Since 2009, BCPS has started to deny various schools’ PTA organizations from producing their annual craft fairs — these fairs are typically the largest fundraising events for many PTA groups, whose profits are strictly used to help improve the schools and the schools’ communities. You don’t have to live in Baltimore to know that funding for anything education-related is hard to find and hard to get, so this ban is a huge blow to many PTA organizations who haven’t been able to come up with other profit-matching solutions.

The specific rule that has many parents up in arms, calls to “prohibit the activities, programs or events that monetarily benefit private individuals, groups or for-profit business entities.”

In a February 2nd Arbutus Times article, author by Jay R. Thompson, sorts out the point of contention, as “Nonprofits, such as PTAs, are exempt because they’re fundraising, not making a profit. The violation comes when such groups rent booth space to private vendors, such as a hot dog seller or a craftsman selling homemade wind chimes.”

A few of the most prominent and disturbing examples of craft fairs that were recently denied permits through BCPS, are the craft fairs that used to take place at Ridgely Middle and Perry Hall High Schools. The fair at Ridgely had been going on for more than 30 years. This community event raised thousands of dollars for the Ridgely Middle PTA, and just as important, students were given opportunities to make and sell their crafts at this event, giving them hands-on lessons and practical experience on conducting business in the real world.

Perry Hall’s fair was an annual town event that commanded so many people every year, the police would close down the street in front of the school to allow for more handmade vendors and other attractions. This fair’s profits helped fund scholarships, the school’s marching band and other organizations. The Perry Hall-White Marsh Business Association had put on this event since 1996 at the high school, but was banned as of 2009. They have since found a new home for the fair, but not all other BCPS banned fairs were as lucky.

Say what you will about community festivals, but there is something genuinely great about events that bring together all types of people to show their support and love for the neighborhood in which they live. Public schools are fantastic locations for events like craft fairs, as the rental rates are typically affordable, and on the flip side, reinforces to the public how important it is to support our community institutions, such as our schools.

The reasons given by BCPS for starting to enforce the rule just recently are quite baffling, although issues relating to liability seem to come up most often. While BCPS brass currently maintains their stance on this subject, talks are in the works with the BCPS PTA Council to hear all concerns and discuss resolutions. Hopefully we’ll have some happy news for Baltimore County crafters and shoppers in a follow-up post. In the meantime, you can find out more information on the following sites:

• Fox 45 Baltimore
• Arbutus Times
• CBS Baltimore

If you’re interested in how public school funding works on a larger scale, I highly recommend listening to the NPR story, Private Funding in Public Schools, which aired on February 3rd on the Diane Rehm Show. With all of the complicated issues surrounding corporate funding of our public school system, taking money from independent crafters and artists should be the least of BCPS worries.

So here is the Open Forum list, interpreted for crafter use:

1. I will stop complaining about the bad economy.
This country is still staggering out of the Great Recession. Face the fact that this is the “new normal”. However, in a $14 trillion U.S. economy, there are definitely more than a few new prospects that can help grow your business this year. While complaining doesn’t help find them, offering solutions to solve their problems does.

Was 2010 hard for crafters? You bet. Was it better than 2009? Oh yeah. Will 2011 be better, but still not be quite right? Yup. So yes stop complaining about your lost sales, and think of ways to position yourself and your business to increase them. Try out a different craft fair this year. Or really focus in on building your fan base.

2. I will only sell painkillers.
During better economic times, customers do buy “vitamins” (i.e. nice to haves). In tough times, find your customers’ pain by surveying them in January and asking where your business can help the most. Focus on selling what customers actually want, not what you think they need.

Take a hard look at your product line. While yes there is an argument to be had that all craft is utilitarian, buyers in a tight economy are looking for quality items that have a sound purpose. Do your products fit the bill? If not how can you improve one or the other?

3. I will fire the employees that do not increase profit.
Stop holding onto the people that are bad performers, poor fits, or just don’t add to the bottom line. If that employee went on a month long vacation, would the company suffer? Everyone one else knows that the answer is no. Get over the fear and fire them in January.

