The Spot Articles: Preparing for Craft Shows

Preparing for Craft Shows

By: Doll5272

Being prepared is the key to your success; you will need to be prepared with plenty of supplies, money, clothing, items to sell and more. Let’s talk a little bit about arriving on time. Be sure as a vendor that you leave yourself plenty of time to set up your booth before the actual show opens, as with anything you do there is bound to be problems you didn’t expect and you need to allot for those problems in the time you set aside.

Being Comfortable and Busy:

With any craft show there are going to be times when there is NO sales, and little traffic. By being prepared to keep busy during these times will make the craft show a lot more comfortable and enjoyable. Ideas for keeping yourself busy is bring a notebook and pencil to jot down notes of crafts you may see that you would want to consider making yourself, bring a crossword puzzle, or knitting or stitchery item to work on, bring your laptop and catch up on invoices and pending orders. It is not recommended bringing a book as it may appear to customers that you are too enthralled in your book to be of help to them. Next, you will want to dress comfortably. As with any craft show you need to plan ahead for a cool times during the craft show and warmer times when you are busy. Dress appropriately, and if you are doing an outdoor craft show you may want to include rain coat in case of inclement weather.

Making a Checklist:
• It is best to make a checklist several days before your craft fair to insure that you have not forgotten anything at home. Here are just a few examples of things you may want to include: Display Equipment, Lighting, Set Up Items, Coverings
• Promotional Materials such as fliers, business cards
• Sale Items EX. Invoices, cash box, calculator
• Office Supply items, pens, paper, scissors, tape
• Wrapping Supplies, EX bags, tissue paper, boxes
• Personal items-Food and drink for yourself, comfortable clothing, material for slow times, cell phone,
• Drop cloth for when you close your booth for overnight to keep cleaning chemicals and dust off your items
• Paperweight if you are doing an outdoor show so you invoices won’t fly away.
• Comfortable shoes, you may want to bring two pairs in case one pair is not as comfortable as you first thought.
• Free samples of your products stapled to your business cards as a selling aide
• Tools you may need for setting up your booth or tearing down your booth.
• Comfortable chair and booth signs
• Pack a lunch and snack in a cooler so you do not have to leave your booth to eat during the day.
• Mailing List Sign Up Sheet
• Waste Basket for trash

Article by:

Article by Angela Wenke owner of Heartland Marketplace. www.heartlandmarketplace.org. Heartland Marketplace is an online craft marketplace offering affordable advertising options for crafters and primitive crafters. Primitive Times Magazine is a FREE online Craft Magazine www.primitivetimesmagazine.com

Article Source: www.ladypens.com