We went to the Adelaide one and it was to see the quilts. I didn’t go with the intention of buying anything and it was only at the last minute that I bought some fabric because I was there with my friend and I intend to make something for her using it. There really weren’t that many vendors there I thought. If it come to buying from there or purchasing the items I have in my cart for your shop for instance I would rather clear my cart. Amazing that you made a profit. Well done!! In my opinion you will do well in whatever comes next because you share your intellectual knowledge which people appreciate. Like the Roxy girls, they do it because they love it. That makes everyone fall in love with the process too. Passion is something you can’t put a price on.
Thanks Bec for your honest and open thoughts on whether the craft fair was worth it as a vendor. Glad you made some profit and were able to meet new customers. I wonder if vendors are staying away not just because of cost but because you can reach a larger audience through social media, which is less costly. Keep building your UA-cam channel, you make great videos and I love hearing about and being inspired by your creative work.
@@Sewbecurated I think people enjoy watching UA-camrs who just be themselves and are raw and honest. Good luck with building your presence here, it just takes some time.
Great to hear your thoughts. It was great you were there as I live in Sydney. The Rosehill Show is great as there are 300 quilts on display of all kinds and lots of people attend. I thought this show was disappointing, not many vendors - obviously price is a factor there. Many of my friends are not attending the Craft & Quilt Fairs these days and prefer to go to Craft Alive - run by a lovely family. We often do road trips and visited you in Newcastle when the Craft Alive was on. I love your shop and the vintage pieces.
I flew to Sydney just for the craft fair as they don’t come to Perth at present. I came with three friends and it was our major buying for the year, we all bought two or three quilt kits. It was lovely to see your stall. Maybe a suggestion if you go again would be to have more kits , especially larger ones, but hey that’s just me and my lot.
Wow Bec those costs are huge! Good information to share with us plebs, fancy having to pay extra for a PowerPoint 😱 interesting too, because it’s difficult to get data on how good an advertising strategy it was. Not to mention the toll on the body. 😅 Thanks for the video! 😘
It’s a very good experience to have under your belt..location is always a factor..and yes financial obligations are being assessed as ( cost of living😢) you got your money’s worth with advertising..it’s good that it wasn’t large it would of been very repetitive and very disappointing after such a big outlay……. Don’t think it would be any better in another show..it wouldn’t…simply because the crafting /creating/quilting is becoming a specialised area and not everyone’s cup of tea…(many reasons) you have character/charisma and a style keep mastering and promoting that and you will be/do fine….and that’s a big part of it ….(you!!!) all the best and success with all the adventures ahead of you!
I love your honesty and transparency Bec, thank you! With over 30yrs of marketing experience I think you would get more value for your investment through digital marketing targeting and expanding your audience. There’s always potential to collaborate and create a more intimate experience with a curated number of stores. This would be my preference as I can enjoy the type of suppliers that I love. I am contemplating attending the Fair in Melbourne next weekend, but having looked at the Exhibitor list, there’s no one that appealing that drawing me in. With a ticket cost of $26 you want it to be worth the effort of visiting. I am sure your new shop will become a wonderful destination and wonderful location for workshops and classes. I hope the roadblocks disappear for you so that you can start the fit out and get it opened for everyone to enjoy xxx
Hi Bec, I would have loved to come to the quilt show it was always a highlight going to the Melbourne one years ago. It’s always so hard to put a value on public relations but what they expect small businesses pay for such a small display area is insane. As you said instagram can reach so many people around the world, and it’s free! I’m glad you made some profit, I bet not all did. Looking forward to seeing all your goodies, and your new fabric are just lovely. Take care and have fun teaching next week ❤❤
I think I underestimated my profit but I’m so uninterested in numbers (which drives my accountant crazy). I know some stalls said it was a big cost to them which is a shame both for those businesses and for what that means for future events.
The venue was smaller and the quilt display was smaller too. It was great to see you there. I think it was good PR for you and a way to increase your customer base. Small quilt shows and a guest shop at guilds are also a way to get known and show your stock. Your new shop is going to be fantastic.
OMG! The cost! I would never be able to afford to sell there with the prices you quoted. (I don’t have a shop but i did sell at ‘craft’ fairs, back in the day.) It’s always nice to hear what you’ve been up to!
