Case Study 002

a deep dive into Renegade Craft ( SF ) Spring 2025

Thank you for joining me here on my series: Case Study. We’re going to dive into the details of recent pop-up markets and events - talk numbers, and learn the ins and outs of running a small business. My hope is that over time, we can learn together what makes an event a success - learn from mistakes, see what works, or what needs adjusting down the road.

This series lives behind a paywall for a few reasons: a ) I spend hours collecting data and presenting it in a digestible and informative way and b ) Pulling back the curtain on what it’s really like to do a market or event is extremely valuable for those wanting to see real numbers and gain insider knowledge in an accessible way. Your paid subscription helps subsidize these costs, and honors my time and expertise. I greatly appreciate your support!

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My first ever Renegade Craft was the Spring San Francisco event in 2023. I can’t pinpoint exactly what prompted me to apply and start doing this market, but I remember I was seeking out bigger 2-day events, and new ways to grow my business at the end of 2022 and had missed the deadline for the Seattle Holiday show, so I applied for my first ( big two day market! ) and ( out of state! ) - and the rest is history.

This specific Renegade ( March 2025 ) is my 5th time doing Renegade San Francisco, my 6th time at Fort Mason, and my 9th(!) Renegade in just three years.

Big markets like Renegade Craft, West Coast Craft ( and other local ones I have not done such as Urban Craft Uprising ) can seem extremely daunting at first - from the hefty booth fee ( usually 5x - 10x a typical market ) , competitive application process and need for a stellar set-up and plenty of inventory. However, the foot traffic, customer demographic, exposure and connections make it all completely worth it.

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Renegade Craft San Francisco March 29th + 30th, 2025

If I’m being completely honest - I went into this market worried. The state of the world has been a bit, yikes, and consumer spending has been down. Online sales for me personally have been down 60% from Q1 of this year compared to Q1 of 2024. Holy shit. I wondered - are people shopping, and will they show up as they have in the past?