Crafts
Fairs Made Easier
Success
Tips for Having More Enjoyable
and Profitable Craft Shows
From
all crafts fairs you exhibit at, gather a mailing list
of your customers’ names and addresses. Whenever someone makes a
purchase or inquiry, enter their name on the list. When returning to the
same city later, mail them a postcard with details of the show’s
date and if you know it, your booth location. You can also use this list
to send out announcements of special offers, limited editions, year-end
close outs and other 'valued customer' news.
More Crafts
Fairs Ideas
Increase your sales at craft shows with mobile
credit card processing.
- Build
your craft display using a pop up tent at home before you go to your
first show. Easier to work out the kinks in your display at home than
at the event. Learn more about pop
up tents here.
- Be prepared
to wrap up the sale as soon as possible. At crafts fairs, the
more time you spend with one customer, the easier it is for another
one to walk away. Have bags handy.
- You
will need a small space on a table to carry out the transactions. Keep
extra pens -- they inevitably disappear.
- Have
a receipt book. By writing a receipt for every sale, you have a record
and a copy to give to the customer. Also, legally you must give a receipt
for each sale.
- Have
a supply of brochures or flyers about you and your craft to give with
each sale or inquiry.
- Bring
extra ones, fives, and tens for making change. Keep your money in a
belt concealed under your clothing. Never show large amounts of cash
at the shows or motels you stay at when traveling. Be extra careful
when leaving the show to hide your money.
- Consider
buying a carpet remnant or rug for your booth. It looks good and gives
you and your customers some relief from concrete floors at indoor shows.
- Wear
comfortable clothing; something you have made is the best promotion
you can give your work. Also get a pair of comfortable sneakers.
- Bring
a lunch. The fewer times you leave your booth, the better chance of
making sales. If you have someone to help you, it’s easier to
take breaks.
- It helps
if a friend or spouse can assist you. Setting up the booth and handling
sales go more easily with two persons, but be careful not to impede
the flow of traffic into your selling space. At some point, you will
want to take a break; this is impractical unless you have a partner.
- Get a
toolbox to keep emergency tools and supplies like scissors, electrical
and duct tape, hammer, nails, pliers, screwdrivers, string or flexible
wire, and spare parts for fixtures or booths.
- For indoor
shows, bring long extension cords, power strips, and clamp-on lights
with bulbs. The better your lighting, the more you will sell. Most exhibit
centers do not provide adequate light for good displays.
- Flameproof
your exhibit materials such as table covers and fabric backdrops. Almost
all cities have strict regulations enforced by fire marshals inspecting
each booth.
- Make
a checklist of the above items and go over it before you leave for the
event.
- Read
up on the history of the crafts
fairs movement.
Many
of the better craft shows offer prizes or cash awards for best display
or best designer. Getting recognition is more than strokes for the ego,
it adds value to your work in the eyes of customers when you post your
awards in a visible area of your booth display.
Awards
can also afford you speaking and teaching opportunities as a recognized
professional artisan, another avenue for building demand of your work.
Besides the publicity value, award winners may receive prize money. Many
state fairs and some county fairs have juried events with large cash awards.
Prestige you get from such awards will almost guarantee you feature articles
in your local periodicals and newspapers that like to cover local events
like crafts fairs.
Find
craft fairs here
|