Craft Show Tips

FEBRUARY 8, 2015

A critical  aspect of successful sales at a craft show is the design and lay out your booth. Don’t think all you need to do is set up a couple of tables, put your craft item on top, and then sit back and wait FOR the same, The design and display of your products can literally make the difference between excellent and low sales.

With  many shows on the horizon there are a couple, NO, there is a lot to think about and prepare for.  Spring and summer seems to be the start of many show and you want to have a knock them dead display that is also easy to transport to each show.  Neatness is a huge factor in a customer’s perception of your booth. Tables should have skirts hanging to the ground so extra stock or other untidy items can be hidden away.  Keep boxes, hand trucks, electric cords, half-eaten sandwiches, and other stuff out of sight. No one likes to shop around our stuff.

Crowding is another factor. When shelves or tabletops are crammed so full that customers can’t take it all in at once, this can intimidate them because often customers don’t like to “linger” in a booth unless they see an item they like. However, there is a balance to this— booths that have only a few sample products on display may seem stingy. Keep your displays full but not crammed.

Do whatever it takes to make your booth warm and welcoming—not cold and hostile. Look around at other booths and see what appeals to you and what doesn't

. Something that turns you off will likely turn off others as well.

Consider cozy or inviting touches. I recall one indoor craft booth in which the seller had brought a small carpet, a floor lamp and a rocking chair for the vendor to sit in, which instantly transformed her booth into an inviting living room. Very clever!   

It’s difficult to discuss displays because every product is different. Some items, such as jewelry, need to be behind glass with bright lights shining on them. Some items need to be dangled from above. Some items need to be displayed on flat tabletops.

But in every case, the key ingredient is visibility. It may seem obvious, but if the customer doesn't see the product, and see it quickly, then it doesn't exist.

Consider the power of a vertical display. Items displayed where the eye can sweep over them at a glance—and see the entire selection—are far more likely to result in higher sales. If you can hang a sampling of your product so they spin and twirl and catch the eye, then do so. Moving parts always get attention.

This leads us to inventory.  Keep your tables and shelves full!  It's natural to be drawn to full shelves and displays. The customer wants to see it all, but half empty shelves will not impress your customes, they will glance and walk off.  Empty shelves to a customer gives the impression that there is a poor or no selection.

If you have small products to sell, to make the selection look large, use smaller containers.  If you watch a farmers market, as the produce is sold farmers will put the produce into smaller baskets giving the illusion of lots.

Booth layout and customer behavior is something that we learn from each show and with experience. Look at other booths and see what catches your eye.  This is something that that we get better at from each show we do.

:)  Tammy

FEBRUARY 1, 2015

YAY!  You have signed up for a craft show! Time to prepare for the big event. Now the real craziness begins.

ADVERTISE! ADVERTISE! ADVERTISE!

There are three reasons to start now telling the world your exciting news!  

* Word of mouth, start telling everyone you know that you are doing a craft show.  If you are doing more than one craft show, tell everyone at your shows that they need to come see you at all your craft shows.  Make a flyer of your business and post your upcoming dates of all the shows you have scheduled.  This will guarantee you a following and will show the world that you are in business!

At your craft shows be sure to also tell other vendors of the shows you are in.  Why not encourage them to sign up for the shows you are in.  This will also guarantee a larger following and more audience. 

Ask the event coordinator for their business cards so that you can share them at your show.  I know I have tons made for this reason and will hand them out to my participants to pass around.  

Everyone I know is always looking for a new show to attend.

 *BLOG - FACEBOOK -YOUTUBE if you use any of these social medias.  These three are all great ways to get the word out.  Create an event on facebook and invite your whole contact list.  Blog everyday about the creations you are making for your boutiques and shows.  I know that I share my flyers and digital images of the shows with my vendors so that they can place them on their own pages.  Do videos of all the fun things you are creating and let everyone know your show schedule.

* Be supportive of your fellow vendors. Tell them what you do and make, show a genuine interest in their product, ask for their cards and share yours as well.  Then when you run in to someone looking for a particular product or item you can send them to your fellow vendors.

With these tips you are sure to get the word out and started.  Nothing better than a business owner excited about their products. That is where I am leading with my next topic!  

YOU ARE A BUSINESS OWNER!

