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Show Review Archives > 2008 > OCTOBER
 

August 1-3, Southern Vermont Art & Craft Festival, Manchester, VT

August 1-3, Southern Vermont Art & Craft Festival, Manchester. Contact: Tim Cianciola, Craftproducers, PO Box 300, Charlotte, VT 05445;
phone 802-425-3399, fax 802-425-3711.
E-mail: info@craftproducers.com.
Application fee: $15. Space fee: $475-$675.
Space size: 10x10 to 10x20. 80% indoors. Exhibitors: 180.
Attendance: 10,000 (2007 gate). Admission: $8.

By a Secret Auditor
Secret auditors are Sunshine Artist correspondents who exhibit at and report on shows for the magazine without revealing their identities to event organizers.

Craftproducers did something right. I can't put my finger on exactly what made this show work, but it turned into a profitable and fun one.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Southern Vermont Art & Craft Festival, I'll mention a few basics. It is held in Hildene Meadows, a pretty location near Manchester, which is home to quite a few brand-name outlet stores. Craftproducers makes sure that the customers are well aware that the show is different from the discount shopping locations in town by gently reminding them that they are supporting local artists and artisans.

Very visible signs direct customers to the show site by two different routes. And once the customers arrive, they find a pretty good mix of well-done work, ranging from traditional to funky, contemporary art and crafts. Booths are located mostly under big white tents, with a few outdoor ones as well.

The promoters are visible throughout the show, and on Sunday at the 30th annual Festival, they made the rounds and talked to exhibitors to get their comments. I was not among the exhibitors they spoke with, but I was there to sell, not chat.

Yes, customers came and bought. In some years, the weather here has kept them away, but that was not the case this year. It never got truly crowded, but I did enough business to make 10 times my booth fee (from average sales of $85), which hasn't happened in a while here (or in too many other places). And it's mostly an educated public that comes to this show.

On Saturday night, there was a really fun talent show and exhibitor party. A tasty dinner was provided for $12, and Craftproducers supplied the beer and wine. At least half of the performers seemed to be the children of the show exhibitors, but some of them were really talented. A good time was had by all.