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Finding a market for your product abroad
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Maxwell Smart



Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 607
Location: London Town
PostPosted: Mon Apr 16, 07 9:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Stacey wrote:

There's a feeling amongst the arts & crafts community that selling direct via fairs can sometimes cost as much in time taken out/accommodation costs etc as the galleries commission.


Then don't sell it as an arts & craft item.

I would suggest you contact the UKTI and get them to put you in touch with an overseas trade organisation. They will have a list of accredited trade fairs. If you participate in one of these then you are eligible to get a supporting export grant of �1800. That should cover a large chunk of your expenses.

There is a maximum use limite of three times - so choose wisely. They will tell you whether you are accepted prior to the fair so you can decide whether to spend the money or not.

Also German fairs are much much cheaper than in the UK. If you have or can borrow a camper van then you really don't have many expenses.

But MarkS is right - sort out the UK first.

Good Luck.

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Mon Apr 16, 07 9:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thanks for posting Maxwell, I think it'd be good to see you commenting on Stacey's thread about profits/markup too if you have the time.

Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Mon Apr 16, 07 9:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Maxwell Smart wrote:

Also German fairs are much much cheaper than in the UK. If you have or can borrow a camper van then you really don't have many


I have no idea about your market, but in mine, trade fairs in the UK are a dead loss. People don't consider them a great thing. In Germany, however, they are the first choice for buyers to see new things. Yep, very different markets for our products, but it may be similar. Germany may be worth a punt, and it's a fabulous place to visit. (and, they all speak English).

Maxwell Smart



Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 607
Location: London Town
PostPosted: Mon Apr 16, 07 9:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nick Howe wrote:
Maxwell Smart wrote:

Also German fairs are much much cheaper than in the UK. If you have or can borrow a camper van then you really don't have many


I have no idea about your market, but in mine, trade fairs in the UK are a dead loss. People don't consider them a great thing. In Germany, however, they are the first choice for buyers to see new things. Yep, very different markets for our products, but it may be similar. Germany may be worth a punt, and it's a fabulous place to visit. (and, they all speak English).


I meant cheaper to do - not quality. I personally would never do a UK trade fair.

Also consider France - just don't expect to sell to the French.

Maxwell Smart



Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 607
Location: London Town
PostPosted: Mon Apr 16, 07 9:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

tahir wrote:
Thanks for posting Maxwell, I think it'd be good to see you commenting on Stacey's thread about profits/markup too if you have the time.


Hi Tahir - Hope all is well. I don't see it?

Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Mon Apr 16, 07 9:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Viola!

hedgewitch



Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Posts: 5834
Location: Daft wench GHQ
PostPosted: Mon Apr 16, 07 10:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nick Howe wrote:
Germany may be worth a punt, and it's a fabulous place to visit. (and, they all speak English).


I know nothing about your market in the Netherlands, Stacey, but I would say that the Dutch also speak excellent English, so don't let the language put you off the Netherlands either.

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Mon Apr 16, 07 10:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nick Howe wrote:
Viola!


Thanks Nick

Stacey



Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow
PostPosted: Mon Apr 16, 07 10:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

It's not something I want to rush into doing but I like to research and this year will no doubt fly by and then where will I be?

I've got plans to look into retail/galleries in the UK in September - that's when the last of the fairs is over. If I'm sending stuff off to UK galleries I maya s well look abraod at the same time.

Stacey



Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow
PostPosted: Mon Apr 16, 07 10:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Maxwell Smart wrote:
Stacey wrote:

There's a feeling amongst the arts & crafts community that selling direct via fairs can sometimes cost as much in time taken out/accommodation costs etc as the galleries commission.


Then don't sell it as an arts & craft item.

I would suggest you contact the UKTI and get them to put you in touch with an overseas trade organisation. They will have a list of accredited trade fairs. If you participate in one of these then you are eligible to get a supporting export grant of �1800. That should cover a large chunk of your expenses.

There is a maximum use limite of three times - so choose wisely. They will tell you whether you are accepted prior to the fair so you can decide whether to spend the money or not.

Also German fairs are much much cheaper than in the UK. If you have or can borrow a camper van then you really don't have many expenses.

But MarkS is right - sort out the UK first.

Good Luck.


My stuff is arts & crafts though

I don't want to get into trade fairs really - I'm having to be careful enough not to go too fast as it is. The last thing I want is to have more orders than I can fulfil.

Going abroad to do fairs is a bit beyond me right now. I'd be happy to find a couple of outlets.

Maxwell Smart



Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 607
Location: London Town
PostPosted: Mon Apr 16, 07 11:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Stacey wrote:

My stuff is arts & crafts though

I don't want to get into trade fairs really - I'm having to be careful enough not to go too fast as it is. The last thing I want is to have more orders than I can fulfil.

Going abroad to do fairs is a bit beyond me right now. I'd be happy to find a couple of outlets.


It's only Arts & Crafts if thats how you sell it! If you start wanting to expand as you suggest, it steps outside of that.

But yes focus on your local market first as its easier to maintain.

Also consider doing some higher end consumer fairs - as that is where the margins are when you are starting out.

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Mon Apr 16, 07 11:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Maxwell Smart wrote:
It's only Arts & Crafts if thats how you sell it! If you start wanting to expand as you suggest, it steps outside of that.

But yes focus on your local market first as its easier to maintain.

Also consider doing some higher end consumer fairs - as that is where the margins are when you are starting out.


Agree with all of that.

Stacey



Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow
PostPosted: Mon Apr 16, 07 11:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Hi Maxwell. I don't sell locally at all. There's one that's quite local called Hidden Art Cornwall that I've applied to do

https://www.hiddenartcornwall.co.uk/events/design-fair

but the rest are all out of Cornwall. There's no point in me doing local craft fairs as it's all doilies and peg bags - not what I sell at all.

I'll approach a couple of local galleries in the Autumn when I've got the fairs out of the way and there's a very good high quality crafts fair at christmas that I did very well at last year but apart from that I don't really intend to sell locally. I've also been offered a place on the Craftsman Selected gallery at their site at Craftsman magazine so that will be good exposure.

Maxwell Smart



Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 607
Location: London Town
PostPosted: Mon Apr 16, 07 11:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Stacey wrote:
Hi Maxwell. I don't sell locally at all. There's one that's quite local called Hidden Art Cornwall that I've applied to do

https://www.hiddenartcornwall.co.uk/events/design-fair

but the rest are all out of Cornwall. There's no point in me doing local craft fairs as it's all doilies and peg bags - not what I sell at all.

I'll approach a couple of local galleries in the Autumn when I've got the fairs out of the way and there's a very good high quality crafts fair at christmas that I did very well at last year but apart from that I don't really intend to sell locally. I've also been offered a place on the Craftsman Selected gallery at their site at Craftsman magazine so that will be good exposure.


Hi - I meant UK as local! Try the House & Garden Fairs and Spirit of Christmas. Also maybe try The Travelling Souk.

Also your tea cosies look like they could make wonderful children's hats... just a thought.

Stacey



Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow
PostPosted: Mon Apr 16, 07 11:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Maxwell Smart wrote:

Hi - I meant UK as local! Try the House & Garden Fairs and Spirit of Christmas. Also maybe try The Travelling Souk.

Also your tea cosies look like they could make wonderful children's hats... just a thought.




I intend to 'expand' into hats for winter - I'm also considering doing a bridal range. Trouble with felt wearables is they're so damned hot. A product that almost works too well I think I'll find as the year progresses ( I is just starting out after all) that there wil be clearly defined seasons as to what I sell and when.

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