According to BBC Bitesize, NFP organisations seek to serve the public or help others - having covered costs, any surplus income is re-invested or used in other ways. Two examples of NFPs are charities, and social enterprise groups. I have come to the conclusion that my craft activities are NFP. On Saturday, I had a table at the Craft Fair in Foulsham, round the corner from the Chapel.
It was Open Gardens Weekend, and the organisers hoped that would attract a lot of visitors. But the weather was against us - it was throwing it down with rain much of the morning. There was a major road accident on the main road, just before the turn off to the village. My prices were deliberately low - most of the stuff was leftover stock from the Christmas Craft Fair at Chapel, but there were hardly any small children, so no takers for my pencil rolls, hairclips or headbands. Nobody wanted to spend £25 on the bags and boxes and beauty products on adjacent tables either.
Despite all that, I had a lovely day, I met loads of people - but in 5 hours I had only 4 customers. Having paid for my pitch, and bought a piece of cake, I had just £2:10 in my cash tin [plus the £20 float I'd started with] I did better than a number of other stall holders though, who sold nothing, or did not cover costs. or had driven 20 miles to be there
Despite all that, I had a lovely day, I met loads of people - but in 5 hours I had only 4 customers. Having paid for my pitch, and bought a piece of cake, I had just £2:10 in my cash tin [plus the £20 float I'd started with] I did better than a number of other stall holders though, who sold nothing, or did not cover costs. or had driven 20 miles to be there
There was a constant trickle of people coming in and walking round - most were very pleasant, just not wanting to buy anything. They were friendly and chatty
BUT I confess to getting slightly annoyed by the lady who whipped out her phone and took a picture of one of my little bird brooches, then buzzed off out the door. I think she intended to go home and make some to sell. They are not copyright or anything - but I was only charging two quid for them, If she had bought one it would have helped me [and she would have had a full sized pattern] This is bad manners imho. What do you think?
Beyond bad manners Angela. So rude and also disrespectful (not a word I'm fond of but it does describe such behaviour). Jill
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DeleteWhen you said you were going to do a craft fair on Saturday I thought "Oh Dear" as there have been several in village halls around recently and people have reported the same thing - no one is spending, no one has any extra spending money anymore.
ReplyDeleteAt least my items will keep for another day, and don't take up much room. The woman with dozens of cakes would have problems. And the one with all those large cushions and bags will have a very full spare bedroom today!
DeleteI'm sorry to hear the fair wasn't successful for most people and yes, that's v annoying about the woman if that was her intent. 2 pounds is not much. Some stalls ask for no photos sometimes and have a sign saying that. X
ReplyDeleteIt just seems a bit unfriendly...
DeleteDefinitely bad manners.
ReplyDeleteWhat a disappointing day for everyone - British weather at its most British!
It was lovely yesterday, driving past 9n his way home from chapel, Bob said the place was heaving!
DeleteThat was very bad manners of that lady to take a picture of your bird brooches and not buy one. At least you covered your costs and made a very small profit. Better luck next time.
ReplyDeleteYou can't win them all
DeleteI agree about the bad manners. My local wool shop complains about people going in, photographing a pattern then going to the market to buy cheap wool.
ReplyDeleteThat is RUDE
DeleteThat is shocking!!
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DeleteIt is extremely annoying when people do things like that! It would have been better to at least ask if she might take a photo which gives the opportunity to chat and point out the value of purchasing one. Just imagine though if one of your blog readers now sees similar birds, I am sure we will be asking questions! Such a shame for everyone who had made such an effort though. Hopefully the next event will more than make up for this one.
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I had a wood turner friend whose work all had a sticker underneath with his design copyright. I saw an identical earring holder at another craft fair, and said to the stall holder "you do realise this design belongs to someone else? He makes his living crafting these, this design is copyright. This is the equivalent of bootleg music, so technically theft" He was a little taken aback.
DeleteI also hate when people ask me how to make something that is on my stall. I’m giving all the proceeds to charity but some people won’t spend a couple of pounds even then. On the flip side, I have had people give me a donation without wanting anything in return. I think I am finished with craft fairs as I am always exhausted for days afterwards. You are right about the weather too-too hot/wet/snowy and the visitor numbers are down. Catriona
ReplyDeleteI don't mind answering questions and chatting about crafts. But the sneaky photography was just so irritating.
DeleteWhat a shame. I know you put hours into the lovely crafts that you make, but bad weather is a killer for charity events, sadly. How very rude of the woman. We'll all be on the look out for fakes now!
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DeleteThat is REALLY bad manners. If you are going to plagiarise something the most basic thing you can do is to support the original maker or designer.
ReplyDeleteSadly I think making a good profit at a craft fair is virtually impossible. Even at Christmas time I have seen people struggle to make any money, and the stalls aren't cheap to hire either are they.
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DeleteVery cheeky and not a particularly kind thing to do, all she needed to do was ask nicely for your permission or better still just buy one!
ReplyDeleteI know there's not a lot of spare cash around at the moment but that's the same for most folks isn't it.
Alison in Wales x
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DeleteI'm surprised that the woman with the phone didn't at least speak to you! Not fun being invisible. At least you had lots of good interaction with other visitors to the fair.
ReplyDeletePerhaps she was avoiding eye contact or conversation simply because she knew i5 was not good behaviour
DeleteSometimes I wonder if our phones are conduits for increasingly poor behavior. Like the others, I agree she was quite rude.
ReplyDeleteSorry, can't respond to you, I've just got to take this message on my phone,,,,,!
DeleteSorry to hear the fair was a damp squib after everyone's hard work. Some of the Craft Club ladies in my village had tables at our Easter coffee morning had very few buyers, which was disappointing. How rude of the lady taking the photo of your bird. X
ReplyDeleteI think people aren't splashing the cash at the minute
DeleteI love to take a photograph of a well presented craft stall, with permission, and not so close that designs could be stolen.
ReplyDeleteIt is fun to haggle up, to what it is worth to me, because I appreciate the skill and hours of effort. My parents were spinners, dyers, and weavers, and Mum knitted too.
The problem is that we have too much stuff now, so it has to be something edible or really useful, or a donation for the photograph.
Most of us have too much, don't we ?
DeleteYou do beautiful items and I would happily buy a bird. But I live in the middle of Canada so not possible. I like making little things but give them away. That woman is a thief and should have, at the very least, bought one. How mean.
ReplyDeleteI give away most of my craft work too
ReplyDeleteSuch a shame when the day turns out disappointing after all the prep work that goes into it. Shame on those with no conscience who help themselves to others ideas!
ReplyDeleteI met some really pleasant people though.
DeleteI'm sorry that the fair didn't work out well this time. I know everyone will have put a lot of effort into preparing for the event. Like you said, at least your items can be bought out on another occasion. That woman - words fail me ! How rude. At the very least she should have bought one and asked permission to take a picture. Some people!!!
ReplyDeleteOnly one - the rest were friendly
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