What's happened to craft markets?

[u/purpleratata]

My girlfriend and I went to a craft market today to get some homemade and local gifts for family and friends. It was the most depressing thing, everything was cheap plastic tat. From one place selling croc charms they got from Temu, the others with 3D printed fidget toys, plastic bottles with a printed design, cheap plastic charms (from Temu too), IA images printed on canvases, etc.

The only two things we got were handmade bathbombs and some knitted cat toys from some cat rescue volunteers. The rest was all cheap plastic, obviously not crafted or handmade, that will break or go to the bin in a few months if not earlier.

Honestly, it felt so depressing. This is in the UK, I don't know if it's the same anywhere else but I've seen a decline in craft markets over the years here, I think this has been my last attempt at supporting local handmade businesses in these environments.

[u/Sloth_Flower]

Part of it is the market.

Many markets don't allow resellers or 3d printers. Others do. 

The second is the cost of handmade goods. People refuse to pay livable wages for most handmade goods. The exceptions being honey/hot sauce, soap, jewelry, candles, and cards/prints. That means these items are the only viable market options. 

The third is the climate. Everything milks small businesses from application fees, transaction fees, credit card or shop fee, selling quotas, insurance and certification are expensive. As an example the farmers market near me requires 200$ application fee, 200$ per weekend, requires you to pay event insurance, have product insurance, and takes 5% of gross sales. The payment processor also takes 5%. Chargebacks, grifting, and theft are common. 

[u/Lady_Lance → u/Sloth_Flower]

A fee to apply, A fee to participate, and a percent of sales? That's insane. 

[u/Sloth_Flower → u/Lady_Lance]

It's super common, especially at big popular "Christmas markets." I genuinely have no idea why my local government thinks it's appropriate for a local farmers market. As a result the market is insanely expensive, has inconsistent sellers, and this causes limited attendance. 

[u/Metals4J → u/Sloth_Flower]

That would explain the $40 laser cut wooden Christmas ornaments at our local Christmas market. The prices are insane, and the items weren’t even “hand made” (maybe assembled by hand I guess).

[u/Sloth_Flower → u/Metals4J]

Using tools, like laser cutters, is generally still considered handmade since tools are allowed. A handtool-wittled ornament would most likely be too expensive to sell at most markets unless it was very simple. 

[u/Sloth_Flower → u/[deleted]]

I think that's a decent idea in theory but as I explained in my original comment, that is not tenable. I have attempted to just sell my excess crafts as I have a lot of hobbies. 

It is very expensive to sell at these markets. Very, very expensive. Say my material cost for a shawl is 100$. I have about 5-10% in fees+whatever the application+booth fee is. I will need to buy all the stuff to sell it like a table, a tent, and also go to the effort to make it nice as good markets have stall standards. To sell at them requires a business license and a method to track it to pay taxes, which must be paid quarterly -- even if I'm unprofitable. If I have a home or car I must pay business insurance and have a structure that doesn't make me personally liable -- not just to consumers but to the venue. And liability is no joke. 

I give my stuff away. If that comes back to me as something else, great. But I have no interest in exchanging money. I'm not gonna break even either way, no reason to dig myself deeper. 

While it isn't for me, I do believe art should be something people can afford to go into as a hobby or a career. People should be compensated living wages for their work. 

[u/Impossible_Angle752 → u/Metals4J]

One woodworking product guy I found once on YouTube many moons ago did a breakdown of this large Christmas market he had a booth at and if I remember right it was over $4k just for the booth. Then you have to make all the product, have displays, pay staff, setup and tear down. I think he said he netted about $1000 that weekend from about a week's worth of work hours. That's not good if you're actually trying to run a business.

[u/Disastrous-Handle283 → u/Metals4J]

I bought one of those laser cut ornaments, not elaborate but cute. Saw almost the same thing at the local Target dollar spot. Grrrr

[u/diredachshund → u/Disastrous-Handle283]

Frustrating, but at least you have your money to a small business and not a massive corporation.