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Kym Yorke

Organisation

Sales

Communication

Atmosphere

It cost us well over £1,500 to take a stand at the show, believing that it would deliver the right customers. It was the worst London fair I have ever attended. Upper Street Events maintain that they did extensive marketing, but a large proportion of the women who turned up thought they were coming to a craft fair! There were times in the day when there were only a handful of visitors. I even overheard one elderly lady proudly declare that she had “no intention of spending anything at the fair.” This was made evident by the number of women who brought packed lunches and flasks of tea, they didn’t even support the food vendors. We received apologies from both Upper Street and the WI, but no compensation was forthcoming to make up for the loses we suffered at this event. A truly awful event, we will never take part again.
3 years ago
Jane Gee

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I totally agree with Kym. I traded at the WI Centennial Fair in Harrogate two years ago and it was very successful and it was on that basis that I booked this one. Completely different audience, footfall considerably less, not spending (well not more than £20) and obviously not what the visitors were expecting. I heard one lady say that she could have walked around the show in less than 2 hours and she didn’t need to spend the whole day there. By the end of the second day several traders had packed up and gone home. I was located near the Craft ‘stage’ and I did feel very sorry for some of the speakers who only had a few people turn up. Some of my family live 5 minutes from Alexandra Palace and none of them had heard about the show. And those that had, thought the show was for WI members only and that the public couldn’t go in. I would say that this is the third time I have traded at Alexandra Palace and all of them have been dreadful. Unless it is a well known and established show, anything at this venue is risky. I did hear from Upper Street Events but nothing from the WI. For a number of traders (including myself), this was a very expensive show and one I won’t be doing again.
3 years ago
Damian Clarke

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Atmosphere

I agree with Jane about the difference from the Harrogate Centenial Fair. And what has been said about the visitors. I won’t trade with Upper St Events again until they stop using Freeman for their lighting and other services. The charge for a spotlight on top of the high cost of a stand is ridiculous. The last straw was being charged another £15 = VAT for a PAT test on their lights that as far as I’m aware needs doing once a year and at their cost so that they can supply a safe unit. The arrogant attitude that goes with this is something that I don’t need. But I suppose there is an endless supply of Traders who afford to give it a go, once or even twice. My advice is to do your research first.
3 years ago
Ulla

Organisation

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Communication

Atmosphere

I very strongly agree with Kym, Jane and Damian! Too expensive show I will not take part again only if it is FREE!
3 years ago
beverly todd

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Atmosphere

I smelt a rat after being lied to by Upper Street Events. They originally booked me into the Maker’s Market but I soon discovered that the shell scheme I was offered was in fact a table, with demonstrations going on around my stall. Totally inappropriate when my craft is glass! They further insulted my intelligence by saying that I hadn’t heard correctly when the booking was taken. I was fully compos mentis and my hearing works fine! I had to pay a further sum to be moved to a more suitable location which wasn’t ideal but I wasn’t prepared to lose the money which I had already paid. My husband ran the event for me whilst I was busy in the studio trying to play catch up with commissions following a manic Christmas period. He regularly updated me as to the problems he was experiencing. I will NEVER attend an event run by Upper Street Events again. Cowboys and liars. Not professional. I did come away with a profit, unlike many other exhibitors who didn’t and my heart goes out to those who paid far more than I did for their stall and made a huge loss.
3 years ago
mandy

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Atmosphere

I was really looking forward to the WI Fair, it was my first ‘big’ show and I had spent a lot of money buying new shelving, packaging and bits and pieces, my intention was to use this as a test to see if these large fairs are cost effective. This one certainly was not; not including all of my new shelving etc. but purely based on the cost of the actual show, accommodation, van hire, travel etc., I made a significant loss. It is hard to ascertain where the fault lies; we were one of the busier stands and we had a lot of interest and thankfully made lots of contacts with various groups who want me to visit to do demonstrations. Live and learn.
3 years ago
Daniel Morris

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Atmosphere

Was not very happy at all with this show, low foot fall, poor demographic. cost far outweighs benefits. To reiterate comments below I would not go again even if I was paid to!
3 years ago
Anonymous

Organisation

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Atmosphere

Very expensive fair, big expectations and I was hugely disappointed with the outcome. The customers had not come to buy and sadly they also felt let down as there were expectations of more craft making sessions rather than a shopping village. We just about broke even after 4 days of trading 🙁
3 years ago
theclogmaker

Organisation

Sales

Communication

Atmosphere

Agree with all the comments. Dan from Upper Street Events just told lies.
3 years ago

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