I have made a bit of an executive decision. Although I still have quite the pile of WIPs to get through, from my discovery at the start of the year, there is nothing that is absolutely essential for me to make within a certain timeframe, and I have only one commission to be worked on, which has no fixed deadline, so I am going to spend Easter weekend working on some patterns, mainly bags, with a few to churning a few out in the next wee while to sell. Needless to say I have a little related market research for you ;o)
Firstly, if you were using this as the outer of your bag, what would you use as the interior? I’m thinking hot pink could be quite good (like Klona/Kona pomegranate) but feel free to steer me in another direction:
Secondly, if you were to buy bags at a craft fair, what sort would you be likely to buy there and then? Market totes? Simple flap top handbags? Messenger bags? More complex handbags? I think there’s definitely a tipping point from what people will buy on a whim in passing, and what they definitely need to be looking for, but as I’m not really a handbag user I’m not really sure where that point would be.
Thirdly, would you buy more complex bags from etsy? Or direct from a website? Or both?
Okay, that’s enough questions for one day, thanks for playing :o)
Yep, hot pink would be a good lining colour, and that aqua blue! from what i've seen, people don't seem to buy very expensive items at craft fairs, unless they really stand out and look complicated or have something quirky about them. :o)
I have asked myself all these questions with a view to making and selling bags myself. It's hard to answer them if the simple answer is I'd make a bag myself so any I bought from a craft fair would have to be of the type I'd not make myself. Maybe because they were felted or something. I've tried canvassing people that don't sew and that's not easy either as people are often too worried about offending you so they say they'd buy anything you show them. As for colours I'd go for any of the zingy ones picked out in the stripe.
I like the idea of a bright pink or aqua lining for that bag. As for bag buying, I think it depends on how much disposable income your target audience have sloshing round. I'd be more likely to buy something that I wouldn't want to make myself but I'm not really a hand bag buyer so I'm afraid I'm no help at all. I do know that people think tote bags should be ridiculously cheap, though. I made a fair few to be used for a project at a local school (complete with an eight word/36 character appliquéd and zig-zagged phrase) and a friend suggested I start selling them. She thought I'd be able to make twenty in a day…she doesn't think that any more ;o)
I don't think I've been particularly helpful but I'll keep thinking and pop back if anything turns up!
I would want a bright lining but not plain, it shows up too many marks!
Personally I would only look to buy more complex bags as I tend to look at the simpler ones and say well I could make that 🙂
The same goes for Etsy and I am definitely more wary about buying direct from a website, but that might just be me!
I would definitely do messenger bags or more complex bags. I have to say, though, I've had a lot of folks express interest in the shopping bags I made for the fiance. Plastic bags aren't illegal here, though.
Ohh Yes Hot Pink or polka dots to contrast with the stripes!!! It really depends on the vibe of the market you have in mind. Maybe have less expensive bags and then a few more complicated styles. I'm a huge Etsy fan, I love browsing over there, and am always seeing things I love that I never would have found otherwise. it's rare I go to other shopping websites unless I've seen it mentioned somewhere.
Hmmm…I'm thinking turquoise, or the pink.
At craft markets I can't really say what I'd buy–if I could make it myself I wouldn't buy it, unless it seemed a little to complicated for me to be interested in learning, or was out of some super cute fabric that tickled my impulse buying brain cells. Or if it was close to holiday time and I wanted unique gifts but didn't want to make them myself.
I would definitely buy something off of Etsy, but I do like to touch and feel in person if I can (that sounds so creepy, but you know what I mean 🙂
Definitely the hot pink for the inside, Katy! A more complex bag but with a small size, say 8 – 10 inches! My daughter insists on using vegan bags and it is very difficult to find cute bags that do not have leather on them! I have purchased bags from etsy and from websites. I look forward to seeing what you come up with! xxxx
Hmm – if I was buying on a whim it would probably be a tote or a messenger bag. I'm not so sure I would buy more complex bags. I would buy these from a website.
i think i would go with a yellow as the interior.
I’d go something bright and cheerful like a hot pink or a tangerine too. I think you’re on the right track.
If I was buying something on a whim at a craft fair I’d probably buy a market tote or a messenger bag. A tote would be relatively cheap and get lots of use, and if the messenger bag was in great looking fabrics I’d know I could find a use for it to cart stiff around like craft supplies or my Ipad or lunch for work or something.
I'm a one colour sort of handbag user (although I have a ton of them ) so I probably wouldn’t buy a fabric handbag at a market or online . But thats just me !
