Last day of summer yesterday, first day of Autumn today - how mild it is though, quite muggy really. Is there any other country where the weather is so frustrating?
It has been a hectic week making goodies for forthcoming Christmas fairs and because I was contacted at the beginning of last week with an invitation to take part in a wedding fayre today. After a bit of negotiation over price, I agreed to take part and as I was going to be the only wedding stationery there, how could I refuse? I am an early bird, but getting up early to go to work on a Sunday is not really much fun - I don't mind getting up early on Sundays if I know I can take my time getting going. However, an early start it was and and when I arrived at the venue, I was surprised to be only the second exhibitor there.
The information received from the organisers suggested that if leaflets were to be included in the fayre's goody bag, they should be delivered or dropped off by Friday of last week. The name of the person they were to be addressed to was an unusual spelling and I wondered at the time if it was possibly someone I knew. A lovely surprise when I arrived at the hotel this morning, it was an ex-student of mine and I was so pleased to hear how well she had done since she left college. Even nicer was that because of her enjoyment of a Unit she studied with me, Event Management, she had made a career in that subject - I love to catch up with ex-students and find out how they are doing.
The wedding fayre was very good, a steady flow of visitors throughout the day and I have three quotes to prepare, one of which is 99% a definite order, so I am a happy bunny. Here are some photographs of my stand and some of my wedding stationery, as well as a photograph of a gorgeous red Cyclamen I took with me. At wedding fayres I always like to take either flowers or a plant on my table - I think it looks rather nice.
As everyone who takes part in craft fairs of any sort knows, it is exhausting and you can't wait to get home. It was a good day and I met some lovely people - both potential clients and fellow wedding exhibitors. I have a question for my blog readers though, how do you think one should dress for wedding fayres? I feel it should be smart and certainly not casual. One person today was dressed in jeans and baseball boots - am I wrong in thinking they hadn't really dressed for the occasion? At the wedding fayre I exhibited at in August, one person was wearing denim shorts! My feeling is that we are business people and as such should dress accordingly. What do you think?
Thank you to everyone who left comments on my blog post of last weekend, I love to read them. A message of Lesley, yes, I have lots of Christmassy decorated jute bags. Would you like some pics of them?
I am off for a glass of wine, feet up and watch Young Montalbano - I love the 'old' Montalbano and this is proving just as good.
Don't forget to drop into Handmade Monday this week - always very inspiring and great fun to catch up with everyone.
I am also taking part in this week's Creative Mondays blog hop - great fun so do check out the participating bloggers.
Have a good week everyone - I will be back next Sunday and Milly will be here on Wednesday (catching up for missing this week coz those cheeky foster kittens, Rosie and Violet, pinched the laptop from her).
Jill
Looks very classy, do like the colour theme
ReplyDeleteLove the look of your table and the stationary is lovely. I think you're right, when you go to a fair you are selling your brand, which includes you, so you should dress for work :-)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on a successful Fayre. Have a good week!
ReplyDeleteI think you are right about dressing appropriately for a fayre - it costs nothing to make a little effort. Good luck with your sales x
ReplyDeleteI am with you - you are a business person and you should dress accordingly. Congratulations on your orders. Very well deserved. :)
ReplyDeleteYour table and stationary looks lovely I especially like the hot pink card. If you are attending a wedding fair then I think you should be dressed smartly. At craft fairs I tend to be a bit more smart/casual - smart jeans with a nice top/shirt.
ReplyDeleteYour makes look very well crafted and I agree - I think you should dress accordingly. You are selling a professional service so should look the part! I am quite enjoying the Young Montalbano too!
ReplyDeleteYour stall looks very professional. October is craft fair month for me too.
ReplyDeleteYour stand looks very sophisticated. I have never done a wedding fair, but when I do fairs I often wear an embroidered (Monsoon shop bought waistcoat) as I think it makes me look a bit crafty. I also get my daughter to wear some of my hairbands and try and look cute.
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear that the wedding fair went so well and that it was worth getting up early on a Sunday for!
ReplyDeleteI agree, for something like that its nice to make the effort presentation wise :) x
These cards are lovely. And no matter what the fair, one should always make an effort to dress if you are a seller.
ReplyDeleteYour wedding stationery looks really elegant, simple and classy. You're right about dressing the part if you're selling at a fair. Especially if it's a wedding one. Your appearance is part of your 'package'. I wouldn't buy wedding stationery from someone who wasn't smartly dressed.
ReplyDeleteI'm loving young Montalbano too.
Your stationary looks lovely. I agree should dress fitting for the occasion, so reasonably smart for a wedding fayre I would think people would take you more seriously as a business person. X
ReplyDeleteI agree that we should dress depending on the type of fair, I dress smart casual at my fairs, I've never done a wedding fair but I would expect stall holders to be a bit dressier than usual. Your table looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteJan x
Glad to hear the fair went well. Your stall looked very professional.
ReplyDeleteWhilst I think it's fine to dress casual(ish) for most fairs, I feel wedding fairs do require a more business approach.
It says to the customer that you take the product seriously, and they in turn will do the same xx
I love the designs you took with you to the fair and glad it was successful. I agree that particularly at wedding fairs, but to be honest, any fair that I take part in I would dress smartly - certainly not jeans and trainers. I think the more businesslike you come across, the professional your business appears to customers. Simmi xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a fab response to your wedding stationery.
ReplyDeleteYes, please - photos of the Christmas jute bags - and where and when we can buy them please :-)
I love the look of your stand and your invitations look great. I am with you that you should dress appropriately - I got myself a T-shirt with my logo on to wear at my fairs, but for a wedding fair it would be business clothes.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you stopped by and commented. So nice to meet new people. What a fabulous career, with the freedom to design and create.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see your Christmas wares, too!
Sounds like a really good day at the wedding fayre, I think if I was doing one I would dress more smartly than just doing a craft fair (though I try to look decent for those as I work with fabrics!). One of my regular markets is also a wedding venue and I notice that the people coming to look tend to dress well, after all it's a very big thing for them :)
ReplyDeleteEverything looks very elegant, perfect for a wedding. For crafts fairs, I tend to dress comfortable yet smart, which usually means a good pair of jeans and a nice jumper.
ReplyDeleteFor a wedding fair though, I think dressing smart is ideal since wediings themselves call for being dressed smartly. I don't think I would approach anyone at those events wearing baseball boots or denim shorts.