Selling at Craft Parties:
Your Questions Answered

I get lots of emails asking me questions about doing craft parties, pricing, getting bookings, etc and while I do try to answer most of them personally, I thought it would help everyone else more if I also posted them on the website. So here they are!

If you have a question about craft parties that you'd like answered, please send it to me here.

Q. Hi. Thank you for this great newsletter. I have been doing street fairs and juried shows for a year, but I am having a very hard time breaking into the home party circuit. I have a sign up at my booth which reads "ask me about a home party" ,I have flyers available at my booth with my commission offer and a coupon too! And the same is advertised on my webpage.

My sales, thank goodness are brisk at these events, and many people are very interested to learn that I do parties. But no one has ever booked! Why, I wonder? What am I doing wrong? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

A. I don't think this is unusual. Most of my business is through home parties, but I do also do the odd craft fair. Like you, I always have a sign at my booth advertising my parties, with incentives. However I've never received any of my bookings this way.

My advice would be continue to do this (there's always a chance that someone will eventually sign up!) But the easiest way to get into the home party circuit is by hosting a party of your own, or getting a friend to do it for you. I think people are nervous of what's expected from them if they host a party, but when they attend one and see how easy and fun it is for the hostess they're much more likely to book one themselves.

There's more advice on getting the ball rolling in Finding Your First Home Party Hostess. And once you get your first craft parties booked, it gets much easier!

Q. I just love your site! I haven't even *attended* a home party, but your great info makes me raring to go on selling my recycled yarns that way! My question: How do I best set up a workshop style home party?

A. I'm so glad I've inspired you! Doing a workshop style home party to sell your yarns is a great idea. Check out the section called Mini Craft Workshop under Home Party Styles for more information on how to go about this.

Q. Hi Louise, I am so pleased to have dicovered your website. It is so easy to follow and comprehensive.I am seriously considering selling my jewelry via home parties, could you give me some advice on how many different products that I should sell which would be manageable to make by myself.

A. Firstly, thanks for the kind words! Regarding your question, the beauty of home craft parties is that you can structure them to suit your own product range. Some crafts naturally lend themselves to a wider variety than others, and some are quicker to make than other, so you can have a large stock.

With jewelry, I'd recommend at least having several examples of each main type of jewelry, i.e. necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and have several different colourways to choose from. That way customers have something to refer to if they want to order bespoke jewelry from you. Do take as much jewelry as you can though - I have definitely noticed that the more I have on display, the more I sell.

Another thing to consider is having a variety of prices to suit different budgets. Always have a few inexpensive items (e.g. earrings or bookmarks), some priced middle of the road, and of course a few high priced luxury items for special gifts.

Q. Hi, I'm thinking about doing Home Parties. I know you should charge so much for the jewelry sales and also if someone books a show but how do you decide what that percentage should be?

A. It's up to you. There are several different ways of rewarding hostesses (see my page on Hostess Gifts and Incentives for more details), so choose the one that works for you. I personally offer a hostess gift of a pair of earrings just for hosting the craft party, plus 10% commission on all sales. I also usually give a $5 voucher for every new party booked at that one. I chose 10% because it's an easy figure to work with, and gives me some leeway to give more if I want to offer previous hostesses a special incentive.

Q. Hi, do you think crochet patterns would sell at a home party?

A. I've never tried selling crochet patterns at a home party, but I think that it's a great idea! I would suggest having some or all of the patterns made up so guests can see examples (or at least have photographs of the finished pieces). You will probably also find that some people will want to buy the items finished as well, so make sure if you're open to this that you have prices ready for that as well.

Q. Just wondering how much it cost you to get started in this business.

A. I really started doing craft parties on a shoestring. I bought small amounts of materials and made a few items up, which friends started buying. I then used that money to make more. I also bought a few inexpensive bits and pieces to display my crafts and then started having parties. You can start very simply and just gradually build up by reinvesting some of your profits. My first jewelry party display was just a tablecloth and some bits of material with the pieces draped over them! And I started with just fashion jewelry, but after a while started working with and selling sterling silver as well.

If I lost everything I have I believe I could start again and build a new craft party business slowly back up for less than £50. Obviously this would vary with different crafts though. And most crafters already have the materials and supplies - it's just the displays and business stationery they need to get. (Check out Your Craft Display for ideas on inexpensive ways to show your crafts off.)

Q. How big are your cork boards? And how do you fasten the fabric in the back. This sounds like a really great idea to display.

A. The cork boards really are an inexpensive but effective way to display jewelry at parties. Mine are 16" x 24", and I just wrapped the fabric around the front then used drawing pins to attach it to the back of the wooden frame. Once they're lying flat on a table, or propped up against the wall, you can't see the back. I've now also added some small hinges to join two of them together so they can stand up on their own as well if necessary.

Q. Just thought I'd drop you this email to let you know how much I love your website and your newsletter. It's so encouraging and packed full of fantastic information. A couple of months ago, before I came across your site, I splashed out more money than I care to remember on a ebook about party plan selling, but I've gained far more from your site and some of the books you've recommended.

I haven't yet taken the plunge and thrown a craft party as yet - I think I lack confidence - but, following your tips, I'm determined to do it soon.

A. I'm so glad that my website and newsletter are helping! Craft parties are so easy and fun that I really do want to help as many other crafters as possible get up the courage to try them. If you need a bit more encouragement, read the Why Home Parties? section - there are so many reasons to give it a go.

And don't be afraid to read as many books or websites as you need to in order to feel confident, especially if they're recommended by someone you know and trust. I've also bought a few duds in my time, but overall I've learned a huge amount from what I've read. It is much easier to learn from other people's experience than to figure it out by trial and error...

Q. I have a question. I have been making handmade jewelry for a few years now, I have a problem with house shows. I will have one and then the person that books from that show cancels, so I never have a flow of house shows. I want to do at least one a week, can you give me any suggestion on how you started?

A. It's a pain when people cancel the craft parties they've booked, but there are some things you can do to get back on track again. Here are a few suggestions for you to try ...

• When they phone to cancel, do you ask them when they'd like to reschedule? Most people won't suggest a new date unless asked. If they don't want to reschedule, find out why - it may be a problem you can fix. One of my last month's cancellations has rescheduled for next month - it was just a timing issue.
• Try incentives - maybe giving a voucher when they book that's only valid at their craft party will persuade them not to cancel. Often people forget about hostess gifts, but if they have something in their hands that they can't use until they have a party, they might be more motivated!
• As soon as you get a cancellation, get on the phone to some other contacts you have or to previous hostesses and try to get a new craft party booking asap. It gets discouraging otherwise. The longer you go without doing a party, the more impossible it seems that you'll ever get a booking again, so try not to let that happen.
• Is it a possibility to hold your own craft party on the date of the cancellation? You've already got a party in your diary, so maybe just invite your own circle of friends and have one anyway. That might then lead to more parties.

Even if none of these suggestions help you right now, don't give up - when I first started I struggled to keep parties going, but with perseverence they do get more regular. I also find that from September onwards I get really busy (last year I had two every week before Christmas, which was quite manic!) - so it's worth having one around then to get the ball rolling, even if you have to host it yourself.

I recommend the The Little Black Book of Home Party Plan Business Secrets by Party Plan Pat to get your business off to a profitable start.

Where would you like to go next?

...See more inspiring craft business success stories?

...See our home party business tips as a method to sell your products?

...Check out our craft book reviews for the best resources for your craft business?