Written by Matt Wyer (Founder)
3. Crauf Con 2 - August 2025
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Trading at my FIRST convention
'Crauf Con 2' starts at 11am. It's 10:50am and card reader I've borrowed isn't working:
"Yep, I'm definitely bringing my own next time." - Is what I say to myself.
Fortunately, the app I'm using means I can use my phone to take payment, so it's not a massive headache. Serves me right for not doing my research, but it's all a learning curve and I'm still properly excited! I've been toying with the idea of setting up a stall somewhere to sell at conventions but never pulled the trigger. So how did this one come about and why did this convention give me the bug to want to do this more?
Background
Shopping online has become such a massive part of day to day life and it's not just major corporations that have a strangle hold in E-commerce. It's available to people like me to start up their own business and sell a whole host of stuff. A quick Google search tells me there could be up to 28million online stores across the world! Marketplace websites such as Vinted and eBay also offer inexpensive options for pre-loved kit that the general public simply no longer need. These online stores can be a great place to find things for a wicked price, however they are ALL missing something. Personality.
Browse - Click - Checkout - Click - Enter bank info - Click - Receive email confirmation. Done.
Prior to working in electronics, I had a hospitality background and would constantly be talking to customers, suppliers and clients. It was massively important to engage with people face-to-face and anticipate their needs and requirements. It was during the fallout of the global pandemic in 2020 that changed my view on the hospitality industry. I went from engaging with people, to serving Deliveroo tickets for takeaway and all of a sudden, the quirky beer bar I was working in lost most of it's personality. It had to be done, but hospitality became a transaction and not an experience.
A simple convocation can mean a hell of a lot! -
- And since starting Dogghead in 2020, it's been in my mind that I wanted to offer an experience and not just a transaction. Conventions are a great way to interact with like-minded folk and bridge that gap but if I'm being truthful, I was kind of intimidated by the idea of selling at one. You have to put yourself out there, but that was exactly my worry. Intrusive thoughts of "Do I have enough stock?" and "Are people going to be interested in what I'm selling?" come in to play. It's only when I was approached by the folks at The Craufurd Arms in Wolverton, Milton Keynes for their Crauf Con 2 event that I thought:
"F**K IT. Let's do it!"
When I received a confirmation email from Max, one of the owners at The Craufurd Arms, confirming my place as a vendor that listed the traders that were going to be there, that's when it began to sink in. These were sellers selling trading cards, printed t-shirts, replica models, artwork and a whole host of various collectables, not the mention that their café section out the back was going to be solely populated with tabletop gaming!
I blinked, and it was the night before the event. I was up late writing price labels for games whilst my partner attached brown tags to controllers. She let me borrow her card reader that she uses for work, but warns me that it's a bit temperamental. "I'm sure it'll be okay" I reply...
The day of Crauf Con 2.
Fortunately for me, the venue is less than a 10 minute wonder around the corner from where I live so I'm one of the first to arrive and I'm able to setup with no hassle (other than that pesky card machine). My stall has been assigned in the bar area with 5-6 other traders, with more filling their café and music venue (which I'll get on to later). In the bar, there are neon lights on black walls and a big framed reproduction Black Sabbath gig ticket amongst the music décor, not to mention iconic rock gods incorporated in to mock stain glass windows. This is a rock bar and it's exactly my vibe!
After I'm able to settle, I have a friendly conversation with the stall opposite me at 'Pirate King Prints' who are selling a big selection of printed T-shirts and Magic The Gathering proxies and it turns out it's their first convention too! They ended up giving me and my partner a free T-Shirt which was a really kind touch. Their kindness and knowing I wasn't the only first timer immediately put me at ease. To the left of me is Graham Humphreys, an incredible artist who has worked with the likes of Rob Zombie and produced material for The Evil Dead and the Nightmare on Elm Street series to name but a few. There's a piece available on his stall of Nosferatu which I can't take my eyes off, but I need to focus on my own stall.
I'm able to relax and enjoy the event as soon as the doors open at 11am. The pair Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons I had recently refurbished were sold almost straight away, and plenty of folk are flicking through the retro games cartridges and reminiscing.
THIS is what I meant by giving an experience.
Throughout the day, I have a tonne of discussions about retro games, fielding technical queries about hardware issues and handing out discount flyers for the online store. I was even able to learn about some of the Brazilian gaming market in the 90's from a collector who I ended up chatting to for 20-30mins.
I was a bit worried about it being too hectic to cope, however the stream of people was steady. It wasn't overcrowded which made it ideal for a first convention. I later found out that there was a larger convention at Stadium MK that was originally planned for July but had been moved at the 11th hour to the same day as Crauf Con 2. Would I have sold more if this other convention had not been going on at the same time? Yes, absolutely, but you cannot put a price on directly interacting with the people that mean the most, the customer. As things quietened down by 2pm-ish, it gave me a chance to gather my thoughts and reflect on things properly. Every single chat I had was friendly and warm and made me want to do these types of events over and over. It had given me the bug. If they invite me back for Crauf Con 3, then it would be my absolute pleasure and I wouldn't hesitate in doing it again.
Thank you to those who came and took the time to talk with me, it is genuinely hugely appreciated. Thank you also to The Craufurd Arms who let me trade at your event.
More information on The Craufurd Arms:
The Craufurd Arms are a music venue and bar in Wolverton, Milton Keynes that also operate a café during the day in a separate part of the building called The Green Room. They are constantly running all kinds of different events, but their passion for live music and entertainment with big sounds provide an awesome night out. Check out their website for gig listings and their social media for more up-coming events 👇
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