I am not a PTO member any longer. My children are all grown. But I try to keep up to date on parents concerns because I run a women's enrichment program at the local Salvation Army. Many of the women's concerns are child related as are many of the fund raisers we do on a monthly basis. We are thinking of holding our first craft fair this year at the same time as our bi-annual blood drive. I am thinking of advertising a discounted rate per table, maybe ($20 vs $25) for anyone who donates blood. What would you think if you got an invitation that said something like that? Just curious.

We are definately doing our craft show for the first time next spring, but of course need to start planning soon! Those of you who have done shows, could you please email me with whatever info you have, as far as budget, planning steps, etc. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

TIA!

Im all about new projects...Add it to my list!! lol

Actually, I think it could be pretty easy and informative for all of us. It never hurts to hear new ideas or hear about what works for other places. We don't charge for our show, but we do have food. (I nominate writermom to chair the writting of the guide..anyone second the nomination?)

The biggest local show we have around here is "Burgoo" in Utica, PTO will never beat that show..no way..no how, but we did get a few vendors and customers from there which made us both happy (We handbilled Burgoo customers and vendors).

With budgets the way they are, It wouldn't cost us anything to advertise vendors and other upcoming PTO shows with each other, (Except a bit of leg work..and you all know PTO members are all about leg work)

Something like a master list of dates/numbers/address is what I am thinking. If someone is interested in attending, they can call and find more info. Most of us know within the first month of school when you are going to have your next show.

I am sure none of us would drive 4 hours away to attend a show..but you never know who is at a show and you might get a few extra vendors or customers.

Just a bit of free advertising for all of us, and I am all about free! lol

In my opinion, I think schools would get more done if we worked together more within our own town and with other towns. Support is sometimes so hard to get.

Man..I am long winded today

[ 11-22-2005, 10:41 AM: Message edited by: OaklandparkMom ]

To be honest, I would only go to a first year show again, PTO or otherwise, if it was within an hour's drive of me. It's a lot of work to get ready for a show. The show I was talking about earlier was three hours away and I didn't sell anything. No one around me did. The candle lady did well and so did the kettle corn guy but that was it. I talked to the kettle corn guy, he was from Chicago, and he said my stuff was good, my prices were good, but the turnout was the worst he had ever seen. It was a holiday show, and to top it all off, my cell phone battery ran out and I got caught in a snowstorm on the way home. My DH couldn't reach me and sent the state police out to look for me. It was the perfect end to a lovely day.

So if I got an ap from your PTO and it had other PTO shows listed on it, I might do them if they were in my area or if I knew they were well-done shows. St Pat's is right--word does travel fast in crafting circles and it's easy to find out where the best shows are. When I get brochures and aps in the mail about shows, they always focus on past attendance and/ or their marketing efforts. Most vendors don't care about your PTO or whatever cause you are supporting--they care about selling their wares.

I wouldn't do a show that charged admission unless I knew it was a long-running, well established show that consistently drew large attendance. I wouldn't pay a lot either to be in a first year show. School and church shows are good for getting started and like St Pat said, many seasoned crafters avoid them because they don't have the money to advertise heavily. I don't mind shows that sell food though. Hey Oakland Park mom, you and I could write a guide for PTOs on putting on a craft show!(I'm smelling a new writing project here lol)

I used to sell to crafters via a wholesale operation. The one thing that all crafters will stay away from, if they are seasoned, are craft fairs that charge admission, and sell food. Many avoid the schools and churches since the advertising is usually a bust. The best are on nice days on a green.

Most crafters want to know the turnout. This gives them a chance to sell. If you get a poor turnout, the word travels fast in the craft market. Do your homework because one or two flopps and your chances of a good show twindle every year. Charge enough and use the some of the funds to get folks in the door.

Writermom, My aunt has done craft shows here in Illinois for 25 years, She has had some terrible pro shows. One time at a pro show they stuck crafters behind a petting zoo on a 90 degree day....It was a long and lovely day lol

Maybe us Illinois people should be sharing our vendor lists with each other so we can help each other out.

Writermom, as a crafter, how would you feel if you received a vendor ap and on the back were dates of other PTO shows in the same state with the chairpersons phone numbers?

With a bit of organization, it could work.