The Best Online Reborn Help Forum!

mkhammy1 · Senior Member

Craft Fair Display

Buffington · Guru

I have been doing shows for 20 years so I'll give you some tips:

Cover your table with a nice table skirt, not too busy a pattern. Don't use a bed sheet.

Next you want to have your babies arranged in smallest to largest or visa versa. Make your arrangement "flow" to lead the eye to each one of them.

You can put the minis in a basket, not too crowded.
Larger ones can be laying on the table on a cut piece of fleece or with a little stuffed animal. Try different positions (on side, on tummy with head turned to side).

You can also put the 22" in a Moses basket or baby jumpy seat.

I hope this helps. And remember, don't crowd them together, makes them look sloppy and people will over look some of them if not all.

Above all, make sure your babies are well done, have properly fitting new clothing and shoes (or booties), and I sometimes hold one when times are slack or I just comb/style their hair. This also peaks peoples interest and they really pay attention when they think it's a real baby I'm handling.

Oh yes, it really helps me to photograph my booth. It helps me to see what the customers see!

-- Edited by Buffington on Thursday 2nd of July 2009 04:36:48 PM

ronelhamaty · Senior Member

I agree with Pat 100%. Your exhibition must be classy and stylish. A suggestion for your table, l will place pillows on the table and cover it and use it as a mattress. Snuggle the babies on the pillow to make them look comfortable. This will soften your display. (Sometimes less is more)

I did a craft festival last weekend and it was a huge success. I sold 19 babies in 2 days. (I am still smiling) I use ordanary plastic laundry baskets. (the small oval ones) I had them covered with material and lace. It really looks like a crib. It is light weight and it easy to stack. If electricity is available use fairy lights to decorate your gazebo and play soft lullaby music.

mkhammy1 · Senior Member

Thanks so much for the tips! I had absolutely no idea where to start. I will definitely take photos of the booth - that's a great idea! I'll do a run-through at a table at home before the fair so I can get everything planned out. I'm not sure what to price the babies at. I thought maybe $35 - $40 for the minis, but no idea on the bigger ones. I'm also making little cradles and bedding for the minis, and will sell that separate, I think. Should prices be negotiable? Thanks for your help!

Poisonivy14 · Senior Member

i've never sold any dolls, so you may not want to trust my advice, but you could always go look on ebay to see how some of the other reborners price their dolls. i hope i could help!

mkhammy1 · Senior Member

I really like the laundry basket idea! I had looked at woven baskets but they are so expensive. Laundry baskets are cheap! I also like the pillow idea too. Thanks for all your suggestions! Now I'm getting excited. I thought I'd buy some receiving blankets for the display and give one with each baby that is purchased. What do you think?

Tina W. · Guru

I think thats a wonderful idea!

sara zata · Guru

I've been to a few shows with my reborns, but as I am a porcelain doll maker also and sell accessories, I have to display quite a lot. Here in Australia some of the shows are costly just for tables, The June one is $240 a table so , would nearly have to give a couple of babies away before I would make any profit. I think things have slowed down over here so I have avoided the high cost shows. I use Large table cloths cover the tables, have a garland of flowers that I pin along the front and have a large heart made of metal coved in red tule and roses, that we use on stands that display the porcelain dolls, with the reborns I lay them on pillows covered in baby rugs depending on sex, and put a few teddies and baby power, baby hair brush and comb sets, I have used a small cane laundry basket with a pillow and a blanket to cover it. Hope you do realy well with your show. I also have a craft show near home in Aug, and tables are only $5, so hope to sell some things there. XXXXXX June.

Buffington · Guru

I too like the pillows (or something soft) under the cover to prop the babies. The covered baskets sounds good too!

I NEVER negociate the prices of my babies! I am a professional artist and my shows are not yard sales. I have found that if you start doing that (even once) that customers will not respect you as a serious artist and will always "expect" you to give them the price they want. If they want my babies then they will pay my price. My babies are priced reasonably and are very well done so a decent customer would not dare even ask that of me, nor should they.

We have shows that range from about $15 to over $1500 per space. I will do my church show in the fall and that $35 goes toward the fundraiser for my church. Most of my shows run between that and $250.