While many of you are a one person show, take this to mean all the things that have just become a drain on your productivity. Are craft fairs to time consuming and overwhelming? Fire them. Tired of fighting with your blog platform? Fire it. Never find what your looking for in your craft supply closet? Fire your organizing system. 2011 is the year to find new ways to work that will lead to profit.

4. I will only market to prospects that can actually pay for my product.
Businesses spend a lot of time trying to sell their products to people that do not have the money to buy. We waste a lot of time on these “Mr. Maybes” (prospects that show inconsistent interest). Separate out the “tire kickers” from the buyers by determining the customer’s budget, decision makers, and timeframe for their purchase.

How well do you know your customers? Do some research and find out which craft fairs they’ll be at so you can stop trying to sell your $150/piece jewelry at your farmer’s market.

5. I will not lower my price to substitute a real marketing strategy.
Have the confidence in what your company sells not to lower your price in an effort to win business. Focus on prospects that value the pain your company solves for them. Leave the price wars to your competitors.

This goes with number 4 above. The natural inclination is to modify your price point to try and sell to other buyers. Don’t do it. Again, have confidence in your work. Own your Awesome (Member’s only link) and learn to price your work at a living wage. If you don’t you not only hurt yourself but the entire handmade community.

6. I will meet with customers and vendors face to face.
Stop relying on email and the phone as an exclusive way to talk with customers. Even in a social media world, deep and long lasting business relationships are still built IRL (In Real Life).

Face to face feedback is invaluable. It can sometimes be hard to take, but important to hear. Get out there this year. Staff your booth at a craft fair, visit the stores you sell wholesale to, talk to people and help deepen those relationships.

7. I will attend at least one major industry event.
A big part of success in business is to never stop learning from others. Don’t cheat at this while actually attending the conference by spending the entire day working on issues that are happening back at the office.

Attend the Summit of Awesome, apply for a trade show, or take some classes.

8. I will invest in me and learn at least one new skill.
“Old dogs can learn new tricks.” We invest in training for many of our employees. This is the year to look at becoming proficient in an area where you are bad or very afraid.

How about an online class, or learn a new technique or even a new craft. Get out of your comfort zone.

9. I will take time off.
Professional and personal lives are merging. Take one vacation of seven days or longer this year without the work computer. Go at least one day this year without using the work cell phone. Yes, you can!

Do it. Reconnect with your family and friends.

10. I will understand my businesses financial statements each month.
Many business owners are too busy to check or don’t understand their financial statements. Make a commitment to learn what the profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow statements mean to your business and use them as a guide for future action. Do not delegate that understanding to your bookkeeper, CFO or accounting professional.

Do you have a bookkeeper or accountant? Maybe, maybe not. Either way figure out where your money is going. It can help you evaluate if a new product is worth the trouble.

11. I will be proud to be a small business owner.
Celebrate the big achievement of creating a company, helping your customers and employees through it. You are the future of this country.

Don’t shy away from the question: “What do you do?” Some people don’t understand the craft world, but it is up to us small business owners to educate any potential buyer. Nine times out of ten you’ll get a positive reaction.

What other business or craft related resolutions are you planning for this year?

Through the entry way of a Harry Potter-esque stone mansion you’ll find Second Storie, a boutique craft fair held annually the weekend after Thanksgiving in Rochester, New York. Forty crafters from the Northeast and beyond gather for two days under a canopy of bunting to celebrate the city’s creative community, and to hawk some killer handmade holiday wares. I was lucky enough to wrangle Rachael Hetzel, one of Second Storie’s five organizers, away from her booth (where she sells awesome prints!)  to chat about organizing a holiday craft fair, the power of online communities, and the post-Thanksgiving shopping rush.

Second Storie is an impressive five years old. It began when Rachael and her fellow organizers, who are all sellers themselves, noticed the growing popularity of Etsy.com and the movement towards buying handmade. They saw a potential market in their home city of Rochester, pounced on an enlightened idea, and Second Storie was born. Five years in, despite the economy, Second Storie is thriving and buyers are shelling out the bucks for handmade as much as ever. Rachael said, “What we’ve found is that people are still interested in shopping, they just buy smaller or less expensive items.” Buyers have tight purse strings right now, which means they’re extra picky about what they spend their money on. As such, they’re searching for special, one-of-a kind products, that will give them more bang for their buck. Second Storie and other craft fairs, with their trend conscious and unique items, are a perfect answer to this demand.

