8 Ways to Streamline your Craft Show Checkout Process

A busy craft show table is great. However, having a space full of people can deter other shoppers from stopping.

You don’t want to rush shoppers, but it is good to streamline your process so you can move more shoppers and customers through your space in the limited selling hours you have.

Nobody wants to wait in lines…so you’re benefiting your business and your customers.

Here are 7 ways you can streamline your checkout process.

 

1) Accept multiple forms of payment

If someone has to dig around for the one and only type of payment you accept, or they must run to an ATM, it will slow down the checkout process.

Be flexible with how people can pay for their items and be organized.

• Have plenty of smaller bills and coins organized in a cash box
• Have a point of sale system to accept credit cards and debit cards (e.g. Square)
• Use a QR code that allows people to pay with their PayPal account

 

2) Use a reliable POS system and get familiar with it

There are many point-of-sale systems such as Square, PayPal, Sumup, etc. They make it quick and easy to accept credit cards, debit cards, and mobile wallets for payment.

Once you decide on one, get familiar with how it works and how to quickly troubleshoot if you run into any common problems.

Depending on which system you choose, you may also be able to pre-program popular items so you don’t have to enter their prices each time.

Also, be sure you bring chargers and a backup battery pack so they’re always ready to go.

 

3) Pre-bag items

If you only sell a few items (e.g. candles in 3 scents), you can pre-bag items and keep them organized behind your table.

This not only saves you from having to fix/restock your display after each sale, it also speeds up the checkout process, moving shoppers through your space quickly.

You can also bundle popular items in a package so it’s easy for shoppers to grab the bundle and for you to ring it through and wrap it up.

 

4) Pre-stuff bags with marketing material

Your packaging is a part of your branding and should get care and attention. You also may want to send customers home with a free sample, a business card, a flyer advertising upcoming shows, or a coupon they can use in your online store.

Prepare shopping bags ahead of time with tissue paper, ribbons, or stickers to complete the branded experience. And stuff them with marketing material to save on time.

 

5) Set even prices

If someone is paying cash and an item is $4.49 instead of $5, it will require more time to gather the correct change.

Try setting prices so people can pay with one or two bills so you don’t have to calculate, gather, and give change.

 

6) Create a checkout

If people don’t know where to pay, it can cause confusion and slow down the process.

When someone comes to you on one side of your booth and asks to pay, but your cashbox or point of sale system is on the other side, you must run back and forth to complete the transaction.

Set up your table or booth so the checkout area is on one end of your space and is clearly marked.

 

7) Wear an apron

If the items you sell don’t tend to require a bag, it may be more efficient for you to accept payments anywhere in your booth (instead of setting up a checkout station).

Wearing an apron with pockets to keep your change, phone, credit card reader, etc. will allow you to quickly process transactions anywhere in your space.

 

8) Make decisions easy

“How would you like to pay?” will slow down the process because it will likely require additional questions…”what type of payment forms do you offer?”

On the other hand, if you ask “would you like to pay with cash, credit card, or debit card?” it’s an easy question to answer and will get the checkout process started quicker.

You may have other questions such as:

• “Would you like a bag for $0.10?”
• “Would you like me to email your receipt or no receipt?”
• “Would you like to add the matching lip balm for $5?”

Be sure to keep your questions specific and easy to understand so customers can make quick decisions.