Hi Bec, loved listening to how it feels to be at the show. As for people using cash, let the accountant know that some of us like to budget and save towards the quilt show. I have been going to the quilt show at Brisbane and save for six months, putting funds aside each month. Happy spending and creating with ease. Take care Bec and hope all your endeavours are prosperous. Cheers from Anita in Tweed Heads. 🧵🪡✂️🧶
Thanks for your honest feedback.. I have often wondered about the cost to attend those events.. ours in Brisbane are getting smaller and smaller.. and I heard that the cost to attend is huge expense. At the end of the day.. meeting and greeting customers is very valuable.. future sales.. that makes it worth it. I wish you all the best with your new shop .. I hope it all falls into line for you. Hopefully one day I can drop in and say hi!! Corrine
Very interesting Bec. I didn't know that you have to pay extra for lighting and power points! I guess it makes sense given the cost of power but still, it's a big outlay for vendors when you've already paid for floor space. I am a regular attendee of craft/quilt shows. Good luck with your shop. I am in Adelaide but will certainly call in if I ever get to Newcastle.
I missed the Sydney Craft Fair this year. Cash helps people stick to their budget. Paper and craft businesses are going to the Craft Alive markets which have more regional markets. Wool people go to the Wool markets and Bendigo. When you open in Newcastle, I will travel again.
I’m glad that you at least made a modest profit from this show after all of the effort you put into it and the stress it caused. It’ll be interesting to see over the coming months whether you get new online orders from people who took your card. Take care.
I did think about it but was indecisive on whether I would take staff with me. In retrospect I would have struggled with that additional prep as well. I’m teaching this week away from my shop and have been prepping like a mad woman!
I haven't been to the Sydney craft show in a couple of years. I heard it was smaller this year. When I used to go the there were a lot of vendors and the amount of people were huge. You had to put up with being knocked and shoved this and that all day because it was so squashy and full of people in places
That was alot of money for a craft fair we holler about our cost in the US going up for our craft fairs I pay about 50 dollars for some of the ones I have done never stayed over nite at any... they usually are not to far for me..but I quess it was a learning experience for you doing a show..
Hi Bec. An interesting video. A quilt question re the lovely quilt behind you in the video- with it being a scrappy quilt, do you have a theme/guide in mind when selecting the fabrics to give it overall cohesion? I struggle with this, wanting the scrappy look but fearing I'll make it too bland, or conversely too jarring. How do you go about selection?
I tend to curate a selection of fabric before starting. I then know the fabrics work together. I discuss this a bit in my patterns. I might try and do a video on my process.
II hope the tax laws where you live let you count those as business expenses!! Next event you could write an event specific code on back of the cards you hand out for an in store freebie or online discount and that will give you an idea of how many new customers you gained from the event.
The lighting was terrible, your stall was one of the nicest display wise. I’ve been going to these shows for more than 20 yrs and to be honest, this show was our least favourite. Terrible dungeon like under the main level, no carpet so cold underfoot. Too many filler stalls like glasses brooches, antique jewellery and other things not related to craft or quilts. Good for you for giving it a go though!
I agree that cash helps people stick to their budget - money is tight and crafting can be quite expensive (and it’s easy to get carried away when surrounded by fabulous things and a credit card - ask me how I know 🥴). It does seem like there’s been a ‘splitting’ off of different crafts in the last few years - @judyb5459 commented about paper and craft doing the regional Craft Alive shows, and wool having their own shows (FibreFest etc), that’s been my experience as well. Even though it’s expensive and can be tricky to manage, it’s always good to get out and ‘meet the people’ - your thoughts of perhaps doing only one show per year have a lot of merit. In my opinion, one of your strengths is your very authentic online presence - sharing your current projects, shop, and a bit of home and family on UA-cam, backed up by regular Facebook and Insta posts - for me, one of the biggest factors is that your website is very up-to-date and functional - I’m in a rural area where quilt shops are scarce and often open shorter hours and less days, so quite reliant on online purchasing. Can’t wait to see the new shop!
Really interesting to hear your thoughts Bec 🤗 cheers, Christine 💙🧵🪡
We went to the Adelaide one and it was to see the quilts. I didn’t go with the intention of buying anything and it was only at the last minute that I bought some fabric because I was there with my friend and I intend to make something for her using it.
There really weren’t that many vendors there I thought.
If it come to buying from there or purchasing the items I have in my cart for your shop for instance I would rather clear my cart.
Amazing that you made a profit. Well done!!
In my opinion you will do well in whatever comes next because you share your intellectual knowledge which people appreciate. Like the Roxy girls, they do it because they love it. That makes everyone fall in love with the process too. Passion is something you can’t put a price on.
