Frequently Asked Questions

What is Craftland Show?
Craftland Show is an annual retail craft fair that takes place each holiday season in downcity Providence, RI. The store features eclectic arts and crafts from artists in New England, and world-wide. Participants are selected through a jurying process.

Started in 2002 by a couple of crafty friends, the show originally featured about 50 artists in a 600 square foot space -- and has grown to showcase the work of over 170 artists in a 2500 square foot shop!

When is the application deadline?
The application will be available online from July 24th through August 31, 2012. We will notify applicants on or before September 12, 2012.

When will Craftland Show be open this year? Where?
Craftland Show will be open seven days a week, from November 23 - December 31, 2012. Located in the year-round Craftland Shop at 235 Westminster Street, Providence RI 02903. 

What's the difference between Craftland Shop and the annual Craftland Show?
Craftland Shop is our 11 months of the year incarnation which features the Craftland School of Craft, the Craftland Gallery, and the work of about 100 artists. Craftland Show is our annual month-long holiday celebration which began in 2002 -- and takes over the whole Craftland Shop and Gallery and expands to feature the work of over 160 incredible artists. We launch each Craftland Show with a huge party! Won't you join us? This year the party will be on November 30th, 2012.

What sells at Craftland Show?
We feature handbags, jewelry, stuffed animals, clothing, paintings, prints, knitwear, stationery, housewares, puppets, ornaments, knick knackery, ceramics, cards and more! 

People visit Craftland to buy gifts ranging from $1-$300. Some artists make limited-edition goods specifically for Craftland; we've found these sell like hot cakes!

Who sells at Craftland Show?
More than 160 local and far away (Australia!) artists participated in Craftland Show 2011 -- teenagers to grandparents, and professionals to first-timers. 

Do I need to be present in order to sell my goods?
Nope! Craftland is a retail shop that operates on a consignment basis. Artists drop off their merchandise at Craftland (or mail it if they live out of town), and Craftland staff, as well as artists, operate the shop. 

How do I get accepted into Craftland Show?
The application period for Craftland Show occurs each year online throughout the month of August. This year, Craftland Show will be accepting 60 artists from the jurying process.

Craftland is curated by a team of notable crafty jurors from a variety of media, with different guest judges each year. They hand pick the freshest work from artists near and far!

Jewelry is the most popular category applied to for Craftland. The competition is fierce. That said, it makes no difference to the jury if a crafter is a newbie or a seasoned professional. But what helps the jury make their decisions are high-quality photographs depicting interesting, well-crafted designs that fit with the aesthetic and price points of Craftland. Clever packaging helps too! For some superduper tips, read up on "Wowing a Craft Show Jury" by our friends over at Hellocraft.com.

Also, we know you're clever enough not to employ the overused words "unique" or "whimsical" in the description of your work. Thank goodness for that!

My work is currently for sale in the year-round Craftland Shop -- do I still need to apply to Craftland Show?
You will be emailed directly with details about this if your work is currently for sale at Craftland.

Can I upload more than 5 images on my application? And if I get accepted, is it okay if I send work other than those 5 images?
Only 5 images are allowed to be uploaded for our application which is available online in August. However, if the jurors decide they'd like to see more, they will refer to your website if you've included a link on your application.
And yes, if you are accepted, you can send work that is different than your uploaded images - HOWEVER, the images should be indicative of the kind of products that you would be sending overall. Please include in the description of your work, all the product categories you intend on sending if accepted.

How much inventory do I send you?
If accepted to Craftland, you will receive more detailed information about this than you could ever hope to wish for. But the basic rule of thumb is: send as much as you can. This year, work is due by November 12, 2012. 

Craftland is - and is set up like - a retail shop so we display as much inventory as fits with our aesthetics, and we store remaining inventory as back-stock. Likewise, it is difficult to create a proper display if the stock we have on hand is very limited in quantity. So again, send as much as you can. Any remaining work at the end of the show will be returned to you with great care. Please keep in mind that Craftland Show is only open for a short time, so if you are mailing work, it is best to send all of it in one go when it is due. Otherwise, choose your delivery service wisely. Ultimately, combine using your best judgment about stock for a good holiday sale and detailed information from us that you will receive by email if you are accepted.

