Mother's Day Markets

Palmyra Western Farmers Market Mother's Day Pop Shop Art/Craft Market is on the morning of Sunday 27th April from 8am – 12pm. This will be held alongside their weekly Farmers Market. Stalls are from $50. Stallholders will need to bring all equipment e.g. trestle tables, chairs, etc.  To apply, contact Pally Pop Shop on pallyfarm@live.com or 0433 433 077 during normal business hours. All applications must be received by COB Thursday 24th April.

Subi Farmers Market will be holding a Mother's Day market on Saturday 3rd May from 8am. You will need to bring along a 3m x 3m marquee and trestle table to display your products. To apply, send a few photos of your product asap to Anna - manager@subifarmersmarket.com.au

Subiaco Craft Collectibles and Community Fair Stallholder Callout

The Rotary Club of Matilda Bay is hosting its annual Subiaco Craft, Collectibles and Community Fair on Sunday 26 October 2014 at the Oak Lawn at the University of Western Australia. They are offering an Early Bird Registration until 31 July. Early bird stall prices range from $140 - $180. To book a stall go to http://www.subiacocraftfair.org.au/ 

Denmark Arts Markets

The Denmark Arts Markets were established in 1981 and are now a ‘must do’ event in the Great Southern that attracts over 12,000 visitors each year.

They have 100 stall spaces and a stage that provide an opportunity for craftspeople and creatives as well as performers to showcase their wares in a vibrant village atmosphere, on the banks of the Denmark River. There is also opportunity for stall holders who offer fresh produce, food and beverage.

This coming season there will be five markets - all dates fall on a Saturday 10am – 4pm:

• Saturday 14th December 2013
• Saturday 4th January 2014
• Saturday 25th January 2014
• Saturday 1st March 2014
• Saturday 19th April (Easter) 2014

For stallholder information, please visit their website: http://www.denmarkarts.com.au/stallholderinfo

Please note that this is essentially a 'Craft Market' so imported jewellery, plastic novelties, retail clothing and goods that are mass produced are not permitted.

Subiaco Craft Collectibles and Community Fair

The Rotary Club of Matilda Bay is hosting its annual Subiaco Craft, Collectibles and Community Fair on Sunday 27 October 2013 at the Oak Lawn at the University of Western Australia.  

Early bird registration rates are available on their website until 31st July. Prices range from $140 - $180. This year there is a ‘collectibles’ category which includes items such as antiques, toys, coins, comic books and stamps. 

If you have any queries, please contact enquiries@subiacocraftfair.org.au.

The Craft & Quilt Fair is on now with displays, exhibitions, workshops, make-and-take classes and retailers selling thousands of unique craft supplies.
Tickets includes entry to the QuiltWest Exhibition with quilts designed and made by members of the West Australian Quilters Association Inc.

When: Wednesday 22 May 22 to Sunday 26 May, 2013
Open 9am – 4:30pm daily

Where: Perth Convention Exhibition Centre, 21 Mounts Bay Road

How much: Adults $16
Seniors Card holders $14
Children (from 5 to 16 years) $9, under 5 years free
Family – 2 adults & 2 children $40

Stallholder Profile: Spotlight on "Little L"

Made on the Left first came across Lauren Mills at the KickstART Youth Markets in April of this year. We were so impressed with her display, we awarded her Best Stall Display with the prize being a free spot at the July Made on the Left market. Here we get the scoop on Lauren, her inspirations, creative processes and market tips!  

Lauren with her prize winning display at the KickstART Youth Markets

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Lauren Mills; I am 23 years old and currently finishing my final year of Interior Design at university. I started up my small business Little L at the beginning of this year and have loved every moment of it since.

What inspires you to create?

The materials I use are my main inspiration. I love repurposing old materials and giving them a new life, for example: my stamp collection from my childhood has now turned into necklace pendants and brooches, old books from the top shelf of a second hand store are now a myriad of ornaments and artwork, paper dress patterns are now mini and large bouquets of flowers.

Turning trash into treasure and just making beautiful things is what inspires me to keep on going.

What materials do you use?

