Hi everyone,
So I have been doing craft fairs for a long time and normally just use the craft fair organisers insurance cover that they provide with the event. This Christmas and new year I am looking to do a lot more fairs and think it might be cheaper to have my own insurance. I have rung one and they don’t offer it for pierces items.
How do you use? Or do you find it best to just use the organisers insurances?
What sort of insurance are you after? Public liability (which is what all event organisers that I’ve worked with provide if they provide anything), product liability or theft of stock cover? I’ve never done an event which required me to have my own theft of stock insurance cover and I get my public and product liability (which event organisers have required me to have) through my A-N membership. Could you clarify what sort of insurance you are talking about please and I might be able to help further?
I also don’t understand what you mean by ‘pierces items’ do you mean things like earrings for pierced ears? The insurance I have through A-N covers pierced earrings for product liability but not actually doing the piercing so could the insurer you spoke to have misunderstood you.
Think just need public liability. The company I phoned today asked if the jewellery included any pierced items such as earrings, which I do sell which meant they was unable to give me a quote.
My insurance is part of the A-N membership, membership of Guild of Jewellery Designers also includes public and product liability insurance (I think you need the gold membership) or Ian Wallace is regularly cited when people are looking for craft fair insurance.
Brilliant thank you will take a look!
A-N give Public and Product Liability insurance as well as Professional Indemnity (in case someone thinks you may have copied their work and tries to sue you) as part of the membership sub. Those insurances do not give cover for theft, goods in transit etc, they just give cover if your products cause harm to someone e.g. the dye you used causes an allergic reaction to someone, or if you unintentionally cause harm to someone, e.g. picture glass breaks at a show and cuts someone, or your display falls and hurts someone etc.
A-N use Hencilla Canworth for that insurance. It was set up because it used to be very hard for artists etc to get proper insurance cover. They also offer insurance for artists, designers, makers etc for cover of stock, studio equipment and other business insurance needs. There are subsidised rates for members of A-N or standard rates if you are not an A-N member. They offer various packages or they can make you a bespoke insurance. Have a look on www.a-n.co.uk for more information about the insurance options.
I just have A-N membership so get the free cover. I have used Hencilla Canworth through A-N for just art exhibition cover as well which can last up to one year at a time for the shows you do. They give cover for the full value of artistic works if they are stolen, damaged etc at an exhibition whereas a lot of insurers only cover for direct costs, i.e. the cost of replacement materials. They give goods in transit cover, which can be very hard to get at a good price, and all sorts of things you probably never thought of.
I also have a working from home insurance policy from AXA which gives £1,000 of all risks exhibition cover as part of the policy as well as all home contents cover and standard business cover. I am not sure what policies they are offering at the moment, I think mine keeps going because I have had it a long time and I think they may offer something slightly different now.
It’s worth checking with the craft show organisers exactly what insurance they give you, or not, so that you can then know what your real needs are.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes, Anne
Graeham Sykes about £50 for a year, unlimited number of events, up to £30,000 in sales.
Another good insurer is Ian Wallace
Thank you everyone!
I’m with Ian Wallace too; you can add in stock insurance if you want it 
I used G M Imber and son for many years, about £52 a year for public and personal liability insurance.
Ahh the delights of insurance, I had 2 weeks to find new insurance once I informed our home insurer that I was working from home making jewellery that in their eyes was classed as “production” - I bead weave or string! Anyway long story short after having extremely expensive working from home insurance I now have separate home insurance and public liability/stock/events cover through CraftCover.com. They don’t have an issue with earrings for pierced ears, cover stock in transit plus at events and cover me for outdoor as well as indoor events. Hope this helps.