I’m dedicated to providing you with craft fair tips and tricks to ensure that your next show is a success! This channel will consist of tutorial-based content for artists, crafters, makers, and even organizers who are looking to improve and make the most of every show they attend.
For several years, I presented my artwork at craft fairs in my area. Later, I founded & became co-owner of an art & craft fair organizing business with my family that we operated for a decade.
My goal will always be to bring you the best tips & advice, as well as comprehensive breakdowns on how to plan or participate in an art & craft fair from start to finish so that you head into each show with confidence.
I agree with this assessment. I didn't even notice the inconsistency with the signage colours, but the green fabric at the front corner was really throwing me off. I love the logo and colours! I agree with the tent top colour - the blue is sort of making the tent look closed off. I see a completely unused tent wall. You might think that wall is useless but if there are people in your tent, they'll be able to see anything that's displayed there. Maybe a minor thing, but I'd shore up that 'L' in the table and bring the side table forward to have it lined up with the front table. I agree that you're pushing the edge of having to get a double tent space. You look way too crowded in back with practically no visibility for people shopping. If your boyfriend joins you, DEFINITELY get a bigger space. In any event, it will allow you both to walk back and forth and help each other out unless you are just displaying his items. But still, you'll need more room. Another idea is to open the booth by putting your tables on either side of the tent with the grid wall centered in the back. This would totally depend on how much of an introvert you are because there really won't be anywhere to hide. You'd have to put your chair in the corner with maybe a small table to check out. But having it open will let people see everything when they enter the tent. That's IF they enter. Some people like to float on the outside. That's kind of a 'know your market' sort of thing. Granted, this comes from the perspective of market visitor, not someone that has actually had a booth so I can't pretend to know everything that's involved. In any case, really nice art and variety of items! Cheers!
Great point about packaging and ease of transport. Years ago I purchased some beautiful ceramic dishes from a vendor. He packaged up each item in newspaper, then put it in a paper grocery back. It was filled to the brim, and had no handle on the bag. I am a small person, so I put my arms around the middle it to walk the 1/2 mile to my car. Just as I started walking the items on the top sort of "floated out" and then popped out and landed on the ground and broke. I was very upset, as if he had provided a different style of bag (one with handles) or if I had brought my own bags (although I went to the faire to just "look" and had not planned to buy anything), so I went back to explain what happened. He felt sorry for me but didn't think he was responsible in any way. He did offer me a small discount and I purchased replacements for the ones that broke. Even so, it was a very sad situation in my mind and I still felt he should have done a better job on his packaging and anticipating what could have happened with the way he packaged the items, maybe even by putting it in two bags that I could have rolled the top of down to seal and grip them from the top instead of the middle of the bag.
Excellent comment and thank you for sharing. This could prove valuable to other shoppers and vendors as a good learning experience without having to go through the frustration you went through.
Another suggestion: If possible, use a 3rd tent wall; design booth with outward facing U-shape with your check out in a corner which gives you another entire wall to spread out allowing you to better interact with your custormers, etc. Then you can separate your prints, and other items so that people can see and focus on individual groupings without distraction. Your check out stand tray looks like one that I have🙂, so if possible, getting another to place your gum ball machine and sign (which, by the way, is a great idea!) close/next to the check out stand which might nudge some to take a chance. This is a long one. If that doesn't work for you, how about some form of a V-shape . I guess what I'm saying is, if it's too expensive to get a larger space, using the one you have and possibly adding inexpensive surfaces to display your wares so you can spread them out over the space that you do have. Store Supply Warehouse has some of the most inexpensive grid panels that I have seen without stands, i.e. 2x6 feet for just over $30.
I always offer something for the kiddos like $1.50 Teddy bear honey soaps, critter soaps and toy embed soaps. If they're very well behaved, I even give one away to them for free just to see them light up. Stuff like that is a win win even if no one buys anything the kids are happy, moms are impressed and they get to try your stuff and maybe who knows, they'll remember you the next go around and make a purchase.
I like this approach. There’s no telling how much of an impact a vendor can make on their visitors to keep them coming back, or to even give you a chance in the first place. In a general sense, it might be good for vendors to be giving & welcoming to their guests as opposed to wanting & expecting a certain outcome.
Good info, but there are too many lazy greedy event organizers who price their events at extreeme prices like $400 for four hours or worse, send out a few post on their limited followers accounts and nothing else, and use the survey they send as a filter, so if anyone is critcal of thr event youre just banned/ghosted. Not enough good people out there organizing reasonable priced events...
Great video! Thanks! I am curious if you had any insights into food truck fees? I am in the process of seeking out food trucks for an event in the Fall and there are regulations that my city has that we have to follow and those requirements do have a cost to the venue and the organizer. (Special cleanup, inspections etc.) I have figured a rental fee that would allow those to be covered and still have some overhead for profit, but in my area many food trucks do not see the point of paying a fee like the craft vendors do so I have had trouble finding food vensors. Any thoughts?
Good question - some organizers will look at a food truck as a magnet element - something that will really go a long way in helping to draw visitors to the event. So some organizers will not charge food truck vendors a fee to participate and will only need to take care of their usual event license/permit fees. I’d strongly consider this method because I think the pros outweigh the cons. The only real drawback from the organizer perspective is missing out on that 1 vendor fee.
