One suggestion: laser cut Xmas decorations hanging on red ribbon, snowflakes.
I’m a little worried. This has crept up on us, and there’s not exactly an overwhelming tide of support. Do we even have someone signed up to run the stall?
I have a very quiet generator you can use.
That’s what I’m calling for: someone(s) to step forward and run with this.
Main thing is time manufacturing items, and having materials ready.
We could 3d print with sugar with the laser cuter .
Sinter it together and now we have started laser cooking the possibilitys are endless
No food in the laser cutter please!
1 Like
Please check the list of permitted foods for use in Ultimaker an Laser cutter
1 Like
Boring 
@peter_hellyer @SarahJ and @Eileen offered up their help.
I’m up for it, but I need to leave by 3pm.
Hello again… So I have no clue how things run there… but I think a few questions need answering
1 - Why are you having a stall? Exposure or to sell stuff? This will decide whether you are a) making on the stall or b) making before hand.
2 - Decision on what is being sold? (I think cards & decorations are a good combo - can pull together some files if decided)
3 - Who is making it? (before - during?)
4 - If during - who is hauling all the gear down?
5 - Where are the materials coming from (if blagging - does anyone know a local stationary store that we can get some plain white card & envelopes from)
6 - Do ye have some kind of sign/ banner to put on the stall to say it is you.
So if getting stuff donated is something ye want to do it doesnt really matter if stock is left over. If you are planning on doing this in the future the only way to know if you are going to have leftovers is to try it… sell what sells - save the leftovers for next year and arrange it better then.
Sooooo…from what I can see - to make things happen we need minimum 8 people involved
4-5 people to man the stall (if people are starting/ finishing at different times- also to help bring stuff up and down. Is the market close to the workshop?)
1-2 to make/ cut before hand
1 to arrange materials
Do we have 8 people?
1 Like
Cat straight into the pigeons…
But I largely agree.
Thank you Eileen,
Good stuff.
Is this you stepping forward, and available on day/runup?
From my experience making tonnes of stuff in advance is a recipe for having to store a tonne of stuff, and eats a load of time, but it’s really not my decision.
Nice thought about donations, but time is short. I’m sure we can find a budget, and materials are always useful to have around.
Laser ply is not available locally, afaik.
I can be around to help set up on the day if needed.
Seems like our stall is on Norwood Road, so potentially close to the space
Oh, and my opinion on some of the other points, but it’s only opinion:
It’s about exposure of SLMS. So making things on the day could be a great boost to that. However, it might be very cold!
We have a big sign that could be used.
The members who get involved will have the final say.
Hi Dermot… Happy to help on the day. But at this late stage I dont think Im much use to you on the run up (Ive only been to an open evening, waiting on laser cutter induction etc) but if there are a group of volunteers sorted by tomorrow Ill do my best to get things going with them.
I will be there for some of it. I have some family obligations and a gig that night, so it’s going to be compromises all round for me.
We do have a lovely big sign – see our stand at Maker Faire, around here in the photo stream.
Perhaps first thing to confirm is whether we will have mains power? Joe offered a generator. Is that going to be ok, noise and fumes?
Let’s put out a call to the members tomorrow and see if we can pull something together.
Hi I’m happy to help man the stall but won’t be any use with organising production or making things as I’ve never used the laser cutter. @Eileen are you happy to run it?
I think some people, some leaflets and an explanation of how to join would be enough to make it worth doing. Any production of things to sell would be a bonus, if there are enough competent people who are free.
I think the reason for a stall is exposure, not making money. I think we should have 2-3 people on the stall, with samples of things we have made on display, talking to passers by and sending them to the space to check it out. And another 2-3 people in the space showing people around. I think making things to sell on the day would be a logistical headache and would result in people hanging around waiting for their stuff & getting fed up. A bit like an episode of the apprentice…
So I guess what I’m saying is that I’m happy to get stuck in on the marketing side but not the production side, but if anyone else is confident to run that aspect of it, then great. We seem to have made it even more like the apprentice by only giving ourselves a couple of days to get organised!
IMHO I think those makers who actively make items to sell should put their wares forward with a % donation towards those manning the stall and the space.
and making to sell at the space should be kept to a minimum. this way we are not left with overstock after the event.
It would be good to have making going on in the space, so we can send particularly enthusiastic visitors there to see more. Cup engraving for example (on the topic of unsold stock…)