Do you think my nappy cakes are handmade ?

[Babycakegifts]

I tried to book a craft fair today and the organiser said she could not let me rent a stall because she was worried the other stallholders would "kick up a fuss" because she said i only purchase the stock and don't handmake them.
I buy the stock but then i add blankets,toys,bibs,socks etc to form a "cake" it is hard to discribe but have a look at my website ! I can't post the url but it is called babycakegifts

I would say it is a craft to make nappy cakes but she left me feeling upset and disheartened.

 

[sysops]

I've looked, but I'm afraid I don't understand your product. What does one do with them? Are they food?

 

[Lee Jones Jnr]

No they are not hand made, you are simply presenting pre-purchased items in a new way.

 

[ccp consultancy]

Hi there- whilst very beautiful - no I do not think these would pass as a true craft

Do not be disheartened - you will find another venue

some craft fairs are for really traditional crafts - whilst others will gladly accept what you do

do you use stallfinder - this lists craft fairs and events in your area

you might be better off attending events targeting your market - mums and mums to be rather than traditional crat fairs

Good luck anyway (PS I like your website)

 

[Liybpg]

I don't get your product either. So it is a cake with a toy on it? Wouldn't it just get messy? Can you still eat the cake, after it touched all the toys, which were probably produced in some sweatshops in china?

 

[scribe]

Correct me if i'm wrong but thier not edible cakes.There made out of fabric to look like a cake the base being a basket that holds baby products. They look very attractive, i think the idea came from the states.

 

[Babycakegifts]

I've looked, but I'm afraid I don't understand your product. What does one do with them? Are they food?

Nappy cakes are gifts for a new baby they consist of baby nappies in the shape of a 1,2 or 3 tier decorated with bibs etc it's a way of giving clothes,blankets etc there is nothing edible in them.
Hope this helps

 

[Beachcomber]

Don't be disheartened - some craft fairs / organisers can be very odd and will not consider an item truly hand crafted unless you have actually bled over it and have the withered calloused hands to prove it!

Try standard markets, gift fairs, easter fairs, fetes etc. Keep an eye on the local paper as these events can be hard to find out about until it's too late to book.

 

[Babycakegifts]

Correct me if i'm wrong but thier not edible cakes.There made out of fabric to look like a cake the base being a basket that holds baby products. They look very attractive, i think the idea came from the states.

Yes you are correct they are big in the usa

 

[Babycakegifts]

Thank you everyone for all your coments i will take everything on board and maybe try other fairs.

 

[iArtist]

I agree that these are not a 'craft' item, but they are a lovely item and I am sure you could sell these on ebay as 'gifts for new mums' and of course via your website.

You could also promote them via school 'coffee mornings' etc.

 

[scotmum]

You might want to try the NCT fairs that are pretty regular in most areas. I really like the idea of the nappy cake but would not buy one for myself. They are definitely gift items. They can also be quite pricey so are often not an option for people buying gifts for new mums. I would look on stallfinder for fairs and events in your area as some craft fairs are not that stringent as the one you have come across.

 

[beezbaker]

I like these, my sister made one for a friends baby shower and she loved it. I think its crafty, it takes imagination to put them together. I would try putting up leaflets at maternity wards. Not sure what key words you are using for you website and it might seem obvious but maybe using 'baby shower gift ideas'.

Don't get disheartend, there is a fair out there that will let you have a stall, have you tried baby fairs??

 

[FLAUK]

I think the organiser is being an arse.

Don't be disheartened, they are much better than a lot of the tat probably found at that fair.

 

[OldWelshGuy]

I agree with Flauk above. I would visit the fayre when it is up and inspect it. I wouldn't be surprised if the 'organiser' has a product that yours somehow competes with, or has a friend who might be damaged bny it.

My advise in this situation has been to look at organising your own if you have the time.

 

[popunder]

I worry slightly about the phrase "nappy cakes" - sounds like a euphamism for something babies are well known to do... in their nappies... :|

Cute gift idea though. Maybe you could sell them via some local florists, they often sell gift items to go with bouquets, and they sell a lot of "new mum" flowers.