How is Craftland marketed?
· Full-color postcards and posters
· Press releases sent to all area publications
· www.craftlandshow.com
· Partnerships with area and national businesses
· Weekly email newsletters while Craftland Show is open (sign up on the left side of this page!), Facebook, and Twitter
· Blogs, extra-sensory perception, and mind-control
· And you, our artists!

What does it cost to participate in Craftland Show 2012?
Craftland Show operates on a consignment format, and therefore artists receive a percentage of the retail sale price of their items. Artists will be paid 60% of their specified Suggested Retail Price of sold merchandise.

The application fee of $35 (including the early-bird $25 special) is non-refundable. If paying through PayPal (recommended) send appropriate fee to info@craftlandshow.com. If mailing a check or money order, please make payable to Craftland in the amount of $35, include your business name in the memo section, and send by August 31st to:
Craftland attn: 2012 Show | 235 Westminster St | Providence RI | 02909.

Refund Policy: The application fee is not refundable, and will not be returned to artists who are / are not accepted. 

When will I get paid?
Payments for accepted artists who have sold work will be mailed by January 15, 2013.

I have highly detailed questions about sending my work. Will you answer them?
Yes, but probably those questions will be answered by our informational emails sent to those who are accepted. These emails contain information on how participants should price and package their products, how to deliver their items to Craftland, and how unsold items will be sent back, and much, much more! If you absolutely need to know now, then, sure, send us an email: questions@craftlandshow.com.

What do past participants have to say about Craftland?
"Everyone who works at Craftland treats my artwork with the same care they would treat their own- with love and respect.  I love dropping my art off at Craftland - I have the pleasure of chatting with awesome and friendly people." Meredith Stern
 

"Craftland is fantastic to work with because it's run by people who also make things and really understand handmade. I love all the makers they represent and am proud to be among them!" Liz Smith, Made in Lowell 

"When I drop my work off at Craftland I know it will be in the best of company, well cared for, and sweetly promoted. The Craftland crew really knows how to sell my bling!" Kim O'Brien, K.O'Brien Jewelry 

"Working with Craftland has been one of the best things for my business. They are professional, friendly, funny AND they pay on time!  I never worry about when my check will arrive.  When it comes to selling on consignment, getting paid on time, and without a hassle is crucial." Suzanne Tanner, Tanner Glass 


Letters to Craftland from our artists:

"Craftland is a wonderful venue to sell traditional and innovative crafts. It is more than a craft show. As a veteran of many a craft show, they are doing something different- they champion the creative and daring. They take risks. The organizers do an amazing job of curating an eclectic mix of truly unique goods. The sales from Craftland also provide highly needed income for hundreds of artist/crafters. Every year I am inspired by the amount of effort everyone involved invests in this endeavor. Everything about the space is handmade or amended. I would not want to live in a Providence without Craftland."
- Delia Kovac (to American Craft Magazine)

     

"Dear Craftland Mavens,
I just wanted to say thank you thank you thank you for all the work you do to make this sale so much fun and successful!!! You are so impressively organized and productive and soooo generous with your time and efforts ALL year. You really are appreciated and I am sure everyone doing the sale feels that way, and if they don't, it's only because they don't realize how much work and energy it takes to do the magic that you do.
MUCHAS MUCHAS GRACIAS!!!!"
- Madelyn Macedo / Lucky Monkey

"Hey ladies- We got our check today and I all can say is Whoa Momma! We were so blown away by our sales at Craftland that we had to drop you another note to say thanks! You must have been marketing mavens to get all of those people to your event. Amazing! Much gratitude from Picklesland! Cheers!"
- Rita / Mr. Pickles

      

"Dear Craftland,
Thanks for being so totally awesome.
Love,
Sarah Coyne / Egg-A-Go-Go

P.S. I miss you and I hope to see you next year!"

APPLY NOW!

HOURS: Open seven days a week 10am - 6pm (11am - 5pm on Sundays) | CONTACT: 401.272.4285 | info@craftlandshop.com