WRITTEN ON August 26th, 2009 BY Eric Scout AND STORED IN London
We recently had the pleasure of chatting with Louise of Craft-Sale, a family-run craft event in Northern London which looks to support both crafters as well as lovers of crafty goods!
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Crafty Scout:
Thank you for taking the time to chat with us about Craft-Sale. Would you mind telling our readers how long Craft-Sale has been going on?
Louise of Craft-Sale:
Well the Craft-Sales have been running for about 6 months now and we’re really starting to find our feet. We’ve been trying to meet new people, build up relationships and so on. I must say that so far everyone (including your good self) we’ve been talking to has been tremendously helpful, friendly and interesting … I guess it must say quite a lot about the crafting community in general.
Crafty Scout:
I think a lot of crafters today would agree that the new craft movement is all about crating community. How did you get started in the crafty universe?
Louise:
As well as a being a passionate hobby of mine, I have been involved in teaching craft for about 13 years now. The classes I run give me the luxury of talking to people about craft, and give me a chance to listen to what people are getting excited about, what’s new and what’s going on. On top of this a few years ago my son, Jon (a designer who worked in R&D) decided that enough was enough and I should embrace the internet rather than hide from my “techno fear”.
Subsequently, I got set up with a laptop and wireless connection and never looked back. I discovered much more than I had ever imagined. Sites like Etsy & Folksy were making it possible for people to sell the things their creations. Craft & Make magazines started in the US, and I noticed that “handmade” was becoming a political statement of intent.
I had started to feel that I wanted to do more than teach once a week, I wasn’t sure how but I felt it was the right time. I wanted to bring some of the knowhow and passion I’d seen growing on the internet to our little bit of the world in North London. Ever since I’ve been starting the slow process of setting up a small business based around craft. The main focus of the business so far has been the Craft-Sales, it’s been a steep learning curve but ultimately rewarding.
Crafty Scout:
Independent craft shows have been popping up all over the place in the US. Is something similar happening in the UK as well?
Louise:While there are many other craft sales all over the UK, some of which are excellent I might add, we’d noticed that locally we didn’t have too many options. So we decided to run a regular series of Craft-Sales that operate ethically, don’t rip off the stall holders, have a warm friendly atmosphere, and don’t leave our stall holders feeling unimportant or unvalued. Let me give you and example we come across all the time.
I’m not even sure if it happens anywhere else in the world, but in the UK we have lots of ‘Car boot sales’ – they’re like a collection of yard sales all at the same time where people pay to sell their junk from a car boot (trunk). These are often used by crafters in the UK as an entry point to selling, as they don’t cost the earth to have a table. However, they can be something of a false economy. Those attending are often there just looking for something cheap, and don’t appreciate the effort or love that goes into making things.
So we’re trying to build friendships and relationships with the people who come along to our sales as well as the stall holders. We’re learning as we go and we’re trying to DO things rather than just talk. So rather than spend our time quoting statistics about numbers of visitors to the website, or increased projected sales we’d rather concentrate of building bridges and relationships with other crafters, craft groups and clubs and local businesses.
We want the people who come along both as stall holders and as general public to feel welcome, appreciated and to leave inspired.
Crafty Scout:
Car boot sales are definitely new to me! In the US though, we do have a lot of flea markets, big and small, that new crafters are tending to start out at, and I think they come across the same thing… people looking for cheap things, not really handmade goods. How would you say Craft-Sale supports the crafter, or tries to draw in people who do appreciate making things?
Louise:
As I touched on before we’re really keen on helping getting people’s work noticed… we’re having to do it ourselves and learn the lessons as we go, and we’re interested in taking like minded people with us. We offer a free advert on our website that links directly to our stall holder’s web-shop. We realize it’s not the front page of the New York Times, but sometimes all it takes is one person to see and fall in love with what you’ve made to really get you going. Recently one of our crafters had their entire stock on Etsy bought by up by a shop having seen an advert on our site.
Crafty Scout:
That’s fantastic to hear. Connecting crafters to the people who love craft is a very important, noble mission in this new crafty revolution, and you seem well ready to take up that charge! We’d really like to thank you for sharing all this with us, and we’re sad we can’t make it out to see Craft-Sale in person (this time!). Do you have any last words for our readers?
Louise:
I’d just like to say to all your readers you are very much invited to come along, but if you find it’s a bit too far or you have and ocean in your way, please come see the website as some of our stall holders are really good. Or get in touch as we love to collaborate in craft projects and the wider community in general.
Thanks so much for your time, and the opportunity to talk about work.
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And thank YOU Louise, for the great interview! If you’re going to be in London Saturday, September 12th, head up to Southgate, check out Craft-Sale, and support handmade!
Craft-Sale
Saturday September 12th, 2009
10am – 3pm
St. Andrew’s Church, Chase Side
Southgate N14 6BE
