Where Farm Shops Become Craft Shops

As autumn slowly meanders its way towards winter, our thoughts will be turning towards Christmas and the many marketing opportunities this brings for individually made and uniquely crafted products. While selling online will increase at this time of year, it is also an ideal time to step out and look for venues where you can sell in person. While Christmas can be a springboard for this search, you may well wish to continue selling in this way throughout the following year.

There are many advantages of selling locally and in person. Not all of us can boast of being a whizz with tech, so it might be a relief that selling face-to-face doesn’t require too much growth in that area! It will, however, be a fantastic outlet for those interpersonal and communication skills, giving you the space to get to know your customers. If you can engage with them, sharing the story of your business and introducing them to your products will begin to raise your profile locally. It may be that you also run workshops or experience days, for which you can have some attractive leaflets printed giving details of these to distribute or details on your Facebook page.

Meeting your customers and speaking with them provides invaluable insights into what they appreciate about your products and may spark some ideas for new lines. It’s a great opportunity to ask some open questions and enjoy doing a spot of market research. A good reputation locally will be built not only on the quality of your products but also through good customer relationships. Use in-person selling to build a rapport with your buyers, maybe offering a discount if they recommend you to a friend. Word of mouth is a very powerful marketing tool in a community.

In addition to the traditional craft fairs and markets, there are many more local avenues you can explore to sell your product. If you are fairly small or just starting out, why not look out for some local fundraising events. These could be for any number of organisations from scouts and guides through to primary schools and churches. You will be asked to pay for a table and most probably required to have craft fair public liability insurance but one advantage of these events is that the table cost is usually quite reasonable so you are likely to easily clear it and come away with a profit. In addition, it can often be a good way to network with other crafters in your area.

Another suggestion is to check for any Arts Weeks or similar in your area. The idea of these is for local artists and crafters to exhibit their products, maybe in studios or galleries but sometimes in their homes. The organisers produce a map of the different venues and their opening times and the public comes to visit. This can lead to sales but is also a good way to raise your profile and market your workshops.

Farmers markets and farm shops will often have openings for locally produced, unique, good-quality craft products alongside their own locally produced food and drink. This can be a win all around and a great shopping experience for customers. They could, for example, purchase locally reared meat and organically grown vegetables plus hand-crafted soap and bar shampoo and in addition come away with a gift of a candle for a friend, all within one easy-to-access shop.

You might also like to explore options for selling your products in local craft shops or independent stores. If you live in a tourist area, there may be gift shops which will like to promote locally made crafts, especially if they reflect the area in some way. It could be worth checking out National Trust properties or other similar venues near you as they will often host popular craft fairs and local food markets with good footfall.

Moving away from local marketing, it could be worth searching for craft-specific fairs and festivals around the country. These might be more suited to established businesses as the stall price will probably be greater than a local market, but if the footfall is good, it could be worth the investment. These will also be wonderful networking opportunities and you will come away buzzing with new ideas and brimming with refreshed creativity.

With Christmas fast approaching there will be a plentiful supply of Christmas markets and fairs, from large, well-established events in our cities to smaller town hall affairs in our local communities. As you consider booking for these, remember to do some research beforehand to find out the customer base you are most likely to be serving. For example, a daytime fair based in a school or a small town outdoor Christmas fun afternoon is more likely to have customers looking for gifts in a lower price range than a Christmas craft evening in a stately home where a glass of wine is offered with admission.

Alongside your booking fee, you will also need to consider craft fair public liability insurance as most organisers will ask that you have it. Insurance might sound a daunting prospect, but as a family business that has been working with crafters for several decades, we are committed to ensuring each of our customers get the best package for their unique business. So, pick up the phone or drop us a line and either Sam or Naomi will be here to walk you through craft fair public liability insurance. We look forward to hearing all about your business.

We hope this has provided you with some practical suggestions for the array of venues at which you could sell your crafts. Let us know of others you come across. As well as creating high-quality, unique products, you also have a completely unique and fascinating story to your business. Selling face-to-face is a great way to share this. So, be bold and confident in what you are doing and get yourself and your products out there!