Staying Close to Home: What We’ve Learned About Art Festivals & Farmers Markets
Selling handmade jewelry at art festivals and markets has been a big part of our small business plan — but after two years of trial and travel, we’ve learned some valuable lessons. While we’re regulars at our local Corvallis Makers Market and the Yachats Farmers Market, we wanted to see what might be possible by branching out into bigger, juried shows that require travel.
After a lot of research—and a lot of miles on our vehicles—we’ve come to a conclusion that feels both grounding and reassuring: staying close to home really works for us.
Why Our Local Markets Matter So Much
Our local markets are great, and we don’t take that for granted. Farmers markets are everywhere in the Pacific Northwest, but we’re especially lucky to belong to two well-established, well-attended markets.
Our home market in Corvallis has a large, loyal following and a strong sense of community and operates in conjunction with the Corvallis Farmers Market. The market in Yachats offers something a little different—but just as special. It’s set in a gorgeous coastal town with loyal locals, steady foot traffic and plenty of visitors who are excited to discover handmade work while they’re on vacation.
Both markets consistently show up for us, and that kind of reliability means everything when you’re a small business. While local markets have been steady and supportive, we quickly learned that travel brings its own challenges.
The Real Cost of Traveling to Shows
One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned is how quickly travel expenses add up. Gas, lodging, food, booth fees, and time away from the studio all factor into the true cost of an out-of-town show. And even after all that planning and expense, there’s still no guarantee of success. Weather alone can make or break a weekend.
Staying local eliminates most of those unknowns. No hotel rooms. No long drives. Very reasonable booth fees. That difference has a huge impact on both our finances and our energy.
Why We Love One-Day Events
We’re also big fans of one-day shows, especially around the holidays. One-day events are truly “one and done”: we set up in the morning, sell all day, tear down in the evening—and go home to sleep in our own beds. Many of the pieces we bring to market are also available online in our shop.
There’s something deeply satisfying about that rhythm, and it allows us to keep our business running without burning out too much.
Being Selective About Where We Show
Over time, we’ve learned to be much more selective about the events we commit to. We generally avoid shows that are brand new, have moved to a new location or venue, or have shifted seasons (for example, a long-running summer festival suddenly moved to the fall). We prefer to wait until a show is established and has a proven track record.
That said, we do still travel for a small number of larger shows each year. When we do, it has to check a few important boxes: the event needs to be well-established and successful, the location has to be somewhere we genuinely want to spend time, and we need to be able to turn the trip into a bit of a vacation.
A great example of this is our trip to Coeur d'Alene this past summer for Art on the Green. It’s a consistently strong and well-run event for us, but we also tacked on a few extra days afterward to travel through Montana and go sapphire mining. Being able to combine work with travel and experiences we love makes those longer trips feel worthwhile rather than exhausting.
We also chose not to return to a couple of shows we did in 2024. Not only were they unsuccessful for us, but they were completely oversaturated with jewelry vendors. I’m absolutely fine with competition—but when there are 35 other jewelry vendors plus resellers at what’s advertised as a high-end art festival, that’s a hard pass for me.
Trying New Shows (Without Regret)
Trying new and different events can absolutely be worthwhile—but it’s important to go in with your eyes open. Booth fees, travel, hotels, and food costs all need to be considered together, not separately.
Talking to fellow vendors has been one of the most helpful tools for us. Groups like Art Fair Reviews on Facebook, along with paid review sites, can provide valuable insight before you commit. Asking honest questions can save a lot of money (and frustration).
One Year Later, the Same Conclusion
I actually wrote about this topic back in August of 2024. After another full year of trial and error, I’m happy to report that my analysis hasn’t changed much.
We are incredibly lucky to have such a strong art and craft community here, along with locals who consistently show up to support handmade work. For us, staying close to home isn’t about playing it safe—it’s about choosing what’s sustainable, rewarding, and aligned with how we want to live and work.
Come Say Hello
If you’re local, Will and I would love to see you at one of our upcoming markets. And if you’re visiting the Oregon coast or passing through the Willamette Valley, be sure to stop by and say hello. Supporting local artists—whether at a farmers market, a small show, or a studio sale—truly makes a difference.
Thank you for being part of our community.