Create Craft
14 Tips for a Successful Art and Craft Show
Are you prepared to make sales at a craft fair?
We need to discover ways to market our work as potters and artists, particularly if we don’t live close to a major city with an abundance of art galleries and specialty shops. Another approach to get your product out there where people can see it, pick it up, and learn more about it is to sell at craft shows.
The majority of the craft fairs were postponed due to the 2020 pandemic. It was quite difficult to not have these places to offer our lovely goods. Many of us increased our online presence, which was fantastic. Online sales appear to be slowing down as the country starts to open up, and art and craft fairs are starting to reappear.
Now that July 2021 has arrived, it’s time to start planning your holiday shows. so begin taking stock!
I Enjoy Inside Programmes
For myself, I favour Inside Shows. I made the decision to never perform an outdoor show again after nearly losing all of my ceramics at one when a gust of wind helicoptered my weighted canopy up and over my tables several years ago.
But I say that alone. You might not reside in a windy state like I do. Additionally, I don’t have a show partner because my husband detests going with me, so I’m not looking forward to setting up the canopy tent by myself. At the beginning of the concert, when everyone is rushing to pack up and get home, someone usually jumps in and helps me set it up (a big thank you for that). However, at the conclusion of the event, there is typically no help.
A Successful Art & Craft Show: Best Practises
I’m stretching myself this year and applying to a few more significant and pricey exhibitions. I’ve made a list of everything I need to do to have a successful show in order to ensure that I do.
1. Know your audience
Find out who the show’s target audience is before committing to it. Be aware of your target market. Does it fit the intended audience for the programmes?
My own personal experience as a potter who creates artistic pottery has shown me that I do better at exhibitions focused on the visual arts. As a result, I have little interest in attending gun shows or vintage shows. My target audience is not catered to by those programmes.
Will I make any sales at these events? Probably. Actually, I set up at a gun expo and did reasonably well. The majority of my target market is female, and the ladies visit me while the guys are looking for their next weapon. I just had a day to lose because it was a tiny, regional performance.
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2. Have some way of taking credit card payments
My sales have doubled only because of this. People typically only bring a certain amount of cash. This was a phrase I frequently heard coupled with “I’m considering everything and will decide later.” If customers don’t make a purchase immediately away, they rarely return.
Since years, I have been using Square. They charge reasonable rates, and I can also track cash purchases and cheque payments in addition to credit card payments, so at the end of the day I know exactly what I sold and how much tax I collected (yes, I collect taxes).
Make certain to inform them that you take credit cards. The CC logos were printed on 5 x 7 cards, which I distributed throughout my display. Offering credit cards will increase your sales, far outweighing the tiny price you pay for this service.
3. Make your space look visually appealing and professional
People won’t care about you if your booth conveys that you don’t care.
Abandon the inexpensive plastic tablecloths. Nothing screams “I don’t take my product and business seriously” like a set of cheap plastic tablecloths.
Instead, use something robust like this tablecloth.
Get the appropriate size for your table.
The ones I purchased are nowhere to be found, but these are comparable.
They are robust and extend all the way to the floor, hiding whatever you keep under your table. To help customers view things better in my booth, I use Rocket Risers to raise my table a little bit. I have a fold-up directors chair that, when seated, brings me back to eye level to make up for the taller table.
Get a 6-foot table (or two), as you typically have a 10-foot space available. They are widely accessible, inexpensive (often under $60), and fold in half with a handle for simple transportation. Leave the plastic tablecloths and card table at home, please.
4. Use height and light to show off products.
To increase height and display my ceramics better, I purchased some wooden boxes from Michael’s for a much lower price than I could find them on Amazon. The product attracts customers when it is displayed at eye level. Add additional lighting if you can to highlight and spotlight your merchandise. These are the lights I purchased for my setup. They have a very long electrical cord and clip onto my boxes or table. In addition, I ordered a fabric banner from this Etsy seller, which I used to cover my black tablecloth. This, in my opinion, adds to the professional vibe and lets the buyer know I’m a legitimate firm.
5. Give your customers some space
When I initially began performing at events, I would arrange my booth in the shape of a horseshoe with two tables on the sides and a table in the rear so that customers could “come in and browse.”
I would either hang around in the area or in front of the booth because there was nowhere for me to sit. But guess what? They didn’t enter and look around. They passed by unnoticed.
I walked around the show as a result and quickly realised that I did not go into space in order to see anything. I felt uneasy if the vendor was seated in the area.
