Behind the scenes: the Christmas Fair Stall

Would you believe that my Christmas is not going to start in a few months time… it’s actually just 6 days away! My first Christmas Fair of 2025 is in just over two week’s time and I’m super excited. Who doesn’t love playing shop? I get to do it with real things and real people and craft fairs, although hard work, are incredibly rewarding as a creator of pretty things.

Before I give you the details of my little fair tour, I thought you may like to have a little behind the scenes peek at what I do for my stall set-up.

Practice makes perfect - checking the layout is important. Will people be drawn to the stall? I hope so!

The first step actually starts much much earlier in the year when you contact different craft fairs to see if they are able to host you. Once you have your ducks in a row, the making commences! You can’t sell at a fair if you don’t have anything to sell. I have been merrily making Christmas stock for about two months and it never gets old for me. But, here’s the low-down on what I do to actually get out of the door and to the fair:

1)      Check the Shop-In-A-Box

I have a huge box full of everything I need to turn a 6ft table into the Tumble and Forge stall. Inside my box I have the following:

·       Blue table cover

·       Orange display boxes

·       Wooden display boxes

·       Ring displays

·       Earring display ‘stairs’

·       Metal and wood circle frames

·       Logo

·       Banners for Instagram and my website

·       Ring sizer

·       Finger sizer

·       Bracelet display

·       Lights

·       Packaging

·       Polishing cloths

·       Scissors

·       Glue

·       Blue-tac

·       Paracetamol

·       Safety pins

2)      Pricing – a last check

You would think that this would be an easy job but it’s one of the hardest that all crafters face. You must price fairly. You must make sure you pay yourself. You must try very hard not to undercut other jewellers and artists. The price of gold and silver has been going up and up and up and therefore I must find my pricing points everso carefully. To make sure I do this I use a spreadsheet and an algorithm to help me.

3)      Charging cables and batteries

I use my phone as my way to enable customers to buy their new jewellery… and you can imagine it would be a disaster if I couldn’t take card payments or payments from phones. Technology is a blessing and a curse but I must stay with the times and ensure my equipment is working!

4)      Think about my well-being

It’s hard work being open and friendly all day long! My jaw literally hurts at the end of a fair because I’ve been smiling so much. You must make sure that I have water, squash, fruit, lunch, mints (just in case I get dehydrated.. no one wants a manky mouth!) and also that I am warm enough! It is late November and December after all!

5)      Check the set-up time

It’s obviously very important to arrive on time! For me, I need about an hour to set up everything. The most time consuming element is the laying out of the jewellery to make sure it is well lit, the prices can be easily seen and nothing is going to get blown-over (see blu-tac in the Shop In A Box). I will keep tinkering with the layout throughout the fair but I’m never quite ready on time!

6)      Post on social media

The last step is to do a final reminder about where I am and what I am doing and what people can expect when they come and see me. I recommend seeking out a tasty hot chocolate or mulled wine, browse the craft stalls and then come and say hello to me!

So – easy peasy! The seven steps to get me ready for my Christmas Fairs! And now, the important bit… when and where will I be this Christmas Fair season:

Fair One: Red Lion Pub Chirstmas Fair – Brightwell-cum-Sotwell on Saturday 15^th November from 1pm to 5pm. There will be a pub full of the wares of local makers; artists, jam makers, small and big presents and  a range of jewellers all selling their lovely creations. Plus – the pub is open!

Fair Two: Goring Craft Fair – Goring Village Hall on Saturday 22^nd and Sunday 23^rd November from 10am to 4pm. This is a biggy! If you like fairs then this is one to come to. I’ve seen a range of the other craft stalls and they are amazing! I hope I make lots of sales at this one because I think I will be buying from lots of other stall holders!

Fair Three: Cranford School Christmas Fair in Moulsford on Saturday 29^th November from 12pm to 3pm. This is a wonderfully festive event with the school beautifully decorated and is also my home turf as this is also where I teach!

Fair Four: The Earth Trust by the Wittenham Clumps on Friday 5^th December from 6pm to 9pm and then Saturday 6th December from 10am to 4pm. This one takes place in Fison Barn at the Earth Trust and is full of lovely treats and is my first fair in actual December!

And after all that – I will be exhausted but happy, having hopefully made lots of new contacts and having had a lovely time. Hopefully I will have also completed all my Christmas shopping too! If I want you to shop local, then I had better do it myself!

So come along and say hello, it will make my day to see you.