Post Craft Show Checklist: 7 Things To Do After an Event

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 much-needed rest).

1 – Take Stock

Not only do you need to look at your product inventory to determine what you need to make more of, but you should also take stock of items such as:

• price tags
• shopping bags
• business cards
• etc.

You don’t want to pack these things away, then realize a couple of days before your next show that you’re almost out.

Place orders for anything you need to restock.

 

2 – Post to social media

Hopefully, you have new social media followers after marketing to each shopper who stopped by your booth (6 Marketing Mistakes Craft Show Vendors Make).

Now is the time to post something so they see it, interact with the post, and are reminded of your business.

Try to relate the first post or two to the event, so new followers make the connection (oh, right! I stopped by their booth at the craft show this weekend).

You might thank everyone who stopped by your booth, share a photo of it, and let followers know you’ll be restocking your online store this week.

Or you could share a photo of your bestselling product, mention how many lucky craft show shoppers took one home, and link to the product in your online store.

 

3 – Send a newsletter

If you promoted your newsletter at the craft show, you’ll also have new newsletter subscribers (How to Grow your Newsletter at a Craft Show (free printable signup forms))

You’ll want to send an email out in the next week or two, while their memory of your business is fresh.

Welcome new people to your list, mention the craft show (that some of your subscribers may have discovered you at), and perhaps offer an incentive for them to check out your online store.

For example, you may let them know your online shop is updated with fresh new stock or that you’re running a promotion and you’re giving your newsletter subscribers a head start on shopping the deals before you share them on social media.

 

4 – Follow up with leads

Craft shows are a great place to meet local shop owners. If you were lucky enough to have one stop by your booth and chat about them carrying your products, be sure to touch base with them within a few days.

Remind them of your business and conversation (e.g. did they ask you to send them a lookbook?) and let them know the next steps (e.g. “I’ve attached a copy of my lookbook and linesheet to this email, as well as instructions for placing an order…”).

 

5 – Crunch numbers

It’s important to look at your sales stats and conversion numbers after each event, so you can determine what’s working, what’s not, and plan accordingly, so you have better sales at your next event.

Here are several stats you should track at craft shows and calculate after: 

>> 7 Stats to Track at Craft Shows (to improve sales)

>> How To Use Conversion Rates to Increase Sales

 

6 – Make notes

I don’t know about you, but my memory doesn’t always serve me well.

So although I think I’ll remember which items I should leave at home next event and whether or not the craft show was a good one and worth selling at again, I often don’t.

Make notes right after the event with details about:

• type of shoppers
• the organizer
• attendance
• information outside of sales stats (e.g. which item did shoppers gravitate to first, or pick up the most?)
• which items sold the fastest?
• comments from shoppers
• what worked well and what didn’t work well for your booth setup and display?

 

7 – Thank the event organizer

If you enjoyed the craft show and hope to participate in the organizer’s next event, it’s a good idea to reach out to them and thank them for all the effort they put in.

Everyone likes to feel appreciated, and they likely worked really hard to put on a good show.

Acknowledge that hard work, let them know you enjoyed yourself and hope to participate in their next event.