As the sign employs, you are not just a crafter, stay at home person!  You are crafting, creating or in direct sales.  You own and are striving to do what you love while staying at home if possible!  It is not easy, as a crafter myself,  I find days were I have been working on items to sale for over 12 hours!  Yes, I hide in my woman cave and have the best job in the world!  I remind myself of that everyday.  But it is work!  We put a lot of our time that is not reimbursed into our work.  But we love it and want to make a living doing it. So make it work for you! 

I have found that most small business like ours do not succeed because they were not treated as business, but as hobbies, or just crafts.  Family members or friends may not have taken you seriously and therefore you gave up!  DO NOT GIVE UP put on those working boots and show them all what you are made of.

I went from crafting scrapbook albums as a hobby to a full time job and owning a scrapbook store on line.  It was and is still hard work.  Part of the hard work is the boutiques, think of doing boutiques and shows as your store front.  There is always going to be overhead with any business, rent, advertising, fees, etc.  That is why I never consider a craft show bad! Even if it is a slow one, all it takes is that one customer and their word of mouth to get your ball rolling.

Schedule out time everyday to do work on your business. I go to my facebook page where I have one of my stores, my Etsy shop and my online store and update, make a comment, or add a new product everyday to bring attention to my shop.  After a while your regular followers will look forwarded to your daily posts. You are investing time into your company.

Whether you are just starting out, or preparing for your show.  I hope these tips are helping. 

With the excitement of the craft show and exhaustion of all your hard work and projects you should be over excited to start your next show.  Keep your eyes and ears open for the next event and I will see you in the next blog post

Tammy

January 18, 2015

Have you been preparing for an upcoming show and feel that you have too much inventory.  That is a feeling that I a can not wait to get to!!  I know that some of my friends think I am crazy to be working like a mad crafter when the show is still 4 months away. But what I have learned is that I need to have much more inventory than I think I will need.  If I have leftover product I will just list it in my Etsy shop and Website.  With it being early in the year, I am also assured of inventory for the fall shows.

Also having a lot of inventory will help to keep my table looking full. Now one wants to shop a table that looks empty or full of leftovers.  Would I shop a table that looks ransacked and rundown!  NO.  That is also why I like manning my own table, I am able to restock as needed.  Were as shows that have central checkouts make it difficult sometimes to see those missing holes in your booth.

Most people go to craft shows to buy things.  They don't want to place an order because I have ran out.  They want to take my product home with them on the spot.  So stay stocked to make a good impression and inspire impulse purchases.

So I try to have much more inventory than I think I will need.  After you participate in a few shown you'll find the right inventory number for you.  However, keep in mind that each show is different and we can not predict how much or little product you should make.

Have an inventory sheet to keep track of what you took to the show to sell.  If you don't use some kind of receipt book, you should, this will make it easier to add up what you sold and cross check it to your inventory sheet.  After all, you wouldn't leave a store without a receipt, that is how they keep track of sales.  Have your inventory completed at least 4 days before a show to have time to do all your admin tasks like pricing, labeling, signage, inventory count, etc.

You will be surprised at how many loose ends you will have to tie up. Having product competed and priced ahead of time will you from acting like a mad man the night before a show and having your family lock you out of the house!!  Plus you will get a good nights sleep and be ready to tackle the decorating of your booth the next day!  

Here is a little formula that I like to use :   Try to double for a one day show and triple if it is two or more days, remember, vendors love to buy from vendors,

* For 30 vendors I like to have 60 to 90 pieces to sell.  This includes my small things like cards, candy, all the little extras, since I make albums, that would be a lot of albums so I always include other crafts in that number.

* For 60 vendors, this is where the number grows, I like to have 150 -180 items to sell, now remember for a two day show, I would probably double that. 

I know this sounds like a lot of items, this is why I like to have 3-4 months before a show.  

Remember acting like a mad man!   Been there, learned my lesson and even when I am tempted to jump right in on the next show, I kick myself, and remember that family relations are much more important!!  LOL

Now that things are settling down a bit, I will be able to keep up on a more constant schedule with my blog. I hope these tips are helping and feel free to leave any tips that you may have in the comments.  We are all here to help each other succeed.  

Next time I will talk more about Vendors selling similar products.   See you next time!

Tammy  :)

January 4, 2015

Preparing for your Craft Show

You've made the commitment to do booth at a local craft fair.   The best time to commit is 4-5 months before the show, unless you have a good stock of inventory.  As a handcrafter myself and organizer of boutiques I find the more inventory on hand the better the sales.

