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Story by
kittenrockswell,
tinaseamonster
Published on June 25, 2009 in How-To |
Photo by |
Summer craft shows are in full swing, and mentions of fall and holiday shows are starting to pop up. The dreaded cycle — filling out vendor applications and then waiting and anticipating to see if you've made it — never seems to end.
As one of the Directors of the Crafty Bastards Arts and Crafts Fair in Washington, D.C., and the Handmade Mart in Silver Spring, MD, my fellow organizers and I are often asked the frequent question: “Why didn’t I get accepted into the fair?”
This question is hard to answer, as it’s different for everyone. For seasoned crafters who have sold successfully on Etsy and have been on the craft fair circuit for years, the answer usually comes down to submitting the same photos year after year with their application. As an organizer who is looking for an innovative and awesome experience for crafters and shoppers, it’s hard to accept our past vendors who haven’t evolved their crafts.
For example, a vendor who submits the same three T-shirt designs with their application every year is telling me that they really don’t have any new products in their line. This is important, especially when you see more and more crafters joining the handmade community. If a crafter isn’t making new products or designs, there are 100 more who are.
For crafters who are newer to the craft fair scene, not getting accepted usually results from submitting photos that don’t often show off the variety or volume of crafts they produce or don’t show their best products. If crafts in the photos don’t look well made or have a unique style, they lose points. Newer vendors sometimes give us too much personal information and not enough specifics about their product line in their vendor statements.
Vendor statements are important because they explain the photos of your craft. A photo may say 1,000 words, but a vendor statement is there to back it up with a literal explanation. For example, let’s say I sell jewelry and in my vendor statement I say:
“I make whimsical jewelry that will tickle your fancy with vibrant colors and semi-precious stones.”
What is this person trying to say? This is a textbook answer without much thought. The questions I want to know are: What does the making process entail? What makes the jewelry more awesome than the other 100 jewelry designers who applied to the fair? What type of jewelry do you make, i.e. rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, etc? What inspires you? What is your style?
A good vendor statement with the right photos will be a perfect package, neatly wrapped, and need no further explanation.
Here are other tips for applying to craft fairs:
1. Photos
- Make sure the file size of your photo isn’t too big and that the photos are crisp and clear.
- Be sure to send in photos that show off individual items, but have one or two that also show off the variety of your products.
- Show only your products and nothing else that might be distracting or confused with what you make. For example, if you design scarves and you submit a photo with someone wearing a scarf and a large necklace covering the scarf, it’s very misleading.
- Let your product shine in the front and center. If you are submitting a photo of your product laying on a crazy, headache-inducing patterned background, or a background that is the same color as your product, you are not doing your crafts justice.
2. Websites
Many fairs ask you for your website along with, or instead of, photos. If your main site is a blog with a small link to your Etsy shop, I’d rather you send me to your Etsy shop directly. This is not necessarily a general rule, but if it’s hard to see your products on your website or hard to find a link to your shop, that’s not good.
3. Vendor Statement
Don’t submit a life story. Stick to your product line and anything surrounding your career as a crafter. Writing my own vendor statement for applications usually takes at least a day. Email your friends your statement and see what they say. They will know if your creativity and who you are as a crafter comes through in your statement.
4. Know your market
Before you apply to a craft fair, check out the vendors from the previous year. What are they selling? What do their websites and Etsy shops look like? You will need to see if this is indeed your market.
You can usually find reviews about shows by searching the web or in the Etsy Forums. Find out if this is the show for you from what their vendors had to say.
5. Burning Bridges
Every year, at every craft show, there is a vendor who didn’t get accepted and decides to yell at the organizers. This usually starts with an email or phone call that begins with “How dare you” or “My stuff is much better than so and so’s” or “I am a very important person in the crafting world...” Every craft show organizer has heard it before, and it’s heart wrenching and not nice. Please be nice. Many shows have at least one vendor who has to drop out at the last minute for various reasons, so you never know if you might be next in line to take their place.
6. Don’t take it personally
If you are not accepted as a vendor, don’t take it personally. This has nothing to do with you as a person. With tens of thousands of crafters on Etsy alone, the competition to sell at fairs, which can only take between 50-300 vendors per show, is tremendous. For all the fun, excitement, and friendship-making that takes place at craft fairs, you must remember that the point of these fairs is all business: Craft fair organizers are creating a marketplace for monetary transactions to take place. You are seeking to conduct said monetary transactions. It’s all business in the front and party in the back.
Some vendors who have not been accepted will email us to ask what they could have done better in their applications to get accepted. I’m usually more than happy to take a look at their applications and see if I can give any useful feedback. Sometimes there’s nothing I can say, because it’s just a matter of space at the fair…but it never hurts to ask.
