My 2nd Crochet Market RESULTS | How Much I Made, Best Sellers, and Resale & Fake Crochet Vendors? 

It’s definitely so hard to judge on what the best sellers will be because each market can turn out so different from the last. For me when I was doing my first markets chicken nuggets where one of my most popular items so I made a bunch of them and then didn’t sell any for weeks 😅 I’ve now got a bargain bin with a bunch of reduced items that I just want to get rid of haha

It’s so frustrating when “handmade markets” allow MLM’s and boutique resellers. I did an artisan market a couple weeks ago (totally marketed as handmade, local artists) had quite a few MLM’s. I just don’t get it lol

I have questioned the same thing about having too many options, but I can tell you the markets I have done that are more conservative or smaller areas, I have less variety and I have far less interest. It goes from the average 60% of people walking by AND purchasing down to about 40% even coming into my spot to look. Vertical displays are key, similar items together...whether that's price, use, creature, color, etc. Markets are just a whole new learning curve!!! Keep going. This is only your second market. I just did my 7th after starting my business in August....and I have over 300 sales just from those 3 markets (one was a complete bust because a massive storm came in and we had only 10 people turn up just before hahaha) and I"m STILL learning SO much. And it is so crazy to see how things can sell out one market and then the next, not even one sells. You can't predict it! Also, stay firm with your prices. Just because it doesn't sell in a few markets, doesn't mean it won't. The item is just waiting for the right home. Really. So I've only done our farmer's market a couple of times, the history museum (what?? and it actually was my median market for sales and take-home....was NOT expecting that!), and then we have this huge group of alternative vendors that do shows every month or so. This last one was 85 vendors and I had a comma in my sales total. So don't give up. I actually took your advice for the goals and it has been amazing! That history museum one threw me for a loop...exceeded my "best" goal lol. Keep bringing a variety of things, it's great because it will then appeal to a much larger crowd. Honestly, most of my plushies sell to adults to buy them for themself....no joke.

Resale starts sounding more like a flea market. People go to those to get cheaper items. Definitely one to avoid unless you know your gonna get good foot traffic and not many of the same vendor. I do agree that fewer items may help with people looking and buying. Like pick the person you want to sell for and you will find your person if you keep at it.

I’m a new vendor too, just had my first show with my sewn items. I pulled out some scraps and started hand sewing them while waiting for customers but made sure to keep interacting also. I know I like to see a vendor “making” so I know they’re selling their own art made with their own hands. I did make sales, not sure if the visual helped, but for sure “making” helped keep my anxiety down! ☺️ Keep up the hard work, and the research you’re doing, and thank you for the support for us out here. You’ll do great!

Am surprised the air pod cases didn’t sell. I thought that one would have been a winner. I wouldn’t make any big changes to what you sell. Just based off of this market alone. As it doesn’t seem like it’s the correct market for you. Good luck for your market in December.

I totally understand the desire to be unique! I don’t want to go to any of my markets and see multiple fiber artist selling leggy frogs and myself as well because somebody is just going to buy whoever is selling theirs the cheapest or not see it as unique and worth purchasing. I have been searching far and wide for patterns that I don’t see very often and that are likely underrated and focusing on those as well as some of the popular stuff sprinkled in. I’m hoping to create my own patterns in the future in my own style that will set me apart. I hope to someday sell patterns but also keep some for myself to maintain that originality.

Just a couple of things to think about. I’ve been doing markets which we call craft fairs in New England😂 for a while now. The same ones actually for years and my experience is that it always changes as far as your product. I started with just fingerless mittens and paper crafts to now crochet and sewn items with little amount of the paper things. I would say keep plugging away but don’t make changes to drastically. Your generation for sure likes the accessories. This year I have bag/purses to try out. You will go nuts trying to figure out what people are thinking year after year!! I do think this market isn’t the one to have you change up things just yet. But I love how you are researching/planning how you want to move forward!! TFS

My niece asked me for 5 emotional support pickles for her coworkers for Christmas. Now I need to find the right green color in my stash. Hopefully. Lol

I would love to see a bit of your setup, perhaps there is a way to keep your large range, and make sure your color selections that are visible/markets are well grouped and tell a great story. Keep it up! I am doing my first one in November, that I am already regretting a bit, because I didnt do my research in advance, and I know its going to have MLMs/Direct sales. - so we will see how it goes.

I brought pumpkins to my October market and none of mine sold. I understand the frustration.

Omg, same thing happened to me with my pumpkins 😂 I only sold one mini pumpkin and I don’t have a market until Dece,bear, so I guess those will become gifts for friends and family😅

i've been doing markets since march and only one of my beanies had sold and it was a candy corn colored beanie !! im hoping better luck for next year!

I've noticed that a lot of the vendor events that I have been to have been MLM and resellers too. I think it's just how they are at some of them.

how do you spot resellers, especially those who buy cheaply from say temu and resell as their own? i wouldn't want to give my money to people like that when i go browse at a market

I had no idea people do the crochet reselling. That’s ridiculous and disappointing.

market sounds awful. let the buyer (of the booth space) beware.

Definitely, don't do a market like that.

Keep making what you enjoy making, you don’t need to narrow it down. 🧶