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Are markets worth the amount of time spent making things and buying items needed to run a successful event? In this video I will go over my experience as a hobby CNC Woodworker with my first ever craft show market. Although I was focused on woodworking projects, I think there is some good information in here for other makers. Whether you are in it as a woodworking business or just as a hobbiest in the maker space.
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➡➡My Instagram: / hamilton_dilbeck
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I hope by the end of this video you can decide for yourself if markets are worth it to you or not. I made a lot of mistakes and learned a lot. Next time I think I will just bring 2-4 items in bulk with much more signage showing things off.
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I go over how I set up my booth, the biggest pains and annoyances that comes with any market. We had an amazing day overall and I did over $2,000 in sales. I personally think that was great for my first time.
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Let me know down in the comments below if you have done a market before and if it was profitable for you as well.
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The CNC I use is a Onefinity Journeyman X-50 CNC Machine. Although I don't have any experience with the X-Carve or the Shapeoko, all of these projects that I show in the video can be made with my files, as they are just vectors that can be cut on any cnc machine. Check out my other videos on the channel that go over those projects as well as the others!
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Plug & Play CNC Spindle Upgrade:
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➡➡Use coupon code "HAMILTON" for 5% OFF!
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Hamilton Dilbeck
525 Tribble Gap
P.O. Box 3244
Cumming, GA 30028
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Video Chapters:
0:00 $2,015 In Sales
0:45 10 Things To Know
0:53 Payment
2:10 Venmo Won
2:20 How To Set Up Your Booth
3:22 Biggest Pain
4:26 Biggest Unknown
5:06 What Sold
6:32 CNC Fire
7:40 What Sold 2
8:33 Bring A Trish
9:26 Thanks For Coming!
10:19 Types Of Free Things
11:12 Food Power Bathrooms
11:37 I Wish I Wouldn’t Have…
12:25 Actual Profit
13:46 How Much Others Made
15:58 Would I Do It Again?
16:48 Experiences vs Money
17:20 Should You?
18:10 Is Etsy A Better Idea?
19:11 Green Screen
19:29 Better Giveaways?!?
Drone shots provided by @conqueststrategicmarketing7933 huge thanks y'all!!
The author does like to from scratch, kzhead.infoUgkxbnOKZBE4evMO5V2vroHeCjq6d_MV6wJO shaping and trimming wood from large blocks into fine finished products. As another reviewer mentioned, most projects require a lot of high-dollar equipment that most of us don’t have the room or budget for. But, knowing how to do these things, even if we won’t be able to practise the full stack project, is still great.
I like the way you did the green screen
Thanks!
Don't ever change the greenscreen, it, and the rest, is now your YT brand. (and it works)
After our first market we learned how many people want business cards. We learned that quickly because we didn't have any. I also learned the importance of comfortable shoes, again because I didnt have any. We made door rounds/hangers and porch leaners. We sold 12 items and got custom orders for 2 more items. The things you learn from doing a market are worth it. We are looking forward to the next one.
I had wondered about business cards since most people don't really use them. I'm considering (once I get to that point) of printing a large "business card" for people to take a picture of rather than handing out cards.
@@ThomsShed almost every customer asked for one, we were surprised. We are also making a sign with QR codes for the next market we do, that seems to be popular as well.
I handed out 500 business cards at a market over 6 weeks and that generated 5 years of solid work, networking in business can make a huge difference, and these days you can have QR codes printed on them that can link straight to a web page or email etc
Out of 300 cards I only had one call from them
Those if you using QR codes, please always provide a second way for customers to find you. Some phones are broken and don't read QR codes. Other customers have a dislike of them. Some still don't know what they really are. Don't assume. Do not make the mistake, as one vendor did, of providing only one way to reach you.
For those of us who do not have a Trish... could you do a video with her on her sales technique. I feel like for alot of us out here doing this even the smallest tip would be beneficial. Thanks for what you do, love the channel
Trish's VALUE is greater than or equal to Hamilton's
I would love to see that in a video!
Simple Do not hire a millennial or gen z kids , they will be sitting on their butt playing on their phone all day , second use a very extrovert person who loves attention, third they have to be a bit of a show off hustler , someone who want to impress you with their sales skills...and last , pay them really well , don’t be hung by the 100$ a day , not only it is slave labour , these show are 10 to 12 hours , but instead give 100$ plus 10% of the sales , just mark up your product in function .otherwise you will loose the great employee in a New York minute or worse they will compete against your product next event with your product they bought on amazon or Alibaba. ....and for the love of god , stay away from all and I mean all green ,red,purple hair ,nose ring activist with their cause of the day button ...you will loose 40% of your sales automatically .no one wants to be preached to or insulted by these people ,they see enough online or in the news every day , client go out to get away from that crap. Enjoy , this was a free business course , don’t waste it on ego, money don’t care about it . For more info read my other comment in the original comment section, very informative , I assure you.
