10 Ways To Save Money When Selling at Craft Shows

Selling at craft shows can be a big time and money investment. If you’re just starting or are testing a business idea, you may be looking for ways to save money.

Here are 10 tips for saving time and money when selling at craft shows.

 

1) Source the right events

Even if you find a craft show with low booth fees, the time and money you spend creating products for that event, building your display, driving to, setting up, packing up, etc., is where the bulk of your costs are.

And if that craft show doesn’t attract many shoppers, or it doesn’t attract shoppers who are a fit for your products, it’s a lot of time and money wasted.

Research a craft show before committing to ensure you’re likely to get a return on investment.

Also, look for ones that are close to home to save on gas or even food and accommodations if the event is outside your city.

 

2) Share a space

Not every event will allow you to share a table/booth with another vendor, but if it is an option, it’s a good way to save money.

See if a fellow crafter friend wants to share a space so you can split table fees, carpool, share parking fees, have someone watch the space for bathroom breaks, etc.

A half table/booth also means you need fewer products to fill the space and will require fewer fixtures and props.

If you don’t know anyone, you could ask the organizer if there’s another vendor they could pair you with.

 

3) Refine your product line

Production is what will cost you the most in terms of hours, and perhaps even materials. So it’s important to avoid shiny object syndrome when creating.

Don’t make everything you can make for a craft show; develop a cohesive product line targeting a specific customer, showing them what you’re best at making.

Each product and product option you offer might require different:

  • materials
  • tools
  • packaging
  • patterns

And will require extra time to:

  • determine pricing
  • figure out how to merchandise the products
  • craft sales pitches
  • etc.

These are little things that add up to bigger costs (time and money).

In most cases, it’s ideal to stick to one product category and perhaps even one subcategory under that (e.g. Art -> Stationery).

Then plan 3 – 5 products you’ll sell under that category/subcategory (e.g. greeting cards, calendars, notebooks, note pads, and stickers).

This type of structure will create a streamlined product offering that will not only boost sales but will also save time and money.

 

4) Focus on lower-priced products

Each craft show is different, so this may not hold true if you’re selling at an event known to attract buyers with bigger budgets. However, I’ve found most craft show shoppers are comfortable buying in that $50 and under price point.

Spend less on materials (and perhaps production hours) by making lower-priced items.

This can also help your sales since craft show shoppers tend to buy in that $5 – $25 price range.

 

5) Choose indoor events with tables provided

In my experience, indoor events are lower-risk and more cost-effective than outdoor events.

The biggest events in my city are outdoor markets, and although they have been lucrative for me, I worked my way up to them because they were a bigger space (10’ x 10’) that required me to buy a pop-up tent and make more products to fill the space.

Outdoor events are also riskier since attendance is hugely impacted by the weather.

Look for indoor craft shows that provide you with a table and chair so you don’t have to spend money on those items, or time hauling/setting up/packing them up.

 

6) Budget-friendly fixtures

Your craft show display should look professional, but it doesn’t need to be perfect from the start. It will evolve and improve with each event.

There are many ways to keep your space looking professional while staying on budget.

Foam core fixtures

I love using foam core to make fixtures. It’s inexpensive, lightweight, and doesn’t require power tools.

Here are a few examples of items I’ve made:

Borrow

See what you can borrow from your home or a friend/family member’s that will work to display your products.

Items such as:

  • plant stands
  • small shelves
  • shoe shelves
  • stools
  • step stools
  • baskets
  • bowls
  • etc.

Try to stick to one type of finish/style so your display has cohesion.

Thrift

Another option is to visit local thrift stores to see what type of household items you can repurpose for your display.

Again, it’s important to stick to one style/finish/color so your display has cohesion.

If you gather items that have different finishes (e.g. wicker, metal, plastic, etc.), you can spray paint them the same color. This can quickly pull unmatched pieces together in a cost-effective way.

Dollar store

The dollar store is another place to find budget-friendly supplies for your display. Check for items such as:

  • tablecloths
  • frames for signage
  • baskets and bins
  • etc.

 

7) Print your business cards

It’s important to use craft shows for selling and marketing.

Handing out business cards can help boost sales after the event.

If you’re in the beginning stages of your craft business, you may not have a brand or logo defined/designed or all of your online elements set up (e.g. website and socials).

In this case, it may be more cost-effective to purchase business card paper and print cards as you need them.

Keep them simple with your business name and a way for people to find you or contact you after the event.

If you have your online shop set up for your next event, add that to the business cards and print a few more sheets.

Once you have all the details of your business sorted, then you can have business cards professionally printed and shipped.

 

8) Use price signs

Generally, I prefer each item to have a price tag so there’s no confusion. However, price tags add another material cost and time cost to apply them to each item.

When you follow the advice of limiting your product line, you’ll only need a few price signs, and it will be easy for shoppers to determine what’s what.

Printing a price list (or two) for the 3 – 5 types of products you sell and displaying it in a frame can save you time and money.

 

9) Use printed QR codes for payments

Accepting multiple forms of payment is important for increasing sales. But you don’t need to buy a credit card reader just yet.

You will need to sign up for a payment processing service such as Stripe or PayPal.

Then you can create a QR code and print it to be displayed or shown to customers when they’re ready to pay.

A customer will scan your QR code with their phone, enter the amount they owe you and complete the transaction.

Here are the instructions for PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/us/brc/article/how-do-qr-codes-work

 

10) Plan food and parking

Many events have food vendors or food trucks, which can be tempting. But save your hard-earned money and pack snacks, food, and drinks from home.

You can also save money by finding cheap or free parking. Many of the events I’ve attended are in the heart of my city…where there’s lots of foot traffic but parking is expensive.

Give yourself enough time to drive to the event, unload, and then find cheaper parking, which might be several blocks away.

It may require an extra 15 minutes to walk back to the venue, but it could save you money.

 

I hope these tips help you save time and money and profit more at craft shows!

10 Ways to Save Money when Selling at Craft Shows