It is definitely the time for Holiday craft events (the online buzz is almost dizzying) but I was curious as to why the Second Storie organizers chose the weekend after Thanksgiving to throw one. Wouldn’t they be in steep competition with all the Black Friday, big-box holiday sales? Rachael assured me that this was not the case. Second Storie happens once a year, and she explained that this weekend always draws in the largest amount of shoppers, and therefore, the most sales. They’ve experimented with other dates, but turn out for those events never compared to the post-Thanksgiving weekend. People are in town to visit family, she speculated, and everyone’s in a celebratory mood, trypto-phaned out and anxious to knock off their holiday gift lists.

Second Storie may cater specifically to the holiday shopping rush, but preparations begin way back in the warmer months. Applications are received, and come fall the vendor list is whittled down to 40. This process is always really difficult for Rachael. She said that 70% of the sellers are returning vendors, and that they’ve all become very friendly over the years. It’s hard to tell anyone, let alone someone you know well, that they won’t be included in the lineup with everyone else. But Second Storie has very specific ideas about the products they showcase, and are dedicated to their vision of a carefully curated and well rounded vendor list. Their ideal vendor must share a similar, cohesive aesthetic with the other sellers, while offering different and fresh takes on varied products. In terms of the big picture, they’re looking for a selection of sellers that run the gamut — from jewelry to housewares to clothing —  so there’s something eye-catching for every potential buyer. So how to get on “the list” or keep from getting the boot?  Rachael tells me that selling a unique, unusual sort of item, or regularly switching up your product line, always helps a vendor stand out or keep their place in the lineup.

Rachael’s face lit up when I asked her about the online world, and the role it’s played in promoting and building a community around Second Storie. “The internet has helped us connect to potential vendors, meet new people…it’s just done so much,” she explains. She says most people hear about Second Storie via the web, and that it’s also played an important role in promoting her personal print shop, which she runs with her husband. “A website or online shop that includes pictures of your items does a lot when it comes to marketing or selling. With the web, your personal information and details about your products are in one easy place for buyers to see.”

Second Storie launches a full-on new media assault throughout the year. They have a website and a blog that is frequently updated with the organizer’s favorite items, and features profiles of Second Storie vendors leading up to the fair. There’s also a Twitter account, Facebook page, Myspace page, Flickr stream, and an Etsy store. Phew! In terms of old-fashioned PR, Rachael said they write press releases and post flyers around Rochester. This fully rounds out their promotional efforts, reaching a wider audience and drawing in those less tapped into the DIY web-osphere.

I really enjoyed chatting with Second Storie’s sellers — meeting people in person and partaking in their enthusiasm for their products reminds me why I love to write about/for them, and adds an entirely new facet to buying and selling. I think that really speaks to the unique necessity of craft fairs. While the online community is extremely important in terms of  networking, marketing, and selling, there’s nothing like a good, old-fashioned handshake and face-to-face conversation. In some ways, I think it’s one of the best promos your wares can have.

Please stay tuned for a Hello Craft holiday gift guide, featuring some Second Storie superstars!

Hello Craft is proud to be working with the Washington City Paper to power this year’s Crafty Bastards Arts and Crafts Fair! As most festivals go, Crafty Bastards takes six months to a year to plan and produce. With 150+ craft vendors, local sponsors, a food court, the BBoy Battle and more than 25,000 people attending the fair, the stakes are high to design and execute an event that is both a one-of-a-kind shopping experience for the people of DC, and a promotional and profitable success for our vendors.

After receiving many questions over the years of how Crafty Bastards is put together, we’re starting this new weekly column that will give you an exclusive, insider’s look into the work that goes into creating this fair. As part of our commitment to education, Hello Craft staff will take turns sharing their trials and tribulations of being Festival Directors. We welcome all questions and comments, and hope that our experiences will inspire those looking to organize their own crafting events, as well as share common ground with those who already put on some of the most fantastic events around the country.