As said above I like to reuse old items and repurpose used materials. Books, dress patterns, postage stamps, sheet music, lace, buttons, dominos and scrabble letters make up to main collection of my materials. I also use all recycled pieces of furniture for my market displays, all found at bulk rubbish collections or at second hand markets.

Little L at the Made on the Left July 2012 market

What steps do you take to prepare for a market?

A lot of preparation goes into the week prior to a market, usually I clear out a space in the house like the living room or garage and layout my whole display with all my furniture and pieces so I can get it just right. I get my whole family involved getting feedback and help with planning so everything runs smoothly on the day.

What’s your number one market tip?

Be prepared! I always pack a toolbox with everything I might need from masking tape to blue tack to safety pins to my pliers. You never know what might happen. For outdoors markets tarps are always a good idea especially in winter, and for indoor markets materials to fix your signage and displays with are a must.

Lauren's workspace

What is your favourite part of the creative process?

The best part of the creative process is that moment in the middle when you can finally see your ideas taking shape and coming to life. That point where whatever you’re working on starts to resemble the finished product you have pictured in your head. That’s such a rewarding moment to know you’ve overcome the difficulties of creating and things are finally turning out right!

What’s been your most popular item or line to date?

My most popular item has definitely been the handmade paper flowers from recycled dress patterns. They have consistently sold out and I can’t seem to make enough of them fast enough!

What is the most exciting thing that has come out of selling your designs through markets?

The interactions with all the other market organisers, stallholders and potential stockholders. The contacts and networking that can come from just one market is so inspirational it really keeps me eager to continue my hard work and keep pursuing this dream.

What advice would you give someone who wants to sell their crafts?

I think the best thing to do from the beginning is to research. Research the market, the product, the people you want to sell to and where you will be selling. The market scene in Perth is booming at the moment so now is definitely a good time to get involved, so have confidence in your products and take the chance. It’s a fantastic experience and the people in the Perth market scene are just lovely J

What goals do you have in store for the future?

Ideally I would like to open my own store selling refurbished furniture, and more of my handmade wares. I love what I am doing and love the creative process, but I also love the thought of the people of Perth wearing my wares and having them in their homes. For now I am just happy to get out there and keep holding stalls and enjoying every moment of it. 

Thanks Lauren!
xx MOTL Team

This e-book sounds like interesting reading for market stallholders. It's by Jodie Maloni of The Habby Goddess and Cintia Gonzalez-Pell of My Poppet.

"The Craft of Markets - How to achieve market stall success, An Australian perspective" is aimed at those who are just starting out in markets or even just considering running a market stall and covers topics such as Picking the right market for you, Market applications, Products, Pricing, Merchandising, Logistics, contains a handy printable Essentials checklist and a Resources guide with links to packaging and display item stockists and more. There are also extra handy hints from some market organisers.
Comes in a PDF format that you can load on your iPad or mobile device, read on your computer or even print out. Available here or here.

2012 Craft & Quilt Fair

The Craft & Quilt Fair is coming to Perth from Wed 23rd to Sun 27th open daily 9am – 4:30pm at the Perth Convention Centre. There will be displays of handmade crafts, workshops, presentations, live demonstrations and retail stands selling unique craft supplies. See the latest products for stamping, scrapbooking, knitting, crochet, cardmaking, embroidery, sewing, quilting, jewellery-making and more.
1, 2, 3, and 4 day passes are available or go with some friends for a group discount. See http://www.craftfair.com.au/Perth2012/ for more information and to buy tickets.

Evolution @ Jull Street Markets - call out for youth stallholders

Armadale is having its first festival and you can be a part of this amazing event!

Armadale Youth Resources has teamed up with Made on the Left to enable young artists, fashion designers and craftspeople to be a part of the Evolution @ Jull Street event as part of the National Youth Week celebrations.

There will be a big youth arts, fashion and music festival in the Jull Street Mall precinct of Armadale, spilling out into the Armadale Train Station and Minnawarra park. It’s set to be a great night and will attract a huge crowd.

If you are an artist, craftsperson or fashionista under 30 years of age, you are invited to come and sell your goods.

