Our First Craft Fair!
It all began with a surprise phone call on a Monday morning: “Want a table at the local Christmas Fair this Saturday?” Normally, I’d freak out (hello, five days to prepare), but thanks to a chat the night before about a potential pop-up, I was feeling mentally prepared-ish. Trying to embrace new opportunities, I said, “Why not?” What could go wrong, right?
Step 1: What do we sell?
Luxury bags at a community Christmas fair didn’t feel quite right. So, I needed to think fast. Scrunchies? Sure, but we needed more. Enter: the long-dreamed-about key fobs! It was finally their moment. Supplies ordered, card reader secured, I just had to sew everything in time for Saturday. Easy, right?
Wrong.
By Friday, procrastination, overthinking, and self-doubt had stolen the show. I had done nothing. With less than 24 hours to go, I was frantically cutting fabric while juggling my two kids solo because, of course, my husband was working late. My plan? Get the kids to bed and pull an all-nighter.
Reality check: I fell asleep putting the baby down. At 2:30 AM, I woke up to her climbing on my head (seriously, how did she escape her cot?!). Cue full-on panic mode: sewing scrunchies, printing promo materials, figuring out the card reader, and tidying the house (because Mum was coming over and, well, appearances). All while caffeinated to oblivion and surrounded by mayhem.
Saturday Morning:
Mum arrived to find me frantically sewing at the kitchen table, kids wrecking the house even further. After a rainy, rushed setup at the community center (and dropping the kids off to Santa’s grotto), I was finally ready to sell.
Reality check #2
10 minutes in, crickets. No one even glanced at my table. I smiled, I charmed, I channeled 20+ years of sales experience. Still nothing. My beautiful scrunchies and key fobs just weren’t connecting. After some people-watching, it hit me: my products were way out of sync with the fair’s vibe and price points. Research? What research?
Lesson learned.
Once I accepted the day wasn’t about making sales, I embraced the fun. I wandered around, chatted with other sellers, bought a few treats, and indulged in sweets and cake with Mum and the kids. I even made one pity sale (yes, it counts!).
What I Took Away:
Despite the madness, I gained valuable lessons:
Procrastination is not your friend. Break tasks into smaller chunks and budget for the unexpected.
Do your homework. Know the audience, the other vendors, and the vibe of any event you’re attending.
Stop cleaning for Mum. She’ll still tidy anyway, and the kids will undo it in 10 minutes flat.
After a whirlwind day, we ended with fish and chips, a good laugh, and some pretty cute key fobs (which are now available on my site!).
Thanks for coming along for the ride—bedlam, key fobs, and all. Until next time…