Has anyone participated in the craft show in the past years during the Troy Ohio Strawberry Festival. I know they have a lot of people attend the festival, but not sure how many of them are buyers. I am trying to find out if it is worth getting a booth or not. Not Sure if people but high end items. I sell bags and purses and they range from $50-$100. Anyone with any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

I make tie dyed clothing - Troy was in my top 5 or 6 shows last year which is remarkable for a 2 day outdoor show. The weather was perfect and the crowd was large. I sell shirts for $10-12 and dresses for $20-30 and it was my crowd. I don't know if they would be in the market for higher end products, but it would be worth giving it a try. All of my friends did fairly well there, but it was my first year and my sales were phenomenal.... even with 3 or 4 other tie dye booths there. 2009 was a very good year for tie dye - not sure if it will be the same this year though. Same is true with purses ---they have been very popular, but don't know if the fad is dying or not. It is an inexpensive show and easy to do, but I have heard if the weather is bad it can be horrible. Good luck.

Thanks for your honesty, I may just give it a try.

Hi there,

I did the Troy Strawberry Festival in 2009. Terrible show for most of the people around me (except food vendors). I sold $800 in two long, hot days. Most people go there to eat and walk the kids. My prices are $20-185. My average sales for a show this big is $3,000-$4,000....this wasn't good. And trust me, my items are unique, NOBODY ELSE SELLS THEM, I do very well in good shows...this is not a good one.

I would not recommend it.

I did the Troy Strawberry Festival for the 1st time in 2009. I absolutely loved it. I travelled from the Indianapolis area. My items are $5-$15...and I did $2500. My booth was crowded the entire time....and the people were wonderful...very appreciative that I was there. I'd love to have a 2nd booth for 2010 but it is a little pricey for 2. I too heard that when the weather is nice it is wonderful but not as good when the weather is bad. It was easy setup. I was down below the levee....why any craft vendor would be up there I don't know. Everyone is up there for the food in long lines so hard to "shop". I had a great spot. I don't know about purses....are they the knock-offs??? I don't remember seeing a booth with them, not saying there weren't some ....I do think from other shows I've done they are kind of waning out. If they are handmade ones I think they would do wonderful....they say there are 350 vendors here.....I think there are 250 food vendors and maybe 100 other vendors...thought there would be more "craft" vendors. Go for it!!!!!

I sincerely have to ask myself what show you people were at. I have just ended day number #1 of the Troy Strawberry Festival and it quite possibly is the worst show I have ever been to. The majority of the work here is buy-sell and every other customer asks "do you make this stuff?" The customers are mainly hillbillies with an abundance of tattoos and a lack of teeth. The hours are grueling. The set up is difficult and the sales are non-existent. I have many smaller "economy buster" items in my booth in the 5 to 10 dollar range and that is "too much" for most of these buyers. All I can say is please do not pay attention to those who rave over this show....they are not artists or craftspeople...they are selling buy-sell. The only thing this crowd buys is JUNK. Save your time and your money and pass on this one....I wish I had!!!

One of the worst shows I have ever done..I wouldn't travel 5 minutes to do this show!!!

I have talked to 3 different crafts/artists in the last 3 weeks about this show. This weekend, at a horrible show, the lady next to me had melted glass bottles. She then decorates them and makes all kinda of beautiful items. Her prices range from $25 to $100. She highly reccommended troy. I can promise you she is not a buy sell person selling junk.

That is really so offensive to people who make nice things and are nice to deal with. I mean, if I am at a show and the people are there, I don't care if they don't have teeth or are hillbillies. Their money still spends. Its all looks the same next to the money from the lady driving the BMW and walking in her $500 shoes. It really smacks of jealousy calling others out when you do not di well. My theory is that if hte people are there it is my job to sell to them. If they do not buy my stuff, well then thats my fault.

I make jewelry, it is a want NOT a need. They have to WANT to spend their money. While a couple of my shoes this year have been down (mainly new shows that I did not research properly), most have been better than last year. In fact, in 18 years in business I have not had even 1 year where my sales were down over all.

The other 2 people I talked to were both solid crafters who made their stuff, one was interchangable pendants and one was picture frames with names on them. They both highly reccommended this show. I will be there next year.

Well said.

I don't understand the mentality of exhibitors who sign up for a show with nobody twisting their arm to do it, and then criticize the customers who have the money.

It's really quite simple. You either have what they want, or you don't. And if you don't, you chose the wrong show, not the customers. I actually said that to a neighbor recently. She was going on loud and long how lowbrow the people were at the show. I just wanted to say "shut up with the whining! Nobody cares."

We all have chosen the wrong show at one time or another. But if you sign up for a show without doing any research as to whether or not B/S is there, and find it is, who's fault is that? Not the show's! Personally, when I do a show for the first time, I expect to see B/S! And if it's not there, good.

This economy is having a major impact on shows nationwide. Exhibitors are getting out, (or going bankrupt) and the promoters have personal expenses too. So the shows will change! And if they need to fill spaces, they will!

So you either live with it, or do a little more research before signing up. And if you choose the wrong show, you quietly cross it off your list and go on to the next one.

Without whining.

krewcat.....good luck to you but I wouldn't comment until you actually do the show. Perhaps the "few" people you spoke with actually made their work, but I assure you the show is mostly buy-sell. In my 24 years of doing shows normally when customers do not have money to have teeth they do not have money to purchase anything at a show. Again, good luck with your theories. I simply cannot understand when artists are kind enough to WARN other artists that a show is bad and then someone who has never actually done the show themselves are stupid enough to argue about it. All I can say is Good Luck...it is an awful show.