You should wear a brightly colored polo shirt with your business label printed on it large in the back and small on the front pocket area. Or wear a work apron. It makes people feel more comfortable engaging with you as the sales person. The more you talk to people, the easier it gets and the more relaxed you'll become. If you're even the slightest bit competitive, you'll be surprised to learn that you'll enjoy making more sales than your buddy or just more than you expected on your own. I know salesmen who often will playfully bet who will make the next sale, and many of the best people in sales are actually introverts because we listen closely. It can be surprising to learn that you actually enjoy chatting up strangers to make money helping them find something they want. Just don't take it personally if they aren't interested, because it's a numbers game. I learned to sell when I was a young teenager. My church's youth minister enlisted as many of us young people as possible to assist in selling fireworks at an American Fireworks warehouse fundraiser (and a few adults for the registers). If you can find a charity event like that where people are needed to help sell something and they don't require you to have any experience, my advice is to do it for the chance to learn how to sell. It doesn't come naturally to a lot of people, but after a while you get bored and just start talking to people. It helps that we all had color coordinated aprons on so people knew who to ask to put fireworks in the cart for them (they weren't allowed to go behind the gates to pick stuff off the shelves for themselves). Once you start selling, you'll find yourself answering the same questions a lot, and you'll also begin to form your own canned lines that you repeat in different ways to different people based on their vibe. It's not as difficult to learn as you'd think, and the fear of rejection goes away way faster than you'll expect it to, even if you're young. People will look to you as the subject matter expert on whatever you're selling, and they'll believe pretty much anything within reason. So, you should know your product inside and out, that way you don't find yourself just blabbering nonsense. The first few times you try to sell, you might blabber on a bit, but you'll quickly find that selling things is really rather straightforward. There are two types of customers - the ones who know what they want, and those who depend on sales people to inform them of their options. The second can be led to buy anything they can afford, and the first kind can be persuaded if you can show them that you know something they didn't and don't act like a know-it-all in the process. If they say they aren't interested after your sales pitch for your product, you can politely ask them if it's because there's a lack of value being provided, in which case you can provide a similar item with better or more features, or if it's just that the price isn't right for them. If they say, "No, it's the price," then you can negotiate the price. If they still say they're not interested, then they really aren't interested and you thank them for their time, offer them something free (like his sticker idea in this video), and you end the conversation knowing you didn't push too much while doing your best. The key is to be firm about your job as a salesman without being the pushy guy who doesn't know when to cut his losses and quit before he gets labelled as one of those annoying salesmen. First impression is important, so if you come across as a funny salesman, you won't make most people annoyed even if you are pushy after that. You can be the funny salesman by sharing that silly goofy side of yourself when you first speak to someone near your table. Just don't be rude or mock anyone. It's not stand-up comedy night at the bar - there's usually kids around in a market. Just be kinda silly, like he said in the video when Trish told the lady who said that her grandmother loves whiskey, "Well Grandma's definitely getting a Whiskey Smoker!" If you have the confidence (after a few hours of standing around, you'll say anything) to say something silly, people will usually react favorably. It's really that simple. Don't psych yourself out about it. The hardest part is initiating conversation with the first person of the day. After that one, it just keeps getting easier. It helps to drink lots of caffeine.
Can I just say... I'm stoked for the 12 days of Makemas/Christmas because that sounds like it's going to be fantastic 😂
Ditto! Here here! Me too!
Craft shows are very much alive! I did a night craft show last night and lots of people showed up and I made a very nice profit. People still and always will want to see and feel products. Great video!!
I could see this being a great long term play for a local woodworker. The more your brand awareness grows in the community and the more you remind your product selection, the better your sales should be. Could also lead to bigger ticket purchases like furniture commissions for those who do that as well. Appreciate you being so transparent with all the numbers and process!
What complete happy-sounding horseshit. "A local woodworker" lol oh what a complete dunce.
