The holiday season in Tokyo
means international craft fairs, where many foreigners and Japanese throng to buy gifts
and decorations. The annual Tokyo Union Church Christmas Craft Boutique is the oldest and
the largest. This year' chairperson, Debbie Hayman, talked to Hilary Hinds
Kitasei about how artists and entrepreneurs can take advantage of this unique
opportunity to market crafts and also contribute to worthy causes.
Debbie Hayman,
TUC Christmas boiutique chairperson
Photo by Mitchell Coster
Individuals and
organizations have found the fairs to be good money-makers.
We have 24 vendors right now, and six charities that have booths. The slots go very
quickly, so they must be making money and enjoying it. We also have our own bake sale, and
there are photos of Santa. This year we are honoring a woman who has been active in the
fair for over 15 years of service in the Ah-Sew Group, which is part of the Women's
Society Craft Group. They meet every week and make crafts that are sold at the boutique.
All crafts are welcome.
We're looking for any handmade items that are unusual or unique. They don't have to be
handmade by the vendor. Many items are crafts purchased in other parts of Asia. The
biggest sellers are things made out of Japanese fabric. The fabrics here are beautiful,
and they go with any color scheme, so if you make anything out of fabric it will probably
sell well. People have taken old kimono and obi and made jackets and purses. There are tea
boxes covered in kimono and washi. Other people make Christmas ornaments. Prices range
from a couple of hundred yen for Christmas ornaments to thousands of yen for tea boxes.
Because there is no cost to rent space, there is little risk and high margin for
vendors.
The individual vendors are responsible for pricing their own wares. They keep 80% of it.
We don't charge any fee to vendors, just a 20% commission on their total weekend sales.
That goes to the Women's Society, which then donates it to charities. Everything we make
goes to charity.
Tokyo Union's Christmas boutique is only one of many in Tokyo.
Tokyo American Club has a huge one coming up, and so does the American School in Japan.
St. Mary's, Sacred Heart and Japanese international schools also have them. There are
enough international fairs throughout the year to keep a person fully employed. People
should contact them for details about applying.
For further information call Debby Hayman or pick up an application at the Women's Society
desk at Tokyo Union Church, 7-7 Jingumae 5-chome, Shibuya-ku (03-3400-0942). Open 10am-2pm
daily.
Check out this year's boutique on Saturday, Nov 6 from 12-4pm. The nearest station is
Omotesando.
