Hello.
It has been a while since I have written anything or updated my blog. There is no other reason except that I have been so busy with life, with so many things happening at the same time.
Have you ever felt that life sometimes give you breaks that are sometimes similar to being stuck in a traffic jam and you can’t just move forward until it eases a little bit and you start rolling? Well I have been there and tried my best to be patient and it paid off. On 12 November last year, I finally had a chance to join a craft fair and sold handmade cards and scrapbooks for a hefty profit and I had so much fun.
Applying for a booth at a craft fair takes patience and preparation. The first time I applied I was asked to submit photos and flat lays of my handmade products and provide a link to my website, Facebook page or other social media platforms. I didn’t have any of those or know anything about branding. As a result, I didn’t get picked because the organizers need to see what kind of product I will be offering to ensure marketability. They limit the number of sellers for each type of product for diversity.
To prepare for the next organized craft fair event, I did research on branding, updated my website and created a Facebook page. I also started building up my stock of handmade cards and tried my hand at making mini albums for variety. Since I don’t have a logo yet, I decided to use a watercolor floral wreath I painted and with the help of PicsArt Ap on my Iphone I was able to watermark it. Then I framed it and used it as my logo. I also used shades of lavender and pink for my packaging.
The Crafty Mom Logo
The business card I gave out to visitors and clients.
Pinterest came in very handy and got lots of ideas for the layout and design of my table at the Fair. I tried to use what I have at home for accessories. To further economize on my overhead expenses I borrowed a table from my Mom. To make my table prettier, I made some paper pinwheels from 12×12 design papers and die cut gold accents for the centers.
The set-up of my booth
I met some “Mompreneurs” who have made a niche in the arts and craft market and are doing good business. It was a very encouraging experience. I learned a lot and found new sources of craft materials. Never knew there are quite a few sellers in the Philippines with either a physical store or an online shop.
(The flyer with The Crafty Mom logo provided by Maker’s Market as promotional material for the event for my website and Facebook Page)
If you are interested in joining a craft fair, it is helpful to have clear photos or flat lays of your products and an active Facebook page or Instagram. The handmade fair I joined was organized by Maker’s Market PH and if you are interested in joining one of their organized events, you may checkout their website at http://makersmarket.ph/ or their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MakersMarketPH/.