How To Set Up A Craft Booth Display

1 of my favorite pastimes? Attending fairs. Whether they are women'due south fairs, book fairs or a arts and crafts fair – I love them all. I love going to craft fairs for several reasons, namely to go out of the house without my husband and children. Bahaha! I also relish meandering and browsing, taking my time to both appreciate and purchase other crafters works and to get new ideas for my ain dwelling.

Vendor fairs and I go way dorsum. Equally a child I attended and assisted my mother at her booth in countless fairs. I would aid gear up up, I would human the booth while she had bath breaks and I learned how important information technology is to mingle with other vendors during slow times. If y'all are thinking of attention your commencement arts and crafts fair equally a vendor, in that location are some definite do's and don't's when it comes to setting upward your booth and how you engage with your customers – and other vendors too!

Tips for a Successful Craft Fair

The obvious goal, when paying the entry fee to a craft off-white, is to sell your wares and recoup your cost (and then some). But, y'all also want people to remember y'all and your name and so that they tin can find you later on your Facebook page, your website or find yous on Etsy etc. Take the post-obit tips and see if you lot can't walk out of your side by side craft fair feeling similar a dominate.

1. Presentation!

Presentation is everything! Your heir-apparent's first impression will many times make or break a sale. When setting upward, recollect of the ways your booth will appear to passersby. You desire to offer a wide array of items, in a wide range of price points, without over crowding your table. This is not an episode of Hoarders, simply you definitely want to utilize ALL infinite available to you lot – including vertical space.

Accept table cloths (inexpensive flat sheets from Walmart work well likewise) to pall over the table, use wooden crates to add together depth and "shelves", use onetime opened suitcases for amuse, invest in a mannequin, convert an old photo frame to have chicken wire stapled to the back for hanging items (with mini clothespins) etc… The more eye communicable your berth (without existence overcrowded) the better.

2. Mirror, mirror, on the wall

Provide a mirror! I can not tell you how many times I have left an item I might have purchased if I could have but seen it ON myself. Try to have a proficient sized mirror (full length if possible) with a frame instead of hand-held. Of course if a large mirror is not possible a manus-held mirror is better than nothing, but over again – presentation is everything. If y'all don't already accept a cute, decorative mirror, lookout man for sales (or employ your coupons!) at Hobby Lobby, Michael'southward or Joann's etc and option one upwardly!

3. Advertise your business organization

I tin non stress enough how of import it is to have business cards in multiple places. Have a stack at the forepart of the table and throw one in the pocketbook when you lot packet a purchased item. If they exercise non make a purchase, you can also give them a concern card from your handy dandy stack.

There are numerous places to discover cheap concern cards online. Make certain you lot include where to find you online and how to contact you.

4. Price EVERYTHING

Every bit a customer, I do non want to take to ask for a cost. In fact well-nigh times I will non ask, instead I'll simply pass right on by. Don't practise that to your customers – or to yourself!

Want an fifty-fifty better way to price your items? Use your business cards AS your price tags (but also have some bachelor in that stack). Create a small pigsty to string through and adhere to your items. Think of it this way: if someone likes your work enough to pay yous for it, they automatically get a business card that they volition later on have to remove (and hopefully stash in their handbag, wallet etc). To me this is ameliorate than but throwing the card in the bag that volition then get thrown away.

v. Don't oversell yourself

Exist available but not pushy. My chief arts and crafts will always be crochet, so I am certain to bring my yarn and my hooks and I crochet as I stand at my booth. (I endeavour not to sit every bit it may come off as me existence bored) This allows me to be present and available for questions, but in a way that doesn't feel overly in-your-face up to the shopper. Plus, I'm creating more than production!

Alternatively, engaging with your customers is central. When I shop I want to be left alone, merely I also want to know that should I have whatever questions (can you make this in a dissimilar color? etc) that the vendor is attainable. When I am on the other side of the table however, my arroyo is different. Definitely make eye contact, grinning and say how-do-you-do, read the person'due south reaction. Their torso language will tell you if they wish to engage in further conversation or simply shop.

6. What to sell?

Remember small (ish) and think alee! What kinds of things volition people exist needing in the side by side few months? In October, the best items would be Thanksgiving or Christmas related, whereas in March you might want to stock your table full of items pertaining to Easter, spring cleaning/useful things and peradventure even some items geared towards the quaternary of July.

You likewise want to take a broad array of items, including unique items yous can't only find at Walmart. Keep much of it elementary and trendy. Many times the smaller items, like the Aldi Quarter Keepers, dishcloth sets, chapstick keychains, mini-blind cleaners, sell better than scarves and blankets merely considering information technology'southward an impulse purchase at merely a few bucks – and those sales add up! Don't forget that if they buy something small now with your concern card attached, when they need something large similar a blanket or a poncho etc, they'll remember you (and be able to contact you lot)!

7. Wear your items, if possible

Do you have a selection of super cute hats for auction? Article of clothing ane! If not possible, or if yous simply take too many unlike items to wear without looking like a walking pegboard, try to display the items in the manner they would best be worn/used. A shawl simply laying on the table won't get well-nigh as much action as it would if it were aesthetically displayed on Catherine (a.k.a. my mannequin).

eight. Packaging, packaging, packaging!