Thanks Bec for your honest and open thoughts on whether the craft fair was worth it as a vendor. Glad you made some profit and were able to meet new customers. I wonder if vendors are staying away not just because of cost but because you can reach a larger audience through social media, which is less costly. Keep building your UA-cam channel, you make great videos and I love hearing about and being inspired by your creative work.
Thank you. I feel like my videos are not the best so I’m glad someone likes them!
@@Sewbecurated I think people enjoy watching UA-camrs who just be themselves and are raw and honest. Good luck with building your presence here, it just takes some time.
Love the quilts behind you!🩷
Thank you! Both my designs - Eadie and It’s A Lot.
Great to hear your thoughts. It was great you were there as I live in Sydney. The Rosehill Show is great as there are 300 quilts on display of all kinds and lots of people attend. I thought this show was disappointing, not many vendors - obviously price is a factor there. Many of my friends are not attending the Craft & Quilt Fairs these days and prefer to go to Craft Alive - run by a lovely family. We often do road trips and visited you in Newcastle when the Craft Alive was on. I love your shop and the vintage pieces.
I flew to Sydney just for the craft fair as they don’t come to Perth at present. I came with three friends and it was our major buying for the year, we all bought two or three quilt kits. It was lovely to see your stall. Maybe a suggestion if you go again would be to have more kits , especially larger ones, but hey that’s just me and my lot.
Thank you! I found the kits were slow moving!
Wow Bec those costs are huge! Good information to share with us plebs, fancy having to pay extra for a PowerPoint 😱 interesting too, because it’s difficult to get data on how good an advertising strategy it was. Not to mention the toll on the body. 😅 Thanks for the video! 😘
It’s a very good experience to have under your belt..location is always a factor..and yes financial obligations are being assessed as ( cost of living😢) you got your money’s worth with advertising..it’s good that it wasn’t large it would of been very repetitive and very disappointing after such a big outlay……. Don’t think it would be any better in another show..it wouldn’t…simply because the crafting /creating/quilting is becoming a specialised area and not everyone’s cup of tea…(many reasons) you have character/charisma and a style keep mastering and promoting that and you will be/do fine….and that’s a big part of it ….(you!!!) all the best and success with all the adventures ahead of you!
Reaching people is great but only if you can afford to 🫠🙃
I love your honesty and transparency Bec, thank you! With over 30yrs of marketing experience I think you would get more value for your investment through digital marketing targeting and expanding your audience. There’s always potential to collaborate and create a more intimate experience with a curated number of stores. This would be my preference as I can enjoy the type of suppliers that I love.
I am contemplating attending the Fair in Melbourne next weekend, but having looked at the Exhibitor list, there’s no one that appealing that drawing me in. With a ticket cost of $26 you want it to be worth the effort of visiting.
I am sure your new shop will become a wonderful destination and wonderful location for workshops and classes. I hope the roadblocks disappear for you so that you can start the fit out and get it opened for everyone to enjoy xxx
I did wonder if the ticket price is a deterrent. Thanks for your thoughts and insights I really appreciate them.
Hi Bec, I would have loved to come to the quilt show it was always a highlight going to the Melbourne one years ago. It’s always so hard to put a value on public relations but what they expect small businesses pay for such a small display area is insane. As you said instagram can reach so many people around the world, and it’s free! I’m glad you made some profit, I bet not all did. Looking forward to seeing all your goodies, and your new fabric are just lovely. Take care and have fun teaching next week ❤❤
I think I underestimated my profit but I’m so uninterested in numbers (which drives my accountant crazy). I know some stalls said it was a big cost to them which is a shame both for those businesses and for what that means for future events.
The venue was smaller and the quilt display was smaller too. It was great to see you there. I think it was good PR for you and a way to increase your customer base. Small quilt shows and a guest shop at guilds are also a way to get known and show your stock. Your new shop is going to be fantastic.
It was lovely to meet you too! I am doing a guild exhibition in a few weeks so it will be interesting to see how that goes!
OMG! The cost! I would never be able to afford to sell there with the prices you quoted. (I don’t have a shop but i did sell at ‘craft’ fairs, back in the day.) It’s always nice to hear what you’ve been up to!
The cost is a lot!
Hi Bec, loved listening to how it feels to be at the show. As for people using cash, let the accountant know that some of us like to budget and save towards the quilt show. I have been going to the quilt show at Brisbane and save for six months, putting funds aside each month. Happy spending and creating with ease. Take care Bec and hope all your endeavours are prosperous. Cheers from Anita in Tweed Heads. 🧵🪡✂️🧶
Of course that makes so much sense!