1-You can never have too much inventory.  What did not sale can be carried over to your next event or this may be the time to look into your own Etsy store.
2- If you are running short on inventory but get into a boutique late in the game, have plenty of fillers for you table and advertise that you do special orders.  Getting your name out there is just as important as selling you items.
3- Talk to other vendors,  if you admire a table ask if you can take pictures of their set up, or better yet ask for advice.  You will find that most vendors are more than happy to share their experiences.

Once I commit to doing a show,  I start to prepare.  Make a list of the items you would like to sale and a time frame to get the items completed.  Go down your list only working on the item first on your list.  I tend to want to try to do everything at once so a list keeps me on track.

Spend some time researching booth displays,  there are plenty of them on Pinterest.  All this research will help you figure out exactly how you want your booth to look and will give you time to plan and prepare what you will need for your booth.

When working on your crafts, treat it like a business!  For tax purposes I write down in my planner the start time and end time, just like a time card daily.   This way you feel that you are running your own business and family should treat this time as your job!  What a fun job to have being able to craft and prepare for a show!    

Now is the time to prepare.   I have a big show coming up May 8th and 9th.  I have already started on my projects.  I have a list of every item and how many of each I think I will need. I take time everyday to work on these items.  After all it is what brings in the extra money.   My fall craft show brought in enough to buy a new floor in our familyroom and provided me with orders up to Christmas and after!   Just getting the word out about your work is so valuable. 

Tammy


Happy New Year!  Welcome to 2015!

To start the New Year off we have been having a discussion on Facebook about taxes.  I thought this would be a great topic to share in the Craft Show Tips.   There are more benefits to going to craft shows other than selling our products and making money.  There are a lot of tax ride offs that you can take advantage of.
I recommend

Lower Your Taxes - BIG TIME! 2015 Edition: Wealth Building, Tax Reduction Secrets from an IRS Insider (Lower Your Taxes-Big Time)[Kindle Edition]

Sandy Botkin (Author)

This is a must read to make the most out of your business.

December 29, 2014

Once you have signed up for a craft show you maybe asking yourself? What did I do!  You may get a little excited and scared at the same time!  After all to sell your product you are having to pay someone.  You want to have as much product made and available as possible.
I have learned that being in a craft show should be treat like planning a wedding,  Four to five months is enough time to increase your inventory, have signs made and displays you want for your table.
So where do you begin?
Well, if you are doing handmade, it is important to have a name that people will associate your business with.
In order to be crafty, it takes a bit of creativity. So craft business names should be creative, here is a few more tips to help out with picking through craft business names:

* Use puns, puns are fun in a business name and can be catchy enough to remember.
* Use rhymes, rhymes are also fun and easy to remember. Using a rhyme with  help it stick.
* Use your specialty.  If you do a specific type of craft, such as sewing, use this as a way to collect name ideas, and to let people know on the front end just what you do!
* Use your name. Artists should be known by name and so should good business owners, don't be shy to use your name to help name your business.

Here is a chart shared with me from another creative crafter.Just sit down and start writing out names and ideas until you come up with one you just love.

Here is our list of 50 craft business names that came to mind:

Just Craftin' Around	Anything Goes Crafts
Out of the Box Crafts	iCandy Crafts
Craft n' Creations	Knotty Knitters
Handy Mandy	Blue Ribbon Crafters
Dreamy Designs	TwoCan Craft
Craftastic	Sunnyside Keepsakes
Hot Hands Crafts	CraftWorks
Happy Crafts	The Scrap Shop
Crafts Unthreaded	Kiddy Krafts
That's Sew Crafty!	Crafterina
Dreamation Designs	The Craft House
Cute as a Button Crafts	Simply Chic Crafts
Craft Machine	Little Rosebud Crafts
Krissy's Kraft House	Smart Art Crafts
Clip n' Snip Crafts	The Art Box
Buttons and Bows	A New Angle Crafters
The Kraft Lady	Craft Angels
Lovely Lady Crafts	Heavenly Handmade
All Tied Up Crafts	Greenlight Creations
Let's Get Craftin'	Craft Tree
Dyed in Heaven Crafts	Treehouse Crafts
Crazy Crafty Chicks	Curly Q's Creations
The Creative Crafter	Susy Q's Crochet
Artsy Fartsy Crafts	LeftBrain Creations
MetalEdge Crafts	Junk Drawer Artisan

Once the list is eventually down to the one, you’ll be able to move onto everything else you need to do to start your business. In the mean time, you can always get a head start on making what you’ll be selling; perhaps you’ll find your inspiration in your creation!