I did the art circuit for a summer, and the first day, Friday you're Feeling great talking to everyone, and then by Sunday afternoon you're sitting in chair Reading a book or newspaper. I found out that when someone says they'll go asked their husband and be right back, they don't come back. I love all your stuff that you make and I'm glad I'm retired so I can make stuff just for fun. Thanks again for all your videos I really enjoying them and they're quite entertaining.
Not sure if you'll read this comment so far down, but I just wanted to say thanks for being an inspiration with your woodworking projects, it's helped keep me going especially when times were kinda down for me. I recently upgraded my CNC and am making more items shortly. God Willing, I hope to have some of the same successes you've had. Promise to keep you posted. Cheers from Canada, Eros
Great video! We are actually heading out in a bit for our second market. Our first one was at a local Beer Shop and we made about $550 in 3 hrs. The best part about it is that I sold all my CNC test items (multiple signs that weren't perfect, but cheap). Todays show its a dog rescue Halloween event at a Brewery, so I made a bunch of smalls pet related items and its another free 3 hr market.
Awesome!
I completely relate with freezing when people show up, I’m the same. I’ve only done one market and it was a struggle. Thanks for the video!
you talking about the "introverted" part of your personality is very relatable.
The next 5 weeks I have 4 shows. All indoor and 1 day shows. I did my first one in Sept that was three days. Now I'm hooked.
Great video and I loved the honesty. Subbed!
Lots of great tips!! Thanks!
Thanks for the authenticity and work you put into this video!
This is the first of your videos I've come across and I think it was the best one I could have seen. I subscribed almost immediately! I look forward to learning more from your past videos as well as future ones. Thank you sir, I appreciate your tips!
A lot of good information about setting up at a market. I used to airbrush at flea markets. Depending on what you have to sell flea markets might be a good choice to set up at being a regular event. Problem with flea markets is most set up selling things not crafts or art so most people are looking for bargains. Still, I did pretty good. I've found the more things you display the more you sell. Of course that means the more you have to set out and load back up at the end of the day. Flea markets around tourist areas can be good places. Especially if you have a booth and can set it up and leave it at the end of the day. Good video. You make really nice things. I'm getting into doing some woodworking and found your video informative.
Congratulations!!!!Great Work!!!
I have to say compared to other videos of people who are artists/merchants; your video is the best I have found. Maybe the fact that they have already forgotten the new things they encountered? Thank you for the little details that some may have thought were obvious; like table weights, etc.
Thanks, for the video!
Great job. Things I liked about this video. #1 (top like) when you talked about the experience of the market, how it effected you, and that you will remember it forever. That’s huge. That’s it right there. All the “stuff” in the end doesn’t really matter. People and relationships do. If you can make some money while doing it, awesome!! But these experiences are what shape us and connect us with others. Big profit or little. #2, everything lol. You did a great job. From planning your set up, getting the right help, this video was to the point and very enjoyable. Thanks!!
And this video has helped me see that I need to try the markets. To put the work in and get out there. Because I’ll never really know until I experience it myself.
Another great video! Thank you for sharing all the details!
Thanks!
You can buy the square reader at Walmart or target if you're in a rush or if your 3 yo throws your reader into a puddle. The good tents are like $200 and Sam's club has them in the spring
Good video. Appreciate your insight. Informative and entertaining. Best of luck and hope you have great sales down the road.
Great video - wish this video existed earlier this year. Did my first vendor stall but as a guy with anxiety the sheer amount of unknowns nearly had me backing out. Glad I did it though. I'll be viewing your video again (and again) as we approach the next season of medieval fairs!
Superb summary, very interesting insights.
Great video, thank you
Very well made video, thanks!
Thanks for sharing so informative 🤝🏾
Great info! Thanks for sharing. Yay Trish!
This video covered a lot of good points in regard to set up, attracting people and learning from the experience. Thank you for posting.
Incredibly useful video. Just like all your other ones. Thank you so much for such a "straight-to-the-point channel.
Great info thanks for sharing all this info ............Great channel keep up the great work G.
Thanks, will do!
Nicely done. Real.
Like your style. Thank you for being so open and real. Best to you.
Really informative video with realistic expectations. Thank you.
I love this video. Thank you! It was very informative.
Great video, very helpful. Thanks
I’m glad your day was a success. I thoroughly enjoyed your videos while you were making your products. Keep it up!
Thanks so much!
Started a month and half ago making Christmas trees and planters. It is very satisfying and keeps my mind working at 68 years old. Looking forward to March to line up the planters and just have a drive by sale . Also market place.
