Thread: is it worth it?

Looking forward to seeing your work Tony.

If you enjoy the interaction with potential customers then yes craft markets are worthwhile. They do place an additional burden, or perhaps on a more positive note a reason to turn / make to keep up stock levels.

If you aren't a "people person" then I would say avoid the markets. Nothing sadder than seeing a maker avoiding customers and sitting at the back of their stall barely covering the cost of the stall.

Turning is a hobby/fun for me. I have turned to order and for markets, I don't need a second job.

fortunately I enjoy engaging with people, we already have a setup showtrailer2.jpg

The wife loves her lazer cutter and I got jack of setting up a gazebo so we got this made. local prison did the frame work @ $10 hour and the composite skinning was done for beer lots of beer

Originally Posted by Tonyz

fortunately I enjoy engaging with people, we already have a setup showtrailer2.jpg

The wife loves her lazer cutter and I got jack of setting up a gazebo so we got this made. local prison did the frame work @ $10 hour and the composite skinning was done for beer lots of beer

With a setup like that you are asking us for opinions???

Perhaps you should be giving us lessons on how to market our stuff.

Originally Posted by Tonyz

showtrailer2.jpg

Awesome!.

when we did our first cruise ship stall, gazebo tent thing, blowing a gale, stuff going all directions from the wind and not just us. But with over 30 stalls no one was selling anything related to Pt Lincoln and this was a cruise ship with aussie & international visitors.

We went home put aside 30% of what we were trying to sell and made fridge magnets, key rings, tuna cutouts all mentioning Pt Lincoln on them. Next cruise ship we were swamped and still other sellers bring along their soaps, maccraeme, chinese made tea towels with 'Australia' They still havent caught on or think they can sell locally.

Since then we have expanded, every breed of dog, plus animals, cartoon characters, Star Wars, aussie dunnies, replicas from Old Tailem Town, Dorothys rellies built & own that place.
Plus everything is made from 3mm MDF that we source locally free (every so often a ctn beer arrives on their doorstep ) from 2 cabinet makers that get it as cover sheets. being mdf it can sail through customs anywhere.

We are always looking for something extra to sell.

My biggest suggestion to you guys would be know your market and gear your sales to them. If we are doing a market and no cruise ships we change our stock.

Cash and a eftpos type card reader is essential. Plus suggestions of things to do and places to eat. Tourism brochures are OK but we have had people come back and thank us for suggesting such and such.

Dorothy is very shy around strangers but shes LOVES doing what she is making and talking about it to people proves that this is more than just $$$

I did markets for 4-5 years selling just boxes, but in the end had to give it upper a few reasons.
I could do 2-3 markets without a sale so when you factor in fuel, fees and outgoings such as food or drinks it becomes a loss day.
A day away from the workshop is a lost day, non productive.
The person on the street does not see the value in your work, many a times i had the "oh that's to much" or "its not worth it"
It became clear that people treat markets as a Sunday outing where they can have a walk around get breakfast and maybe buy a trinket or two. In my view your product range should be under $50 with a few higher priced items because there will be one in a month someone who is looking to spend money.
I could have made cutting boards and coasters and key rings but then i would be competing against other market stalls