Not Another Arts and Crafts Show?

Not ANOTHER Craft Show?
Craft Shows… So much fun to walk and gawk but work you say? No… Never! Although it may seem like a thorn prickling your creative side, Craft Shows are 100% beneficial and a great outlet for passing out business cards and putting your crafty little name out there.
You will need to find a Craft Show that is right for you. I have several questions handy when trying to locate the perfect Craft Show for my niche and personality:
1.) How big is the show? How many people did they have attend at previous shows?
2.) What are their entry fees? Do they have a flat fee for your booth or do you have to pay a percentage of sold items?
3.) How do they promote the art show?
4.) How many vendors do they usually have and how many are selling similar items to yours?
5.) Will your product blend in? Does it feel right? Follow your gut instinct.
Once you determine if this is the craft show for you then you will need to come up with a plan for how to set up your booth and how to display your craft items. I usually define my space with display boards. You can decorate these as you wish while outlining the areas of your booth.
Make sure your space is easily accessible to your customers and that they are free to move about in a comfortable position. Avoid overcrowding, this will make your customers feel tense and not want to stay and linger. I prefer a “Y” shaped design with my tables, although a “U” or “L’ shaped design would work as well. Don’t place too many items on your tables, you don’t want your customers overwhelmed and just give up and leave.
When placing your items on your tables for display, place them in a way that your customers can visualize the product as if it was in use. For example, light your candles and place them in a beautiful arrangement. If you are selling a vase, place flowers inside. If you are selling jewelry, invest in jewelry display busts, writs, etc. If it’s clothing, invest in a mannequin. If you are displaying baskets, place beautiful fruits or practical items such as magazines. Work with levels, everything lying flat can appear boring or drab. Make sure your table cloths are in colors that compliment your items and not drown them out, making visualization difficult.
Last, but not least, offer sale promotions. Sales such as buy 1, get 1 free. Pair like items for 2 for 2 specials. Offer coupons if customers purchase to keep them coming back. Always include your business card so that customers are able to become repeat customers with ease.
With a little hard work and some creative juices flowing, you can really have a successful craft show experience and gain a tremendous amount of exposure for your special products!