You will get a marquee, a table for your products and a chair - all you need to do is bring your amazing creations!

Best of all, there's no stallholder fee, simply a $30 deposit which will be refunded on the night.

To book a stall, fill in the application form on the Made on the Left website. For additional information please contact Armadale Youth Resources on 9497 1722 or lindy@youthresources.com.au

Applications Open - Craft Thyme

Applications are now open for stallholders for Craft Thyme's Winter Gift & Craft Fair

Admission - $4
Children - Free
Held - Saturday 24th July 9:30am - 4:00pm

Held at the Cannington Exhibition Centre. Showcasing a huge variety of stalls, but concentrating more on country style.

Check out their website for all the information you need.

What to do this Weekend

One of the oldest and biggest traditional Arts&Crafts Fair is on this weekend; The Treasured Craft Creations Fair at Claremont Showgrounds. It also has a great mix of vintage and antique goodies thrown in, and would be a fantastic place to get a Christmas gift for a Mum or a Grandma, and you might be lucky and find something for yourself too, with "cool-crafts" beginning to invade the pavillions, slowly but surely!




Visit their website for more details: www.treasuredcraftcreations.com.au

MOTL @ Darlington Arts Festival

Take a look at the great MOTL "Sneak Peek"marquee at the-weekend-just-gone's Darlington Arts Festival!

Bridgetown Christmas at Home Fair & Market - Stallholder Callout

Christmas at Home Fair

Bridgetown Town Hall

Bridgetown

Saturday December 5, 2009

9am-4pm

The Christmas at Home Fair is a free community event that will bring together local exhibitors in a day that celebrates quality and craftsmanship. Set in Bridgetown’s historic Town Hall, the fair will feature quality contemporary arts and crafts from the Blackwood River region. From woodcarvers and weavers to patchwork quilters and toy makers, this is your chance to meet some of our talented crafts people and designers.

Children will have the opportunity to create their own Christmas decorations as well as other workshops including Christmas Peg Dolls, Hand Made Christmas Cards and Old Fashioned Christmas Crackers.

Take a visit to the Tea Rooms and sample Christmas Pudding served with fresh preserves from our local orchards, home made shortbread and freshly baked mince pies.

Some of our finest producers will be on display so bring your Christmas list and you may just find an extra special gift. Highlights of the day will include classical music from local musicians and the drawing of our Christmas raffle. This will be a day of traditional and contemporary art and craft for all the family.

Applications for Stall Holders are available from the Bridgetown/Greenbushes Tourism Centre or through the committee at bacf@westnet.com.au

Subiaco Craft Fair

While there is a prestigious Art Exhibition held each year at the WA Art Gallery, there are very few craft and design opportunities for young students to display their skills to the public. Excellent craft in the form of woodwork, ceramics, glass and fabric is produced in schools and Rotary would like to extend the Subiaco Craft Fair by providing a venue for students to display their craft and design talents. Please download the information at www.subiacocraftfair.org.au and circulate it to young people and schools and encouraged them to participate. Prizes will be awarded in each category and every student will receive a Certificate of Participation.

Rotary very much regrets that electronic registration for stallholders for the upcoming Subiaco Craft Fair (october) is still not available. We had hoped to have this ready some time ago but these are matters beyond our control. As soon as registrations open we will contact you via email if you are on the mailing list. You will then be able to access the Subiaco Craft Fair website, choose your stall from the site plan, and then pay for your stall either by credit card, direct debit, cheque or money order.

via Rotary mailing list

Applications Open - Distracted Market Day

Hello to you all,

Applications are now open for this year's DISTRACTED Little Market Day.

The 2009 event will take place on Sunday October 25, and will be held in their cosy carpark behind the shop.

So if you think you'd like to fill a stall with your wares, hop on the website and download a form.

http://www.distracted.com.au/extra-curricular

Apply before July 30 and in August you'll find out if you have been successful

Orientation Festival Day - craft stall/exhibit opportunity

The Orientation Festival day is organised by the Guild of Students at Murdoch University South St Campus and is an opportunity for new and returning students to celebrate the start of a new academic year.

