wvcandleguy Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 Good morning ladies and gents. I just wanted to post on here and rant for a few seconds. I have a one day show scheduled for tomorrow. Its sponsored by the local Red Cross, and I try to do it every year. I usually make a little bit from it, but I mainly do it to help out the cause. Here is my gripe. This is supposed to be a craft fair... hand made items, etc. I just found out that Home Interiors AND Mary Kay are setting up. 2 years ago, I was right beside the HI booth, and it really sucked big time. I dont think that its right for them to be able to come into a CRAFT show... Anyway, thanx for letting me vent.. now I can get in the mind set for the show Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindsaycb Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 I totally agree! I called on one show this fall and she rattled off all the Avon/MK, etc reps that'll be there....then really what's the point of a craft show? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragontears Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 i agree that is not fair at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MommaD Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 That sucks. Sometimes people just don't get it. I am sorry that happened to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bev Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 I'm sorry this is happening to you. It all depends on the "craft" fair coordinators who they will allow in. I am doing my first craft fair next weekend at our local high school. They are only allowing crafters to exhibit, meaning only vendors whose items for sale are handmade. They are very strict about this, so I feel it really gives the crafter a fair shake! IMO, Avon, HI, Mary Kay, etc. should never be set up at a "craft" fair. But who am I?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudyN Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 Is there a way to find out where the local craft fairs are in my area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerrie Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 Our high school craft show is very strict about these things too, in fact they said if I didn't make the tart burners that I sell along with my tarts that I couldn't bring them. So I didn't. But there was a guy there with a load of tart burners, very obvious he didn't make them, you can find them on the web. Someone in China made them, but not him. That upset me, seems like what's fair for one should be fair for the next. I know a lot of crafters that have opted out of craft shows when they see more and more commercial vendors show up, but the show still gets their money, they don't seem to care who it's coming from, so sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shala Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 This seems to be coming more and more the norm. Craft shows seem to be less and less about crafts. Hubby and I went to a show this last Saturday just to look around and there were very few booths with actual handmade crafts. As a vendor it is upsetting to see all of these booths but as a customer its upsetting also. If I am going to a CRAFT show then I want to see some crafts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinInOR Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 That's the hard part about fairs, trying to figure out who's really going to be there. My Labor day fair is pretty clean, but it does have a Mary Kay. My 3 holiday fairs coming up are truly handmade only. One nice thing about the *really* small fairs.Maybe you can figure out something that they don't do - emphasize how you can custom tailor your product, or free shipping for local, or...Good luck tho! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sudsnwicks Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 I know how you feel. Unfortunately there aren't too many craft fairs out there who have a 'no commercial vendors' rule. I am very selective about what craft events I do as a result of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fire and Ice Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 If there is nothing you can do about it, learn to compete against them and win! The show I'm doing next weekend had both HI and Golden Canyon candles last year. But as soon as I set up and take the lids off of the first candles, they know for a fact they're toast. They generally pack up and leave early. The HI lady will be back this year but she's not bringing any candles with her. The Golden Canyon lady is doing a didfferant show. The big name companies I have competed against and won are. Home Interior Golden Canyon Our own Candle CompanyDonate a basket of candle that everyone can smell before they bid on it. In other wordss, don't wrap them up. They the people will be directed to your table.It works great! I welcome the big boys because it gives me something to measure my sales and customers against! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BACKWOODS Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 Were the Home Interior vendors Selling product? It is against their policy to sell at shows like that. They are only supposed to book parties at these type of events. If they are selling get their Business Card and turn them in to Home Interior. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvcandleguy Posted November 4, 2005 Author Share Posted November 4, 2005 Is there a way to find out where the local craft fairs are in my area?Check with your local chamber of commerce. they should have a listing of all events for the upcoming year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvcandleguy Posted November 4, 2005 Author Share Posted November 4, 2005 Were the Home Interior vendors Selling product? It is against their policy to sell at shows like that. They are only supposed to book parties at these type of events. If they are selling get their Business Card and turn them in to Home Interior.Each year there are complaints that HI sets up. Nothing is usually done. I have even seen booths set up in the local mall. The HI vendors set up with a vast majority of their products, and because it has the HI name, and they can sell em cheaper... they get the bigger portion of the sales. which really sux Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erikatx Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 I especially hate it when The Body Shop people are there!as well as other big candle companies, or other people who buy their candles wholesale and resell them claiming that they made them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fire and Ice Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 Were the Home Interior vendors Selling product? It is against their policy to sell at shows like that. They are only supposed to book parties at these type of events. If they are selling get their Business Card and turn them in to Home Interior.Yes they were selling product but the only thing she sold last year was a Bean Pot with a moose on it and she sold it to me. Frankly I'm not worried about it if she can sell a few things at a show, great. I don't think she booked any parties though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgia Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 Be sure to fill out the survey (if they have one) at the show and state your perspective. We were pretty upset about the number of commercial vendors at the last show and we all stated that on our surveys. At the very least, they should be in a separate area. We have one coming up next weekend that is like that - the vendors will be in a different room than the crafters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sudsnwicks Posted November 5, 2005 Share Posted November 5, 2005 Be sure to fill out the survey (if they have one) at the show and state your perspective.That's a good idea. The organizer might not even have realized there were people who minded having the commercial vendors there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephnms Posted November 5, 2005 Share Posted November 5, 2005 I agree. That is soooo unfair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LynnS Posted November 5, 2005 Share Posted November 5, 2005 I am doing a craft show and going to be with the commercial people and not crafters.Kinda not wanting to but helping a friend.as I mentioned in another post. will say that last year I did a small show in a town that had 3 different locations.People went all over the town.I was across from a Tupperware Lady and she was giving her stuff away and still wasn't getting business.I got more business than anyone in the building. People came straight to my table.People will buy what they want.For the holidays it is handmade items.I don't think I have ever been to a show that there wasn't both commercial and crafters.I have done some big shows too. I don't consider them competition but the food people selling like soups,drink mixes and dip mixes do great. LynnS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindym Posted November 6, 2005 Share Posted November 6, 2005 Just for a point of interest, Mary Kay Consultants are not allowed to do craft fairs and shows unless they are sponsoring them. I use to sell Mary Kay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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