Sell Your Work: That Depends

At one time or another, we've all heard it -- "You should sell your work!" Well, maybe or maybe not. It depends.

When I close my eyes and consider the benefits of a craft show, I see myself meeting people, enjoying the creative process, and of course selling work created by my hands.

And then I open my eyes.

What I see then is months of creating possibly many, many versions of the same item, standing for long periods of time, setting up and breaking down, long hours and the inevitable shuffle of how to get my children to and fro while I do something I...love. 

So craft shows don't exactly work for my life right now. But you may be ready. Here are some things to consider before taking the craft show plunge:

• Can you stand the rain (read: pain)? Although there are chairs in most booths or tables, the most engaged crafters stand and greet people coming to their booths. You may be surprised that something as simple as standing can be kind of painful, if you're not used to standing for long periods of time. Anti-fatigue mat and comfortable shoes can do wonders in preventing back pain.
• Copyright. If you want to start a heated conversation with designers, whisper the word "copyright" and then duck. And rightfully so. Imagine doing test after test after swatch after swatch, then spending hours working up detailed instructions and much more, and then having someone rip you off by copying your work and profiting from it. It's no joke. The best bet is to sell only your original designs. If you plan to duplicate someone else's work, write them to ask for permission. And read up on copyright basics for crafters.
• Do the research. Determine which type of craft show will work best for you, whether it is a juried show or one that is open to all; a one-day event or one that lasts only a few hours; or online markets. I've even heard of shows that don't require the crafters to attend the event.

So selling your work could be all that you expect, or maybe not. But the larger issue is finding a way to harness the feelings associated with craft shows --  of being able to connect with people, have your work appreciated, and possibly earn from it.

Do you sell your work? What has been your experience with craft shows?

Comments

[Sarah]

I did a few craft shows when I had my own candle making business from home; I found that for me, it was not worth it, as everyone else was making & selling candles and my quality wasn't worth the savings for many of them.

I will also suggest that many areas have groups that work to pool craft & art from a variety of different artisans so that no single person needs to produce the sheer amount needed to make the table look "full". It can be a great way to explore the in-person markets by dipping your toes into the water rather than taking the plunge!

[Connie]

I have done craft shows in the past(mostly the kind where you rent a table for an amount of money- usually about 25 dollars) It wasnt something that could be counted on for making a living- just mad money or "egg" money. There were some problems with the craft show route. It was necessary to guess what might appeal to a particular crowd on a particular day. I was always surprised. It required an initial investment for supplies which might not be recouped until after a couple of shows, and combined with other costs (costs for the day re;rental of table, gas, other essentials (signs, draws, personal expenses for the day) a proffit might not be seen for a few months. If you have a quiet morning or afternoon, or a show that didnt do well, it was very difficult to determine why. At times it was difficult to not second guess youself.
In other ways, it was extremely gratifying to see the reactions from people to your creations. Crafting can be an isolating activity when you are working at home and have young children. This is obviously also one of the great things about it- the ability to be creative, and productive and be at home with your children. The interaction with others was always enjoyable and often welcome change. Selling something you make is also very rewarding. It is always a lovely compliment.
The craft table route isn't one I would reccomend from my experience, as a reliable method of seeing a profit from your initial outlay of time and supplies, however shows may do substantially better in places where everyone doesnt craft as a normal part of their day. Juried shows are usually more expensive, however they are usually planned so as to not have many booths selling similar items, which increases the possibility of higher sales. I never did juried shows so cant comment on them further than that. (I just couldnt justify the table price.)
I always made better profit from orders-being asked to knit or make something for someone, or shows where there were cash prizes without forfeiting the item. (ie quilt shows)
I think having items in someone else store may make more sense although sometimes the store may add a large commission which then mkes the item much more expensive.

[Patrice]

My friends often ask me why I don't sell my work. I've never done craft shows, but I have crocheted original items that I later sold.

But I always tell my friends that when money enters the picture, so does performance anxiety, and I'm always wondering if the work is "good enough" to be sold. It adds an extra layer of anxiety into the mix that I don't have when I crochet for pleasure.

I don't ever see myself doing craft shows for the very reasons others here have stated. Then there's the fact that crocheting (or knitting) is so labor intensive; could I ever really "profit" from my work, given what people often expect to pay for "craft" items?

So for now, I'll continue to crochet for pleasure, perhaps sell an original piece here and there. Who knows? Maybe I'll venture into the online market, but even then, I'd probably only sell patterns.