BTW Your 'cakes' are plenty handmade enough for most of the craft fairs I've ever been to, you've just managed to find one which has strict made-from-scratch criteria. Don't worry about it, just find others! Good luck.

 

[Fuzzy]

Good on you Flauk !

Yeh, we couldn't exhibit at a fair as we are too rude

Keep going, you will get there

 

[Searcher]

I would also agree that these aren't really craft products. But I wouldn't lose sleep about missing out on the fair. Saw your website earlier this week, showed my wife who loved it and she's bookmarked it.

 

[Babycakegifts]

I like these, my sister made one for a friends baby shower and she loved it. I think its crafty, it takes imagination to put them together. I would try putting up leaflets at maternity wards. Not sure what key words you are using for you website and it might seem obvious but maybe using 'baby shower gift ideas'.

Don't get disheartend, there is a fair out there that will let you have a stall, have you tried baby fairs??

Thanks for your kind words
I have put up flyers at the local hospital but no interest yet.I think i need to look at my keywords and i will look for a baby fair.I was thinking of giving up but you have made me feel a little better will keep trying thanks again

 

[silvermusic]

Lorraine,

I'm far too old and of the wrong gender to understand baby things nowadays. However, that may be no bad thing as I can perhaps see things from a different perspective.

Web wise you have a big problem in that a USA company doing the same thing are using the .com version of your domain name, in fact I went there first as .com was the most obvious to try first. As soon as I saw the prices in $'s I knew I was on the wrong site. Personally I would never launch a site unless I could get at minimum the .com and .co.uk domain of the site, which I appreciate isn't always easy.

If someone asked me what nappy cakes were I wouldn't have a clue up until ten minutes ago, I'd make all sorts of wild guesses and most would involve food, is this a term which is common nowadays amongst those who would be in the market for this product in the UK? Given that this sort of product would be an ideal product to give as a present. You need to ask yourself do you need to explain your product all the time or if it's kinda obvious what it is. If it's the former maybe look at how you market and describe what you make. Things, like "Baby gift baskets" even this old duffer understands, it's something you need to work on. Unless of course I'm totally out of touch with this market, which is entirely possible.

I have to agree that your products are beautiful and would make an ideal present for a new mum. However, the problem I feel may lay in many people's perception of value and may think it's just a bundle of products they can put together themselves. You're added value in the skill to put it all together in a great presentation is not being exploted anywhere near enough. Your web site descriptions just list the contents, they're not doing anything to sell me the product as a whole, that to my mind needs some serious working on either by yourself or someone that can write good sales copy.

Best of luck, hope that's been of some use.

 

[Em Shepherd]

Hiya,

Craft fares are a really grey area, I paint original art, and build miniatures among other things, and having exhibited at craft fares which have told me they are purely for hand made (from scratch) and then found I am situated right next to a jewellery stand where the woman is un packing bulk bought cheap jewellery and not even claiming to have made it herself, it is really disheartening. However something like The Little Monster show in Bristol (I think they run one in Cardiff too) might be worth a look...we took our playbus there for the first couple of years, but found that most of the people attending were pregnant, so not a whole lot of use for us!

Also you could try advertising on parenting websites like Netmums?

Best of luck, they look lovely, really pretty! And I think your prices are really reasonable too x

 

[applemaidcleaning]

I think it is ok!! You buy ready made products to make up Gift Hampers!!! So why not jaz up these

 

[Rachy Rach]

Hi

thank you Loraine for raising this thread (even though i am late) i have found this very useful as i am currently starting to attend fairs and fundraising events and i had naturally assumed that my nappy cakes qualified me for craft fairs.... il be more aware to check this before i pay for stalls.


Quick question - i have been struggling to find suitable postage packaging e.g boxes for nappy cakes - anyone know any good companies for me to contact

Lorraine i have visited your site and you have lovely items

Rachy Rach

 

[Funny Business Cartoons]

Any which way you look at it, eating nappy cakes is going to get messy in the end. In fact it even sounds like a Criminal offence.

No okay jokes aside, I get the idea but your website needs a bit of work.

(PS: Not too many nappy cakes now or you just might get the screams.)