And so the Crafty Bastards adventure begins with our very first Diary entry…..

Hello All! I’m Kimberly, the Executive Director of Hello Craft as well as one of the main Festival Directors of Crafty Bastards. I’ve worked on this fair for the last 7 years, and am always excited to jump into the planning stages. Just to give you some background on the work I do for Crafty Bastards: If you send an email to Crafty Bastards, I’m the one you’ll hear from. I do most of the ordering and permit work for the fair, I’m on the jury, I coordinate logistics with Washington City Paper, round up Hello Craft Sponsors, and work with Sara (who you’ll hear from in future diary entries), to map out our vendor spaces and make sure that all of our vendors and shoppers get the best day-of experience.

Thursday, June 24th, 10pm
Finally(!) relaxing after a crazy and super hot day running all over DC to get our permit signatures for our DCRA (Dept. of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs) Special Events Permit. Hosting an outdoor event in DC means getting event permits. Getting permits means getting a whole slew of signatures from various government agencies from the Fire Marshall’s Office and the Metropolitan Police Department, to the Office of Tax and Revenue and DC Public Space. Basically, we need government approval to put on this fair in the form of signatures, which require a bit of running around town. The DCRA office moved to the SW Waterfront area from their N. Capitol Street location just recently, which is good because it’s right next to the Metro (and because they added computer stations that have a decent internet connection to help you pass the time while in the waiting rooms – so yay!) but bad because it means that I also have to go to one more stop on my way to getting other signatures at N. Capitol Street, Judiciary Square, Columbia Heights, New York Avenue and L Street NW…. c’est la vie. At least the folks in those government offices get a chuckle every time I tell them the name of our fair

With 90% of my permit signatures in hand after a sweaty day using public transportation to get to all the government offices around town, Sara takes me out to the Wonderland Ballroom for a celebratory beer (thank you Sara!).

Just a few more tiny festival logistics to work out before I finish the last part of the permit process. This includes drawing up a site plan as well as a traffic flow pattern.  I am feeling happy about getting a majority of this work done today. More on permitting down the road.

Sunday, July 4th, Midnight
Today is the FINAL, LAST DAY for folks to get in their applications. It’s always fun to see the last few applications come in right at deadline. I’m a guilty procrastinator, so it makes me smile to see that there are others just like me out there in the crafty world. Every application is counted, whether it’s the first one that came in months ago, to the very last one that got in the door with 10 seconds to spare.

Monday, July 5th, 12:30pm
Had to manually enter in a few applications that could not get through the application process because of weird web reasons that are beyond my level of understanding. These are important because we don’t want anyone not to be able to apply just because of web issues. Once all is said and done, we’ll research the problems so that they can be fixed for next year’s application.

I’m reviewing all the applications to make sure that everyone is paid up and also checking out photos to see if there are any issues, such as missing photos. Just looked over a plush application that shows off cute squishy things, with a few WTF (hilarious) ones mixed in. I love seeing photos of work from crafters that are truly unconventional. My wish (as always) is to see more handmade clothing for dudes. It’s one of the biggest requests that we hear from shoppers every year.

I can’t wait for the Crafty Jury this weekend! Check out the Crafty Bastards Blog on Friday to see the bios of this year’s Crafty Jury members, as well as an inside look into how the jury works. Good luck to all of our applicants!

Here’s an update to our previous list of upcoming indie craft shows and their deadlines to apply. If there’s a show I missed that you plan on applying to, please let us know about it in the comments.

