Selling at a Fall Festival

Hello Brigitte...hope you have some grape cookie designs! (I read your profile)

people will want to see everything your can do.  So I would do it.  This is before holiday...lucky you.  I would do Halloween/fall  thanksgiving and Christmas. Only samples of thanksgiving and Christmas.  People will buy Halloween now for fun and then you can take orders.  Have samples for people to taste.  I usually make some large cookies and cut them up as needed.   If you have time make some small pretty samples and mix it up.  I put samples on a pretty small crystal cake stand.  This is your first show so it's a learning experience.....have fun....be happy and smile..!   Remember your working with a happy product !

Debbie  I had not considered samples for tasting at all. I like the idea of doing some Christmas and thanksgiving for show..  Thank you so much for answering my questions ! 

Debbie R posted:

Hello Brigitte...hope you have some grape cookie designs! (I read your profile)

people will want to see everything your can do.  So I would do it.  This is before holiday...lucky you.  I would do Halloween/fall  thanksgiving and Christmas. Only samples of thanksgiving and Christmas.  People will buy Halloween now for fun and then you can take orders.  Have samples for people to taste.  I usually make some large cookies and cut them up as needed.   If you have time make some small pretty samples and mix it up.  I put samples on a pretty small crystal cake stand.  This is your first show so it's a learning experience.....have fun....be happy and smile..!   Remember your working with a happy product !

in

It's a while since I did a craft fair (thinking of whether to do one this year). I originally used to do a range of prices from single simple fun cookies (to attract children) at cheap prices, up to boxes and jars that were more expensive. What I found was that people loved the more complex beautiful designs, then bought maybe just one or two of the cheap singles. So I stopped doing them!! And my last fair, where I only had more expensive boxes and jars, I sold out. Mind you, that was right before Christmas so you could more or less expect every visitor is looking for gifts.
Though some people's cookies are best fresh, others will keep a very long time (mine are crunchy rather than soft and keep for weeks if airtight). If yours will keep, make sure to put a sign somewhere clear and obvious that they'll be good for x no. of weeks, so people aren't put off by assuming they need to be eaten within the next few days.
And finally, have a clear plan, or even try out, of what your table will look like. Try and get different heights in so you can showcase cookies. Make the packaging as pretty as possible, with tags and ribbons etc. Use battery operated fairy lights!
And good luck - enjoy yourself!

Battery operated fairy lights ....that's a fun idea!!!

Lucy - thank you for your input.  I too like the idea of the lights! I didn't have much time to prepare ahead for this festival so the cookies are all fairly simple designs.  I was invited to a Christmas open in November at a little boutique store in town. So I am definitely writing down several ideas from all the input and advice.  The booth this time is only $30. I have around 250 cookies baked and I have today tomorrow and some of Friday to decorate.  What doesn't get decorated will go in the freezer for now. I figure it's all a big experiment and learning opportunity.  I am a tiny bit nervous. Lol

thanks again to everyone chiming in 

Brigitte 

Good Luck -you should do very well---I did a farmers market this summer with my crafts and people will generally come to a booth that is looking full!  Be sure to fill those empty spaces with decorations such as pumpkins, flowers etc that way it can look full without having to have a lot of stuff out there. Have a few back up cookies as well, signs work great and if you plan on taking orders always have an order sheet ready for them to pick up or hand to you all filled out. I am venturing into this area as well along with my other crafts-- I had a blast this summer. It is a learning experience no matter what happens so just sit back and enjoy.