Royston Animal Welfare Summer Gala - Where can i find traders to attend?

Question

I am helping to organise a summer gala to raise much needed funds for Royston Animal Welfare (a registered charity). The gala will be held in Royston, Barnsley, South Yorkshire on 12th August 2007. We are looking for traders to rent a stall in order to sell their goods.
Is there anywhere i can obtain a list of such people who have businesses like this? An association perhaps?
Or do you know anyone who would be interested in attending?
Please contact me via answering this question and i will provide an e-mail address for anyone who is interested to get more info.

Thanks.

Answer 1

1. I consider that you are approaching the task from the wrong direction. Here is the reason. Stalls will be a significant feature of the gala, therefore you should exercise tight control over participants. For example, I don't think a furrier or a butcher would be appropriate at an animal welfare gala.

2. You need to think about what kind of traders you want. For example you should try to get participation from related businesses (such as pets' supplies or vets), as well as acceptable non-related businesses (e.g. clothes, jewellery, crafts).

3. I also think that, potentially and usefully, you could have stalls participation from other voluntary organisations with which there is no conflict of interest. Thus:
a) a rival organisation, like the PDSA or Cats Protection, could divert attention away from RAW,
b) a charity working in another area, like Help The Aged, might also have a negative effect, but
b) a mutually exclusive organisation, like Local Exchange Trading Systems (LETS), would not be an inconvenience and could help encourage a feel-good voluntary sector ambience at the event.

4. You should also give consideration to stalls for entertainment and refreshment of the public (if you have not already done so).
a) Entertainment includes face-painting and hair-braiding, and
b) refreshment includes drinks, barbecued food etc.

5. Personally I would then decide on a split of the stalls into some sensible categories, and that really is for you to decide. One possiblity is:
a) related traders 15%
b) other traders 45%
c) voluntary sector 20%
d) entertainment 10 %
d) refreshment 10%

6. Once you have the event thought out, then you can target businesses and organisations, through direct approaches (phone and/or e-mail) to achieve the vision.
a) You can research through the internet and the local yellow pages phone directories.
b) You can ask local umbrella organisations to suggest participants (or to circulate their members):
(i) businesses - the local chamber of commerce
(ii) voluntary organisations - the local Council for Voluntary Service
c) You can get a mention in your local media (newspapers and community websites), about the forthcoming event, with a mention that stalls are being allocated, and that businesses which wish to participate should contact you quickly before it is too late.