Prepare for Craft Shows
Whether you make items strictly as a hobby and want to make a little money back on your investment or you are serious about starting a craft business, craft shows and festivals provide a great way to sell your stock, get your name out to your audience and find out what sells and what doesn't (also known as market research). Getting ready for the show, however, starts well before the morning you pack your wares. Here are some steps you can take to prepare.
Instructions
1. Decide, if you haven't already, what sort of crafts you will be making for sale. In other words, don't put the cart before the horse and decide that you want to do the fair circuit without knowing what you'll be selling. Choose a craft or skill that you are good at and enjoy doing a lot of: you'll need that passion as you accumulate enough inventory for a show.
2. Subscribe to a variety of local and national craft fair newsletters and mailing lists. It's a good idea to keep in the loop of what shows are coming up. Not every show will be a good fit for your products, so don't feel overwhelmed when you see just how many fairs are out there.
3. Research the shows that are available both by location and what sort of products are carried at each. If you make beaded jewelry and 75 percent of the show is the same sort of jewelry, your competition is going to be fierce and your sales may be lower. If on the other hand, your craft is underrepresented, this may work in your favor. Still, if you take your quilted bags to a show that is all glass art and photography, you may find that you don't have the right audience to for your wares; do your research.
4. Find out what permits or licenses you need for each venue you plan to sell at. Just about every state and county has its own sales tax and business license requirements, so make sure you're legit before you show up and get a nasty surprise.
5. Inventory your stock and set your price points before you arrive. This will help you reconcile your books after the show and keep you from guessing how many of what sold. Information like this will help you prepare for future shows as long as you keep good records. Having items in low, medium and high price ranges will help you make more sales than if everything you carry is super pricey.
6. Plan your display space carefully to maximize visibility and traffic. Most fairs will give you a space 10-by-10 feet to work in. For outdoor shows you should invest in some sort of tent or canopy, though the thoughts on walls are divided--having them can protect you and your wares from wind or rain, but they also close off your space that much more and can make your space feel crowded; use your best judgment.
7. Bring tools and supplies so that you can get work done during lulls, but don't be so wrapped up in your own work that you fail to make eye contact with potential customers or seem unapproachable.
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