Sun’s Out, Sales Are Up! 

Every year, we look forward to the arrival of the summer months with pleasant temperatures and longer days, and the chance of going somewhere to enjoy their beauty in peace, even if just for a few days! For those of us who live in more of an urban environment, memories of past summer holidays enjoying the glorious sun by the sea or in the country are inspiring in themselves! Looking at the long-range forecast this week, a dry UK summer could even be threatening to happen this year, which would be good news for everyone, but especially great news for crafters! 

For those artists and crafters living within easy access to any of the pastoral or maritime beauty of our island, there’s inspiration aplenty on the doorstep, starting just about now! From the first swallow on the wire in May to their final gathering on the same perch in September, before departing for warmer climes, swallows are the heralds of all the abundance that summer offers. Images of sunwashed fields, glistening beaches and all the flora and fauna that can be seen over this most bountiful of seasons have been inspiring artists and crafters from all over the world since time immemorial, and their work in turn inspires the people who buy it. 

If you are a new crafter, launching out this summer, there is a lot to learn and so many opportunities to introduce your handmade items to a variety of different audiences. Forewarned is forearmed, so they say, so here are a few tips on how to get ready for the large crowds and warm weather and make the most of this wonderful annual opportunity. 

Stock – the most important element! 

1. Think about your products and how they fit the environment. 

•  If you have products that could be affected by the heat, such as freshly made soaps or candles and resin products, you might need to think about bringing a couple of fans, a cool box or two and making sure that your stall has sufficient shade. Warn your customers about the issues with warm weather. Be sure they know if they must get the products into a cool environment fairly quickly. Alternatively, if you sell other types of products that are not susceptible to heat damage, you could even switch product lines during the summer. 

• Take enough stock. Ensure that you have enough stock with you to make your stall look “well-stocked” so that customers can browse and choose from different options. Keep what you think will be your most popular products front and centre, bringing back up stock of these products as well as general back up stock, as certain unexpected items may prove to be popular. 

• People love seasonally-appropriate items as these can be enjoyed even in the winter months and help customers to remember halcyon days of freedom in the sun! Also, emphasising the fact that products are specifically related to summer helps people to make the buying decision, as these products will no longer be around to buy in the winter months! 

2. Audience – who are you expecting to be there?  

• Visitors to a farmers’ market might have different products in mind than those coming to a city market. This may not be the case, depending on your products, but the demographic will be different, so it is worth considering and also worth visiting the market first as a customer if it is a regular fixture over the summer. 
  
• During warmer weather, your customers are probably going to spend more time looking around the stalls. As well as bringing the right kind of products, it’s a nice idea to offer something like free water on your stall to encourage them to stay longer!  
  
• Make buying your products as easy as possible. Having the option to pay by card helps your customer as less and less people carry cash on them these days. Equally, make sure that you have an adequate cash float to be used as change for those who deliberately avoid using cards because they want to ensure that cash remains a thing for generations to come. 
  
• Personal touches such as branded bags (or inexpensive printed stickers to seal plain bags) will help people to remember where they bought your amazing products from.  

3. Insurance – why you need independent creators’ protection. 

If you’re new to the world of crafting, finding independent creator protection can seem a little overwhelming. However, be assured that here at Craft Insurance, we do everything we can to ensure you have the right cover at a competitive price. As a small family business ourselves, we know the importance of valuing our customers, and as such we communicate directly with each one of you…no anonymous call centres.   

We sell several insurance packages for independent creators’ protection, the most popular being product and public liability insurance. Product liability covers you for any claims made that a product of yours has caused harm or damage. Public liability covers you against any claims made against you, an employee or a volunteer that you may have inadvertently caused injury to a member of the public. For instance, a trip hazard at a craft fair or a slip hazard on your premises. It covers you for legal defence costs and any compensation required; even if it is not your fault, you will still be covered. Many craft fair organisers ask that you have them in place before you book your table. This sleep easy insurance protects you from the unforeseeable and hence unavoidable, allowing you to focus on what is important: creating stunning handmade products and growing your business around them.   

We also provide employers’ liability and business items cover, so whatever type of cover you require, pick up the phone or drop us a line and either Sam or Naomi will be here to answer your questions and ensure you have the best package possible for your unique business requirements.  

Now you have your products ready, audience researched and correct insurance in place, it’s time to head on out out into the sun and make the most of summer’s opportunities as a proud member of our amazing UK crafting community!