Dude! Loved the video, super informative and great use of green screen. We ARE worth more! Subscribed and looking forward to watching more of your content
Nice job on this video. I am impressed. Thanks for sharing this good information. Subscribed.
LOVE the green screen presentation. Excellent video!! Great info
Thanks so much!
I like your shop/video green screen so much I’ve subscribed just for that, it’s unique
What I great video. Probably one of the best that I've seen for this topic. It was very relatable and informative.
Great video! Thanks for sharing your experience ☺️ Speaking of cheap Walmart tents, our first one came from there and was run over by a food truck before we even unwrapped it 😲
Love your projects. Especially the salt container.
Really interesting insight Hamilton.
My grandma did mold based ceramics for years as a side business and would take stuff to the Christmas craft fair every year. She knew what would sell reliably and what wouldn't but she said every year was different. One year she sold out of salt and pepper shakers another year she only brought pitchers she didn't sell the previous year, because they sold so poorly and that year people were putting orders for them.
Excellent useful info Hamilton
Thanks!
100 thumbs up!! I agree wholeheartedly. Thanks for your transparency.
As the Matthew Peech channel says, “Assume everyone has $20 in their pocket that they decided in advance to spend.” Great insight dude. Ty for sharing.
Thank for all the great advice 👍👏I’ve been thinking about going to crafts shows to sell my products.
Just got my CNC up and running and this is great advise, Thanks! I do guitars mostly, but some of your stuff looks real cool to do!
I love all the credit to Trish! Go are a sweetheart! Thank you for ALL your tips.
Rad video, thanks for this Ernest deep dive. Cheers🤜🏻⚡️🤛🏻
I had no idea what you were going to do with that screen, but I'm definitely inspired now
Excellent info from first-hand experience. This was really helpful in trying to decide whether do move forward with craft fair participation. So much info on so many levels gives me much to think about. MANY THANKS!
Awesome video Hamilton! It was great getting to meet you. Looking forward to the 12 days of Makemas!
Great to meet you too! Thanks for coming out to see me!!
Thanks for being honest with what you sold…other channels might’ve said, “Yeah, I sold out within minutes, while selling for a sh*t load of money on each product!” Definitely liked that you told what was a flop and what wasn’t 😊👍🏻. Glad it was profitable though 😎
Was surprised to see the Cumming City Center tower in the flyover. We live in the same town although I have not yet made it to City Center. Great video - I focus mainly on turning bowls and ultimately want to get to the point that I can start selling. I will be pinning this video for future reference. I am now subscribed to your channel and look forward to seeing more of your work!
Terrific video! I’m preparing for my first market and will take any advice I can find. Thank you!
thanks for a great video! I have been a potter selling at farmers markets for 15 years, and I'm still learning the selling part. The moost important thing I have learned is to discover who is buying your work. For my stuff 95% of my customers are women. As a guy trying to sell too women is hard, especially when I watch how women sell to women . . . they are diabolical and consistently outsell me . . . but I watch and learn
I had no idea you were in GA. I am too! I'm hope you do another one. I'll be there all the way from cedartown lol
Thanks for sharing I just pulled the trigger and bought a cnc. Love your videos.
Great video and made me reflect on my own activities. For me, success at a market (photography prints) is ultimately defined by what I end up making per hour for my effort after expenses. That versus whether I could be making more for my time (and maybe less effort) doing other things like running a workshop. I think it is also important to include in that time calculation, the time it takes to make the products. There's extra baked into my framed prints compared to loose because it takes me around 20 minutes to frame something. The last thing for me is those trickle sales in the week or two following to round out what success looks like.
I'm not into CNC and woodworking at all, but you make it quite interesting. Love your grounded way of presenting!
Great Video! We did a farmers market in 2009, every Saturday for the summer. It was a tough time, people were scared to spend money back then. Your different levels and having a "Trish" were great comments. We do glass work and can't get the volume that you can with woodwork, but we found your video very worthwhile. 😀
Nice to see how the whole maketember came together and finished. I haven’t done any craft shows but I want to this coming year and this video helps me out more than you know. Great Job Hamilton!
That's awesome, thanks so much!
