A craft fair fundraiser (also known as a craft bazaar) brings local artisans, amateur creatives, and community members together around handmade goods and a shared cause.
Done right, craft fairs can be one of your most successful fundraising ideas, but it takes the right products and solid planning to get there. We'll show you how.
What are the best craft fair items to sell?
When selling items at your craft fundraiser, prioritize price points. A few high-end, large-scale items can help make a visual splash, but try to ensure each booth or section has a balance of medium- and low-priced items, as these are more likely to sell.
Best-selling items are also items that:
- Are practical or make life easier
- Improve how a shopper is perceived
- Are easy to carry
Here's another tip: If you plan to sell volunteer-made products rather than rely solely on vendor table rentals, take stock of your available talent pool. Assess your team's skills, then consider these easy crafts to sell for fundraising.
1. Reusable products
Environmentally-friendly items are a popular pitch for today's eco-conscious shoppers, especially if they're cute or luxurious. Consider making:
- Waxed food wraps and bags
- Reusable facial wipes
- Wool dryer balls
2. Craft kits
Fellow crafters are a big slice of craft fair attendees! So, kits are a great option for those who prefer to do vs. buy and are excellent gifts that offer experience over product. Simple examples include:
- Paper beads
- Lego jewellery
- Snow globes
- Crochet flowers
3. Hair accessories
For crafting newbies, hair bows, scrunchies, or headbands are easy to make and popular at fairs, especially in sizes for babies or toddlers. You can even go a step further with pet-and-owner matching accessories.
4. Canadiana silhouettes and sayings
Crafts that celebrate Canadian identity are hot sellers. These can take the form of maple leaf or moose silhouettes, or iconic Canadian symbols like canoes or hockey sticks made into:
- Christmas ornaments
- Cutting boards
- Screen-printed greeting cards or t-shirts
This is a particularly easy option if you have access to a laser cutter or engraver.
5. Loyalty and local flavour
Beyond national symbols, tap into a more personal sense of belonging. Consider selling craft products that feature:
- Photography of iconic architecture or bridges
- School colours
- Your unique church or school silhouette
- Activity imagery, such as sports equipment or musical icons
6. Misprints and oddballs
Who doesn't love a clearance section? Invite your vendors to set out their test prints, interesting errors, or even material scraps to attract bargain-basement crafters and collectors.
7. Popular characters
There's always a market for crafts based on established fandoms (Marvel, DC, Harry Potter, Pokémon, etc.). If you have an artist who can create original art based on a popular character or show, it can be turned into a variety of products available at different price points, such as:
- Screen-printed t-shirts
- Posters or mini-posters
- Greeting cards
- Sticker, magnet, and button sets
How should I plan my craft fair fundraiser?
Early planning is crucial for hitting your goals with a craft fair fundraiser. Be sure the following are covered:
- Timing—Craft fair fundraisers peak during the holidays, but can also draw strong crowds during spring and summer.
- Logistics—This includes the location, equipment, setup, and all the start-to-finish practical considerations.
- Budget and metrics—Identify your key goals for a successful fundraiser.
- Vendors—Seek and vet vendors who will help the bottom line.
- Registration—Consider ticket presales, booth rentals, capacity, and process.
More ways to boost craft fair fundraiser earnings
You don't have to rely solely on handcrafted items to meet your earning goals. Additional ways to earn extra money at your craft fair fundraiser include:
- Having an on-site concession stand or food trucks
- Hosting ticketed classes by skilled artisans
- Hosting raffles with prizes on display
- Setting up a face painting or temporary tattoo booth
Craft fair fundraisers can be highly successful, but why stop there? Consider adding FlipGive to your fundraising strategy to supplement your craft fundraiser and earn money year-round!
FlipGive is an easy team shopping fundraiser that works 24/7, 365 days a year—and you don't have to sell a thing. Simply buy gift cards for everyday purchases or shop online, and earn cashback for your program.
Top-earning families can raise hundreds yearly, so imagine the impact when your entire team gets involved! Curious about your household's earning potential? Try our free Earning Potential Calculator, or start a free program today.