Spending a lilliputian bit of money to offering quality packaging goes a long way in the professionalism of your make. The packaging does non have to be expensive to exist effective. These trade numberless would suffice, and just between you and me, Hobby Entrance hall has the best value on tissue paper (yes, even better than the Dollar store). Also provide intendance instructions, printed out on regular paper and cutting to size (and exist sure to include your business name for marketing purposes).

Photo thanks to Christine! (love that floor pouf)

nine. Accept a mannequin, props

I bought my mannequin Catherine, (named after the second beheaded wife of Henry Viii) to use as a photograph prop for my crochet patterns listed here on Heart Hook Dwelling house. She's pretty (admitting a little shy) and she's got a great sense of sense of humor. She was also one of the to the lowest degree expensive and all-time looking mannequins I found online. I am a bargain hunter at heart, and Catherine and me are BFF'southward now.

You lot might also have several heads for brandish if you've got the space.  Here's a decently priced caput. Ha!

x. Accept credit cards!

If at all possible, accept credit cards (Square is a peachy tool) and advertise that you take them. Take up just a flake of your space to advertise a sign like mine beneath. I whipped this up using Canva, a free online photograph editing tool. I added some of my nigh pop designs to draw people in. Create ane yourself to convey that non simply do you take cash and credit cards, but you accept other colors bachelor besides.

Tip: Store a tote under your table containing various colors of yarn. If someone loves that hat but wants it in purple instead of blue, y'all tin can offering to have information technology set up for them in an hour (depending on how quickly yous crochet, of grade).

11. Create a photo book of your prior piece of work

When presenting at a craft fair, yous only take a limited infinite bachelor to you lot. Why not create a hard encompass photo book from Shutterfly, Snapfish, Walgreens or CVS showcasing items you have made in the past, but may not have on hand today? Pack that book total of the blankets y'all've made, any amigurumi (blimp animals) you've crocheted, use it to showcase the dissimilar stitches you know and/or colors y'all have available. Go along it open up to the page with your most popular design(s).

12. Offering a free gift with $__ purchase

If yous've got lots of little dishcloths or rings for kids, consider placing several in a special handbasket labeled "free gift with $50+ purchase". You prepare the amount required, but if someone is spending $40 or $45, they might only option upward another $10 item if only to get the freebie.

You could also spin this a little differently and offer a spin wheel for small prizes besides. See what I did there?

13. Mingle!

By mingling I don't necessarily hateful with your customers. Sure, y'all want to mingle with them too, only if you take the fourth dimension to get to know your neighbors (I hope they're cool 😉 ) you might get information about other upcoming arts and crafts shows, item placement tips and tips on pricing etc.  Also, you take note of each other's inventory.  They can send people your fashion and you can ship people theirs!

fourteen. Do not overcrowd

As I said above, this is not an episode of Hoarders. Don't put all of your items out (unless yous don't have a ton) instead replenish them as they are sold.

fifteen. Pay attention!

I feel like this should not have to be said, but here goes. One of the reasons I like to stand up and crochet during a craft fair is considering information technology keeps me from browsing on my phone. Zip is worse than ignoring your prospective customers or looking bored. If you are up and moving, working, crocheting etc information technology shows that you lot are attentive and open up for business.

16. Donate what doesn't sell

You could salvage whatsoever unsold items for a futurity craft off-white, or you could donate them to a worthwhile charity equally well. If you lot do donate, make sure y'all get a receipt for taxation purposes!

17. Brainwash

If you have someone with you lot at the table (your older children, a friend etc) make sure they have, in the very least, basic answers to any questions that may ascend. Color choices, intendance instructions, unlike sizes etc. This way if yous step away for a restroom suspension (which y'all should endeavor to do at off-times) they will have those answers.

Non craft related, but my latest fair, a financial wellness fair at a credit marriage in Wichita, Kansas.

18. Don't focus on the sales

Sure, we are all hither to make money, just try not to focus on the sales. Focus instead on having fun, meeting new people and learning from the experience.

One matter mentioned by Dianna in the Centre Hook Habitation Crochet Customs really struck me: having a booth at a craft fair is a lot like going hunting or fishing. Y'all spend coin on supplies (entry fees) and you lot spend all solar day trying to catch a cadet (or make a buck). Even if you lot come home empty handed, y'all have gained knowledge, experience and you'll be more prepared going in side by side time.  What a slap-up reminder!

What do you do differently at a craft fair, if anything? Exercise yous have any tips I missed? Allow u.s.a. know in the comments and then we too can leave our next craft fair feeling like a dominate!

More craft tip and tricks:

10 Photography Tips for Selling Handmade Crafts Online
How to Create Planned Yarn Color Transitions in Crochet
How to Size Crochet Beanies + Master Beanie Design
Felting Tutorial: How to Felt Wool (with or without a washing automobile)
How to Make Cat Toys Using Yarn and Felting
Creative Ways to Use Yarn Ends (Instead of Tossing Them Out)

Source: https://hearthookhome.com/beginners-craft-fair-tips-how-to-run-a-successful-craft-show-booth/

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