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Lyceum Spring Food and Craft Market
Brooklyn, NY
Show Dates: May 1-2
Application Deadline: Rolling (more info)
http://www.bkcraftcentral.com

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BUST Spring Craftacular
New York, NY
Show Date: May 23
Application Deadline: 4/16/2010 (apply here)
http://www.bust.com/craftacular

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Handmade Mart
Silver Spring, MD
Show Date: May 23
Application Deadline: 4/10/2010 (apply here)
http://handmade-mart.com/

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Indie Art By The Sea
Newport, RI
Show Date: July 3
Application Deadline: 5/28/2010 (apply here)
http://www.indieartbythesea.com

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Urban Craft Uprising
Seattle, WA
Show Dates: July 10-11
Application Deadline: 4/5/2010 (apply here)
http://www.urbancraftuprising.com

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Renegade Craft Fair LA
Los Angeles, CA
Show Dates: July 24-25
Application Deadline: 4/2/2010 (apply here)
http://www.renegadecraft.com/los-angeles

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Renegade Craft Fair SF
San Francisco, CA
Show Dates: July 31-August 1
Application Deadline: 4/2/2010 (apply here)
http://www.renegadecraft.com/san-francisco

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Renegade Craft Fair Chicago
Chicago, IL
Show Dates: September 11-12
Application Deadline: 6/11/2010 (apply here)
http://www.renegadecraft.com/chicago

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Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair
Washington, DC
Show Date: October 2
Application Deadline: 7/5/2010 (info)
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/craftybastards/

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Holiday Renegade Craft Fair Chicago
Chicago, IL
Show Dates: December 4-5
Application Deadline: 10/15/2010 (apply here)
http://www.renegadecraft.com/chicago

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Holiday Bazaar Bizarre SF
San Francisco
Show Dates: December 11-12
Application Deadline TBA (more info)
http://www.renegadecraft.com/san-francisco

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Crafty Wonderland Super Colossal Holiday Sale
Portland, OR
Show Dates: December 11-12
Application Deadline: September TBA (more info)
http://www.craftywonderland.com/

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Holiday Renegade Craft Fair SF
San Francisco, CA
Show Dates: December 18-19
Application Deadline: 10/15/2010 (apply here)
http://www.renegadecraft.com/san-francisco

]]> http://www.hellocraft.com/2010/03/latest-2010-craft-show-call-for-vendors/feed/ 2 http://www.hellocraft.com/2010/02/2010-craft-show-dates-mark-your-calendars/ http://www.hellocraft.com/2010/02/2010-craft-show-dates-mark-your-calendars/#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:57:26 +0000 Sara http://www.hellocraft.com/?p=3607 The nation’s indie craft show organizers have been working hard to get plans in order for 2010 and we’ve got a list to prove it.  Get out your calendars and check below for some dates to help plan a great year of indie craft.

Take note: You need to hurry if you want to secure a space at the first ever Renegade Austin–applications are due this Friday!  The deadline for Portland’s Crafty Wonderland Super Colossal Spring Sale is also fast approaching with a Feb. 15 due date.

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Crafty Wonderland Super Colossal Spring Sale
Portland, OR
Show Dates: May 1-2
Application Deadline: 2/15/2010 (apply now)
craftywonderland.com

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Renegade Craft Fair Austin
Austin, TX
Show Dates: May 15-16
Application Deadline: 2/5/2010 (apply now)
renegadecraft.com/austin

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Bazaar Bizarre Maker Faire SF
San Mateo County Expo Center
Show Dates: May 22-23
Application Deadline: 3/16/2010 (apply now)
bazaarbizarre.org/sanfrancisco

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Renegade Craft Fair Brooklyn
Brooklyn, NY
Show Dates: June 5-6
Application Deadline: 3/5/2010 (apply here)
renegadecraft.com/brooklyn

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Renegade Craft Fair LA
Los Angeles , CA
Show Dates: July 24-25
Application Deadline: 4/2/2010 (apply here)
renegadecraft.com/los-angeles

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Renegade Craft Fair SF
San Francisco , CA
Show Dates: July 31-August 1
Application Deadline: 4/2/2010 (apply here)
renegadecraft.com/san-francisco

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Renegade Craft Fair Chicago
Chicago, IL
Show Dates: September 11-12
Application Deadline: 6/11/2010 (apply here)
renegadecraft.com/chicago

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Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair
Washington, DC
Show Date: October 2
Application Deadline: 7/5/2010 (info)
www.washingtoncitypaper.com/craftybastards