Thanks for this. We started last year, my wife talked me into making stitch markers for her and to sell because I used to make basic jewlery years ago. I also do some basic leather work and decided to make the jump at a local place that needed venders and was instantly hooked. Since then we have added her crochet to our booth as well. We go by whysprs whymseys shop based on my screen name ive used for years and added the whimseys spelled the same way..
I really appreciate these tips and your nonjudgemental approach to helping others. I struggle with PTSD and am a wheelchair user. I am happy to know that others with PTSD are doing this and that asking to be put in a calm area is ok (that was a relief to hear). I am really concerned about how difficult it might be to navigate my wheelchair in a small booth area with crowds. Do you have any tips/recommendations for folks in this situation? I was thinking a corner booth would be helpful with more room but, I'm learning that those booths cost more, sometimes a lot more. So, not sure if there are other options. Thank you again for helping us newbies!!
I'm glad you enjoyed the video :) First thing I would do is always let the organizer know anytime you apply for an event. Let em know up front because a lot of times, they can help. Maybe based on their layout, they have a booth that sort of stands alone with room on its sides or situations where they can keep you in mind during the booth placement stage of their planning. As a last resort, you could sacrifice some display/setup space for just space for you to navigate your booth. So say for example, you rent a full 10' x 10' - well maybe you only put one table in there or keep the setup smaller so that you've got room in there. Again, not ideal, but if it means you're comfortable throughout the day, then maybe its worth it? Don't be afraid to go a little outside of the norm in order to keep yourself happy to attend events. :)
How about prices for simple country fairs that people don't have a lot of money to I'm trying to make my prices reasonable with my product and on top of that I'm braiding hair California you don't have to be licensed
Great info. Would you ever consider renting out booths that are just a table top in size? I host a church craft fair and I have a few vendors who really fit well on a table top with a chair beside the table up against a wall. This also helps me with my layout so when my booths don't quite fit a space easily I can add a few more vendor spots in this format. As an organizer I can totally see how the same size booth would be easier, but at smaller events some crafters simply don't have the inventory to fill a large booth.
Honestly, as long as quality vendors are signing up, then that's all you really need to know. It can be a little scary rolling out a gameplan like that the first time, but if the vendors are applying and want to get into the show, then you're set. I agree 100% that some vendors are totally content with a smaller tabletop spot and there's nothing wrong with that at all :)
If you mean like a vendor application, that is coming up soon! I’ll show you how we built ours out and that included our terms so that the vendors knew all that up front during the application process.
@@MonikaRose Okay thanks for clarification - unfortunately with something like that, it's going to vary greatly from event to event from the organizer's perspective of what they'll need from their vendors. In my experience, I've hosted events in four different counties in my state (Wisconsin). Between Milwaukee, Dane, Washington, and Manitowoc Counties, they all varied greatly in what was allowed without permit/license, what wasn't allowed at all, and what was allowed, but required a permit/license. They also have varying tax rates and different levels of requirement of tax reporting. So it really has to be a case-by-case basis. The good thing is that generally, once you find all this info out the first time, then you can begin to share this type of language to your vendors and BE SURE to draft up something on a Word or Excel doc where it's basically a template for yourself that you can reuse, and make minor edits to if need be. Sorry for not diving in a little deeper on this topic - I agree with Eliana that it's a great topic, but the amount of variables are staggering.
@@howtocraftfair That makes sense. Thanks for clarifying! I’ve been searching for template generators but can’t seem to find any for specifically craft fairs.
I would say no to the buyer paying the promoter as they the promoter could run with all the money. Plus it something does get rung up or scanned correctly your going to have issues.
I can never find anyone to help me! It would be so nice to have company. It is stressful for me, as I take great pride in my setup and diaplays. It can be a real juggling act multi-tasking all the points you've listed above. I've only done small fairs so far.
Yeah it’s difficult to get a helping hand at events but don’t stop trying! If you can secure a helper for the day, it will unlock a lot of great opportunities for you!
Yeah TikTok is a great place to build up a following. It’s also great for directing traffic to other location. If you have a website or shop, for example.
I’m doing a pop-up for the very first time at the end of July and another one at the end of September, and this is very good information. I was gonna bring some other things besides my hair oil but now I know to be minimal on that. I am very nervous to do my first one thank you for the tips.
Hey Kristen! Thanks for commenting and I’m glad the video helps. You can do it and you got this! Sometimes it’s better to reveal to other vendors and even the shoppers that you are a first timer and a lot of times you’ll get some nice people that will make you feel comfortable and throw some helpful tips your way. Have fun and thank you so much for watching! 😃
I stick with the thought that if its not MY idea, not my character or whatever, I have no right to make money off of it. Sure, a lot of us little makers probably won't ever get "caught" but as an Etsy seller, I don't post ANYTHING licensed. It's not mine. Im not using it.
Yes....let's make it known wheel chair accessibility access should be considered in set-up. Cant tell you how many times my husband who is wheelchair bound is unable to get into booths to view products. Vendors need to know this population has purchasing power too!
