OK. So now isn’t the best time to start selling at craft fairs. But when we get out of lockdown and into a ‘new normal’, that should change. And when it does, you might be thinking about going to your first craft sale, or you might be looking to get back into craft markets.

So, with that in mind, I thought I’d put together a blog post about some items that always sell well at craft fairs. This is purely from my experience. It might not be the same for you, but I aim to set you off in the right direction if you’re new to the craft fair business.

Let’s start with a guaranteed favourite.

Cards

It’s always someone’s birthday, so naturally, cards always do well, but there are plenty more occasions people want to buy cards for. Think:

• Valentines
• Mother’s and Father’s day
• New baby
• New home
• Congratulations
• Passing a driving test.
• Any seasonal cards

Also, you might find it’s worth offering a ‘commission a card’ service so you can cater to everyone. However, before you start buying materials for a bespoke card, consider asking for a deposit to cover materials and your time.

Just one thing with cards, though: they’re not always the most profitable. However, they’re a great way of getting people over to your table and encouraging buyers to purchase other items.

Jewellery

When I was at a craft sale in 2019, one stall did better than most sellers. The lady next to me was selling jewellery. So were a few of the others. But visitors flocked to her to buy. Why? Because her jewellery was different.

Most of us can make a beaded bracelet. However, not everyone can make the polymer clay jewellery that she was making.

And that’s the secret to selling jewellery and just about anything else: it has to be different. You need to put your mark on it if you’re going to stand out.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Wire wrapped jewellery.
• Resin jewellery
• Mixed media jewellery
• Stamped, personalised jewellery.

This lady also encouraged sales by offering discounts for more than one purchase, and crucially, she knew how to engage with customers.

Engaging with customers won’t always come naturally, but this lady had it down to a fine art. 

For example, she encouraged sales by telling a customer the necklace would go well with the top they were wearing or with the colour of their eyes/hair, and it worked! Of course, not every time, but enough for this lady to outperform every other jewellery seller there.

Edibles

Edibles always sell. Things like cakes, biscuits, chocolates do well. But remember to be extra careful about listing food ingredients and preparing the food under hygiene standards.

If you’re new to all this, the government details some food hygiene requirements for your business on its food.gov.uk website.

Unusual items

If you want to stand out from the crowd, think about unusual crafts. For example, Pyrography is relatively common, but you won’t see that many people selling it at craft fairs. Or at least, I haven’t.

Other ideas include:

• Origami
• Weaving
• Glass art
• Craft kits

Craft kits are becoming increasingly common. You’ll see plenty of these on Etsy and if you’re selling in a crowded niche, putting your items together in a craft kit can help set you apart from other sellers.

Home essentials

Think about what people need. Keyrings are one of the most obvious products, and planners are becoming increasingly popular.

Then there’s things for the kitchen, like coasters or decorative plates and jars. The list goes on.

Candles

Whether they’re in a teacup or you’ve moulded them yourself, scented candles nearly always perform well. They make great gifts, and it’s simple enough to get started making them.

The essential ingredients you’ll need are:

• Candle wax. (there are four main types, but I find beeswax and soy wax easiest to work with).
• Essential oils of fragrance oils
• Spatula
• Double boiler or saucepan
• Thermometers
• Pencils

And you’re good to go!

Pet products

There are millions of pet lovers out there and many of them can’t resist a pet-themed hand-crafted item. These products make great gifts to give too, and they’re usualy affordable.

If you’re thinking of selling your pet products online, smaller things like personalised collars don’t cost most to ship.

Pamper products

Who doesn’t want to pamper themselves these days? Wax melts, handmade soaps, pulse perfumes, bath bombs are just some items that are easy to make, and you only need a handful of ingredients to get you started.

You could also go with more standard items like lip balms, muscle rubs, and massage bars. But remember to check the regulations for selling handmade products in your country, and indemnity insurance is a must.

Start Selling Today

There you are. If you’re new to craft fairs, there’s a list of items that I’ve seen sell well at every craft market I’ve visited.

These crafts are all simple to make and affordable to get started, so what’s stopping you?

Do you sell at craft shows? Which items do you find sell well?