Get feedback about your products from your friends and most importantly, your fellow crafters. Don’t be afraid to get advice and reviews that might not be 100% positive. Being open to hearing what others had to say about your product will help you develop stronger products and marketing lines, and will improve your chances of getting into the more competitive craft fairs.
Check out more tips on applying to shows from crafter extraordinaire and Hello Craft's Communication Director Tina Seamonster here. Questions? Have advice for others? Tell us in the comments and feel free to email Hello Craft at hellocraftinfo@gmail.com. kittenrockswell will also be hosting a follow-up chat today, Thursday, June 25 at 5 p.m. ET in the Virtual Labs, Etsy's multi-user chat room.
| Tags | Applications, business, Craft Fair, Craft Shows, Crafty Bastards, Hello Craft, How-To, HOW-TO, kittenrockswell, Seller Handbook, selling, tinaseamonster, Tips, Washington DC |
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106 comments Login to add your own!
dogties
monkeyandsquirrel
awesome tips... i'm just starting to look at getting into the craft fair scene. this will be very helpful. thanks tons!
SeaFindDesigns
jalexstudios
Great article. Also there is an online application process called Zapp that allows you to submit to festivals as well. Good luck to those submitting to fairs this year!!
Regards,
Jalex Studios
galit
evihan
AliBaliJewellery
beautifulbridget
tldgrainwear
Very useful info not only for those who are submitting to fairs...I will use some of this tips too. Thanks! Cheers!
bijougirldesigns
great tips. Thanks for uncovering the mind behind the jury.
lovelygifts
gittasrubbings
Crossmyheartjewelry
KOALACaddie
Thank you for this most helpful information and the referral to hellocraft.com. As we're told in the Music Man, to be successful in sales, you've got to "know the territory."
Riversandco
bonecalinda
angelune
Tumus
very helpful advice and tips ^_^ Since I have yet to sell at a local craft fair I'm keen on finding out all I can about the process, etc.
GlassElements
asundrynotion
HibouCards
Thanks! I thinking of trying to get into a craft fair this Summer and that really helps!
HoneysuckleLane
mizdarlin
I was recently in a chat room and told them I was going for an adjudication-this is a process whereby you bring examples of your craft(s) not pics-no one in the chat room seemed to know the expression, so something to remember.
Mizdragonfly
Excellent post.
Thank you for taking the time to share those tips and tricks! I will make sure to add a vendor statement in my future applications! ;)
pandawithcookie
I just did my first fair and am getting a few more lined up. Thanks for some of the tips listed here.
Onward!
thebestvintage
onecreativegirl
good tips! i love to do shows in my hometown and always wonder how i can manage to do shows in other places - with airfare and hotel i don't know how to swing it? any tips on ways to expand to shows in other cities while keeping costs affordable?
LabyrinthLeather
feltmeupdesigns
great tips... my family have ben doing craft fairs since i was 10 (probably explains my gypsyish tendancies)
CarryTheWord
4TheSparrowsNest
I have yet to brave a craft show and have passed up several opportunities. This is great! Thanks a ton!
zombuki
SewnNatural
BCharmer
Pulguinha
In my town there´s two craft fairs a month. I didn´t had the corage yet. I have more things to sell than in my etsy shop, much more, but i´always think they are not enough.
IcingOnTheCupcake
Thank you for the information, it's always good to hear tips from someone on the inside!
worksofwhimsy
SweetwaterGifts
atomicblue
I have been doing shows since 1991, so I've had a bit of experience. I've done many shows from local hometown stuff to the real big high end fine craft ones.
*Professional photos!!!
*Most shows ask for a booth/display photo.
*Resume.
*No photos with a baby, unless you sell baby stuff.
*Send it in, right after you get it.
*ZAPP is ok, get a copy of the Crafts Report, they have show listings by state. They also have several ads by professional photographers. I've used www.jerryanthonyphoto.com (see this link for pictures of the Crafts Report magazine, which by default you should have a subscription to.
#5 don't bitch that your stuff didn't sell. I recently received a 'forward all' type email where a stained glass artist went off at the show organizer. She in turn sent it to everyone on the mailing list. It's seriously bad form to wig out! Tho I did have a extraordinary situation years ago where another crafter hated/was jealous of me, and made up a bogus story & told the event organizers. They wigged out on me! I didn't get a word in edgewise, so I quietly packed my things, and left. Who needs abuse like that? I learned to stick to the professionally run events since then.
BusyBoneyHands
PawshCompanions
This is great information for people just getting their feet wet with these types of events. Thanks for sharing! =)
SweetPeaPods
Thanks for the info! I've never done a craft fair before...I was hoping to do one this year but everything has been so crazy busy with etsy that I don't think I have the time :(
Radness
thehouseofhemp
i've wanted all of these questions answered for a while now, never really knew where to turn - cool, thanks!