WOW! 19 babies in 2 days!!! I think that's a record! I used to sell about 1 or 2 a month but I was in a consignment shop. We'll see what this Fall brings as the shop owner closed her doors last year. I have been semi-retired, just going to college (to be a jeweler) and trying to paint more babies. I am having hand surgery on Thursday so I'll be out of commission for a while. Knowing me though, I'll probably try to paint with the bandage on lol!

mkhammy1 · Senior Member

Thanks for the advice, Pat. This craft fair is at a church (not mine) and benefits Habitat for Humanity. The booth fee is $70.00 for one (long) day, and they require that I donate one of my items to the silent auction. I will be donating a 6 inch Secrist, not sure which one yet. I have a number of very nice postcards given to me by the organizers to send to people to get them to come, and I thought I would offer a 10% discount to those who come and bring the card sent from me with them. What do you think?

Sorry to hear about your hand surgery! Hope it heals very fast. I just can't image what I'd do if I couldn't paint babies or make doll furniture. It's my sanity! Acckkk! Good luck to you!
Melinda

sara zata · Guru

Melinda, Porcelain dolls was my sanity too, but haven't been able to do thm for a few yrs and at one doll show , my husband saw reborns, that is how I first started out with them. Pat B will tell you how scared I was of using a new painting medium. I overcome my fears and am now happy with the work I produce. I dont do very much of the motted legs and arms but like the milk spots and rashes on their face. To me, on the legs and arms reminds me they are cold. Best of Luck. XXXXXX June.

Play Days Dolls · Guru

I actually lprefer the laundry baskets to the woven ones because there is less chance of snagging fabric on the reeds when everything si being assembled. I learned the hard way. I had laid an undressed doll in the uncovered basket to avoid making too many trips back and forth. The body caught on a rough spot, and I ended up needing to replace it.

Good luck on the craft fair!

mkhammy1 · Senior Member

Thanks Linda for the heads-up. Makes sense to me! I plan on stopping by the dollar store on the way home tonight for some laundry baskets. What do you use in the baskets for bedding?

sara zata · Guru

You can use foam for a matress or make some to fit out of polyfill. You could also cut out a shape and put elastic on it to make a cover, In Aust, we have Lee Middleton in the shopping Centres, she has small clear plastic hospital like baskets, so even some rectangle containers, would probably do with a small cushion and bunny rug to cover it. I must admit the Lee Middleton Babies are not as nice in their facial features as Secrists or other sculps and are painted like Berenguar Dolls. Because they are mass produced, I think she sells quite a lot. XXXXX June

Buffington · Guru

Good ideas artists!

Well, here I am typing with one hand (sort of lol) and I will stop soon as my hand is sending me STOP signals. But I can still type with one hand only instead of 1 1/2 hehehe. Healing is going well, off the narcotics from the hospital by the 3rd day after surgery. Now just taking ibuprofen when I need to. Thanks for the well wishes. Can't wait till I can get back to normal (dr says 6-8 weeks no pushing/pulling/opening things!).

mkhammy1 · Senior Member

You're amazing, typing with one hand! I hope everything heals up quickly. 6-8 weeks sounds like a long time to be one-handed, but it'll be worth it. Glad you're back! Melinda

Tina W. · Guru

Welcome back Pat B. Glad to hear the surgery went well and your feeling a bit better!
We miss you!

Buffington · Guru

Again, thanks for the good wishes and warm welcome back ladies! It was hard being away from you in forum :)

Date: Nov 3, 2009

I was recently at a doll show in SC and most everyone there had these oval wire basket things that they covered with a baby blanket. It kinda cradled the baby but wasn't too bulky. Has anyone ever seen these?

Buffington · Guru

I have seen them before. I think they're available at a few doll stores up here (the ones that have the brand-name vinyl and porcelains, etc). They're actually like a partial basket, just enough to hold your baby off the table and give it some cradling like you said. Some people put cloth or a blanket over them to hide them and some just have the wire showing. I'll see if I can find them online for you. Might take me a bit though...

mkhammy1 · Senior Member

Hey Pat, I'd be interested to know where to get these, too. I've never seen them, but they sound like they'd be perfect. Thanks for checking this! Hugs, Melinda

Buffington · Guru

Still checking on the little holders for the babes. Didn't forget you :o

I'm also going to post some pics in the artist showcase on the craft display topic showing one of my booth set ups.

Play Days Dolls · Guru

Can't wait to see.

Buffington · Guru

Done hun! :)