Good Selling Items For Fair?

[rawcustom]

Took a gamble this summer and applied for a local artists and craftsman fair. This is kind of a departure from my knifemaking, as I plan to display mainly leather based goods. The thought being that I already have a fairly healthy customer base for my knives, but haven't yet done much on the leather side.

So far I've made and held a couple minimalist style wallets, a nicer ladies wallet, and was planning to add a few more variations of these patterns and materials.

Looking for any suggestions on items that tend to sell well at these type of events. I know offering a few lower priced products is a good idea, so I was planning on some magnetic money clips.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks

[DoubleC]

You already know everything I could tell you Raw. Lower price items are usually the bread and butter and a variety of items. Cheryl

[rawcustom]

Thanks DoubleC. I'm actually struggling more with ideas for the smaller items than anything. Fighting the line between simple and cheap versus junk or "I can make that myself" items. For instance, I have hard time believing key chains would actually sell, and I think coin purses have become close to extinct, but these are just my opinions as I've never tried to sell them.

[MonicaJacobson]

Maybe sunglasses cases, like this one Norman Cahn makes. My sis-in-law was just saying her sunglasses always get scratched up because she puts them in her purse without a case.

I have the same problem. Other people sell a lot of small items, but aside from bracelets, I never have. And the sizing on bracelets is so tricky, it didn't really feel worth it.

[rawcustom]

That sunglasses case is a good idea. Any lining it it?

[MonicaJacobson]

I don't think these are lined, but that's up to you. Lining would drive your price up, and the whole point is a low-priced item. My thinking is that any kind of protection is better than a purse filled with loose change, cell-phones, and keys.

[cgleathercraft]

Pocket knife sheaths, cell phone cases, Cast Iron pan handle cover (gonna make a couple of these for myself), archer arm guards (if archery is popular in your area)...anything that can fit in a pocket/purse/belt

[howie696]

Key tags with an initial - sell like hot cakes

[rawcustom]

Thanks everyone, you have given me a few more ideas to add to the inventory. Now all I need is to find the extra time to get them made.

Thanks again.

[zuludog]

I've never really thought about selling till now, so here are a few ideas, though I have hardly made any of them myself

Belt pouches, sometimes called 'possibles pouches'; look them up on Google

Pouches for pocket/folding knives, including horizontal carry; custom knife sheaths. Include a few knives to demonstrate

Key fobs; plain ones and some kind of stamp/creaser/brander/stylus so that you can put on an initial 'while-U-wait'

Dog collars; for the furry kind, not the religious kind!

Sharpening strops; a bit of cheapish wood & leather so people can sharpen pocket & kitchen knives. Take along a couple of cheap kitchen knives to demonstrate - Don't take anything expensive, it might get stolen. Take some polishing compound such as Autosol to sell for each strop, in something like an old 35mm film tub if you can still get them. Or demonstrate with an impressive looking Japanese kitchen knife, but keep your eye on it!

A large sign that you are willing to do repairs or commissions - dog collars, repair dog leads/leashes; wallets with initials, or zodiac signs, reduced to basic diagrammatic outline; repair belts or make to order; repair handbags & shoulder bags. Take along a couple for display, and see if you get any commissions/requests.

I'm British and I don't know much about guns, but it seems to me that there is a demand for holsters

Loads of flyers, business cards; an order & general contacts book - take lots of pens & pencils, you're bound to lose a few.

Make your own belt pouch/purse/money bag, a bit like the ones that in Britain, at least, bus conductors and milkmen used to use; it would be a shame to lose your takings or have them stolen, and will also advertise your wares & skill

Take along a bit of 3mm veg tan leather and a few tools & thread, and part made items so you can explain the difference between mass produced and handmade/handsewn. you never know, someone might be willing to pay you for some tuition.

It depends on how much business you want. For example; my main hobby is knife making, and leatherwork is a part of that, by making the sheaths. I sold 2 or 3 knives at a car boot sale last summer. One customer was very interested in my knives as he had a hardware shop, and wondered if I could make 25 to 30 a month. I had to turn him down, as I'm retired and do this for a hobby - probably one every month or two! but it shows that there is work/business available if you want it.