I did glance at things that were in my line of sight, and I only ventured farther into their store to see what else they had if something attracted my attention.
I returned to my room and rearrange some things. I lost some table space on the sides when I moved my rear table halfway up, but I was able to display more of my best-selling items and attention-getters, which led to an increase in sales. Although the setting wasn’t ideal, it was the best I could do at the time.
Every space you receive will be unique. Sometimes there won’t be any space between you and two other 10 by 10 spots. You might occasionally land a coveted corner spot—at least in my situation. You may occasionally have a tonne of room.
Just remember that your customer has to feel free to browse without feeling confined or obligated.
When I was at an art show last year, a painter artist’s booth was across from mine. She displayed some excellent and pricey paintings on easels in front of her workspace. Within the room, she set up two tables with easels and baskets of inexpensive prints. She and a buddy stayed in front of these tables for THE WHOLE TWO DAYS, preventing customers from perusing her stunning prints. What a terrible show, she exclaimed at the end. I won’t return. Her customers did not feel comfortable looking because her entire booth appeared unattended to and unprofessional. I had the best show I’ve ever had while sitting directly across from her.
6. Meet the other Vendors
I usually enjoy taking a stroll around to check out what everyone is offering and how their booths are set up. A little investigation is necessary! Learn as much as you can about your neighbours! They are helpful when you need to use the loo, eat or get extra change (since the initial customer paid with a $100 bill). Remember!).
Vendors are also consumers! I don’t believe I’ve ever participated in a show when other sellers didn’t buy something from me. I frequently buy from handmade vendors since I love to support them!
7. Make sure there are prices on everything
One of the first things a passerby does after picking up something from your table and inspecting it is to search for the pricing. Because THEY WON’T ASK most of the time, make sure it’s simple to find. I use detachable dots for my pottery, but you can use whatever works for your particular product.
8. Don’t put everything out at once and crowd your table
Too many products make your small room appear busy and confuse customers. The buyer becomes overwhelmed by choices. So that there is less choice, set one or two pieces of like things out and replace them when they sell. I’ve seen this work, albeit it feels counterproductive and it’s difficult to choose which pieces to publish. Less products on display also creates a sense of urgency in the buyer. Get it today before it disappears.
9. Bags and Tissue for your artworks trip home
Don’t forget to provide the customer with a container to take your products home in. Likewise, I’m not referring to repurposed Walmart bags (remember the aforementioned advice to “be professional”). Bulk bags are reasonably priced and easily available. I get bags and tissue at Store Supply Warehouse, but Amazon also offers some excellent bargains.
10. Business Cards are a MUST
I’ll say it again: BUSINESS CARDS ARE REQUIRED. Place them anywhere on your table where they are easily accessible so that the client may serve themselves. A buyer might not be prepared to buy from you right away, but they still need a means to find you later. I have a lovely image of a few of my artistic mugs on my business card to help people remember me and my goods in the future. I also have the URLs to my Facebook and Instagram accounts, as well as my website and Etsy store addresses. Give them a simple way to find you later.
11. Stay Positive
Occasionally, shows drag on. The absence of the spectators may be caused by poor weather or another event taking place nearby.
It can be demoralising to sit still for extended periods of time, yet it does happen. Not every production is a great hit. However, there will be individuals there who can sense your energy, so remain upbeat and cheerful while handing out business cards, gathering email addresses, and mingling with your vendor neighbours. You are venturing out and gathering knowledge.
12. Promote the Show
Promote your attendance at the show well in advance of the performance date. Invite others to visit you. Promote other merchants so that customers are aware of the availability of additional cool goods. Add it to the website calendar, advertise it on social media, and send a mass email to your contact list.
13. Have an Email Signup list
Email is still very much alive. Far from it, in fact. You own your email list, so you can use it to contact your customers at any time.
Start gathering email addresses and names. Send them an email at least once a month because they want to hear from you. “Out of sight, out of mind” is a saying I frequently use. The occasional appearance of your email in their inbox will serve to remind them of you and your offering. I utilise Mailchimp personally. Up to 2000 emails are free, and it’s really simple.
14. Most importantly, Have Fun with it.
Shows may be both entertaining and lucrative. If you’re just getting started, keep these suggestions in mind and incorporate them gradually. Case future exhibitions are examined to determine their management style and vendor calibre. To ensure that you have adequate product manufactured, space them out appropriately.
Please feel free to remark on anything that has or hasn’t worked for you. Since we are all on the same boat, we can all benefit from one another.