What to Consider Before Starting a Business with a Friend
Starting a business with a friend sounds so exciting, and it definitely can be, but you need to be sure it’s going to be the right fit before you commit to anything. It’s so easy to get swept up in the idea of starting a new venture together that you can overlook the…
12 Tips to Help Introverts Sell at Craft Shows
Craft shows can be really intimidating for introverts; not only are you putting your work out there for people to critique, you have to put yourself out there, spending the entire day around crowds of people, chatting with strangers. I know from experience how intimidating it can be; do I say hi? They…
How To Sell To Introverts at a Craft Show
This may seem like a bit of an odd topic to write on but I can tell you; being an introvert, who’s married to an extrovert, my thinking and rationale is quite different from his. Not all introverts are the same and they’re often confused as being shy. Introversion does tend to go hand in…
Can Introverts Run a Successful Business?
Dumb question right? Of course they can! Although we don’t generally have the big personalities you typically see behind the millionaires and billionaires of the world, it doesn’t mean we can’t be successful in our own way. Introversion is not the same as shyness, although they often go hand in hand. If you’re introverted or…
5 Reasons You Didn’t Get Accepted to a Craft Show
Craft shows are a great way to sell some products (here’s a list of ones that tend to sell better). The majority of craft shows are juried; this ensures there are a good mix of vendors for shoppers to buy from. This also means that there are a good number of applications that are turned down….
5 Mistakes to Avoid at a Craft Show
Whether you’re getting ready for a large trade show and have an entire booth to fill, or you’ve booked a table at a community craft show, these 5 mistakes are always important to avoid. Craft Show Mistake #1: Too much variety Although you don’t want an empty booth and you want to give your customers…
How To Photograph Your Handmade Goods
As we mentioned in our post How to Make a Backdrop for Your Handmade Goods, photographs of your handmade goods are almost as important as the handmade goods themselves. When you’re selling online they act as your salesperson and give the shopper an idea of what your business is all about. You wouldn’t hire a…
How To Make a Backdrop for Your Handmade Goods
When you’re selling your handmade items online, your photographs are almost as important as the item itself. Photos are your first impression, your salesperson and your description all in one. Blurry, poorly lit photos that don’t show off the details of your work won’t do you any favors when it comes to capturing shopper’s attention…
How To Create a Lookbook For Your Handmade Products
Lookbooks are a great way to show off the products you offer and convey their stories. They’ll come in handy at craft shows, to mail out to existing customers, when you’re pitching to retailers and even online if you create a digital version. The idea is to take some amazing photos of your pieces and add descriptions and details…
How To Make The Most Out of a Slow Craft Show
When you’re preparing for a craft show, you (the vendor) should be doing your part to help promote the event. However, if you’ve tried everything and shoppers aren’t showing up, here are a few tips to turn the situation around, even if you won’t be making many sales. 1 – STAY OPEN Slow…
10 Questions to Ask Before Committing to a Craft Show
Craft shows are a great way to sell your handmade goods, especially if you make items that tend to sell well at craft shows. There’s no way to guarantee a successful show, as there are elements (like the weather) that are out of everyone’s control. However, when you’re thinking about applying to a craft show…
10 Steps To Get Your Handmade Products In Boutiques
If you’re looking to expand your reach and get your products into some retail stores around your city, province or even country, you need to make a plan. Here are some areas to think about and 10 steps you can follow to get started! 1) Set your Wholesale prices – Selling at a craft show or online is…
Shopper Etiquette at a Craft Show
Craft shows are such a unique and fun experience. If you’re heading to one, you’re obviously a conscious shopper and would never intentionally insult a vendor, but here are a few things you may not have thought of from a vendor’s perspective. 1) Try to pay in cash – There are a lot of vendors who are taking advantage…
Craft Show Etiquette
This is a guide for Craft Show Vendors. We also have an article on Craft Show Etiquette for Shoppers 🙂 I remember how nervous I was at my first craft show. I had no idea what to expect and felt like a total outsider. There are usually unwritten rules with any group or organization…
Sell More at a Craft Show by Asking this Question
When I bring my husband to Farmers’ Markets or craft shows that will have food vendors, I know we better have full wallets. Just the other day we made a quick trip to our local Farmers’ Market for 2 things and 2 things only. Just as we were about to head out, a question…
5 Things to do Before Booking a Craft Show
If you’ve never participated in a craft show before, you may have a hard time deciding which ones are for you. Use this article as a guide to help you sift through the craft fairs in your area and make profitable choices. 1) Check out craft sales as a shopper Take…
How Supporting Local Businesses Benefits You
It’s not always the most convenient or the cheapest option to buy from a local business, but the upsides of supporting local are greater than the downsides. Let’s look at the ways supporting local businesses benefits you in the short and long run. And why big box stores can ultimately be harmful to…
2014 Calgary & Area Farmers’ Market Map
With our Edmonton & Area Farmers’ Market Map being so popular we thought we would put one together for the Calgary area seeing as how it’s another great city full of markets. Click on the map below to save, share or print! A big thank you to all the Calgary markets for your involvement in…
Edmonton & Area Farmers’ Market Map
If you’re looking for the most up to date Farmers’ Market Map, please visit our 2015 edition. It’s baaaaack! Made Urban’s guide to Farmers’ Markets around Edmonton is here and better than ever. We’ve teamed up with Edmonton’s Child Magazine this year to bring you a cut-out-and-save version on page 34 of their magazine (where…
Consignment Inventory Tracking Spreadsheet
We talked about Wholesale vs Consignment, the pros and cons, and pointed out that if you do go the route of selling your products in stores through the method of consignment, that it’s a good idea to be really organized. To help you keep track of the products you drop off, sell and pick up from…