The festival draws large crowds including many international students and is the perfect opportunity for local designers and artist to showcase their work. The Guild is very keen to promote the work of local artists at Murdoch University at both the Festival day and other events throughout the year.

The cost of a stall for a local designer without power is $77

For more information or to book a stall please email Basha Stasak on president@guild.murdoch.edu.au

Craft fair etiquette for stall holders

Okay, so you’ve got everything packed and ready to go. You’ve worked really hard to make beautiful stock for the day and your stall looks a million bucks! Now, all you need to do is present your products and yourself to the public…*gasp*!

Putting yourself out there can be very daunting for many people – especially the first time. Follow these common rules of craft stall etiquette and you will be fine : )


Arrive early to ensure you are set up in time for the opening of the showThere’s nothing worse than having customers come through when you’re still setting up, you feel like you’re in their way and can’t give them your full attention because you’re still doing something that should have been finished half an hour ago. The best bet is to arrive at the earliest time that stall holders are permitted to make sure you have everything set up and ready to go. This will give you ample time if any glitches arise along the way. You will also be able to relax and take a breather before the real work begins!

Practice setting up at home
It takes many practice runs at setting up your display to get it down pat. The first few times, it may even take you an hour or so to set up. It’s usually best to have a test run at home with a space about the same size as the stall that you will have on the day. You can take your time, experiment and rearrange until your heart is content. Doing this will give you a fair idea of how you’d like to display your products and will also save you time setting up at the actual craft fair

Stay within you designated area
This may seem obvious, but it’s generally not a good idea to ask your neighbour to move over just a tad so you can have a side table that encroaches into their space. If you have a display that needs more space, it may be worth asking for a larger area (which sometimes costs more), otherwise you will need to modify your display to meet the requirements.

Get to know your fellow exhibitorsYou are going to be spending the whole day next to the stallholders around you, so why not introduce yourself during set up time or throughout the day? There might be a time that you may need them to cover your stall or vice versa for a quick break if you don’t have a helper. Plus, you never know – they may end up being your next customer : )

Be preparedWrite a list of the things you will need to bring along and check them off as you pack. It’s usually good to have a timeline of what needs to be done during the weeks leading up to an event. Make sure everything is packed and ready go the night before, as you will most likely need to be on the road early in the morning – you won’t want to forget anything because you’re rushing around at the last minute.

Dress appropriately
Decide what you are going to wear in advance. Make sure your outfit is clean, ironed and ready to go the day before. Dress appropriately/professionally and be well groomed. A smart casual dress code is the most common to follow. Being neat and tidy is the main thing to remember – and don’t forget to bring a jacket in case it’s cold!

Be hygienic
If you can, try to keep your stall clean and tidy. Have some wipes on standby in case of any spills that may need cleaning. Also, don’t forget to bring along some deodorant and breath mints to freshen yourself up throughout the day.

Bring plenty of changeArrange to have a float that includes coins and notes. Have more than you think you will need. It can go straight back into your bank account the next day if need be, just be prepared if someone hands you a $100 note for a $5 item – it does happen! Having one of those vendor aprons to store your change in is handy too, but a cash box is a great alternative.

Price everything
Make sure you either have all your items priced individually or group items of the same value together and have signs. Most customers don’t like to ask the price of something and would more likely walk off than ask – you may lose these customers.

Don’t forget business cardsThere will be people who love your stall but may not be able to buy something right now, or who just want to pass on your details to a friend or family member. Have your card (or flyer or whatever else you may have) ready to hand over! This is potentially more business for you – there is nothing better than word of mouth!

Bring a notebook and penYou will almost always need to write down something during the day. Whether it is details for a custom order, or to keep track of which items have sold, you will be much better prepared with a notebook and pen on standby!

Stay Positive
People generally want to be around positive people, not negative people. So try not to complain about how slow it is or how bad sales have been. People walking by will hear and keep walking right on by. Try to stay positive and look like you’re having fun! This will, in turn, result in you having a fabulous time as well as more sales! Isn’t that why you’re there? : )

Greet your customersDon’t hide away behind your table reading a book or talking on your mobile. Smile and say hello to all that come to your stall, you want to be seen as approachable. However, you don’t want to be pushy either. Greeting customers lets them know that you’re there if they need assistance without being over the top. You can generally tell by body language if people feel comfortable and by all means feel free to strike up a conversation with those who look like their up for one!