I'd probably only buy something relatively simple at a craft fair. On etsy, maybe complicated if it was something I was specifically looking for but it would need to have very good photos and details so I'd know what I was getting. juliex
Pink or spotty lining were my immediate thoughts.
At a craft fair I would buy small zipped bags in novelty prints, that could be used as make-up bag,pencil case, or for ladies things. I'd also look at totes.
Hope this helps.
I would make several bags all with different bright linings. Not sure what I would buy. Simpler stuff I can make but then I wouldn't be your target market. I would think simpler and less expensive would be the majority of sales, in unique fabric combinations.
Turquoise for lining but pomegranate would be great too, either. I am thinking market tote in passing and more complex would be etsy. Can't wait to see your bag(s)!
Hello lovely, I've got that fabric! As for bag selling, oh heck, I'm doing it and I don't know the answers to your questions! I think I've learnt to keep the pattern simple, and instead focus the effort on making the finish professional. Most recently I've also been asked for zip closures on totes/messengers – which, I'm finding, is a load more work! I also get a lot of compliments on the fabrics that we take for granted in the modern quilting online world…I think because it's not available in many brick and mortar shops… does that help?, probably not!
Any of the brights in that fabric would work well. I think it depends on the age of the customer. Teenagers and young adults are big into slouchy messenger bags at the mo! Jxo
Not pink for me, maybe the blue.
I don't think your readers are best target for research as most of us would probably look at the bags and say "I could make that" which makes developing patterns probably a better route perhaps?
Line with spots or big f-off flowers, something that doesn't show the grubbiness!!
Not sure on size, more to do with cost. But i'm just stingy like that xxx
I'd go with something light coloured, so that you can actually see what's in the bag. I have a few bags with dark-interiors and I'll be darned if I can find my keys! The pink or an aqua would do lovely.
Any bright color.Not sure what I would buy.I love all kinds of bags but my favorites are big bags but in summer or when I travel, I like small bags.
I would be inclined to line it with either a bright like lipstick pink or something unexpected like a large Amy Butler type flower – as Hadley said, something that will hide the grime. I think that for a market you want to make things that look a little different but are not very complicated so that you can keep the prices a bit down. Adding quilting or unusual closures or bits of text or applique that is a bit collage-like and thus unusual are some ideas on that score. So something that I could make but maybe would not have thought of or am happy to pay for your idea which is right here right now all done and lovely. Those are my thoughts.
Oooh I have that fabric too. I love the texture of it! My first thought when I saw it was that it would go great with a bright pink.
My pre-sewing self would have most likely bought a market tote or a simple every day bag (example) at a craft fair. I purchased one of my favorite bags off of Etsy, so I would buy a more complex bag on Etsy…especially if there is a detailed description and lots of detailed close-up photos. It is also easier for me to buy more expensive things like complex bags online…thanks to PayPal, my enabler! 😀
I'll answer one of three…I'd use hot pink lining. Pomegranate sounds perfect.
Hot pink or the turquoise
Something that will hold the other stuff I just bought at the event
Not sure I'd buy a handmade bag online: I'd buy Kipling for example as I know the quality, but some people sell hand made rubbish
I think special occasion and custom orders might be a better route. I made small bags for a wedding party I was in, using scraps of matching fabric, which went over well. But with simpler items you're competing with made-in-china products and you somehow need to stand out. I would buy something with reverse applique or other unique details. And patterns and kits might be another good seller, to those of us who want to make them ourselves.
I'd go for something bright inside and I have a thing for orange at the moment, like Kona Carrot!!! But do agree with Fiona, patterned fabrics hide a multitude of mess!!
I think simple totes sell well to non-sewers at craft things as people will use them to carry stuff home! But I think if you had more complex bags on show for people to see the quality and a card with Etsy/Folksy details then people could buy online later!
Thats my tuppences worth!!
Whew! Lots of questions! I'd love a pink or a bright blue interior to your bag above. As for your market question, I'd say simple totes or market bags would go over well…or even little lunch bags in oil cloth. Beyond that it gets a bit pricey for your general passer-by…
I'd love to see white or cream with black polka dots on the inside… but kona pomegranate would be fun to see, too.
I think simple patchwork totes would sell well at craft fairs, but if you're trying to make your online presence known, a few complex bags along with business cards might be the way to go.
I'd prefer an aqua inside; I'm not a big pink person.
I'd be inclined to buy simple totes at a craft fair, but they'd have to be ones with some fun design thingy on them — like a funny phrase or a cute applique. FMQ outline applique, not satin stitch, though!