The general church fundraising ideas like bake sales ect is always a successful event, people sometimes find it a bit boring and tired. The organizers often find it a challenge to think of something fresh and new. A Craft show is a very good way for the church to raise funds as well as introducing themselves to the community.
A Craft show on the other hand is often not a very popular idea as it involves a lot more organization and time than any of the other fundraising ideas. Crafts in general are a very popular way for people all over the world and native to their country to make a living if they don’t have any other skills or former education. How often have you driven through a “tourist town” like the many throughoutMpumalangaand seen ladies alongside the road selling their self-made pots, mats, grass items and masks.
They make a fairly good sustainable income and rely totally on the interest of the tourists visiting their area. If you think this is a good fundraising idea, have a look at these tips below that will assist you in pulling it off successfully.
A very important point is to find the suitable location. Depending on the amount of people selling their crafts, you will have to use a location that will have enough space for them to lay their crafts out neatly as well as walking room all around each vendor’s items. If it is outdoors, try to have it on a paved area with no obstructions and no uneven areas and when it is indoors, it would be nicer if the goods are displayed on tables with nice decorative cloths.
The setting of the tables or spaces are also very important as they will predict how well your items will be visible. If you are renting the space to the vendors, rather charge less and have more vendors arrive than having a half empty exhibition . This will seem like there is only half the amount of interest and people will get bored soon.
Another important point is never to have all the same type of crafts throughout the expedition. This will lead to visitors becoming very bored very soon and also to the vendors not making sales. Do your research first and see what items all the other large and commercial “flea markets” and exhibition are offering and steer clear of those products. The most commercial products are caps, t-shirts, African masks, sunglasses pirate DVD’s and fake perfume. Please do not sell these, try to keep your items original and home-made.
Marketing of your exhibition is probably the most important point that you should focus on. It is of no use if your exhibition is ready but no visitors come to see the goodies. Start advertising a few months in advance and follow up with a refresher pamphlet reminding everybody that the exhibition is due soon.
One tip that I would also like to give you is that browsing and shopping is mainly interesting for parents (especially moms) rather than the whole family, so make sure that there is a kiddies play area for the children and a tent with a television for the men to watch rugby.