Bring a helperTry to have a friend helping you with your stall for the day. It’s great to have a helper when setting up to watch your stall while you unpack your car. You can also cover each others food and bathroom breaks and you can both be there for when it gets busy.

Stay the entire time the show is open
Its best not to start packing up before the craft fair actually finishes. So if it finishes at 5pm, don’t start packing up until at least 5pm. You are only doing yourself harm by leaving early and missing out on those extra sales. Many customers generally don’t attend shows until the last couple of hours and the majority of sales come at the end of the day – especially for those that had been eyeing off a particular piece and come back to check if it’s still there. If you’re not there – you miss out on all of these potential sales.


These are just a few of the things I’ve learnt along the way, most of them are common sense, which can easily get thrown out of the window when your nervous…now, remember, just relax….and breathe! Be yourself and have fun – that’s the most important thing : )

If you can think of any more please share them with us!

What to bring to your craft fair

Getting ready for a craft fair is a daunting task, especially if it’s your first. I had my first craft fair earlier this year and was constantly agonizing over what to bring, how much stock to take and whether I had everything organised

Thankfully Made on the Left is at hand to help. We’ve put together a series of articles to help you keep things as stress free as possible.

Preparation Is KeyOne great way to get ready for your craft fair is to write out a list of everything you need to do beforehand and when you’d like to have them done by. Setting goals and deadlines will help motivate you so you’re not spending the week before in a frantic rush to get everything ready. I blogged about getting ready for my first craft fair, listing everything I was planning on making and how it was going. Putting my goals out there made me feel more accountable and motivated me to finish things. I even listed my stress levels which really helped me keep perspective.

Don’t feel you need to have a whole new collection of stock for your show. Most people coming to the market will not know you from your online presence and will have no idea you had a particular item out two years ago. It will be all fresh and new to them. Additionally don’t discount something because it isn’t selling on Etsy/Madeit/your online shop, some stock just won’t sell online but will do really well at a market where customers can see it up close.

Ideally you’ll have completed your stock well in advance and will be able to spend the last few weeks on marketing your business so people know you’ll be there. Sometimes this isn’t possible, you’ve been really busy, you just sold a bunch of stuff elsewhere or deciding to do the market was a last minute decision. However, you can still get everything finished; it just takes getting super organised.
So make a list of everything you still need to do to get your stock ready in time and set goals to get them done.

Talk To PeopleReaching out to your peers for advice is the easiest way to gain knowledge and have any queries or problems answered. The crafting community is enormously friendly and you’ll find many people willing to answer most questions you have. This blog was started to help the many people we meet on a regular basis who are just beginning their crafting business or doing their first craft fair and needed a place to get information and advice.

If there is a particular artist or crafter you admire try emailing them for counsel. You’ll be surprised how happy people are to answer questions and offer advice. They won’t tell you specific secrets about their business or where a lot of their sources are from, those are closely guarded secrets but most people are flattered by someone asking about their expertise and if they can’t answer a question will generally be able to introduce you to someone who can.

What To PackYou'll need a list, and it’s a pretty long one at that. Some of the items listed will not apply to you and reading the list may remind you to add items not included. The best thing to do is to copy the list into a word document and modify it to suit your particular situation. Also don’t forget to take a copy of the list with you to the craft fair and use it as a kind of inventory so you don’t forget anything when packing up.

In addition don’t forget to label your items. It will eliminate any problems at the end of the day when you’re tired and can’t remember if you packed one or two double adapters or which white tablecloth is yours and which was supplied by the organisers.


