Are you thinking of setting up store at one of the UK’s craft fairs? One thing you’ll need to bear in mind is getting the correct insurance.

If you want to sell your wares at craft fairs, then the simple answer is, yes you will need to purchase insurance. In fact, fair organisers will often want to see proof of two types of insurance before they confirm your stall:

• Public liability insurance
• Product liability insurance

Read on, as we discuss these two types of insurance in more depth, and highlight what will happen if you choose not to take out insurance.

Public Liability Insurance

Whether you’re selling jewellery, trinkets, badges – or any kind of crafts – having public liability insurance is crucial, as it means you’re covered if a member of the public makes a claim that your business has caused injury or damage to them.

Just because the organiser will have taken out public liability insurance, it doesn’t mean that you can claim under that. If an accident occurs because of you, then you’re the one the claim will be made against – for example, if a customer were to fall over a pile of empty boxes that you’d left by the side of your stall.

If you don’t have public liability insurance, then you may not be able to sell at the craft fair in the first place. However, that’s not the worst outcome – say a customer’s claim were to win, then you would have to fork out the compensation cost yourself. That’s in addition to any legal expenses, repair/replacement costs and even medical fees, which would have otherwise been covered by the public liability insurance. When thinking about he financial damage that could cause to both you and your business, running the risk of not taking out insurance really isn’t worth it.

Product Liability Insurance

As a crafter, public liability insurance should be at the top of your list if you’re selling your goods at a craft fair. This means that you’re covered should your products cause injury or damage to one of your customers, and they’ve made a claim. Even if it’s a product you haven’t made – if you’ve sold it to a customer and its caused injury, then you’ll still be liable.

The fact is that accidents do happen – regardless of how well made the products are – and product liability insurance provides that protection for you and your business.

Do I Need Insurance to Sell My Crafts Online?

Whilst attending craft fairs is a good source of income and a way to build brand awareness for crafters, it’s often not sustainable alone. That’s why many crafters will sell their goods online too, whether it’s on their own website, or on platforms such as eBay, Etsy and Not on the High Street.

However, product liability insurance will still be relevant here, as customers will be purchasing products directly from you. Whilst taking out insurance will have a cost, the cost of a claim from a customer will be much more significant; and if you weigh up the pros and cons, then really, you can’t not afford to take out insurance.

How Do I Find Insurance to Sell at Craft Fairs?

There are insurance companies out there that specifically sell insurance packages for crafters – just do a simple “insurance for crafters” Google search, to bring up results.

Some of them will offer basic packages, whereas other companies will provide more tailored ones. When comparing between the quotes, there are a few things to bear in mind when choosing the best one for you:

• Reviews: Are they positive or negative?
• Cost: Because ultimately, we don’t want to be paying out loads each month if another business is selling virtually the same insurance policy for a fraction of the price
• Limitations & Exclusions: Some plans may only extend to selling at craft fairs, and not online; others may have exclusions when it comes to claims (and this often goes hand-in-hand with cost).

Rather than rushing in and purchasing the first craft insurance policy you see, compare a range of them to determine the best ones for you. Ultimately, you do need insurance to sell at craft fairs – taking the chance of not purchasing it simply isn’t worth it.

If you’re new to selling at craft fairs, then why not take a look at the best ways to sell your handmade crafts, and mistakes to avoid when selling at craft fairs. Alternatively, take a look at our range of badge makers to get started crafting today!