Day at the Fayre

by Linda Finnie.
(East Mountain, Nova Scotia, Canada)

I attend the Truro Farmers Market in Nova Scotia every week (as well as the odd craft fayre) with my Jewellery and crafts, and every week I strive for a new & better display.

Guarding the Post

My problem is that I never make the same thing twice and I always felt that I needed a bigger table so I could put absolutely everything out on display. Much to my consternation I found that this does not always work and sometimes even loses the sale as people have too much to choose from!

Now I put much less out on display and when someone asks if I have something in say green. I will firstly ask a few questions about the age of the person it is for, whether they like a bit of sparkle, whether they like long or short or a pendant or not. Then I choose maybe one or two pieces from behind the counter and show them on a flat display together. Usually this makes them feel that they are special and that you have really thought about the person it is for and they will buy one.

I have purchased various display stands throughout the 15 years I have been beading, but find that if you stick to one or two colours that contrast with each other on a rich background then that works best as it does not confuse the eye. I find black and white work best for me.

Try not to use multishade or multicolour items such as the upside down baskets in the photo. I found that more people wanted to look at the basket than at the jewellery displayed on it!

I tend to display all of my Sterling Silver items on a raised area at the back on my more expensive stands and the rest on a combination of cheaper stands and boxes on the lower level. (multiple levels seem to work fairly well and are pleasing to the eye, especially if they are symmetrical)

Sometimes I find though that people will look at the table and not at what’s behind or above it as that brings their eye up to possible eye contact with you if you are standing behind your stall. (best to stand out in front of your stall anyway)

It has been a case of trial and error over the years and even today I still change my table every week, and sometimes even during the course of the market (or fayre)! I do get lots of compliments though on how pretty it all looks.

I often wonder if I will ever find the perfect display, but then what fun would that be? I get more excited about the set up and layout sometimes than I do about getting the money in my hand at the end. (Well, maybe that’s not entirely true!)
Happy beading, crafting & displaying.

Linda Finnie
East Mountain Ranch