Indoor Craft Fair Packing List
MerchandiseEnough merchandise for the day (how do you know you have enough? A good rule of thumb is to pack twice as much as you think you’ll sell)

Display/PackagingSignage or banner
Product information sign
Shelves, clothing rack, jewellery displays, mirror for customers
Backdrop if you have a partition wall
System to hang stock if you have a partition wall – ‘S’ hooks/fishing wire
Own partition wall (optional)
Table cloth if you want something besides white
Extra price tags, string
Care instructions for textile items
Bags, paper/bubble wrap, boxes for sold items
Lighting, double adapters and extension cords if you have a booth with power
Duct tape to tape the cords to the floor
Spare light globes

Promotional
Business cards and holder
Catalogue or flyers to use as bag stuffers and handouts
A newsletter or contact information list so people can sign up to your mailing list
Copies of your latest newsletter
Information about you/other shows/exhibitions you’re in
Wholesale catalogue with wholesale and consignment policy
Wholesale order form
Custom order form
Media pack
Something to make during slow times (customers love to watch an artisan at work)
Free samples (optional, sometimes good for customers that spend a lot of money)

Currency
Receipt book
Small safe, cash box or apron for holding cash
Change (at least $50 to $100 in a variety of denominations)
Calculator
Ability to accept credit cards (optional) and credit card authorization number

Stuff
Scissors
Needle and thread
Safety pins
Pens – red one for discounts
Sticky tape
Paper clips
Thumb tacks
Elastic bands
Stapler
Ribbon
Baby wipes
Rubbish bags
Glass cleaner
Camera
Mobile phone
Clip board with spare paper (especially good for taking notes about the show)
Inventory list with prices
Something to pack all of this in...preferably with wheels

For YouJumper/jacket
Water/drinks
Snacks – don’t bring chewing gum, no one wants to see you chewing behind your stall
Comfy shoes
Pain relievers
Tissues
Emergency contact numbers
Deodorant
Make up
A friend to help you
A good attitude

Mark Your Diaries- Proposed event dates

It won't be long before the dreary wet weather disappears and the sunshine returns. Which will mark a return to some of the biggest craft fair events of the year - so be sure to mark your calendar for the following dates.

Please note: Most dates announced below are proposed at this stage, and will be confirmed closer to the event date. Mark the dates in your diary, but be aware that venues and dates may be subject to change. Made On The Left will accept no liability.

Made On The Left Market
Where: Hyde Park Hotel
When: July 12th
Contact: http://www.madeontheleft.com

Treasured Craft Creations
Where: Claremont Showgrounds
When: August 23rd, 24th
Contact: http://www.treasuredcraftcreations.com.au/

Perth Upmarket
Where: Perth Town Hall
When: September 14th
Contact: http://www.perthupmarket.com.au/home.html

Kalamunda Zig Zag Festival & Craft Fair
Where: Kalamunda
When: October 26th
Contact: http://www.zigzagfestival.org/ (website not updated)
Please note - the date is proposed only and may change to October the 19th. Be sure to mark both the 19th and the 26th in your calendar just in case!

Subiaco Rotary Craft Fair
Where: UWA
When: October 26th
Contact: http://craftfair.matildabay.org/ (website hasn't been updated)
Please note - The annual fair used to be held at Mueller Park next to Subiaco Oval, but due to problems with the trees on the ground, the location is being changed to UWA. Date may change, but unlikely.

Distracted Little Market Day
Where: Leederville
When: October 26th
Contact: http://www.distracted.com.au/

Fremantle Festival / East Fremantle Festival
Where: Fremantle
When: November / early December
Contact: http://www.fremantlefestivals.com/

Treasured Craft Creations
Where: Claremont Showgrounds
When: November 21st, 22nd, 23rd
Contact: http://www.treasuredcraftcreations.com.au/

North Perth Festival
Where: Angove St, North Perth
When: November 30th
Contact:

Perth Upmarket
Where: Perth Town Hall
When: December 14th
Contact: http://www.perthupmarket.com.au/home.html

Fremantle Bazaar
Where: Fremantle Arts Centre
When: (5th invite only), 6th, 7th December
Contact: http://www.fac.org.au/bazaar.php
Note: Most stallholders sell out, so be there early to get those items you've been eyeing off!!

Know of any other markets or creative events coming up? Please let us know!!