NiftyKidstuff
Nishale
pieintheskyjewelry
Very informative article..I agree on the quality of the photographs. I learned that the hard way. Thanks again, you answered a lot of my questions!
SimpleTraditions
PAINTINGSBYSAM
SundraSandrusi
EJPcreations
This is so helpful! That's the next step trying to tackle a craft fair.
Mattamorphis
These are fantastic tips for anyone entering anything craft or fashion related. I have been DYING to get into this fashion program in NYC and every 6 months I fill out their new apps.....hopefully i'll get into next springs even. 3rd times a charm!
OOOH LA LA!
tigersanddragons
Good article, I agree with the points laid out here. However, I think the timing of this article is a bit late. Applications for the bigger Christmas shows are usually done by the end of May and for the Music festivals Feb-May.
We've been doing craft shows in Canada for ten years, and at least 5 times have been called to fill in when someone else drops out. I find that it's a good idea to call or email and let a show producer know that you want to be on the waiting list, and if you can be ready at a moments notice, emphasize that point (and make sure you are ready if the call should come and you're given 3 days notice).
Also, sometimes it's worth it to submit a physical sample of your work along with photos - to emphasize the quality of your work. Many shows now ask for samples as photos can be misleading, especially for jewellery.
SmolderingLady
Thank you! Excellent information. I am finally getting to know the storque feature and it's amazing.
Any tips on how to stand out once you are at the fair as a vendor? Besides great products... I assume everyone has those. (:
CircaCeramics
This is a great article, and I actually posted a link on our team website when I first found it a month or so ago.
I did want to add that though event deadlines may have passed for some of the larger fall/winter events, if they are in your area, make sure to visit them this year if you haven't already in the past - Always good to check things out before handing over jury fees! -Nancy
rawbeauty
dreamlilydesigns
Wow I never thought about how the photos should change every year....good point! This will be my 2nd year doing craft shows so next year I will have to make sure to upgrade my photos with my new designs. www.dreamlilydesigns.com
AwApplesauce
This is a guide I totally needed. My biggest question, though, is how do I even FIND OUT about the shows? I live just outside of Silver Spring, and I never heard of the Handmade Mart until the weekend after it ended!
FluteTeacher
This is really helpful. Hopefully, I can found out about some craft shows to do this year. I seem to find out about them after they are finished. :(
riricreations
thanks for the timely tips~I've done 2 smaller local shows and have a BIG one (Richmond VA area) coming up July 11...other crafters at local shows and on etsy have been very helpful to me, when I've asked ?s or for advice, so even though I'm a relative newbie, I try to do the same and reach out to others just getting started, sharing things I learned the hard way. Thanks ETSY for giving us a venue to do what we LOVE to do!
ClaudiaLord
I totally agree with #7. I was rejected a few years ago and I called them and they explained their point system and told me how many points I had gotten from the judges. The biggest thing I did wrong was that I didn't include any photos of my booth setup - basically since I had never done a show before! So, I lost those points and would have probably gotten in. She also told me that their show (and probably others too) have different judges every year - so every year's results can be different.
EmergeDesign
Hey dudes,
Thanks for this timely reminder to not take it all personally when at first one does not succeed.
I just got rejected by the selection committee from a local market here in Melbourne Australia, and am trying to be philosophical about it....a little difficult when their response was 'get back to us when your product range changes'.
Sometimes it's hard to know where I fit.
Thanks for all of your articles, they are always rather helpful and so frequent!
ScrapArcs
Great to hear from you in the virtual labs! Great advice, especially now that I'm just about to get started doing craft fairs soon!
VintageZen
BayMoonDesign
Great advice. I would love to get advise on how to get your products to sell on etsy. I do well at craft fairs, but I am unable to make any sales on etsy.
lorilee35
great article, thanks!! I have been doing craft shows for several years now and I have been rejected by a show and it does hurt, but I keep my chin up and try harder the next year. dont be intimidated!! believe in your work and yourself and it will pay off in the long run.
casakidstudio
Excellent and helpful article! Thanks especially to Atomic Blue for the additional advice and comments. A follow-up column on helpful hints for setting up a booth at a craft show would be great.
GSCreations
I will be submitting my first application in July and found this information to be super helpful. Thank you very much.
tigersanddragons
For finding out about craft shows, there are sites on the internet....but the greatest resource is other crafters.
Be friendly and ask around, many are willing to let you know about the shows they do, with the understanding that a show that is good for one particular person may not be as good a fit for another. Crafters who work in your medium or have similiar work many not be as forthcoming, as you are their competition.
