Want to sell at craft shows, etc...where to start?
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Original Post
Im hearing alot of craft shows and trade shows being good places to sell your crafts. Where do I start? How do I find these places?
Posted at 11:16pm Aug 24, 2009 EDT
Responses
I Love doing Craft Fairs!! You get to meet some great people and your product is really out there! I would start by looking in your Local area where you live.
There is also festivalnet.com/ and www.craftlister.com/ they both show you coming up events!
There is also this List I wrote a While ago with some help from fellow etsians:
1.A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
2.Address book
3.Apron with pockets
4.Banner Bed Risers (It Will make your Table stand out!)
5.Business cards (with your Etsy shop link)
6.Baby Wipes for your hands
7.Brochures
8.Calculator
9.Camera-Cell phone-Laptop
10.Canopy Rope (for overnight)
11.Cash Box
12.Chair(s)
13.Change (dollars and coins)
14.Change of Clothes (You never know , Especially if you're outdoors).
15.Credit card supplies
16.Cleaning Supplies
17.Coupons
18.Comfy Chair
19.Comfy Shoes
20.Business License
21.Display cover
22.Dolly
23.Duct Tape
24.Extension cord
25.Extra Price Tags
26.First Aid Kit
27.Freebies
28.Friend
29.Gift wrap Supplies
30.Hammer (for tent stakes)
31.Hand Sanitizer(This is a MUST for me! I'm really paranoid about Washing my Hands Lol).
32.Hole Punch
33.Jewelry Display Items
34.Lamps (lighting)
35.Mirror(s)
36.Money Holder (There are lots of Cute Aprons out there!)
37.Notebook (notes/custom orders)
38.Packaging (tissue paper, boxes, bags, ribbon, bows)
39.Pain Medication (Advil, Tylenol)
40.Paper Clips
41.Paper Towels
42.Pencil
43.Pens
44.Project to work on
45.Resale Certificate
46.Rope
50.Safety Pins
51.Scissors
52.Sharpie
53.Shopping Bags/Bowls/Trays
54.Signage (custom orders/credit cards/sign mailing list/description of items; processes)55.Snacks
56.Stapler
57.Set up a practice display and Take Pictures of it (The Night before) So when is set up time you can look at your pictures and go from there.
58.T-Pins
59.Table
60.Table Coverings (Bed Sheets are great! Make sure it goes all the way to the Ground.)61.Trash Bags
62.Tape
63.Tape Measure (great for custom orders!)
64.Tax ID
65.Tent
66.Tent Stakes
67.Tools (for repairs/work on projects)
68.Water (Plenty of It!)
69.Weights for tent
70.Windex
Here is a link with another List just in case you missed anything: festivalnet.com/help/tips/160things.html
While at the Fair:
1.Standing up = Sales
2.Bring a Project so you can work on!
3.Be Polite
4.Smile
5.Network
6.Hand out Business Cards
7.Take Lots of Pictures
8.Stay Until the last Hour,Usually I get lots of sales :)!
9.When Eating, Either leave your Booth or Hide behind the table where no one can see you.
10.HAVE FUN!!
Posted at 11:27pm Aug 24, 2009 EDT
OMG! I'm sorry I didnt take it would be this long lol
Posted at 11:27pm Aug 24, 2009 EDT
WOW CraftsbyKarina - that's very thorough - great job!
Posted at 11:54pm Aug 25, 2009 EDT
What a great list! Best of luck to you. Trust me the first time is stressful, but it gets much easier!!!!!
Posted at 12:06am Aug 26, 2009 EDT
I love doing shows because you get a lot of good feedback on your work & get to meet customers face to face. I would start out finding a small local show to try first, the larger shows can get expensive plus the cost of travel. You can get some great display ideas from flickr. Just do a search for "craft show booth" in the group search box. Depending on the type of show you do you may or may not need a tent. I always use one, but all of my shows are outdoor so I like having it in case of less than lovely weather. I bought an E-Z Up tent from another artist years ago, but I believe you can also buy them at the warehouse stores like Sam's Club & Cosco. For displaying, I use metal panels (again, bought from another artist), a table, and pedestals built by my husband at very little cost. You can check bulletin boards at local art centers for good deals on used tents, displays, etc. If you find a good indoor show, you can forgo a large display and make a table or two work. Good luck!
Posted at 12:06am Aug 26, 2009 EDT