r/CraftyCommerce • u/Offthehookmamma • May 18 '25
In Person Selling This space was over $400 in Toronto.
What is the going rate to vend in person where you live?
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u/hanimal16 May 18 '25
Daaaaaamn. That’s insane to me right now bc I’m so flat broke.
Did you at least make any sales?
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u/Offthehookmamma May 19 '25
It was a badd event but yeah I broke even which is never the goal. Usually I make 3x to 5x my table fee so I think it was a weather and long weekend issue.
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u/hanimal16 May 19 '25
That’s rough, but that’s good it’s not your “normal.”
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u/Offthehookmamma May 19 '25
It was a first annual which as a rule I never book but tbh I didn't look that deep into this event and I 100% should have.
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u/Incognito409 May 18 '25
We do about 8 - 10 shows a year, starting in September, going through December, all high traffic, most have been operating for 30+ years. $75 - $95 for a 10 x 10 booth. Very successful for both them and the vendors.
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u/Offthehookmamma May 19 '25
My lowest event price is $73 for small town comicons but they also have high turn over. It's funny when the cheaper events have higher traffic.
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u/drcigg May 18 '25
70-100 for a 10x10 is what it costs in my area.
The flea market outside of town is 25 dollars.
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u/Offthehookmamma May 19 '25
Oh my gosh I wish! The closest I have ever come to that was the Farmers market a couple of towns over but they now have a minimum of 4 events with them to participate and I can't commit to that many with all of my other events and life commitments.
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u/Informal_Cup3026 May 18 '25
400 dollars for a vending space? Atp that is outright robbery
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u/Offthehookmamma May 19 '25
The last show I did with them was just over 700 for 2.5 days, and my next big one is almost 800 for 4 days. Those will be profitable, though I can almost guarantee that. This one was a bust and I hadn't done the market research on it (it was a first annual event and I never vend a first annual anything as a rule because they are usually flops) but it wasn't advertized as a first so I tried it. It was great for networking, but I was hoping for profitability.
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u/rabidchapstick May 18 '25
was this for a whole weekend? the most i’ve spent is $150 for a two day event. i’ve seen 3 days cons asking for $350 MAX
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u/RottenRope May 19 '25
Was it a massive event? I'm also in Toronto and I only see $400 for like huge street festivals or conventions. And you get a 10 by 10 spot, not a single table. Otherwise most markets are between 100 and 200.
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u/Offthehookmamma May 20 '25
This was at a 2 day event in lesliville, but I haven't seen street festivals offer for any less than 4-500. The beaches festivals are currently over $800 I believe for a few days down there and I don't think they provide electricity, but it's mostly a night market. I would love to do more than the big comicons and conventions but the prices are not congruent with the traffic, so it makes me leery; setting up shop to break even.
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u/YesssChem May 20 '25
This popped up in my feed - I'm not a vendor but I'm also from Toronto. Have you checked out Arts Market? (https://artsmarket.ca/become-a-vendor) It's not an event but $268/4 weeks.
Also, Danforth East event is free: https://deca.to/for-artists/?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwKZlz1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABpxZ8GxNwUDmoMsDtysaqp-gq84YeVm-CVT03vMa8QZ3D2kAstVuH_acQkZ4p_aem_xqA3-biS3xIFcLIY4jnP5g
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u/Offthehookmamma May 20 '25
Yeah, I actually had a space in the arts market about 9 or 10 years ago :) I haven't checked out their locations in a bit but from what I remember, the vibe was a bit cluttered? Like garage salesque? I have found some other more high-end venues, but the rent was a lot more for a lot less, so I vend comicons, and conventions more recently. Just pricey, not impossible. I was only shocked becsue I normally make back my fee x5 at smaller ones like this now a days lol
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u/YesssChem May 20 '25
Ooo I didn't know they've been around for that long! It might depend on the location, but the Danforth location has an upstairs that's more trendy and the lower level is more vintage, garage sale-esque. It's still very impressive that you would break even with that high of a vendor fee!
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u/Offthehookmamma May 20 '25
They used to be down on queen in lesliville, actually. I'm not sure if the rent became unattainable or the traffic dwindled in the neighborhood, but I had been visiting them since they only had that one location (across from the 711 that was there), and they have a few now from what I remember across the city which might be worth looking into. Thank you for reminding me of them.
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u/_3dg3_l0rd May 19 '25
Our local monthly farmers market charges $25 for a 10x10 and the larger night market charges $100
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u/Offthehookmamma May 19 '25
Wow the most inexpensive I have ever vended at a farmers market near me was $60 & they offer $40 to anyone who books I think 8 or more events with them which I find hard to schedule and commit to around birthdays, other events and holidays.
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u/_3dg3_l0rd May 19 '25
Tbh I think that’s just because the market is fairly new to our area so they’re still seeking out steady vendors with the lower rate, I have a feeling they’ll be raised eventually to reflect the $100 usual for our night markets
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u/Offthehookmamma May 19 '25
That makes sense becsue when the market is good we always sign up for the next year ❤️ I sign up a year in advance of some big cons even if it is $700+ lol I know I will sell out
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u/Tesdinic May 19 '25
I am sorry this is super unrelated, but I am in love with your Dimple doll. It's so good!
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u/Offthehookmamma May 19 '25
Awe thank you. I still have him available, or in pattern form if you're a maker. I really loved mob, felt he needed to be commemorated.
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u/Tesdinic May 19 '25
I actually just found your shop earlier while looking for a pattern! It is definitely going on my list after our upcoming move.
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u/MayeRains May 19 '25
The pompom and the sack boy 🥹
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u/Offthehookmamma May 19 '25
❤️ both are available still if you're interested and so are/ or will be the patterns once tech edited.
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u/Alexandritecrys May 19 '25
80 for a small booth at my local Saturday market, and like 200 to 400 for any convention stuff
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u/Offthehookmamma May 19 '25
Is that in America by any chance? I have a feeling the cons are almost all double the price up here (unless it's a small comicon)
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u/Alexandritecrys May 19 '25
Yeah I'm in America, my family and I have a small business together and we don't do big cons or anything like that, we do the occasional Christmas market or bug craft fair but that's kinda it for right now.
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u/Main_Efficiency676 May 20 '25
one of the bigger markets in my city is $100. I have vended at two markets before and never paid more than $50. I know of another market but they don’t say the prices up front so im skeptical of applying to vend for them
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u/Offthehookmamma May 20 '25
Are you in the United States? Or rural Canada? It seems to be a theme with more expensive ones but it doesn't hurt to ask.
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May 20 '25
[deleted]
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u/Offthehookmamma May 20 '25
Do you have to have French signs and speak the language to vend, excuse my ignorance if this seems like an obvious answer. 🤔 I have considered vending the big cons out that way with my hubby because he is French but I don't think it would be possible without him.
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u/Main_Efficiency676 May 20 '25
I have never been asked/required to speak french at an event I attended and every event I have gone to, they speak english first, so I believe you’d be fine 😊 I checked the FAQ of 613 and there was no mention of needing to speak french as a requirement
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u/Offthehookmamma May 22 '25
That's amazing thank you! Everytime I have ever been to Montreal or Quebec it was almost expected even as a customer so I assumed (incorrectly) when I shouldn't have.
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u/CuddlyCryptidCrafts May 18 '25
Was this at an event? We have a display up in a local oddities shop, they take 30% off the top of everything that sells but there is no monthly fee or anything like that.