Greetings all,
Wow, what a market. As the fantastic Handmade Market fans know, this event has moved from Albert Hall to the Yarralumla Woolshed to the Kamberra Winery . . . outgrowing all of those venues . . . to the National Convention Centre - which is MASSIVE. It never disappoints, our gorgeous customers follow us anywhere & everywhere, it's truly appreciated!!
Thank you to everyone in blogland last week for your encouraging comments & lovely words wishing me success. I've been lucky enough to do every SINGLE Handmade Market since November 2008, this is only the 10th market event, it's exclusive & selective, it's special company to be in. I am so appreciative of the journey. I've done big events & popular markets but none are managed & marketed so perfectly. Handmade is a FULL ON market - non stop customers, money being waved in the air, EFTPOS running hot & products flying off the tables + customers bursting through the doors before the market is scheduled to start!!
This weekend's market was extra brilliant, in air conditioned comfort & not a concern for weather (it was windy & did rain). The stall holders loved the convenience, the customers enjoyed the ease, ambience + thousands went from the Market to the Shop & back to the Market again (Shop Handmade is only 500m away & was incredibly busy all day too).
All i can say is a huge congratulations & hearty thanks to the Handmade Market team & 3 very busy Shop girls!!
The awesome combination of blogging & markets means . . . meeting people in reality, like the beautiful Terese from Designed to a T & groovy Amanda from Laylaba. Special shout out to gorgeous Dzintra from Queen of the ArmChair who broke her arm on Wednesday & couldn't attend the market - she really is queen of that armchair right now!! Also, at this time of year, i find dear friends who have moved back to Canberra on military postings (hello Tina & Corinne). Even our gorgeous school principal stopped by to say hello, along with dozens of friends. Many came down from Sydney, up from Melbourne & in from country NSW.
I didn't have a chance to take snapshots prior to the market commencing & my stall looked raided afterwards so i'll just show some zoom in images & offer up a few tips.
I didn't have a chance to take snapshots prior to the market commencing & my stall looked raided afterwards so i'll just show some zoom in images & offer up a few tips.
my business banner - always ensure your stall has signage
bring as much stock as possible, you can store it under your tables - i emptied most of my bolts for my fabric sale baskets
as a handmade creator, i'm also a craft enabler selling fabric covered buttons - displayed in various inexpensive glass vases
fabric brooches are perfect for those wanting a burst of colour to their ensembles - this divided box is great for presentation
cards samples show how fabric buttons can mix & match - a cute way to add height to a display
patchwork pencil rolls laid out in an open French bread basket - a $5 op shop find
i find products in baskets, containers & cases keeps things tidy - i don't mind the mess, it means the customers have truly searched for their favourites
screen printed purses sold well again - inexpensive linen lined baskets
as my darling husband rotated between helping me, taking children to sports, the Farmer's Market, charging my EFTPOS machine, collecting children from parties & sleepovers, the tip . . . he made me the most delicious ham, salad & chilli giant sandwich on fresh bread from Dom's Bakery - packing lunch saves your hard earned market money
handsome soldier is so amazing that he went to Kidson Jewellery (my favourite) & chose this pair of earrings for me from her Zugara collection (with Moyou) & gave them to me in the car as a surprise on the way home, it TOTALLY made my day!! Thanks Emma, sneaky clever you (& her lovely mechanic husband who is always helping with the heavy lifting + his lovely sister who came down from Newcastle for the event too) love you guys!!
Kudos to jewellery designers who can photograph their products, please excuse my 'cap' prop but it did the job.
Kudos to jewellery designers who can photograph their products, please excuse my 'cap' prop but it did the job.
It's simply incredible, in just 2.5 years the rate of success, dedication, momentum & small handmade business growth which has been possible via this market, a humble 'market', when market was still a dirty word . . . Handmade has truly changed that + it's permanent retail space in the heart of our nation's capital Shop Handmade & the Handmade Living book. 600+ crafty small businesses are affliated with all this, just brilliant, what an opportunity. People wonder why i have zero plans to ever go back to work in my field (pharmacology) - how could i, after a decade of full time crafting & mothering, no way!! I love being my own boss & available for our 4 children & my husband when he's in town.
So i have 4 months to prepare for the next Handmade Market in June, i can't wait. Love Posie
So i have 4 months to prepare for the next Handmade Market in June, i can't wait. Love Posie
22 comments:
Oh sounds like a truly delightful event!
I'm not surprised that you did well you have amazing items Momma and your just going to grow bigger and bigger!!
Well done! Your market stall looks totally ace, as always! Everything looks so pretty and colourful. Now go and make a cuppa and have a well deserved rest. x
Wow! And you still have energy to churn out a blog post!
A present from the husband! Does that happen in real life?
Looks like a fantastic day. Well Done!!
well done to you and to your thoughtful husband!
Wow! WoW!! and WOW!!!
Your stall looks amazing, all of the amazing items for sale, the presentation, the thoughtfulness.
So pleased to hear [and see] that it was a huge success and how about your A.M.A.Z.I.N.G hubby - you two really are a truly formidable team.
Thank you for sharing Jen, I hope to see it all for myself one day because there's nothing like this in my pocket of the world.
Felicity x
It sounds like you were run off your feet! I'd loved to have seen it, but my wallet thanks me that I didn't!
Yay, well done. I wish I could get my act together and vet to a market, but can't punch out enough knits. The lovely Steph took some beanies to market for me last year and they did really well.
What a great day it was it was so lovely to see you. I'm happy you had a great day. I'm glad we took some time to have a chat at the end of the day you are truly an inspiration to me and it was a pleasure to meet your lovely husband once again.
Your stall looked fantastic! So glad you had a wonderful day!
What an amazing day!! Your banner is beautiful and I love the way you display your products.
Maybe one day I will make it to a market :)
xx
Happy to hear from so many Sources that it was such a resounding Success. The new venue sounds awesome and I will make it there one day
Gosh it sounds exciting , busy and so much fun !
You had a gorgeous stand and your vibrant personality added to the atmosphere of it.
xx
Congratulations Posie!
That's it! I'm making the trip to Canberra for the June market. I am tired of missing out! x
Wow what a great weekend....thanks for all the market tips..one day I will get up enough courage to have a go....I can see why you love what you do especially being involved in such a great market and assoc crafty people.
You're enthusiasm is so inspiring Posie, I LOVE to read about your craft and the business you have built as a result of it. The cap backdrop for your lovely earrings made me laugh! Congratulations on a great success of a weekend, it must be nice to have a few months to prepare for the next one :o)
awesome jennie...market sounds fabulous and i am planning to come to the next one...np playground tricks this time ha ha...the new location will be brilliant for a winter market...how cool to have dear friends move back to canberra...that is the best...
your handsome soldier is definitely a keeper...i just love how he slips back and then gets into it all...gift and all from emma...
lotsa love from the one armed queen of the armchair who is definitely spending time in the armchair...love and hugs, dzintra
So glad you had a sucessful weekend, then again how could you not with all those gorgeous fabrics, and other handmade goodies!
Posie I think you are an amazing and inspirational woman. Love your work :))
xo
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