8 Craft Show Hints and Tips for Everyone's Success

By Shasta Mclaughlin

1. Good Communication between people sharing a booth is key. Know who is signing up (double check that they actually did), who is paying, and what times people are working. If you are sharing a booth call them before the show to be certain they have registered and paid for the booth. Inform show promoters of the names of the people you are sharing a booth with.

2. Get registered early and pay early so your name can be included in all advertising. Budgets for advertising may depend on how many vendors are registered. Tell anyone you know who crafts how to contact show promoters. The more vendors shows have, the more public interest the show will have, the more word of mouth advertising the show will have and the budget for advertising will usually be bigger!

3. Tell everyone family, friends, at school, church, work, play groups, and at the park to bring a friend and come see you at the show. Your word of mouth advertising benefits everyone, as theirs benefits you. Send out postcards or newsletters with your regular advertising mention the show, place, date, time and your booth location (if known). Tell promoters if your workplace has a public bulletin board, offer to hang an ad there.

4. Bring your own table and chair unless you have specifically asked to rent one. You also need your own table cloth.

5. Make plans to use the space above and below a table to show/hide merchandise. Put a small bookcase or shelves on the table to put more merchandise on the table. Put a long table cloth on the table to hide extra merchandise that can be taken out as needed. Display merchandise at different heights, don't lay it flat on the table. Spread up to eye level instead of out.

6. Offer a door prize or drawing. This way you collect a name and phone number to call potential customers back. The easiest customer to sell to is one you've already sold to. Offer a special such as a percent off or two for one deal, everyone loves a deal. Inform promoters of any drawings or sales in advance.

7. Talk to people about your merchandise, or about the show. Be friendly & outgoing, they are here to see your merchandise so encourage them to stop and look. Don't try for the hard sell approach.

8. If you have problems with the show or with another vendor, please don't hesitate to tell promoters in private.

Copyright The Extravaganza Craft Productions 2007
Shasta has always been an artist and crafter. She was always drawing on the walls, making crafts with her mom, and selling them at craft shows. She attended Denver Institute of Technology (now Westwood College) for Graphic Design. She has both attended craft shows as a vendor and promoted them. Now she publishes a newsletter for artists, crafters, antique dealers, trade show vendors, and farmers market vendors. She finds show listings for 9 states of the Northwest so that you don't have to.
Visit her site at http://www.extravaganzacrafts.com
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