Create Craft
- 5 Things Craft Show Shoppers Shouldn’t See
Even though craft events can have a more relaxed atmosphere, you still want to maintain a professional air and accurately reflect your business. Your sales will increase if you do this.
I figured you could benefit from my sharing some of my blunders and lessons learned from dealing with thousands of craft show shoppers after attending over ten years of crafting events.
DON’TS: What Craft Show Shoppers Shouldn’t See
A list of the 5 things craft fair attendees shouldn’t see is followed by a list of the 5 things they should view.
1 – Items they could ask another vendor to make
When I first started selling my purses at craft fairs, I had a pretty wide variety—no two purses were same.
I made purses, but I wasn’t exactly able to categorise them. There was a little bit of everything, and on a few occasions, I noticed other vendors selling purses at an event that were either made of the exact same fabric as mine or had comparable shapes and styles.
Nobody was copying; it was just that I didn’t make an effort to come up with something that would really make my purses stand out.
Although I made attractive totes, shoulder bags, and coin purses, nobody sought me out particularly for what I did differently.
(This is one of the errors made by Etsy shops with the lowest sales. (Learn about the other four significant errors that destroy sales here.)
Shoppers at craft fairs would buy if they discovered something they liked, but I didn’t get many repeat customers or a deluge of letters after an event from people saying me they had to have one of my purses after seeing one at the fair and having thought about it for some time.
However, I did observe that kind of reaction when I mentioned my weekend bag. It stuck out to craft fair attendees as being radically different from what other merchants on the local circuit were offering. They would have a difficult time obtaining something comparable elsewhere if they didn’t purchase from me that day or take a business card to contact me after the exhibition.
It’s simple for customers to choose another vendor or forget about your company once they leave the craft fair if your products don’t have something truly distinctive about them, you’re not developing a signature style (here’s how), or you’re not providing them with a distinctive experience.
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2 – Everything you can make
Conveniently, I would always get my “best” product ideas the day before a craft show, which would keep me up till two in the morning doing “just one more.”
I once thought:
The greater the variety of things I offer, the more probable it is that a customer will locate and purchase something they enjoy.
Offering a large range of items is not only tiring, but it also dilutes your expertise, brand, and message.
Let’s say you decide to get a haircut while you’re at the mall. There are two salons from which to pick. The cost is the same for both, however
- Men, women, and kids’ hair are all cut at the same salon, and you see a number of looks leaving that you would never wear, a few that you don’t mind, and a few that you really enjoy.
- The other salon focuses on haircuts for your gender, and most of the individuals you see leaving have gorgeous haircuts and their hair is styled exactly how you want it.
Which beauty parlour would you pick?
the one that caters to everyone but falls short in terms of your preferences? Or perhaps the one that appears to be tailored to you?
By keeping your product selection small, you can demonstrate to them what you are truly excellent at producing, what your passion is, and why they should purchase from you.
A craft show exhibit with too many different items also begins to appear chaotic and disorganised. Your display will look and feel more unified if you stick to 3 to 5 different types of products, colours, textures, etc.
3 – Display fixtures borrowed from your living room
Don’t put together a display the way I did for my first few craft fairs by emptying out baskets, picture frames, and your dining room table’s cover. Shoppers at craft shows won’t get a strong or clear message from it.
Although an embroidery hoop and a scrap of cloth are simple props to find around the house, they don’t look professional, tell a story, or promote a company. If the vendor was selling embroidered earrings, the prop might be effective.
It’s doubtful that your household things will double as both home décor and display fixtures unless your home is designed in the same colours and manner as your brand.
Make a trip to the dollar or thrift store and look for some items that all have the same style or that you can re-paint, re-cover, or otherwise re-purpose to create a coherent display. You don’t have to go out and spend hundreds of dollars on craft show display props.
Putting various pieces together is not only a nuisance, but it also doesn’t make for a particularly attractive presentation.
I found it far more convenient to have all of my craft show props stashed away in a bin so I knew where everything was and could easily throw the bin in my trunk without having to ransack my house after an arduous craft show since I dreaded having to put my living room back together.
In DO #3 below, we address choosing the correct look for your craft fair booth, including your brand, and making sure your display fixtures don’t detract from the value of your goods.
4 – A display with no story
Here are some things I made, it read on the table I set up for my first craft fair.Moreover, there are other pictures that my companion snapped from the opposite side of the table.
My second stand at the craft fair went in a different route and said, “Here are some purses I made.”Oh, and a few pictures that my friend snapped towards the end.
I was displaying the purses I sell to the public. I did nothing, however, to assist them in envisioning how or where they might use one of my handbags.
- Whom were my purses intended for?
- Which fashion sense did she possess?
- Where would I carry my purses?
- What clothing would they go with?
- How would someone feel carrying one of my handbags?
I was completely clueless. All I wanted was for someone, anyone, to buy my handbags. My craft exhibition presentation was a failure as a result.
You may create a tale that encourages increased sales by participating in our 5-day, FREE email challenge: A STANDOUT DISPLAY IN 5 DAYS.
5 – A vendor who doesn’t know what to say
Absent any bias. My first few craft events were spent amiably saying “hi” and nervously observing customers browse. Customers at craft shows probably didn’t like it, and my sales figures most certainly weren’t appreciative of my efforts (or lack thereof).
By selling your art, you are not bothering anyone.
“Hey! Visit us here! Have you heard about my amazing handbags? No?! Let me now explain why you must leave this place with one today. might irritate some. But I’m confident that you don’t intend to develop into that kind of seller.
- Telling people about product features they can see for themselves (e.g. it’s 8″ x 10″, made with a green plaid material, etc.), is not helpful.
- Watching people shop and saying nothing while they’re at your table is awkward.
- Looking at your phone or talking to other vendors while they shop is a little rude.
You must identify the qualities that matter to individuals and tell your tale.
Because handcrafted items are authentic, people prefer to purchase them. They are not purchasing products that are one of a million or that are produced as quickly and cheaply as possible in a factory.
Give craft fair attendees a memorable experience, teach them something new, and leave them with a tale they can share with others to make themselves seem more intriguing just by meeting you.