How to host a Successful Holiday Craft Fair from Home
The Holiday Craft fair season begins as early as mid October and usually lasts until mid December. During that time, ambitious craftspeople rent tables in church basements, sports arenas and community centers in hopes of selling much of their hard earned work.
During the summer months when most people are enjoying fun in the sun devoted crafters are indoors preparing their wares for the upcoming Christmas holiday season. Below I will share with you some tips on how to run your own successful holiday craft fair.
These ideas can also be applied whether you are hosting the holiday craft fair from home or another venue.
Get ready to plan an exciting home holiday craft fair!
Impress your guests with this great idea!
I have been participating in holiday craft fairs for many years. My love for anything handmade began at an early age when my mom first showed me how to knit and sew. Over the years I perfected my crafting skills to a point where I was able to create my own handknit designs. I would spend a lot of my leisure time either at the sewing machine making clothes or on a comfortable sofa, knitting needles in hand creating beautiful handmade sweaters.
Years ago, I remember reading in a magazine about these 2 professional craftswomen who decided to host a craft sale from their home. Inspired by the idea, I contacted a group of vendors from around the neighborhood and asked them to join me in organizing our own home craft fair.
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I have to say that it was one of the most successful endeavors in which I have participated. The craft fair took place over the last weekend of November. For three days my home was turned into a mini shopping mall. Hundreds of eager shoppers poured in, anxious to buy original Christmas gifts. The house had 2-3 Christmas trees in every room decorated with hand-made ornaments ready to be purchased.
Do you like attending holiday craft fairs?
Get the list of craft fairs in your area from the local newspaper
Useful Tips on Running a Holiday Crafts Fair from home
It may be a lot of work but it is so much fun!
Here is an agenda that you can follow for hosting your own holiday craft fair.
Below are some general guidelines to get you started:
1) First and probably most important: no home craft fair would be possible without the unanimous consent of all family members. Once your spouse and kids agree get them to pitch in and help. Furniture will have to be moved and they will have to live picnic style for a few days.
2) Decide on the length of the holiday craft fair, whether it be a one day event or over the entire weekend. Ours was a three day weekend fair. Timing is important as well. Depending on the type of climate you live in, you may want to hold the craft sale before the cold weather and snow arrive.
3) Check with your local municipality to see if it is necessary to obtain any type of permit for holding such an event at your home and that you are adequately insured for it.
4) Let your neighbours in on what you will be doing to avoid any complaints.
Maybe some of them will lend a hand!
5) An event like this would require anywhere between 5 -10 crafters. It is best to start small and grow every year. Make sure you have a commitment from enough people to help with setting up, executing the craft fair, and cleaning up afterwards.
6) Offer a diverse variety of crafts, something for all ages and tastes.
7) Baked goods and preserves are always a big hit. Recrute your best friend or a family member to prepare lots of goodies. Something delicious like our very own lenmaster Freaknoodles' amazing chocolate chip cookies recipe that is guaranteed to provoke the tastebuds and entice your eager shoppers to buy! The cookies can be handed out at the door when they arrive.
Publicity
Get the word out - not only can you distribute flyers around the neighborhood, nowadays with the Internet you can reach a larger audience. You can place an ad in your local newspaper, and sites such as craigslist, myspace, Facebook and kijiji won't cost a penny to advertise. Let all your family and friends know about the craft sale. You can even offer an incentive to first 50 shoppers such as a free roll of wrapping paper or a bag of decorative ribbon.
Blog about your craft sale You can tell others about your upcoming craft fair through your own blog or even create a Squidoo lens and talk about your experience!
Free Publicity for your show! Many talk radio stations allow listeners to call in on Saturday mornings to talk about events happening in and around the neighborhood. That is the time to plug your craft sale!
Write a press release about what you are doing, it's free if you use a site such as Free-Press-Release Maybe a local reporter will pick it up and talk about it.
Have Christmas Music Playing in the Background During Your Holiday Craft Fair
Your Shoppers will love hearing this holiday music
Or you can download your favorite Christmas Music from itunes!
This way you can choose a variety of different songs
Better still! Choose the most popular songs from this list, download and play them from your ipod, ipad or other device during the craft fair.
| Track | Artist | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|
| It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year | Andy Williams | The Andy Williams Christmas Album | |
| I'l Be Home For Christmas | David Gough | This Christmas | |
| The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) [DeeTown Rock Mix] | Alvin & The Chipmunks | Alvin and The Chipmunks (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | |
| Santa Claus Is Coming to Town | Frank Sinatra | The Christmas Collection (Bonus Track Version) |
Build a Gingerbread House
A fun holiday craft and great family activity!
Have you ever wanted to learn how to create handmade craft projects?
Check out these instructional Holiday Craft making videos!
One of my very own handmade designs!
Holiday Craft Fair Posts from Google
- 26th Surajkund Craft Fair concludes with the pledge to convert bigger event
- The 26 th Surajkund National Craft Fair concludes on Wednesday with the assurance to return with a big bang next year at its scheduled date and time. It was decided in this episode of fair that since next year, Surajkund Fair would be recognized as an ...
- Upmarket craft fair at gallery
- But it is not any old craft fair - the organisers pride themselves in selling modern, good quality handmade goods including jewellery, prints, homeware and accessories. Rebecca Drury, founder, said: ?I've always been passionate about handmade crafts, ...
- Kentucky Crafts Festivals Celebrate Commonwealth's Culture
- The Bluegrass state is known as one of the top states for hand-crafted arts, and it's also home to many outstanding crafts fairs and festivals. Held annually in locations as diverse as Whitesburg, Midway, Paducah and Louisville, these fairs feature ...
