Hobby & Craft Forums

I've been reading some quite inspirational business stories in an old magazine I found at work, one of which is a soap maker who took her products to a trade fair. She'd had a good job before deciding to go self employed- a buyer for a clothes brand. When she had her children she found the travelling too much as she was often jetting off for days at a time which didn't leave much time for the children. She decided to resign and set herself a 3k budget to set up a soap making business in her garage which she'd previously made as a hobby and sold at 2 craft fairs. She decided to lay out £800 on a stall at a trade fair and her products were picked up by another large chain and her turnover after 4 years is now in the region of 50k. She also does other ranges now too such as lip balms and sells to hotel chains etc. Does anyone else have any experience with trade fairs as opposed to craft fairs?

£50K turnover after 4 years!

If it was a really profitable business coming in at 25-30% net - not a lot really?

We attend trade shows, as buyers - to suss out comp - they have not been that good for the last few years and cost more in the region of £2-3000.

Yes, that's turnover, she doesn't actually state her profit although she does more or less say in so many words that she only wanted it to match her previous salary to support her and the kids. I did think the £800 was a bit low for a trade fair even though I've never looked into prices for them- I can well imagine they'd be more than £800 which makes me think she already had some contacts from her previous job. I think I might attend one as a buyer as you say and see what others are up to. It seems an awful lot of money but then I guess it must be worth it or else people wouldn't do it!

I've just looked at a trade fair.

£3,800 + vat for shell - then there is furniture, carpets, lighting, header boards etc etc

Then there is add ons of promotion literature etc - not to mention staffing/travel for 4 days

Maybe next year

OMG! That's just extortionate! That woman I read about must have definitely known something we don't and already had contacts through her job or else was doing else having a passionate affair with one of the organisers lol! Such a lot of money and it might not get you anywhere- it's a bit of a gamble IMO but then you do hear really good things about them...

I had this in an email this week - this might be a better opportunity than paying thousands to stand about with a lot of other people trying to sell the same products all at once-

We have been contacted by a production company making a programme for the BBC. They have asked if we have any clients/students who have a product that they feel is ready for the high street. We have so many talented clients that we really wanted to share this with you all!
This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase your product and possibly have the chance, if chosen, to have your products launched through major high street brands. If you think that your product is market ready and has something special about it why not contact them directly and fill out the application form.
If anyone is interested in applying you can find an application on their website http://www.mavericktv.co.uk/ under the ‘Be on TV’ section.
Questions can be made to
Charlotte Woolley, Maverick Television, 40 Churchway, London NW1 1LW
Direct Dial: 0207 874 6612, Fax: 0207 874 6635, www.mavericktv.co.uk

We received this last Summer - did look into it:)

Sounds like a good opportunity if it's genuine?

If anyone is genuinely interested in trade fairs but finds the high cost prohibitive, it really is worth getting to know the promoters/agents well.. many promote multiple shows and events, and if you express a genuine interest, may even visit you to discuss your requirements. My advice would be to play along as very interested (assuming you are in principle) but sadly their rates are beyond your meagre means (especially due to the recession etc.. milk it hard boys and girls).

Let it be known that you would consider any offers they are able to make closer to the event date.. you will find that those offers often come through.

You will sacrifice a place in the official catalogue, and perhaps a listing on the event map, but really this is not that important. You may also have to be flexible on stand size and who you are next to.. but events look "bad" with empty stands, and if the promoter thinks there is a cats hair chance you might book others with them in future, you might get some stunning offers "last minute".

As an example, I got offered a 1m x 2.4m standard edge location at the Food Fair in Olympia for £5,000 - as Jane said that was bare walls, standard blue pan scourer carpet, and 1 power socket. everything else extra..

3 days before, they offered us a slightly better lcoation, 1 table 2 chairs, power and light for £2000.. 2 days before.. £500 down, done and dusted..

Of course you have to have all your brochures and literature ready, samples and stock, transport, and people to man the event.. but if you can pull that off.. it can really pay off..

Oh, and you combat the omission from official literature and websites with "in event" leafletting.. a free prize draw is a great way to get punters to your stand.. (you can laser off sticky labels with your stand location to put on your photocopied flyers and competition entry forms).

Thanks for that Gord, a really great tip for the likes of me lol! When I get that far down the line I'll start making some enquiries and make sure I'm well up the organisers preverbial lol!