For crafters looking to sell their goods, the idea of breaking into craft fairs may be both exciting and nerve-wracking. There’s the cost of raw materials, the cost of gas, the cost of booth space and of course pressure from online craft sites like Etsy. With all these costs even seasoned craft fair vendors have been asking – “is it still worth it to show at craft fairs?”

A recent survey from Independent Retail: We recently surveyed 20 craft fair vendors and the answer was a definite YES… And most of them reported that their sales at craft fairs have increased their profits at least somewhat.

However, these sales don’t come merely from showing up — you have to know how to draw people into your booth, engage with them and then close the sale. Advice from successful vendors fell into the following 6 categories:

1. Make sure you’re selling what customers want
2. Be willing to learn from mistakes
3. Prepare in advance
4. Know how to draw people into your booth
5. Know how to engage people once they’re in your booth
6. Know how to close the sale

Here are some tips from experienced crafters in each of these areas.1) Make sure you’re selling what customers want.

• Make sure the products you have are in line with the demographics of the particular fair you’re considering. “Don’t sell at a family art fair when all you have to offer are hemp soaps shaped like pot leaves,” recommends Random Girl of It’s On Random.
• Offer a unique product. “Be innovative. Try not to produce run-of-the-mill stuff.
• Pay attention to what draws you in when you attend craft shows. Then see if you can incorporate those things into your own display.
• Understand the benefits of customers seeing your product in person. People are drawn in when “they see a product in person versus a photo online [because] they see the size, vivid colors and its quality.

2) Be Willing to Learn from Mistakes

• Learn by trial and error. “Try new things to see if they works. When they don’t, try something else. Keep on trying and changing! No two fairs are the same.”
• Listen to your customers. Improve your products based on the feedback you receive

3) Prepare in advance.

• Get the word out through social media or an email list. Make sure customers know where and when to find you.
• “Make your booth memorable and easy to describe, A lot of sales come from people who see what others have bought your items at that fair.”
• Know your profit margin. “Expenses like fuel and the costs of goods and raw materials have increased,  If you’re undercharging, you lose out. “A lot of vendors I used to see on the circuit have gone out of business,” she says.

4) Know how to draw people into your booth.

• Be friendly and approachable. “One must be friendly, smile and acknowledge everyone who shows even a slight interest in their product. In fact, say hi to everyone who walks by.”
• Make your booth uncluttered, well-lit, and easy to explore. Make the display inviting!
• Have a niche. If you’re the only one offering a particular type of product, people will be more likely to stop.
• Put up signs. “I used to go to art fairs and not put up signs because I thought it was kind of silly, but with the right sign comes the right customers,” says Random Girl. “You need your pretty signs, people, and they need to be worded right too.”

5) Know how to engage people once they’re in your booth.

• Carry items in a variety of price ranges. 
• Offer a container customers can look through. “People always like to shuffle through stuff!” 
• Display prices. Some potential customers are scared away when they have to ask about pricing — either they assume it’s more than they can afford, or they think it displays greater commitment to buying than they’re comfortable with.
• Don’t be pushy or overshare with potential customers. “They don’t want your personal history,” 

6) Know how to close the sale.

• Consider offering deals or being open to bargaining. People are more likely to buy multiple items if they get a discount.
• Offer choice. “It doesn’t matter if an item is what they’ve wanted all their lives — if they don’t have choices, they won’t buy.
• Get people excited about your products. “Be excited about what you display, how it works and why a consumer needs it.
• Offer on-site customizations or personalizations of your products. Everyone wants to own a one-of-a-kind item made to their specifications.
• Get a credit card reader. Getting a credit card reader for your phone will help increase sales. Make it as easy as possible for customers to give you their money!
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Lastly, don’t be discouraged if your crafts aren’t a big hit at your first fair. “I have learned that it takes a lot of dedication, time and hard work to make a profit out of doing what you love. Keep at it and you’ll likely discover that yes, the right craft fairs catering to the right customers for you are definitely worth your time.

This will give everyone a little more insight to craft shows, sometimes it not all about the sale, it is about getting word out that you are selling. I only had two sales at the last show, but I got 7 orders!!! The customers were looking for different themed albums for next year and put in their orders. The important thing for me as a vendor is that I am not lining someonelses pocket at my expense! When you see a craft show that is charging over 120.00 for a 2 day event, you can guarantee they are lining their pockets! Don't let them tell you they are not!