Exhibit at Bizarre Bazaar Christmas Craft Festival 2013

One of the most important aspects of our work is creating market access opportunities for craftpreneurs producing exceptional work, but lacking in individual capacity to participate at top notch craft events. Leveraging on the power of numbers, we encourage groups of craftpreneurs to share skills, ideas and resources in achieving their business goals.

In light of this, we would like to invite five [5] craftpreneurs to exhibit at the Craft Afrika tent this November 16-17 for the Bizarre Bazaar craft festival at Karura forest Nairobi.
In partnership with the organizers of the event, we are offering a special discounted rate of 7500Kshs per exhibitor for the 2-day extravaganza.
Included in this offer is a scheduled full day group session on 1November2013 [10-4pm] focusing on any business issues the 5 exhibitors may have - from pricing & costing to display tips & ideas.                                                                                                                                                                                    Are you eligible?

• We are looking for fresh new designs in any sub-sector and in any medium
• Your enterprise should have been in existence for three years or less
• You must be available to sell your own merchandise for both days of the exhibition
• You must have enough stock for sale
• You must be a team player                                                                                                                                  Please note...

•  Deadline for expression of interest is 25October13 at 5pm
• You are responsible for all your logistical requirements- including transport to and from the venue as well as your display 
• All monies accrued from your sales are yours to keep
• Craft Afrika will be responsible for the overall look of the tent and will endeavor to drive foot traffic to the tent
• Write an email to craft@craftafrika.org with the subject "Exhibit at Bizarre Bazaar". Make sure to include a web link so we can have a look at the products you intend to sell at the fair
• We will notify successful applicants by 29October13

13 Marketing Ideas Before Your Next Craft Event

 The last quarter of the year is a busy one for craftpreneurs. Christmas fairs are aplenty- big and small, churches and charity organizations alike... the pick is yours.
One of the things i have always encouraged is individual responsibility for creating buzz around an event.
Too often, we leave the work of hyping up an event [that we are participating in!] to the organizers.
But what if you were the only exhibitor? Wouldn't you let everyone on your different mailing lists, Face book and Twitter accounts know that you will be there? So imagine a situation where ALL the exhibitors did just that. What kind of numbers would we see walking through to the event?
As much as the organizers put up street banners and send out invitations, i am of the opinion that we would [individually and collectively] enjoy more success if we owned the event, and therefore did more to promote it.
In this article, the author discusses 13 great [and low budget] ideas that take you from passive bystander to active participant at your next event.
Here is a challenge for you- try at least half of them before your next craft fair.
It will make a difference.

 "13 last minute actions to promote an exhibition, event, craft fair, trade show, open studio..."

You have spend all your time preparing for a major event.  You made all your work. Spend ages on the presentation, finding the right plinths, the right lighting.  Been focused entirely on the making and creation of your work.
 And now, a week or on the day (!) of the show, you realize you need to do some quick fix promotion.
Some quick marketing techniques to get those punters in, to get visitors to attend your show, to get people to buy.
You might even be at a show and realize that it is a bit quiet on the visitors front …
This is a quick fix list of promotional activities that you can do – right now!  No costs or very low budget, and crucially very limited time involvement required from you!

For full article click here.

Market AccessII: Craft Fairs Aug-Dec'13

After a relatively quiet first half of the year, the craft/design calender is filling up pretty fast. And as usual, we endeavor to bring you all the details that pertain to these market access events.

P.S These events are not listed in any order whatsoever.

The Christmas Fair- Ngong Racecourse
Since 1976, the Christmas Fair has been showcasing the best of Africa's art and craft- last year hosting exhibitors from as far of as Zimbabwe. It is arguably the biggest and oldest craft fair around- and this year they are back on 7 & 8December2013 at the Ngong Racecourse. Applications are currently ongoing. See website on how to participate.

Bizarre Bazaar
Organized by BizBaz Events, this craft fair happens 16 &17November 2013 at Karura Forest. For details on bookings email info@bizbazevents.com or call 0701 395 902. Look out for the revamped website, as you can register online once it is up.

Spring Valley Bazaar
Organized by Geraldine and Deborah Evans, this is one of the smaller yet busiest craft fairs in Nairobi. All gate and raffle proceeds go to ANDREF, and this year the event will be held at 12 Bendera Lane, Spring Valley on 30Nov-1December2013. The email address you need is zawadiafrica@gmail.com or 0721 307 232, 0722 510 932.

