and festivals and I have a DVD player showing my lathe work. I think you had nice items and people may call you when they need a gift now that they've seen your wood craft. Why no Bird Saloons ?
I would just google it and search for your city name along with the words... festival, fair, crafts, etc and see what comes up. Most of the yearly ones will have a website and info about reserving a booth. There's usually a booth fee and a form to submit in advance. I've heard some of them have limited space and it can be hard to get a booth.
Thanks mastrjay! Is that like Jam Master Jay?
Hey Steve have you set up at anymore craft shows since the video and if so how well did you do?
Hi Jason - No, I haven't done any more craft shows. I found that making multiples of the same project to produce inventory is just not my thing. I have much more fun making something new all the time and recording videos.
Nice set-up Steve. Hope you do better next time.
When I do a booth I usually have wooden basketball games that sell for 5 bucks but hold LOTS of people at the tab;e young and old. Look up wooden basket ball games. They're really easy to male and sell. I mostly like meeting the people.
1976ClassicCelica I will look up the basketball game. Sounds cool. I like meeting people too. It's a lot of work to prepare for a booth.
Nice job. A cart would be good to carry stuff in and out. Everything on wheels.
Thanks Kevin! Yeah, I hear mixed opinions on that. I see people selling handmade college stuff all the time, but I suppose it's always a risk. I prefer to design my own stuff anyway. I'd love to hear from someone who got caught and fined for selling trademarked logo crafts, so if anyone out there has a story, please share with the rest of us.
Cool video and wow you stayed up late :D very good information in this video.
Thanks! Yeah, it would be a great outlet for all of those finished projects that you just don't want to keep.
Thanks n8! Secretly, I kinda wanted to keep it all. LOL
have you done more shows since then? and have you seen success with them?
I haven't done any more shows. Just not my thing. I do like selling things on Etsy though. Now I just display my projects at the woodworking show each year.
have you done any more craft shows since? i tried once & got discouraged then didn't make time to goto anymore
+BackyardWoodworks Crafts & More No I haven't. I don't plan to do anymore, unless it's another one like this that was put on to support the high school band program. I still use my display at the woodworking show, so that has come in handy.
what items sold?
Aw shux man. Nawww! lol I was trying to sell the boxes for $30 and candle holders for $8. I might put them on Etsy next week or save them for another craft fair.
Thanks for the video
Do you have to have a business license to participate in a craft fair
+mpbuilders1 I don't know about GA, but several places I live, you can legally do a few (2 or 3) garage sales or 'festivals' a years without 'da man' getting upset.
You have a lot of flowing you should offer sign pics or autograft and maby number
you never know. good luck and what are you charge for your band saw boxs
or your 3 tea candle holder
Out of your offering, What did you sell? What generated the most interest? What did people not seem interested in?
I sold a Notre Dame wooden license plate, but that's about all I remember.
I would strongly suggest wooden iPhone 6S cases. They should sell quite well.
+Another Games I haven't tried to make a phone case. Hmm, might have to do that. I have a Windows Phone though. lol
Steve Carmichael It will be cool to see one in the making, maybe borrowing it from a friend will do the trick I guess. :P
You are so right to back music programs. Did you know that kids who play music while young are actually better at academics than those that don't? Studies show that. Our country has descended to the point that all the powers that be seem to care about anymore is making the already wealthy even wealthier at the expense of programs like that in our schools among other things. Bad choice. We need to pay more attention to our kids. We are already seeing the results in our society of what is happening since we have more less abandoned properly educating our kids. Sorry, didn't mean to get into all that. Was just impressed to hear you say you support music among the young. Kudos to you for that! Oh, and I like your woodworking too!
+BirdsAdventuresInWoodworking Thanks! Yep, my kids are proof that playing music helps with academics. We are lucky to have good music programs in their schools. It could just be the area I live in, but I have not seen where any music programs have been cut. Our kids have even more opportunities beyond the school music programs to join county and state-wide bands, symphonies, drum corps, indoor drumlines, and more.