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Holiday Renegade Craft Fair Chicago
Chicago, IL
Show Dates: December 4-5
Application Deadline: 10/15/2010 (apply here)
renegadecraft.com/holiday-chicago

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Holiday Bazaar Bizarre SF
Fort Mason Center
Show Dates: December 11-12
Application Deadline: TBD
www.bazaarbizarre.org/sanfrancisco/

_________________________________________________________

Crafty Wonderland Super Colossal Holiday Sale
Portland, OR
Show Dates: December 11-12
Applications will be available in early September
craftywonderland.com

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Holiday Renegade Craft Fair SF
San Francisco, CA
Show Dates: December 18-19
Application Deadline: 10/15/2010 (apply here)
renegadecraft.com/holiday-sf

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Before we officially say goodbye to 2009 and usher in a brand new year of crafting, Hello Craft would like to thank all of our friends, family, dedicated bloggers, members and readers for supporting our organization during it’s inaugural year.

… and what a first year it’s been!

We hosted our Shopper Show & Tell at craft fairs around the country…

Launched our Hello Craft Podcast…

Produced the first annual Summit of Awesome in Mid City DC….

Took a Field Trip to the Biggs & Featherbelle factory…

Co-produced the Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair…

and brought our Make Something Awesome Area to the One of a Kind Show NY!

So here’s our toast to everyone who supported not only Hello Craft, but the global handmade movement in 2009.

We hope that this year has been most prosperous and inspiring for all, and we look forward to another fabulous year of hand-sewn, hand-drawn, decoupaged, silk-screened, baked, soldered, embroidered, knitted, crocheted, felted, and letter-pressed items to get excited about.

XOXO,
Kimberly, Sara, Tina & Kelly
Hello Craft Directors

Art vs. Craft
Milwaukee, WI
Saturday, Nov. 28th

Did I miss one?  Tell us about it in the comments.

December 11-13, 2009 (Preview Night December 10)
Pier 94, New York

After 35 years in Toronto, and 8 in Chicago, the One of a Kind Show and Sale is now making its New York City debut. The One of a Kind Show and Sale is a huge holiday shopping event featuring fine art and craft from hundreds of unique artisans and designers from across North America. Every item for sale will be made by hand, and every artist represented will be in attendance.

Join Hello Craft in the Awesome Area to try out free craft projects, participate in handmade seminars, and much more!

Win Tickets
We’re giving away 6 pairs of tickets to this show; each ticket is good for all four days!  To win, just comment to this post and share your favorite place to shop handmade in NYC or tell us who your favorite NYC crafter or designer is.

Deadline to enter is November 30th.

We’ll be posting more information the One of a Kind Show soon, so stay tuned.

For more information, please visit oneofakindshowny.com.

Hello Craft is excited to be partnering with the One of a Kind Show & Sale and will have a booth at OOAK’s holiday show at Pier 94 in New York from December 11th-13th.  We’ll host a Make Something Awesome area with hands on craft projects and conduct shopper interviews along with a workshop or two.  More details will be announced in the coming months.

If you are interested in exhibiting, space is still available,  but hurry!  Artist criteria and application info is available here.  Contact Libby Hanna at 312.527.7757 or lhanna@mmart.com, or Courtney Walsh at 646.778.3236 or cwalsh@mmart.com to find out what is needed to qualify for the show.

Here’s some more info about the OOAK NYC show from their site:

Launching December 11-13, 2009 at Pier 94, the One of a Kind Show and Sale NYC will be an extraordinary holiday shopping show featuring the best in fine art and fine craft from hundreds of unique artists, artisans and designers from across North America.  Each item for sale at the show will be made by hand, one piece at a time, and every artist represented will be in attendance—offering shoppers the wonderful opportunity to buy pieces directly from the artist who created it and support the independent artist community.

Skipping Lilies Jewelry

Lillie & Cohoe Hat

Weener Ware

And, if you haven’t had a chance to listen to the latest episode of the Hello Craft podcast, check it out.  This special episode is sponsored by our friends at One of a Kind Show and features an awesome story about how Tina Seamonster learns to embroider and relax.