Where have all the customers gone?

Well, the craft fair at Emmanuel College didn't go as well as planned. The weather was lovely when we set off from home: a gorgeous cripsy cold day but sunny and bright - perfect weather for buying scarves and Christmas decorations, we thought!

Normally the organisers just have the main hall set up as the selling area, but this year they added an extra room near the entrance to the college too. And that, we think, is possibly where the problem was. The signage from the first room to the hall was minimal, and there were no staff directing people either. It seems as if the only people that came to the main area were those that had been to previous fairs, or those that went to the cafe and stumbled upon us!

There were about 80 stalls at the fair in total (20 in the smaller room and about 60 in the main hall) so I thought it was a great fair to be at - but the organisation could have been better. All of the stall holders that we spoke too had had a really poor day as there were so few prospective customers. We managed to cover the cost of our stall but that was all.

There was also a big Christmas fair at Gosforth Racecourse over the weekend so that will have taken a lot of custom away from ours. The college's fair organisers may need to have a rethink before next year's event.

The one consolation is that I don't have to replace many things for my next fair this coming Saturday! The Arts & Crafts Fair at the Grainger Market in Newcastle (see previous post) is held once a month and it gets a good amount of passing trade, so fingers crossed that we will be much more successful there. We did quite well at the fair in October when it was relatively quiet (so the regular stall holders thought), so hopefully people will be in the swing of the Christmas shopping and the fair on Saturday will be really buzzing. Here's hoping.

Craft fair number 1

It was my first time selling at the Arts & Crafts Fair at Grainger Market in Newcastle yesterday. It went really well. I only sold a few items (three scarves, a keyring and a corsage) but it covered my costs with a bit extra. And I also got two commissions (a scarf and a floral brooch) - and lots of lovely comments from the public and other stallholders.

My table was massive (much bigger than I've had at previous fairs), so it was great to get all of my stock out and on show (people won't buy it if it's sitting in a box where they can't see it!).

The bunting looked great. Not many people noticed it, but those that did loved it.

The stallholders were lovely and friendly. Most of them seem to come every month (and have done so for years) so they all knew each other - but were very welcoming to the 'newbie'. They all thought that this fair had been quite quiet so things will hopefully pick up at the November and December fairs; if that was quiet I'm really looking forward to the busy ones!

Predictably though, people asked for things I don't sell - hats, mittens, tea cosies, shawls... (and I could have sold my wooden cat model about 50 times!) so I may attempt a few new things for the next fair, if I find some spare time. I want to make some more of the ribbon scarves that sell so well at Christmas time, some sparkly corsages too (perfect to wear with that 'little black dress'!) and I thought some Christmas bunting would be fab - plus I have those two commissions from the fair, a commission for some bunting for a nursery (from a blog reader), baby knits for my great niece due in a couple of weeks, Christmas pressies for my family... oh dear, I better get a move on.

Thanks for all the lovely comments on the bunting (and other posts!) - your thoughts are always very welcome and appreciated!

Blog on the Tyne

I had a lovely afternoon off work on Wednesday last week. Mam and I did a bit of shopping in Newcastle - she bought loads of yarn for baby knits (new great grand-daughter due at the end of October), and I bought a few small zips (going to crochet some pretty little purses).

Then we had a lovely lunch and chat at the Eye on the Tyne, and a walk along Newcastle Quayside. The weather was lovely - really warm and sunny.

We walked over the Millennium Bridge...

...and posed for a slightly windy photo at Baltic Square (standing in front of HMS Calliope, the Royal Naval Reserves base where Dad used to work).

Then we walked up to The Sage...

...and admired the views from the Gateshead side of the river.

All of the bridges have a 'special something' about them. My favourite is probably the High Level Bridge (my avatar is a photo of me on the HL; seen inbetween the Tyne Bridge and Swing Bridge here). But if I've been away for any length of time, I always know I'm back home when I see the Tyne Bridge; it brings a lump to your throat, it's such an iconic structure.

We finished off a lovely afternoon with a hot chocolate in The Sage. It was great to spend some time alone with Mam. She is such a lovely, kind and thoughtful person; I hope she realises how much she is loved and respected by the whole family; we often think it, but probably don't say it enough do we? So I'll say it now - Mam, you are so special. Love you lots! And thanks for a great day out. xxx