If you’re preparing for your very first craft show, you’re probably busy making products, planning your display, and figuring out how to take payments. >> Here’s a checklist for some other things to think about for your first craft show But there may be some things and details you don’t think about. Every experienced vendor…

Craft shows can be profitable, but they require planning. It’s not enough to just show up with your products, place them on a table, and wait for shoppers to buy. There’s a lot to think about, from how much stock to bring to how to display all that stock. But every craft show vendor starts…

It’s bound to happen at some point. You’re chatting with shoppers, feeling good about your setup, and then someone picks up an item and says: “If I buy two, can you give me a deal?” Or worse… “I saw something just like this at [insert big-box store] for half the price!” Even though most shoppers…

Craft shows are a lot of work, and if you’re like me, you want to sleep for a week after one. However, to capitalize on sales, prepare your business for the next event, and apply important information to improve your business, there are a few tasks you should incorporate into your schedule (along with some…

If you want local shops to start selling your handmade products, there are a few elements you need in place first. This article will walk you through how to get set up for wholesale orders and attract retail buyers. Benefits Selling your products through local shops means: Bigger orders – retailers will often buy multiples…

I’ve never loved selling. I didn’t like it when I worked for a retailer, and I like it even less when I’m having to promote my own work. But selling is a necessity if you want a successful business. So I’m sharing my best tips as someone who strongly dislikes selling.   1) Focus on…

Not every craft show in your city, or every craft show you’re invited to, will be a fit for your business and its products. Even the biggest and most popular craft shows may not be right for you. Here’s what to review. 1 – Target market First and foremost, get an idea of who the…

There are many reasons craft show shoppers leave a table without buying. But this article is covering why shoppers will avoid your table altogether. Craft show shoppers often make split-second decisions about which booths to approach or skip. Here are the most common reasons they might purposely avoid a table or booth (even if the…

When organizing a craft show, it’s important to consider the vendors and shoppers. The following are the elements craft show shoppers tend to value most. 1) Variety Although a craft show should have a target market in mind and not try to have something for everyone, within a target market, you should have variety. When…

If you’re organizing a craft show, you already know it comes with a lot of responsibility. You need to make sure it’s a good event for shoppers, so they discover new businesses and find items to buy. And you need to ensure it’s successful for vendors too. This article shares 8 things craft show vendors…

This article outlines what I include in each product line, why I think it’s important, and how to apply it to a variety of businesses. 1 – Core Products A core product is a staple/main item(s)/bestseller for a business. The rest of the products offered work around and are connected to these core products. Depending…

In my experience, every craft show is a little different. Every day of a craft show is different. What flew off the table one day might not get touched the next. There is no surefire way to know if a product will sell at a craft show. But there are ways to best-guess and to…

A business can’t survive without marketing. Many makers assume the event organizer will handle the marketing, but leaving it all up to them means leaving money on the table. Here are 6 marketing mistakes you don’t want to make before, during, and after a craft show. 1 – Leaving it up to the organizer The…

Most craft show vendors will deal with other vendors selling something similar at the same event. Even if you’re selling a unique product that doesn’t have any direct competition, you’re still “competing” to get shoppers to spend their money with you. To build a business and booth that stands out at a craft show, attracts…

When I watched the majority of craft show shoppers walk by my table, I knew I had to make some changes. Here are the mistakes I discovered I was making. 1 – I put zero effort into marketing I believed craft show organizers were solely responsible for marketing an event and that I just had…

You don’t want to rush shoppers through your craft show booth. And chatting with shoppers, finding common interests and making connections can often be what energizes you and reminds you why you started your business. However, every once and a while, you’ll deal with a tire kicker who blocks others from stopping at your table,…

First and foremost, you must price your crafts to cover all your costs and wages and leave you with a profit. But once you get a proper price, you have some wiggle room to increase or decrease that price to encourage buying. Shoppers often buy on emotion, not logic. And your prices can affect those…