BLOG – 35 YEARS AGO BLOG 5

I first took part in my first craft fayre about a year after setting up in business. I say “I” when really it was my late wife Maureen. For she was the person that endured the many hours of staffing our stand waiting for customers. The first fayres were held at Thurso Town Hall (now the North Coast Visititor Centre), under the banner of the Caithness Craft Association. We had to present five examples of our glassware to be “vetted” by the committee. Thankfully we were accpeted and exhibited many years. Usually on Saturdays, once a month in Thurso and once a month in Wick (Norseman Hotel). I would do the driving, unloading and hang around for half an hour before escaping to my workshop keen to me on the flame. When the fayres were in Wick I would drive early in the morning the 25 miles there to drop of the glass and of course Maureen, drive back to work then in the afternoon repeat the jourenys. A totla of 100 miles. We would finish around 7pm!

Trade fairs were a different experience and one I felt obliged not to refuse. Obtaining a grant from Caithness And Sutherland Enterprise meant participating in such activites a must. Hence Maureen and I attended a half day course on how to behave so we could maximise our appeal to poetnjtial buyers for our glass art!

We took part in at least a couple of shows at Aviemore and I for one only enjoyed selling not posing in readiness to sell. I was forever wandering off leaving Maureen behind to cope with the deluge of orders. I got into trouble with taking photographs of knitwear and accussed of pinching ideas! The competion between sellers was intense and evryone was saying how good they were selling. Seemed like hundreds of crafters were having the time of their lives!

We fell into the trap of wanting despertely to make a sale, any sale so promised anything and everything. Buyers were given full exclusivity, discounts and free postage. So silly!