Tips For Selling At An Arts And Crafts Show?
Could anyone give me an advice for planning to sell arts or crafts at a trade show or fair?
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First off, RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH!! This is the most important step. Make sure you choose the right fair for your products. And also check to see how many people usually attend, that way you can plan your inventory accordingly.
It is imperative that your booth is appealing to your customers. You want them to be drawn to it like a moth to a flame. Set up your tables and other display items so that there is more than just one way in and one way out. Make sure you try and greet everyone that comes in. Even though the days can get long, customers will be turned off if they enter your booth and you are reading or doing something to pass the time. Decorate the space in a way that compliments, but does not distract from your products. It is best to get a table cover that goes all the way to the floor, that way you can hide backstock and other things underneath and keep your space tidy. As far as the table covers go, white is sometimes a little boring, unless you are selling silver jewelry which is a very striking combo, so go with something a little more colorful. However, you might want to stay away from black or other really dark colors because every single piece of dust or dirt will show up.
Lighting is important, and see if they will provide you with electricity. You want to make sure your items are properly lit so that people can see them from farther away and, again, be drawn into your booth. When displaying your items, find fun, decorative ways to display them and really try and maximize the space. Think about displaying vertically as well, even putting shelves on top of the tables to add another level. And when items are placed at different levels people remain interested in your displays.
Try and have bags for people to put their purchases in. A good website to order them is http://www.superiorgiftwrap.com
See if you can offer credit cards as a form of payment for your customers. You can set up a merchant account at your bank and rent a manual or electric card swiper. It really opens up the possibilities for people when they can just put it on their card! If you want to accept checks, get a license number and phone number in case they bounce.
Always have a ton of business cards or flyers for people to take with them and put one in each bag when they purchase something.
If you would like more tips, there are many websites and blogs that were extremely helpful for me, just google “Craft Fair tips” or “Craft Fair booths” for design ideas.
Good luck, and have a blast!
I am getting ready to do a show tomarrow.Display your products attractively.not just set on a table.My show is ouside so I have a tent with walls.About 10 x 10.I have two tables.One on each side.People are able to walk thru the middle.I sell embellished kids clothes(I buy plain clothing and add lace and appliques etc.I am displaying my items from a dresser, with the drawers open. On the tables are old suit cases with the clothing hanging out.The tables have nice cloth table cloths on them and fuzzy throw blankets to add to the effect.It will be a day show so I will not need light and I do not need electricity.Make a list of what you will need.Electric,permits(for food items)change for cash customers,will you take checks etc.Craft shows charge a small fee, if you have a really good item you will do well.Have businesscards and fliers to give out.