It is a good idea to attend a craft show before you apply to it, if at all possible. This is also a good time to look at other crafters' displays, for ideas on booth layouts. Try to find your own distinctive booth style. Good lighting is essential.
stockannette
Very timely article; thanks! I just sent out an application for my first-ever craft fair TODAY!
odiliafu
LippincottSoapCo
jaimezollars
Very good tips. I think I make some of the mistakes you mention, so I'll be on high alert from now on :)
Pinkilicious
From the other side, I recently started organizing craft fairs, the first one is next week. I am having trouble finding as many vendors as I would like to make the show a success, but I still have to turn down people who are selling items that are a. not handmade or b. not really the quality I want to attract to the fair. It was difficult to say to someone that their products were simply not good enough with out being, well, too mean. Also it has been interesting to explain to people what I mean by handmade (no, a sticker on a candle is not handmade...) and why the show is handmade only. It has been one headache after another, but someone has to do it. Give the promoters a break, they are working very hard!
(also, if you are not sure you will get in, offer to volunteer with the promotion or set-up, it can move you to the top of the list)
BethanyOgle
bellecamicie
This article was very helpful. Pinkilicious's comment was also helpful! Thanks!
20BucksorLess
Great Advice from Pinkilicious (also, if you are not sure you will get in, offer to volunteer with the promotion or set-up, it can move you to the top of the list).
I'm not an avid crafter, but a seller of all things vintage. However, I offered to volunteer once at an antique show. I called applicants, mailed applications, helped mark chalk lines on the park. When a dealer did not show up, they gave me their booth for free. I had plenty of items to spread out into the booth. Yes, it doesn't cost a thing to be courteous and helpful. Yet so few people are anymore, its an instant way to stand out.
Good Luck to everyone doing shows this summer and remember to be cheery and friendly. Offer small cups of cold water for free to passersby. On a hot day, you'll easily be the most popular booth. Plus, its just plain nice.
PawPawsWorkshop
MissHildebrandt
I would LOVE to read a book filled with all the mean
responses rejected Crafters have say!
MissHildebrandt
I would LOVE to read a book filled with all the mean responses made by rejected Crafters!
CreatedandFelted
Really usefull tips and ideas- after my first few shows I found that "scouts" would approach me and invite me to exhibit/apply to thier fairs.
It just shows that talking to everyone whether they look like "buyers" or not pays off.
designsboutique
amitiedesigns
Great advice. It will come in handy for fall craft shows that I would like to participate in.
Thanks!
orchardfarmsoap
mammysshop
ellabellamay
Thank you for your excellent advice! This is a wonderful and NEEDED guide, much appreciated!
blissiful
matryoshkasbysallie
There are a lot of helpful hints in this article. Hopefully I'll get a chance to use them soon.
crochetgal
Thanks for a very informative article.
One of the best methods I've found for finding good shows is to talk to other vendors. They are more than willing to give you their opinion of a show that they've taken part in.
And, during 'season' if you are not attending a show as a vendor each weekend, you should be spending the time attending as a buyer. It never hurts to go and 'check out the competition' and see if you may be a good fit for the following year.
Sphider
This is so useful! Thanks!!! I'm a new vendor (hopefully) and i'm working on filling out all those forms! This is great!
CherryStreetJewelry
burlybunny
ZuliDesigns
If you don't get in the first year, it's a good idea to
go to the show and see what others are selling. Then
try again next year.
ZuliDesigns
To clarify my above comment, not to copy anyone, of course,
but to get a feel of the show and what others are doing.
Each show is different and has a different feel to it.
AngelqueCreations
As a newbie to the whole craft fair cycle, I found your article very informative and I am looking forward to breaking into the circle in the Vancouver area.
sygnetcreations
RiasRegalos
Thank you for a good article. Helpful! Not many shows here in Nebraska!
lightsofourlives
Great tips. I did a craft fair years ago and have been away from all things craft for a while. Just getting back into the swing of things and if anyone knows of any good shows in Nor California I would love to hear about them. I will be adding more to my Etsy account this weekend but I mainly do jewelry, candles and soap items.
BrianaEdelmanDesigns
Thanks for the great article! We can't wait to see this year's DC Craft Bastards!
TipsyTimeMachine
Recently another crafter told me that he was rejected for a show. The next year when he received an application, he returned it along with a scathing letter informing the show producers to take him off the list. I asked him why he was so upset, he said "I've never been turned down for a show in my life."
So everyone, even the people with big egos (and I must admit beautiful work)) gets rejected sometime. Don't let it get you down.
withremote
I've been doing shows in Minnesota and Wisconsin for a few years now, and all these are exactly the items you need to get into a show. Just be sure your work is a good fit with the show you are going to apply at.
I better get my app in, I need a show to do before the winter anyway.
FiddlyFingerWork
I have just been asked to take part in a craft fair so any information is useful to me thank you :)
StarsandRobots
This is great info, thanks so much. I have only one craft show and a weekly market under my belt, and have just relocated. Us beginners can always use some expert advice!
CopperFrogStudio
This is one of the best craft show articles I've ever read. Thanks so much!
kinaloon
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