flea markets and fairs

kuecker2 · March 7th, 2009, 10:39 PM

I am interested exactly what and how flea market and fair sales are done. What products are worked on. What is a good machine for this type environment.

SunEmbroidery · March 8th, 2009, 04:23 PM

Here are some considerations:

1.If you take a machine one person will have to watch it. Not just for security reasons but to protect against injuries. If the event is overnight is there security? Do you have a tent to protect against rain or heat? If you plan to embroider hats is it easy to switch from flats to hats? Do you have insurance coverage for your machine and supplies away from home?

2.Be prepared to take orders (have a simple to fill out order form) because you probably won't be able to complete all orders on site. How will you handle payment and shipping?

3. For types of items and quantities get information on how past vendors did and how many visitors there will be.

4.For what to sell consider items based on local events and things that could be given as gifts. For example, we live on the coast so beach towels, totes and beach chairs are popular.

5.For a machine you could use a Tajima Neo. I lot of embroiderers use these at shows.

MonasLLC · March 20th, 2009, 08:22 PM

Small fairs and fea markets are tough, most are looking for deals. Larger state fairs are better and a good way to introduce yourself to the local community. Hard on machines and you spend alot of time with customers, they like to get special attention. You cannot do it alone, we have see others try, you cannot produce the work if you are trying to sell the next person. Like others posted, insurance, right products, right prices, know what your space will cost, protect your machines at night, prepare for bad weather, know what you are going to do if it is break down time and it is raining out, DO NOT use a easy up tent (or others like it) it will blow down regarless of how well you stake it down, your best customers maybe other vendors, know how to fix your machine before you go on the road because it will break down.

We do some events with 10 people working, 4 sewing and 5 selling and 1 just trying to keep things orgainized.
We have baurdens and meistergrams(for names and simple jobs) both are great machines and sometime run 24/7
We started with fairs under a 20 by 20 tent with one machine, now have what I believe is the largest mobile shop in the country, 50 foot tractor trailer with 7 machines.
Good luck