10 Reasons NOT to Lower the Prices of your Handmade Goods
 We’ve touched on this topic before but it’s worth visiting again. How you price your products can make all the difference in whether your business is going to be successful or not. We’ll assume that you’ve gone through and done the proper calculations to price your products and your prices are accurate (if you’ve just…
Retail Best Practices you can Use to Sell More at Craft Shows
If you walk into any retailer at the mall, you’ll find that almost all of them follow similar techniques when it comes to catching a shoppers eye, drawing them in and selling to them. Of course, you don’t want to follow exactly what large retailers are doing because you’re a small, independent, handmade business and much cooler than…
Why you’re Looking at your Craft Show Setup Wrong
While working on your craft show setup, you likely stand at the front, placing your items and creating your well-thought-out, tried and true display. Once you’re done, you stand back as though you’re going to snap a picture, focusing on the most important subject of the show: your booth. The Wrong Perspective…
10 Signs you Shouldn’t Apply to a Craft Show
If you have a product that your sure will be a bestseller at a craft show, then it’s time to start researching craft shows in your area. But it’s important to realize, before you start applying, not all craft shows are worth applying to. There are several factors that go into producing a good…
5 Craft Show Mistakes that Drive Shoppers Away
No one signs up for a craft show with the intention of alienating the shoppers but you may unknowingly be sending them away if they don’t feel comfortable. It’s important to have fun, be yourself and show pride in your work; that will always draw people to you. Here are 5 mistakes to…
How Much Stock to Bring to a Craft Show – Calculations & Formulas
Determine how much stock to bring to a craft show using the calculations and formulas in this info-graphic. It’s an important question to ask yourself. Too much stock can leave you with leftovers that may be hard to sell once the season’s over, not to mention; added work of dragging them to and from the…
5 Reasons Handmade Businesses Fail
 The success rate of small businesses isn’t great and we’d LOVE to see that improve. A successful business doesn’t thrive due to one factor; there are a lot of moving pieces that need to be in place and your business’ needs are constantly going to be changing. Be sure you do your research before…
HOW TO PIN PHOTOS TO PINTEREST
This article is put together for Made Urban’s group board: ULTIMATE CRAFT FAIR RESOURCE. If you would like to join the board to contribute photos of booths you’ve taken at craft fairs, craft fair inspiration or advice, please: Head over to Pinterest and follow Made Urban’s account: https://www.pinterest.com/madeurban/ Email the link your Pinterest profile to…
Laws you must Follow when Packaging Handmade Products
Do you package your handmade cream in a jar? Do you have the product name, volume and your business’ name and address clearly printed on each label? If not, you may be in violation of packaging and labeling laws. Disclaimer: I’m not a lawyer by profession and nothing in this article should be…
Laws for Selling Handmade Clothing & Accessories
Disclaimer: I’m not a lawyer by profession and nothing in this article should be construed as legal advice. Although I strive to provide accurate general information, the information presented here is not a substitute for any kind of professional advice or free from errors, and you should not rely solely on this information. Always consult a…
Farmers’ Market Etiquette for Shoppers
Farmers’ Markets are such a great way to get your shopping done for the week, discover local artists selling handmade goods and support local. They have a relaxed feel with friendly vendors, but as shoppers, we need to be sure we don’t take this relaxed feel too literally and are following common practices when it comes to etiquette….
Farmers’ Market Etiquette for Vendors
General craft show etiquette should be followed for Farmers’ Markets as well to ensure you’re giving the shopper a great experience and that you’re helping the event run smoothly for the organizer (read our article on Craft Show Etiquette here). But there are a few other courtesies to keep in mind when it comes to…
How to Keep Sales Up at a Competitive Craft Show
Chances are, you’re not going to be the only one selling handmade goods under your category at a craft show. If it’s a popular craft show, it will be competitive to get shoppers’ attention and you’ll likely be competing with other jewelry designers, knitters and soap makers at any larger event. I don’t love the word…
How to Sell at an Outdoor Farmers’ Market
It’s outdoor market time! As you can tell by our Edmonton & Area and Red Deer & Area Market maps, there are a lot of outdoor markets to choose from. As a vendor, these are a great opportunity to get out and sell your goods! What could be better than standing outside on a warm…
5 FUN QUESTIONS THAT WILL SERIOUSLY IMPROVE YOUR BUSINESS
I love a little bit of homework when it comes to my business and I also think it’s important to always be looking at it with critical eyes. These are 5 questions that are fun to answer and incredibly important when it comes to creating a successful business. If answered with thought and implemented, you can make…
Printable Craft Show Checklist
Craft shows are a lot of work to prepare for and chances are you’ll be up late with finishing details the night before and up early the morning of. Here’s a list to help you get organized when you’re overworked and tired 😉 DOWNLOAD & PRINT OFF YOUR CRAFT FAIR CHECKLIST HERE Items on the…
Tips for Selling at Vintage Markets
Vintage markets are so fun to wander around and discover not only antiques but also handmade goods with a rustic feel, upcycled and re-purposed goods. Great finds for your home and great for the environment! There are some seriously amazing vintage markets out there and we got to chat with 4 in B.C and Alberta…
How to Turn Social Media Likes into Sales
Social media stats have sucked us into thinking that thousands of followers and hundreds of likes equals success. So small businesses spend their days bouncing from one social media account to another, following, liking, commenting and sharing in hopes that the favor is returned. They follow people they have no interest in, only to unfollow them when…
10 Tips for Buying a Vendor Tent for Outdoor Markets
Nothing beats standing outside in the sunshine, talking about your passion and selling your handmade goods at an outdoor market. But you don’t want to suffer at the hand of weather extremes so if you’re a vendor looking to participate in outdoor markets, you’ll need an outdoor vendor tent. They’ll shelter you from the sweltering…
HOW BUILDING YOUR BUSINESS IS LIKE DATING & HOW THE THEORY CAN HELP YOU SELL MORE
We know that you need to find the right customers for your business. But so many businesses don’t make it clear who they are or who their products are for out of fear they’ll be excluding people. If there are two people at a party you’re interested in, one is drawn to people who are quiet and reserved while…