Arts and Craft Shows
Things You Should Know When Starting a New Business Venture
Craft shows are the lifeline of a crafts business. Everyone associates crafts with craft shows. Learn the ins and outs of how to set up your booth.
When starting a craft business, you must consider how you will sell your products. There is nothing like the excitement of setting up your table, displaying your items in a neat manner, and talking to perspective customers about what makes your crafts so unique and wonderful at an arts and craft show.
Arts and Craft Shows Advice
There are some cautions to report when doing craft shows. If you are not careful, you can find yourself “eating up” your profits during the show. For instance, you need to watch those concession stands. Bring your own lunch to a craft show, at least until you already have made a sizable profit and can treat yourself every so often. You must be a “starving” artist for a little while.
Some other profit swallowers are parking fees, table fees, and lodging fees, if you are doing an out-of-town craft show. Stick with local craft shows when starting out. You can usually find advertisements in your local papers that would suit your needs just fine. Here are some websites that may help you find some local craft shows:
- Arts and Craft Shows.net - Lists craft shows both regionally and nationally.
- How to Find Local Craft Shows - Tips on finding local craft shows in your area.
Craft shows usually cost you money for table space. But, it is well worth the investment. People come to craft shows because they like crafts! You may even find a buddy who is willing to go in half with you on the cost of a table.You will want to use your first few craft shows as a stepping stone, and you may not necessarily need an entire table to begin.
Displaying Your Table
You will want your table to look presentable and not cluttered. People don’t really want to sift through things like they do at a yard sale. In fact, most places discourage rummage or backyard items, and simply do not allow them at their craft shows. They want their craft show to be a pleasant environment without things strewn all over the place
Before a craft show, you will spend many hours putting crafts together for display. A good rule of thumb is to not make too many crafts, but have enough. Where do you find that balance? Well, it isn’t easy in the beginning, unfortunately. A new crafter may want to make 50 of one item and think they will all sell, and then 50 of another item and think they will all sell, too. But, that isn’t always the case. Don’t overwork yourself unnecessarily. Your first craft show should be a learning experience. Make a few of each of your items and see how well they sell. There are plenty more craft shows, so you don’t have to sell everything at your first one. As you go to more craft shows, you will get a good grip on how well your crafts sell and gauge for the next craft show. Be relaxed. Enjoy talking with people. Be friendly. People want to buy from crafters who seem to have experience and are outgoing.
Optimize Holiday Seasons
Craft shows are really big around the holiday seasons. You will find yourself hustling more this time of year than any other. People just eat up crafts around Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and other such holidays. Be prepared to be a bit more stressed during these times, but remember it will pass, and you will reap the rewards abundantly. Leave the dishes in the sink and ask for extra help around the house.
When planning for the holidays, it is best to start selling your Christmas-themed crafts in September-December. Sell your Easter-themed crafts in February-April, etc. People do buy ahead of time because a lot of customers budget their holidays to buy everything they need.
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