- Professional manicurist will be at craft fair
- Goods galore will be on offer at the Craft Fair at Evercreech Village Hall on Saturday. March 3. Organiser Grace Morgan says that as well as cards, candles and cakes, there will be jewellery, woodwork, toiletries and woollen goods on sale plus the ...
Holiday Craft Fairs and Fundraising
You can host a holiday craft fair for charity. Listed below are more interesting ideas
Consider donating a portion of the proceeds from your event back to your city or to your favorite charity. Mention this in your ad. To raise money, you can have each crafter donate a gift and raffle them off. People love to win prizes! Or you can all contribute a few dollars to purchase prizes from brand name stores which should attract a lot of buyers!
Although helping the needy is a good thing all year round, you may decide to use this opportunity to collect non-perishable food items from family and friends. During our craft fair one of our volunteers put together several gifts baskets made up of canned food, baby items and other gifts donated by our crafters and delivered them to one of our local charitable organizations.
If any of your crafters make handmade apparel whether it is knitted hats, scarves and gloves or beautiful sweaters, organize a mini-fashion show to promote the designs.
Have a silent auction during the craft sale. Some crafters are exceptionally gifted and create beautiful original paintings.. For example, if you know any Picassos or Rembrandts, ask them if they would like to sell their work using this method.
Since we are in the "green age" use recycled boxes and environmentally friendly plastic bags into which the purchases can be wrapped.
Decorate your home inside and out for the occasion. You can even create a theme for your sale and name it. Something like "Deck the Halls" craft fair, or "From our Home to Yours".
If you use several rooms in the house, create a different theme for each room. For example one theme can be " Noah's Ark", and fill the room with stuffed animals, another one can be Victorian decorated with lace and satin and yet another can be a green theme with items made out of recycled materials.
I would suggest to begin organizing the holiday craft sale several months in advance. A well prepared holiday craft fair, will attract a lot of visitors. And with the help of enough family and friends it will certainly ensure you much success!
Decorate the Walls of your home with this and other festive posters!
You can hang up posters on your front door as well as all around the house!
Let your creative juices flow!
Do you get inspired by reading about creative projects? Why not Join me right here on Squidoo and discover your own ideas! It's a lot of fun and can be profitable for you or your favorite charity!
Create your own Holiday Cards and other gifts on Zazzle!
Use some creative imagination!
Handmade vs. store bought
Which option do you prefer?
Now that there are so many products readily available that have been imported from the Far East, we often ask ourselves,is it worth investing time and money to create our own items locally?
Do you think it is worth investing time and money to create your own handmade projects?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes - and I am so proud to tell others that it was made by me!
Juliette says:
of course!!!!! i luv going to fairs and buying handmade things!! it just makes them soo special!
Posted September 21, 2011
bikerministry says:
I try to make at least one handmade gift for everyone at Christmas. I design purses, but I also make sleeves for iPads, cell pones, and Kindle, Nook, etc. I make arm warmers and scarves, learned to weave so I hand wove 2 men's scarves last year. Shawls, etc. My grandsons get afghans, mini blankets.
Posted July 05, 2011
Kimbesa says:
Yes, it's easy to create something that's memorable and unique!
Posted October 21, 2010
Helen says:
Absolutely. Nothing beats a home-made gift.
Posted October 17, 2010
Charlotte says:
handmade cards I make at classes I take with Jennifer from http://www.rubberstampingmontreal.blogspot.com My cards are always elegant and fun ...and made with the TLC I want my family and friends to enjoy!
Posted May 13, 2010
No - I don't have time and can find everything I'm looking for in the stores
Beautiful Handmade Crafts available on eBay!
Shop early for your Christmas gifts!
There are so many different Handmade Crafts Options
Holiday Shopping
Some people are so organized and buy their gifts during the course of the year. Others always wait till the very last minute.
Some of our very own lenmasters are exceptionally talented!
If you are looking for holiday craft ideas you need go no further than Squidoo. Below is a list of some links to their craft projects lenses. Feel free to add your own!
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Christmas will be here before you know it!
Countdown to Christmas
What are they saying on Google about Holiday Craft Fairs?
- Zusman: Kids can learn safety in boat show's classes
- For adults, the Coast Guard Auxiliary will present information on boat safety and environmental issues, and fishing seminars are offered during the show's four-day run. Check the website jerseyboatexpo.com for details. The main event, of course, ...
Well, hello there!
Hope you have been inspired to hold your own craft show?
Do you design and sell your own work?
Have you ever participated in a holiday crafts fair at your local church or community center? If so, I would love to hear about it!
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bikerministry
May 2, 2011 @ 7:52 am | delete
- My sister and I have done church and community craft fairs, and are currently thinking about holding a combined fair inviting specific talented artist to contribute their time and items. This is a great idea to use a home. Thank you for this info.
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maplesyrup
May 2, 2011 @ 8:41 am | delete
- Thanks for visiting. Would love to hear about your fair!
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20webhosting Apr 1, 2011 @ 10:30 am | delete
- Thanks for this awesome lens, I actually learned something from it.
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Wednesday_Elf
Feb 18, 2011 @ 12:51 pm | delete
- Better late than never.... finally compiled my SquidAngel Lens from my 'angel flight' last Fall. :-) So.... returning to tell you that this lens has now been 'featured on' and 'lensrolled to' "SquidAngel Blessings by an Elf".
PS: I'm still participating in craft fairs :)
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maplesyrup
Feb 18, 2011 @ 10:16 pm | delete
- That's great! Thank you so much:)
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This Happy Snowman page written by
maplesyrup
A few years ago I organized a home holiday craft fair and it was a smashing success! I am very excited to share my ideas with you if you have ever thought... more »
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