Local Craft Fairs, Farmers Market, Bazaars - Any Ideas

[Petra]

Hello everyone,
I really would like to spread "my wings" in Montreal and area and looking to find local craft fairs and bazaars. Does anyone know where to find a listing on the internet to these local events?
For anyone that has done these local events in their comunity, how was the success rate on participating in these fairs regularly?
I really need to increase my bookings, since I seem to be at a stand still at this point.
I am greatful for any advise and insight that you could share!
Thanks!
Petra :love:

 

[peichef]

try kijiji.com

 

[chefkristin]

I get a lot of mine from eventlister.net

 

[Petra]

Hi,
Thank you both very much for the links to kijiji and eventlister.
How successful have you been with attending Fairs and Bazaars?
Do you have any tips for a first timer?

Thanks,
Petra

 

[chefkristin]

Hi,
Thank you both very much for the links to kijiji and eventlister.
How successful have you been with attending Fairs and Bazaars?
Do you have any tips for a first timer?

Thanks,
Petra

I have 3 of them coming up. They are either a hit or a miss. I prefer the local fairs opposed to the Home Shows and Wedding Expos. Those can cost a lot to be a part of and I don't find them any better for contacts then the ones locally that cost $30 to rent a table.

 

[lockhartkitchen]

I agree with Kristin. The Homeshows and Bridal Fairs have been a flop and are VERY expensive. I'm good at local events and they are cheaper! One place to start too is your local grange. I don't know if you have these, but you can rent the building for cheap, invite others vendors, share the expense/clients they may bring in and have a holiday bazaar. Also, talk to gyms for health fairs, woman's events. I'm hooking up with a gym and I'm presenting healthy food choices. I usually walk away from an 8 hour event with about $200 in sales (no inventory there, just catalogs to order from). and my last outdoor event I booked 6 on the calendar right then and there. I followed up within 48 hours on my lead sheets, very important and booked 4 more. I do 3-4 fairs/bazaars during the summer. This keeps my business flowing. My one outdoor event has me booked solid Sep/Oct. You go girl! Let us know how you do.

 

[etteluap70PC]

This is a pretty popular topic. Here are some other threads with info.

http://www.chefsuccess.com/f12/how-do-i-find-trade-shows-etc-booths-10670/

http://www.chefsuccess.com/f2/how-do-you-find-booths-fairs-expos-25226/

http://www.chefsuccess.com/f2/how-find-local-fairs-bazaars-14101/

http://www.chefsuccess.com/f3/where-find-fairs-17542/

 

[Petra]

Hi Krisin, Julie and Paulette,
Thank you very much for the info. I have to agree with all of you. Our Montreal team had rented a booth at the Montreal Women show in the last couple of years and it wasn't successful for any of us. We each got on average less then 1 booking each, which just barely paid for the booth.
I am now looking at the local bazaars which we have coming up for x-mas and hope to get a table at a few.
Julie, your sucess is truly encouraging! I can't wait to get started now!
Thank you all for sharing your wealth of expertise!!!
Petra

 

[heather9892]

petra
i use to offer a $25 gift certificate for my draw got tons of entries no/few bookings
now offer free cooking show alot less leads but more serious about booking
also the follow is so important
if u pm me your email i can send you a referral for a cdn company like post calls. they offer a 50 call/30 day trial and you could send a msg thanking and letting everyone know you will be following up with them in the next few weeks
i usually find fairs in my local paper "looking for vendors"
good luck

 

[Petra]

Hi Heather,
I love the idea to offer a free cooking show for the draw. You must have been reading my mind, I was just thinking about what I have at home to give away!
I would appreciate it if you could send me the refferal for the cdn company. My email is [email protected]
It has been incredible hard to find any bazaar or other event listings in QC. I live and breath google for anything that I am looking for, but in this case we really don't have any event listings here (not like craftlister.com).
I actually serached the website of each individual city around Montreal to try and find any event listing. I do remember a few bazaars I used to go to when I did handicrafts, but other then that they are really hard to find here.
So far I have found 2 good onces that I will follow up with on Tuesday and hopefully I will still be able to get a table.
Most of our bazaars are in either schools or churches and they really are not looking for vendors in the local papers. I wish they would!
Thanks again for your ideas!
Petra

 

[heather9892]

petra
your welcome i will send you a referral for the company
if they are not advertsiting then give them a call and see if they have christmas bazars
i think every church in my town does
try searching canadian craft shows on google
hth

 

[lockhartkitchen]

Heather,I too do the free cooking show give away, with another item I'm giving away. Isn't it amazing how such a simple idea works! As they are filling out the slip, I ask if they are entering for the free cooking show. If they are, I get my calendar and book them right there. My last event I booked 6; sent them with their host packet in a decorative bag with PC clear sticker on, so they carried PC advertisement around the rest of the event.

 

[Cindycooks]

Kristen is so right on the big fairs being a flop. I did a $400 Bridal Fair a couple years ago (3 of us split the cost so not tooooo bad)...but got hardly anything out of it. I do much better at smaller events and have gotten really lucky at the bridal shop here by simply taking in a white basket filled with our wedding registry info, my business cards and cookies for the shop owner! I tied a pretty tulle bow on top. Things like that, the personal touch, really work!

 

[jules]

Hi Petra,I live in Alberta and I have to say that Kijiji is the best source for finding community events. I check on a weekly basis. I act upon them quickly to be the first one and get a spot right away.Julie