Xmas BoX 2013
This boutique event happens over three days; 22-24November 2013 at Marula Manor in Karen.
With tent charges varying from 30-105,000 shillings, this promises to be an exclusive event.
Applications close 30August.
Email info@thebox.co.ke or see the website.

Kikapu Market
The Kikapu Market is a monthly open air market that takes place every second Saturday of the month from 11am to 9pm. The July market just happened this past weekend at Prestige Plaza.
To get a slot in the August market, contact kikapumarket@gmail.com, 0723 387 134. Also be sure to check out their Facebook page.                                                                      

Fashion With A Difference  This annual fashion is planned to coincide with Kenya’s 50years of independence, with the theme being ‘united colors of diversity',  based on the cultural and ethnic diversity of Kenya.
There will be a number of fashion & arts market stalls for exhibitors. If interested in showcasing- info@fashionwithadifference.com, 0705 607224 or check out website. 

Green Corner at the Village Market 
This is a special themed showcase for producers in the recycled/upcycled sub sector. It happens every first and last Tuesday of the month at the Village Market, Gigiri. For more information on how to participate - pr@villagemarket-kenya.com, 020 712 2488/2490, www.villagemarket-kenya.com.

Yaya Soko 
The Yaya Soko is back after a short hiatus. Curated by Mary Stannah of Inside the Baobab (craft shop at the Yaya Centre), the soko happens once a month- over 4 days (Thursday-Sunday), the third week of every month. Cost for the four days is 7500Kshs.
The July soko starts tomorrow, and inquiries are already storming in for the August one. So get calling...0725 451 155 or email insidethebaobab@gmail.com
Terms and conditions apply.

October Women Festival The one day October Women Festival happens at Karura Forest, 2November 2013, 2-11pm. Put together by Queen Mashie, the event aims at celebrating talent in women. See the website for details on how to apply or call 0726 130 657.

Design Indaba

The playground for the big boys and girls of design... An annual event held in Capetown South Africa, Design Indaba has easily become Africa's foremost design event. Applications are now invited for exhibitors to the Design Indaba Expo 2014, running from 28February- 2March 2014. All details on the how, when, where available here.                                                                                                                        

Driftwood Malindi Christmas Craft Fair 
The Christmas craft fair on the beach is on at Driftwood Malindi, 21December13. Email

reservations@driftwoodclub.com or telephone 0721 724 489/ 0734 747 133

Vipingo Ridge Craft Fair- Kilifi
Vipingo Ridge will once again host a Christimas craft fair on 14December2013, 10am till late.
Price tags for exhibitor space start from 7500Kshs. For more, telephone Gail on +254 732 009 599 or email reservations@vipingoridge.com
Check out Vipingo Ridge on facebook.

German Charity Christmas Bazaar
Once again the German Embassy will play host to the annual charity event. Venue will be at Riverside Drive 113 and the date to remember is 30November13.
Rates for tables start at 3000Kshs.
Get in touch - 020 4443262, office@kirchenairobi.org. The office requests that you observe office hours while doing so i.e Mon, Wed, Thurs [0830-1330hrs] and Tue, Fri [0930-1530hrs].

KSPCA Annual Shaggy Dog Show
The KSPCA dog show is happening Sunday November 3rd at the Ngong Race course, 10am onwards. There will be a craft market running alongside the main agenda of the day- a dog show. Contact info@kspca-kenya.org, 0733-571125.
Look out for the craft market hosted by KSPCA Mombasa as well, 9-10November 2013 at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort and Spa. Contact details are kspcamombasa@yahoo.com, 0733 728 356. www.kspca-kenya.org

Curated by Christine Gitau|Craft Afrika

What Has Emotion Got To Do With It?

During the June 14th Jumpstart Thursday session, we got talking about how artists get emotionally attached to their work-so much so, that they are determined to create products that personify them rather than those that respond to market demands. There is much to be be said about the subject - depending on personal experience - but i came across this excerpt from an interview featured in the Design Trust blog on 10 successful designers, crafts people and advisers. They give personal tips and insights on what they wish they had known starting out. This particular one by Sidsel Dorph-jensen caught my attention. For the complete article, click here

 "When I started out I wish I had known … how to feel comfortable selling at shows. The whole experience of exhibiting your work to the public is very intimidating. It is quite paradoxical, really, because you’re at a trade show or craft fair to sell your work, but it’s also a situation most creatives I know feel very ambivalent about. Yes – we want to sell, but no – we don’t believe we’re any good at it, yes – it’s why we’re there, but no – we don't feel comfortable.

There’s a mind shift between being in a designing, making and creating state, and being in a sales situation. They probably live in different parts of the brain – but I’m not going into that.