@@Sewbecurated Hope to visit your shop one day 🧵🪡
Love the soft scrappy quilt behind you, what pattern is that? Thank you!
Thanks for your honest feedback.. I have often wondered about the cost to attend those events.. ours in Brisbane are getting smaller and smaller.. and I heard that the cost to attend is huge expense. At the end of the day.. meeting and greeting customers is very valuable.. future sales.. that makes it worth it. I wish you all the best with your new shop .. I hope it all falls into line for you. Hopefully one day I can drop in and say hi!! Corrine
Meeting and greeting is so worth it but lots of businesses are struggling to pay their bills so it’s such a dilemma!
Your gorgeous honest ...yip life is hard I'm mid 70 ,shipping is killing getting online stuff to nz..and it's the same in nz..love e the ramble hugs
Very interesting Bec. I didn't know that you have to pay extra for lighting and power points! I guess it makes sense given the cost of power but still, it's a big outlay for vendors when you've already paid for floor space. I am a regular attendee of craft/quilt shows. Good luck with your shop. I am in Adelaide but will certainly call in if I ever get to Newcastle.
I was a bit flabbergasted about the power! It was just an eftpos machine!!
I missed the Sydney Craft Fair this year. Cash helps people stick to their budget. Paper and craft businesses are going to the Craft Alive markets which have more regional markets. Wool people go to the Wool markets and Bendigo. When you open in Newcastle, I will travel again.
Cash is king!
I’m glad that you at least made a modest profit from this show after all of the effort you put into it and the stress it caused. It’ll be interesting to see over the coming months whether you get new online orders from people who took your card. Take care.
I think I underestimated the profit but numbers are so not what I am interested in!!
Would love it if you ran some classes at these shows……. Perhaps another strategy to cover some of the costs of exhibiting.😉
I did think about it but was indecisive on whether I would take staff with me. In retrospect I would have struggled with that additional prep as well. I’m teaching this week away from my shop and have been prepping like a mad woman!
I haven't been to the Sydney craft show in a couple of years. I heard it was smaller this year. When I used to go the there were a lot of vendors and the amount of people were huge. You had to put up with being knocked and shoved this and that all day because it was so squashy and full of people in places
There were lots of visitors although by the afternoons it thinned out!
That was alot of money for a craft fair we holler about our cost in the US going up for our craft fairs I pay about 50 dollars for some of the ones I have done never stayed over nite at any... they usually are not to far for me..but I quess it was a learning experience for you doing a show..
Goodness what a bargain!
Hi Bec. An interesting video. A quilt question re the lovely quilt behind you in the video- with it being a scrappy quilt, do you have a theme/guide in mind when selecting the fabrics to give it overall cohesion? I struggle with this, wanting the scrappy look but fearing I'll make it too bland, or conversely too jarring. How do you go about selection?
I tend to curate a selection of fabric before starting. I then know the fabrics work together. I discuss this a bit in my patterns. I might try and do a video on my process.
II hope the tax laws where you live let you count those as business expenses!! Next event you could write an event specific code on back of the cards you hand out for an in store freebie or online discount and that will give you an idea of how many new customers you gained from the event.
Where is your shop /
From what I’ve heard from Sydney quilters - THEY DON’T LIKE THE CHANGE OF VENUE!
The lighting was terrible, your stall was one of the nicest display wise. I’ve been going to these shows for more than 20 yrs and to be honest, this show was our least favourite. Terrible dungeon like under the main level, no carpet so cold underfoot. Too many filler stalls like glasses brooches, antique jewellery and other things not related to craft or quilts. Good for you for giving it a go though!
I agree that cash helps people stick to their budget - money is tight and crafting can be quite expensive (and it’s easy to get carried away when surrounded by fabulous things and a credit card - ask me how I know 🥴). It does seem like there’s been a ‘splitting’ off of different crafts in the last few years - @judyb5459 commented about paper and craft doing the regional Craft Alive shows, and wool having their own shows (FibreFest etc), that’s been my experience as well. Even though it’s expensive and can be tricky to manage, it’s always good to get out and ‘meet the people’ - your thoughts of perhaps doing only one show per year have a lot of merit. In my opinion, one of your strengths is your very authentic online presence - sharing your current projects, shop, and a bit of home and family on UA-cam, backed up by regular Facebook and Insta posts - for me, one of the biggest factors is that your website is very up-to-date and functional - I’m in a rural area where quilt shops are scarce and often open shorter hours and less days, so quite reliant on online purchasing. Can’t wait to see the new shop!