It has been about two weeks since I made cards again because I was busy getting ready to make my first appearance at a Saturday flea market on 4th June 2011. It was Netil Market in Bethnal Green, East of London. This market is about 1-year old, so it is not that popular yet. That's why I could afford their current stall rent. Unlike other mature markets whose stall rent can be rather exorbitant.
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| Netil Market's entrance |
Most of the week leading to the market date was spent on visiting suppliers in their physical shops and also online. When I finally paid for a market stall booking, I was pressed for preparation. I laboured time on repackaging and doing quality control for the cards I have previously made. There were lots of printing, cutting and pasting labels for price tags and signages. Phew. Setting up a stall is a lot of work!
I even bought a plain mirror almost as big as A4 size and decorated it.
Wanted to have it displayed at my stall for the use of customers as I included some of my new jewelry stock for sales too. However, this mirror did make it to 'live' long. It was crushed while I was packing everything into a large luggage. Wasted effort and time.
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| My fav bear managed to use the mirror before it cracked |
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Anyway, Setting up the stall took much longer than closing up. That's because it was my first time trading in a market in London. Everything I had to do at a market that day was new, new, new!
Here are some pics of the Netil Market.
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Surprised to see they even sell some urinals right at the entrance! Haha.
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It is not a big market but they sell all sorts of stuff here. Antiques, vintage items, clothing, crafts, collectibles... and even...
...bicycles! Isn't this Bicycle Library interesting?
My foremost intention of trading here was not to make big bucks. I would say most of us crafters are more dedicated to making the crafts they love more than anything else... like trading. So since I have already accumulated quite a number of handmade cards, I decided to see for myself how people respond to my design and pricing. Realized I aced at pricing lower than customers' expectation. While handmade cards can be expensive, I try my best to sell them at reasonable cheaper rate, just so more people can afford my 'artwork'. I want more people to own my work. I am not a Picasso but one can only dream, right?
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| A card I made and kept for 2 years because I loved it so. I made the clay baby myself. |
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This card baby was finally sold to adopted by the mum of another trader. Before she left my stall, she told me she would be a good mummy ;) She also said she is a painter and that in her house she has a wall where she displays collections of artwork. To my pleasant surprise, she said she decided to frame this card! Yay!
Now, here are some photos of my humble stall with very little investment on stall fixture at the moment...
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| eyeARTyou was in the centre of this row. The only one that bothered to display a stall name. |
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| Humble beginning with makeshift stall name board and other displays |
Also sold some clothing & jewelries which I handpicked for sales. Thought other items would help draw more people to browse at my stall in case the cards don't immediately attract them to come by from a distant.
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| Incentives to stop by? ;) |
I always had the idea that sweets can help create the welcoming atmosphere. I didn't mind even if they stop just for the sweets. Many did appreciate the sweets.There were also 10 pence & 20 pence paper craft items and 50 pence brooches which I made. Those were gimmicks in hopes of luring people to check out other items too.
At the meantime, all other stuff may seem more eye catching in the stall but to me they are mere tactics to get people to stop and take notice of the handmade cards. Don't yet have the fund for proper card display shelves and etc, so I just made do with what I have.
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| Hubby was keeping watch while resting in the picnic chair we brought. |
It was a very windy day. For countless times throughout the day , my cards on the table flew to my neighbour's stall. Thank God my cards were already protected with plastic. There were not many people visiting the market although there is another rather established market about 1 minute walk on the same street. I realized the organizer may not have done enough to advertise or promote the market. So I am now considering and looking for other venues.
How was my sales? Well, thank God I managed to cover the stall rent and also make some. But it isn't that much to cover a lavish meal for two. Haha. Like I shared earlier, my objectives were to gain trading experience and also to see for myself people's responses to my cards. So, I would say my objectives were met. Ticked!
The closing time came and we packed up at the stall. One of the traders found something foreign in his stall.
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| Poor man/woman for losing this good looking dental plate! |
A denture!!! Imagine what a peculiar thing to be seen at any lost & find section. Hahaha... I couldn't resist taking a shot of this.
Before we left the area, my hubby and I hung out at a cafe for a cuppa of joe.
After drinking in the atmosphere and the latte at the cafe, we were set to continue our journey home via the underground tube lugging 1 huge luggage, 2 backpacks, 1 picnic chair & 1 three-fold stand.
Voila! The 'report' on my 1st trading experience in London is finally done. Phew. What a long post.
Thanks to all of you who have been giving me the moral support to do what I have been hoping to do. And also those who take interest in my progress ;) Tq, tq, tq... TQ!
PAY IT FORWARD
I would like to invite some crafters to join me at this craft swap... erm, not exactly a swap but you get something handmade from me and you are to make something to give to next 5 persons. It's the 'Pay It Forward' project. I have found it on blogland and decided I would like to participate in this meaningful project. Click here to join me or to read more about it. Only 3 more places left. So hurry!
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