*This is a collaborative post
If you’re passionate about cooking and have received plenty of praise for your efforts from friends and family members, then selling your delicious creations at a craft fair could well be worth considering. There is a seemingly endless demand for homemade products amongst the general public, and meeting that demand will give you the opportunity to cook to your heart’s content and increase your income at the same time.
If you are tempted by the idea, then one of the most conventional ways to experiment with the idea is to sell at craft fairs.
Why are craft fairs a good starting point?
- Craft fairs are accessible, allowing you to try the idea of selling homemade products out without having to make a huge investment. You can start with a very small batch of items and see how things go, then expand from there.
- Craft fairs are essentially a fantastic form of market research. You can experiment with recipes and see what receives the best response from the public, so you know what to do more of in the future.
What foods are popular at craft fairs?
Craft fairs can host any types of food, but baked goods are by far the biggest seller – cakes, cupcakes, biscuits, anything along these lines should prove to be very popular indeed!
What do you need to start selling at craft fairs?
The exact specifics of what is required to sell at craft fairs varies depending on your location, so the best advice is always to contact your local council, explain your plans, and ask for their advice. They will be able to tell you exactly what you need to do to use your kitchen to make food that you intend to sell, and can also advise on whether a food hygiene certificate (or similar) will be required.
Aside from the cooking regulations, you will also likely need to have public liability insurance to sell at a craft fair.
Finally, you will also need to follow the guidelines of any craft fair you intend to sell at – many have policies in place, particularly around listing ingredients, that must be adhered to.
How should items be priced at a craft fair?
It’s always best to visit as many fairs as possible to see what items similar to those you hope to sell are priced at. Using these figures as a rough guide, you can work out your cost to produce and sell the same product (including the cost of ingredients, your time, and any packaging or labelling, and the stall fee for any fair you visit) and then set a price that is competitive, but still guarantees you a decent profit.
What can selling at craft fairs lead to?
If all goes well and you’re turning a steady profit with craft fairs, then you could consider enrolling on one of the best online MBA programs or similar business-focused qualification and then, in time, opening a business selling your own creations. You could, for example, open your own store or start selling direct to stores in your local area, using everything you have learned when selling at craft fairs (customer preferences, pricing strategy, and so on) to create a full-time business venture in the future.
In conclusion
Selling your own food at craft fairs is be incredibly rewarding and enjoyable for any enthusiastic cook, can boost your income, and – in time – could even lead to a permanent career change in the future!
