Ah - Daintiness' idea reminded me of some very successful table decs at a Christmas fair years ago. Just described as above with a bit of spray snow too, some berries and the occasional robin. The idea is simple and yes anyone can do it but it takes a bit of effort. So much easier to buy one ready made at a fair! The stall sold out.
I think you need something to attract children towards your stall, kids lead parents follow
When we had charity stalls we always dressed up in silly or seasonal costumes that got people's attention. One Christmas we had a couple of beautifully knitted dolls, Father Christmas & Mrs C who kept having a Punch & Judy type fight about who hadn't fed Rudolph, kids loved it and parents nearly always bought something from the stall or gave a donation.
Maybe you could have a look in charity shops for things that would clean up, little toys etc.ask around for donations of unwanted gifts. Wrap them in Christmassy fashion cellophane and bows and advertise as "pocket money priced" and encourage children to buy for friends & family
The secret is to offer a product that people want to buy at the right price and make the stall look attractive. It would be worth looking at what plants are going to be in flower over Xmas hellebores plug plants or in 9cm pots might be a good option and holly it would be worth potting them up in a clay pot with 6mm pea gravel with is cheep from builders merchants to add value to the product the members might have to put some investment into the stock but it would be worthwhile.
Also advertise that the stall as the local horticulture society.
Don't forget to have a few flyers that you can give to people explaining about your group and when you meet so hopefully you'll get some new members.
Make sure you have a float with plenty of change in it you'll be surprised how many people want to pay for an item of a couple of quid with a twenty pound note.
You'll also need some used carrier bags for people to take stuff away in as a lot won't have their own.
Apologies for not replying before but have been out since early this morning. Anyway, many many thanks for taking the trouble to give lots of ideas, plus websites.. I now feel so much more positive about the horticultural society's involvement in the christmas fair and even if we can't try out many new things this year, (christmas is rushing at us), we now have lots of ideas for future fundraising.
You could have the outline of a flower (simple shape, but quite large) and invite people to fill it in with loose change. It's amazing how much "shrapnel" people have in their pockets/purses, and placing a few coins on a shape is an easy way to relieve people of their heavy coins!
Also think of "value added" items. For example, lavender on its own is pretty unexciting. Made into lavender bags, the value added makes the items more easy to sell. Likewise, simple cone-shaped tree decorations using giftwrap, with hanging ribbon and filling the cones with sweets/seeds are popular, and easy to make and sell, in my experience.
Many thanks for all the suggestions and one of them was using dried seed heads. Several weeks ago I gathered armfulls of teasels with the idea of spraying them silver and gold. However, the cans of florists spray paint are not being very effective due to the 'airey' (?) type teasels as opposed to dense.
OH has suggested dipping them in watered down solution of emulsion and I have done this today using ordinary white paint. OH says the spray paint will then be more effective. The christmas fayre is next Saturday and I wondered if anyone has been successful in colouring teasels.
I have looked for solutions on the internet but not been successful.
The thick stalks colour very easily nut, it's the teasels which are not looking very impressive. I have just found a website which recommends bleaching the seed heads first, presumably to lighten them.
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Ah - Daintiness' idea reminded me of some very successful table decs at a Christmas fair years ago. Just described as above with a bit of spray snow too, some berries and the occasional robin. The idea is simple and yes anyone can do it but it takes a bit of effort. So much easier to buy one ready made at a fair! The stall sold out.
Just clicked the link - brilliant!
I think you need something to attract children towards your stall, kids lead parents follow
When we had charity stalls we always dressed up in silly or seasonal costumes that got people's attention. One Christmas we had a couple of beautifully knitted dolls, Father Christmas & Mrs C who kept having a Punch & Judy type fight about who hadn't fed Rudolph, kids loved it and parents nearly always bought something from the stall or gave a donation.
Maybe you could have a look in charity shops for things that would clean up, little toys etc.ask around for donations of unwanted gifts. Wrap them in Christmassy fashion cellophane and bows and advertise as "pocket money priced" and encourage children to buy for friends & family
Also advertise that the stall as the local horticulture society.
Don't forget to have a few flyers that you can give to people explaining about your group and when you meet so hopefully you'll get some new members.
Make sure you have a float with plenty of change in it you'll be surprised how many people want to pay for an item of a couple of quid with a twenty pound note.
You'll also need some used carrier bags for people to take stuff away in as a lot won't have their own.
Apologies for not replying before but have been out since early this morning. Anyway, many many thanks for taking the trouble to give lots of ideas, plus websites.. I now feel so much more positive about the horticultural society's involvement in the christmas fair and even if we can't try out many new things this year, (christmas is rushing at us), we now have lots of ideas for future fundraising.
Billie, there are loads of tried and tested seeds on the seed swap thread. You could sell those in the Spring to boost funds for next Christmas Fayre.
You could have the outline of a flower (simple shape, but quite large) and invite people to fill it in with loose change. It's amazing how much "shrapnel" people have in their pockets/purses, and placing a few coins on a shape is an easy way to relieve people of their heavy coins!
Also think of "value added" items. For example, lavender on its own is pretty unexciting. Made into lavender bags, the value added makes the items more easy to sell. Likewise, simple cone-shaped tree decorations using giftwrap, with hanging ribbon and filling the cones with sweets/seeds are popular, and easy to make and sell, in my experience.
Good luck!
Many thanks for all the suggestions and one of them was using dried seed heads. Several weeks ago I gathered armfulls of teasels with the idea of spraying them silver and gold. However, the cans of florists spray paint are not being very effective due to the 'airey' (?) type teasels as opposed to dense.
OH has suggested dipping them in watered down solution of emulsion and I have done this today using ordinary white paint. OH says the spray paint will then be more effective. The christmas fayre is next Saturday and I wondered if anyone has been successful in colouring teasels.
I have looked for solutions on the internet but not been successful.
Not tried but coloured spray paint seems to work on most things
In the sticks near Peterborough
The thick stalks colour very easily nut, it's the teasels which are not looking very impressive. I have just found a website which recommends bleaching the seed heads first, presumably to lighten them.