This past week I sold some of my products at a craft show, so I thought I would share with you some things that I have learned about craft shows and selling your products from the shows that I've done. If you are a new crafter, I hope you find some helpful information and inspiration here!
The thing about craft shows is that they can be very unpredictable. Sometimes you get a great crowd that happens to be your target audience and you do really well, and other times, even though you have a great selection of products to offer, you hardly break even and don't seem to sell much at all. I guarantee you that both cases have happened to most crafters. Don't get discouraged if one show doesn't go well, and try again! Here are some helpful tips for you...
Figure out who your target audience is. You will naturally figure this out over time, and you may even want to start making new products tailored to what this audience buys. Who is your target audience? Women? Young mothers? What age group? As you figure this out, you will want to pick to do the craft shows that will attract that certain group of people. Often the best craft shows to take part in are the ones before big holidays like Christmas, because people will be buying gifts and shopping more than usual.
Preparation is very important, it will save you time later! There are a couple of things you can do to prepare for the show beforehand, so make a checklist of everything you will need to remember, this will make everything a lot easier for you! In your checklist, include all the products you want to sell and all the supplies you want to bring to the show with you (eg. calculator, money box, packaging supplies). You should know what size table you will have at the show, so draw a plan of how you're going to lay your products out. Once you get to the show, you may be surprised at how long it takes to set your products up, and even if you end up tweaking your plan a little, you'll be happy you had one!
Appearance matters! You want your display to look professional, neat, organized and creative. Make sure that your table isn't overly cluttered with products, that each item or group of items is clearly marked and priced, your tablecloth is ironed (and the right size! It has happened to me that it was too small, and it wasn't good!), and if you are selling wearable products, have a mirror with you so that people can try things on! In order to look professional, have flyers and business cards (you can order custom ones for your business or make some!) that people can grab to remember you and your shop. Package your items in a neat and professional way - shoppers like this! And of course, don't forget to dress nicely and be friendly!
I hope this has given you some insight into doing craft shows if you've never done one. It's exciting to sell your products, and to see people happy wearing/using your products! It's also fun to go to the shows, meet other crafters and see what they make - there are so many creative people out there, but no one is exactly like you!
Happy Crafting, everyone!
