A Short Blog
I had a table at my local community craft fair yesterday. It cost just £10 for a table, which felt like a small price to pay for the opportunity to get my name out there to anyone who might not already know that I am an artist, as well as to sell some of my work. It was a complete no-brainer to participate.
I ended up sitting next to a 90-year-old lady who was selling her homemade jam, chutney, and apple juice—all products she makes on her farm not too far away in East Farleigh. As you can probably imagine, transporting that kind of produce can be quite physically demanding, so I naturally expected that she would have some assistance. However, I was wrong to assume anything of the sort. She did it all on her own. Moving her stock from the carpark with a portable trolley, she was clearly a seasoned professional with years of experience under her belt. All day long, she was engaging with people, selling her products, and even taking card payments with her smartphone. She completely defied any stereotypes I might have had in mind. What an incredibly inspirational lady.
I managed to chat with a few of the other traders who were from around the local area. One of them was a young lady selling her beautifully hand-painted name signs. Using simple pieces of wood as her canvas, she was just starting out on her journey, setting up shop for the first time, which is always exciting and inspiring to see. We spent some time talking about setting up social media platforms and exploring different strategies to help get her custom products noticed and visible to a wider audience. I shared with her how most of my sales come organically from doing these shows, as people often connect with me personally, but emphasized that having a strong social media presence is a significant factor in keeping my artwork visible to the public around the clock. I found myself relating deeply to her journey, as this is exactly how we all start in this business. I truly wish her the best of luck and success in her new creative venture.
There was a lady selling her beautifully crafted handmade ceramic pieces and also offering engaging classes for those interested in learning the art. An award-winning beekeeper was there, selling his delicious honey and natural wax products, while also educating visitors about the current hornet issue affecting the area. Another stall featured charming Christmas decorations, all carefully crafted locally with great attention to detail. Next to me was Val, who had a wonderful assortment of knitted decorations and toys, showcasing her incredible handiwork. There were many other stalls I didn’t get the chance to explore fully because I spent a lot of time talking with some truly lovely people about my own artwork. Throughout the day, refreshments like tea, coffee, and delicious cakes were available, served by Beryl and her dedicated team, alongside raffle tickets that added a fun, community spirit to the event. I am a strong believer in supporting small businesses and local communities, so events like this mean a lot to me as a way to show that support in action. Admittedly, there were a few things that didn’t run as smoothly as hoped—no one seemed to know the wifi password, and advertising for the fair hadn’t been very visible, which unfortunately led to quite low foot traffic. But despite these small setbacks, I still very much enjoyed being there. Meeting new people and catching up with familiar local faces was wonderful—it’s what these events are truly all about.
#SupportSmallBusinesses
