I am going to start selling at a local market day in my town and I was hoping for some advice. I like to sew and so far I have decided to sell children's aprons and chef hats. I'm wondering if it's better to stick to one item or if it's better to offer other things.
For example, I have also thought about selling dog dresses. Should the items I offer be related? Would it be better to sell matching dish towels instead of dog dresses? I really need some direction. Any advice would be helpful.
By Kristina Gonzales from south TX
After years of selling at yard and craft sales, my suggestion would be to make a few of everything you can think of and find out which sells best for you. Never over make a lot of things, because in our down times even the dog needs a jacket and if reasonable, will sell. I have 10 dogs and 5 use jackets in the winter, so go for it. I make my own crafts. (05/05/2010)
By gbk
It's good to have several things to sell. And no matter what you sell, some days nothing will sell or all of one thing will sell and then that item may not sell again for a month. There's no rhyme or reason.
I sold crafts all winter, but have stopped for the summer because of the heat. I have figured out that I am going to do it for the enjoyment and socializing because there's no way people will pay for your skill. I have been told to price my items at no more than two times the cost of the materials. The items I make take anywhere from 8 to 10 hours up to as much as a week or two. I am still not going to sell them for next to nothing.
Good luck. (05/05/2010)
How about making potholders to match the aprons? Most potholders at the stores are ugly and boring. (05/05/2010)
By Paula Tucker
Perhaps you could make matching aprons and chef hats for Fathers' Day, matching father and son would be really cute! And this would be something that no other person would have. Using striped mattress-ticking type fabric would make cute aprons.
People really like those kitchen towels that have a button to keep them on the oven handle or cabinet, or refrigerator.
People do really buy clothing for their pets. At one large flea market, there is an entire booth selling pet sweaters, dresses, bandannas, t-shirts, and even little 'jammies". Look at Walmart and see how expensive these pet dresses are! Not too much fabric goes into them either. Seems the glitzier the better.
One thing that always sells is the crocheted net scrubbies! People buy several of them at a time. They are fairly easy to crochet. Net comes in many colors, and isn't too expensive either. You can even find the pattern for the scrubbies here.
One of my friends sold these for $1 each, and she never had enough to sell. They always sold out. She would sit in the booth crocheting these scrubbies, which called attention to herself, and her booth. If you don't crochet, maybe you have friends that do who would be glad to crochet these for you. Guys like them for cleaning their windshield, and the lenses of headlights. They don't scratch the finish on anything.
Another item that girls look for is clothing for their American Girl Dolls. Those clothes are very expensive to purchase from the catalog. There are patterns available on-line, even patterns for crocheting sweaters and such. I have seen entire booths full of American Girl Doll clothing, and accessories.
Have fun! Hope you do well.
(05/06/2010)
You could always try and apron and chefs hat for dogs :)
I love your idea. You might consider making some catnip toys for cats. They are selling like wildfire because all of a sudden in the last couple of years they have become very creative. Do a Google search for catnip toys and you will see what I mean. They are shaped like food, fortune cookies, shrimp, other animals, cookies, all kinds of things. It would be easy and I bet you would sell a lot. Just make sure you put a little catnip in each one and your buyers will come back for more. Good luck. (05/06/2010)
By Lynn
One related apron idea that I have not seen and might be a seller is aprons in plus sizes. The neck ties would be further apart and the apron size wider, but otherwise the same. Try a prototype on someone (like me) who wishes the apron covered all her front. I don't know, but nice, decorative aprons that aren't that wrap-around kind might be great sellers, especially if you could give them a fancy name (not aprons for fat ladies)! (05/24/2010)
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