What I do want to pass on? The most important thing I’ve learned about selling at shows, and being comfortable doing it, is – that it’s not ‘about me’.

Craft Fair Secrets: The hush hush Ps of a great experience

          There was a time when craft fairs were known as "Christmas fairs", precisely because they were held towards the last quarter of the year. Recently however, there seems to be an explosion of sorts and i can count at least 7 happening just between the May-July period. An indication that the sector is growing? Perhaps. One thing is for sure though, the growing frequency of craft fairs signify an increase in craft entrepreneur numbers. It also means there is increased competition for the same customers.

So how do you get to the finish line first? Here are the obvious and not-so-obvious P's of a great craft fair experience.

 1. Product: Understand your product

Sounds obvious? Apparently it isn't. You will be surprised how many craft vendors don't understand their products. Remember that when customers are buying crafts--as is the case when they are purchasing products of cultural value-they are buying your story, your experience, your values. Communicate your inspiration clearly and draw the customer into your world. Ask them what they think of your product. This is especially important if they wow at your work, but don't end up buying. Find out what would otherwise have made them buy. That way, you assure them that you are creating for them, not for you. And remember--stay calm. You may hear things you don't necessarily like!

2. Packaging: Invest in good quality packaging material

How do you wrap your customer's purchase? No matter how beautiful your creation is, unattractive packaging will in an instant put a smudge on all your effort. Look for packaging that adds value to your product. If, for example, you are into recycling, use packaging material that is also recycled and that gives continuity to the product. If you can get your packaging materials customized with your logo design, by all means do so. Either way, the golden rule is to stay away from black polythene bags and old newspapers. Unless of course you are selling donkey meat!

3. Presentation: Appeal to the sense of vision

Your arrangement can attract or repel a customer before they even get to know what you are selling. I have found that vendors often focus too much on the product and too little on its arrangement. Here are some tips on putting together a fantastic display:

         a. Create a sense of height--avoid flat table displays. Think "outside the table". Use props, boxes, shelves etc to create level variation. You could even consider lifting the height of the entire table.

         b.Pick a theme--consider your product and select a theme that will enhance it. I once sold next to a stall selling pickled jams, fruits and cheese. The set up of their stall looked like an Italian kitchen--complete with hanging garlic onions, frilled checked red curtains, color distressed cupboards, Opera music in the background-- I couldn't get enough of it!

        c. Price labels--do you prefer to have price stickers on your items or would you rather tell the customer once they ask? Psychologically speaking, customers feel intimidated when they don't see price tags. They assume it is too expensive to be  displayed, and some may even be too embarrassed to ask. So, wherever possible, display the price and be ready to justify it if the customer does a double take at the price.

        d. Access--do not be so eager to show the customer all your wares that you cram everything into your display, leaving little room for movement or touch. Customers like to touch-and fit- so take this into consideration while you are arranging your stall.

4. Pricing: Have a pricing strategy

A common question i ask crafters is how they arrive at the prices they quote.

How does one cover all their production costs without seeming too cheap--or too expensive? Find a pricing strategy and stick to it. Do not sell your wares at one price at this fair and still another at the next one. Finally, and most important, be confident when quoting the price. And be ready to take the customer through the production process if they feel they are being ripped off. There is nothing worse than a customer feeling exploited.

5. Publicity: Let people find you (and remember you)!

How do you advertise yourself before, during and after the fair?

        a. Over and above the craft organizers doing publicity for the event, do your own publicity using your E-mailing lists, face book and twitter profiles to let people know you will be exhibiting at a certain fair.

        b. As discussed in an earlier article, consider flyers that showcase your designs instead of business cards. The latter don't say much about your product and it is likely that by the time the customer gets home, they have forgotten which card belongs to which business.

        c. Invest in a customized guest book (avoid those used for funeral wakes) and get your customer to give you their legit contact address by assuring them you will not flood them with text messages or worse, share their contact details with another company.

        d. One of the simplest, yet least often used tactics of making sure the customer remembers you is to email a thank you note after meeting them. Whether they made a purchase or not, the fact that they took time to come by your stall and make conversation is enough reason to say thank you. Make them feel they are the reason you are there.

            In conclusion, Let me remind you that craft fairs are not for making crazy amounts of profits. If it happens--sure, why not. But a better way to use the forum is to exhibit. Get people to see your product and understand the value it will add to their lives. Follow up these conversations as you would a business inquiry. You are likely to do more business this way.

All the very best and see you at the next craft fair!

Source: Nicedaydesigns.org