Couldn’t agree more. Thanks for the great video and advice. Blessings to you
Awesome video man! Funny this video comes up and I just did a market about a month ago and recently booked a second one for December. I had the same occurrence as your salt cellars. I made these heart candles that I thought were genius and put a lot of time in them. And for 35$ a unit, I thought it was really fair, I didn’t sell any lol. But I definitely learned for maybe the next shows what I should focus on. I definitely think my market was worth it, and it is just a blast going out there and putting yourself out there. Lots of compliments and people admiring your work, not just making the sale, but people appreciating the work is the most rewarding and priceless thing I got from my market. Goodluck man, love the videos! 😊
That is great information. I have been wanting to do one of these types of markets, but I just didn't have any idea as where to start and how and how much to bring to the market. Good luck with your next market. I am planning on a spring time market now..
Hola!👍Super informative video, thanks for sharing. Take care and have a good one, Adios!👊
That’s my home town! Can’t wait to see how well the City Center does. Great video!! Very informative.
Awesome! Thank you!
Great video and very informative. BTW, I love the green screen.
i like the green screen. this video was very helpful in determining whether I do a similar sales event.
Interesting video. First ive seen of yours as YT just recommended. I'm in Alpharetta. May have to try and go to the next one of these!
Also, subscribed :)
Awesome video! Lot's of good information. Greetings from Chattanooga.
Thanks!
great job. very informative
Thank you!
I think the layout and design of your booth looked great - but the items you make are very enticing - the shapes, the thicknesses, the colours & finish of the wood - they're always going to attract people - wood is functional and decorative. Plus to clear $1500 for a weekend is impressive. Thanks for sharing - & good luck for future markets!👍
Love the video, $220, wow. In the UK would be less than half that. Set up and take down is always a bind. I find it a good way to showcase new items. Venues can make or break it being a good day. And how well it is promoted, whst parking available and the quality of other makers are also factors to consider. 😀
great video, good take aways from it, makes me want to produce and go to marked
Interesting video - first time here. I do markets to encourage commission items, I sell end grain boards and bandsaw reindeer, wine holders etc - ours are cheaper and the sales are ok and always cover the fee. Looking forward to watching more of your stuff 😊 Cheers from Australia
Great video.
Oh, a Makemas special? I'm in!
This video was so well put together. Personally I love the green screen. Keep it up!
Good insight on markets. I have thought about this. One point you didn't talk about is how much time you put into making these products. That's something to consider. It's hard for me to justify the time when I feel like I can make more dollars per hour as a finish carpenter.
I agree, I did this only once and it was at a flea market. I learned a lot. Only made $80 but it was an experience and a learning process. I need to do it again, but it will be at a craft sale and some other market. The flea market scene is people wanting to buy everything for .50 cents. So the market is important. Also setup and teardown is always the worst part of it. It is Definitely better to find a few good sellers than to have a ton of different things. It makes it easier to setup and estimate costs as well.
Video was well done, lots of good, helpful information. I have a feeling that if you don't have to factor in your time building and selling, you can look at it like a hobby, something to do on the side, a way to feel useful, something to take up after retirement, etc. If you have to factor in your time, you are viewing it as a potential income generator and that spoils everything.
Very interested in the vid you were going to make about the information from the event promoter. Did you get it posted yet? Thanks for sharing. I've vended several events and enjoy working them and agree with almost all you've said here.
Hah. I love your green screen and I was thinking of totally taking the idea.
This was a great video& I loved the green screen
New sub because of this vid 💯 very well done ..and I need to get my shhhh together..man my first market was horrible..hoping the better demographic will yield more return 🤙
Super helpful video. I usually don’t sell a lot of shows. HOWEVER…. I always find them “worth it” because I usually make my booth rent plus some. But I also always find new customers. Even if they don’t buy that day… they wither order something custom or come back to me later to buy. And recommend me to friends. So I love doing shows.
Great info, Hamilton! Thanks for sharing all of this. Got my shipping label notifications yesterday so my goal is to have something that I can make $100 off of by Christmas. I’ve been designing for the past two weeks, once my Onefinity makes it to Georgia I’ll get to see if those plans are trash or not.
First time watcher, and you got yourself a subscriber. I’m in Jersey, and was just in Cummings GA. SMH just missed your fair.
I didn’t realize you were in/near Cumming! Greetings from subscribers and fans in Valdosta.
How I view maker markets, as a consumer, is a place to learn about new businesses and products. Even if I may not buy something then I can get their contact info and save it for later or wishlist. They might not offer the same things later, but they may have something new on their site or newsletter. I hope to do similar when I start selling. Using the markets as a marketing point.
This was an absolutely awesome video.. I love the breakdown.. I love making, hate selling.. Ive been primarily using FB to sell.. I havent done a fair yet.. May have to try one