Sunday 16 May 2010

Spent

I am totally exhausted after yesterday's village market. I went down on Friday afternoon to help set up the room and probably got a little over excited because I hardly slept that night wondering (a) if I would actually sell anything and (b) if I'd get to buy the earrings and beads I liked from Lesley's stall before anyone else. I was down at the hall again before 9 on Saturday and by 10 when the market officially opened the place was buzzing, with most of the village present and lots of visitors. I should have taken more interesting photographs but only managed to snap these few before we opened and then thought about nothing but manning the stall for the next 2.5 hours. I had hoped to have a back massage or maybe some reflexology from the therapists present but I just didn't get round to it, didn't even have a coffee or try the delicious home made cakes. As well as my knitting I was selling Pam's home baked bread, wholemeal, walnut and focaccia loaves while she was running the children's corner offering removable tattoos, biscuit decorating or card making all at 50p a go. I did consider if things went badly whether I should offer a free pair of socks with every loaf but luckily it didn't come to that. I soon had my very first customer, Julie my yoga teacher who took 3 pairs of socks. After that I sold at a steady pace, taking in total £85. For those interested I priced the adult socks at £15 a pair, children's at £5 and the 6 month baby size at £2, basically material plus 100%. I had wrist and neck warmers at £7 each but none of these sold, only socks which I don't mind at all because that's what I like to knit. I'd tried to make a variety of sizes and colours but frequently got asked for particular combinations that I didn't have. I got an order for a pair if I had more of the yarn, which checking at home I did and also an enquiry for a pair spotted on the blog, so in total I sold over £100 worth, not that it was ever about profit more the confirmation that people actually wanted my stuff and would pay a reasonable sum towards my time. I had some discussion with an artist who might be interested in incorporating pieces of knitting into some of her work, she had a good stash of hand spun yarn from the Scottish islands and a separate request to run a knitting workshop later in the year for about 12 people. It may all come to nothing but it made me feel so positive and helped dispel the desire to say to people bring them back if you don't like them, if they drop to pieces etc though why I should think any of this I don't know as I've been giving my socks as presents over the years and had nothing but praise.
I have applied for stalls in September and December and said that if there is spare capacity I would be willing to help fill the hall on other dates.
I sold all Pam's bread, 18 loaves and all the organic free range eggs we had on sale or return, met some lovely people and only one person appeared shocked at the price I was charging. On the minus side I spent about £20 on the jewellery I'd had my eye on, £14 on a lovely hand woven wool wrap from our local care community that is run on the principles of Rudolph Steiner and £5 on a gourmet venison pie for Mr FF who was in charge of car parking and traffic management. Quite a day, as I said I'm exhausted and still on a bit of a high so I'm going to take it easy, watch the Giro d'Italia on tv and knit some more socks.

16 comments:

  1. think it's all wonderful and I'm so happy you did so well although a sell out would have been better for you but not for me as I am now the proud owner of a pair of socks!!!
    You are such a neat knitter and everything I've seen on your blog looks so professional! I wish I could say the same for my knitting...

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  2. So glad you had a successful day! It sounds as though it was great fun too. I think £15 sounds the perfect price for the socks. Now you've got some profit to have a little stash splurge, so that you can start restocking. Fantastic! Have a good week. Ros

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  3. From the tone of your blog post it sounds like you had a fun but exhausting day. Great news that you are happy to do it again.

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  4. Sounds like you had a good day.

    Looking forward to/dreading my first craft event in a couple of weeks - hoping I sell loads as I've mentally spent the money already!!

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  5. Well Done! Your socks looked so lovely I would have been surpised if you hadn't sold out of them, especially at those prices - very reasonable.

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  6. I'm glad that you did so well! Now you have some 'guilt free' money for a little yarn indulgence!

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  7. I'm so pleased your socks and knitting sold well! You must get knitting for the next Fairs!

    And I'm not in the least surprised the homemade bread sold - in my experience anything home cooked goes first in any Fair I've ever been to!

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  8. So glad it went well! :-D

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  9. Good for you! You're an inspiration! I'm doing my first Fiber Fair this Saturday & am scared witless. Wish me luck.

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  10. Oh well done you! And you got to buy as well as sell. Perfect.

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  11. Hi Jenny,
    It sounds like you did really well with ur market day, congratulation's.
    It's always a buzz to have someone appreciate the items that you make.
    Gee you must really knock those socks up, lol, I truly battle, to get a pair finished!
    What was ur necklace like???
    Tracey <3

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  12. Be sure to rest up now! What a wonderful job you did--so glad the day was a success.

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  13. Well done you........ get out there and spend! spend! spend!

    Looking at the previous post as well, you had a lovely variety.
    :O)

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  14. I would love a pair of hand knitted socks like that. They look gorgeous. xx

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  15. Well done you! Your pricing was obviously spot on.

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