The Top Reason Shoppers Complain About A Craft Show

Many things can go wrong with a craft show, but in general, shoppers are understanding of most.

But there’s one thing they are most likely to complain about (based on reading hundreds of 1-star reviews from popular craft shows).

 

#1 Complaint: Lack of Creativity

 

Consumers flock to craft shows to find unique items that their friends and family won’t already own.

They want to be asked, “Where did you get that?!” when they wear their new necklace, or display a cool piece of art in their home.

They want to be the ones who discover a unique local business and can recommend it to friends.

To ensure you’re the vendor who stands out at a craft show and helps ensure they don’t walk away empty-handed and disappointed, follow these 5 tips.

 

1 – Target someone new

Instead of going for a smaller piece of a big pie, look for the smaller pie.

When everyone who creates macrame wall hangings targets a customer with a bohemian-style home, a macrame artist could target people who decorate their homes in a modern farmhouse or coastal style.

Although the majority of people interested in macrame wall hangings love a bohemian style, they have many vendors to choose from.

Most macrame booths have a boho-vibe and focus on earth tone colors.

A booth full of blue and white macrame wall hangings and more wave/water-inspired knot patterns will stand out. It will likely also be the only vendor for shoppers to buy from if they want coastal-style wall decor.

Think about the different groups of people or how people might categorize themselves.

What are common interests or passions people identify with?

For example, someone might label themselves a foodie, coffee lover, or pickleball enthusiast.

How can you create products for a group of people?

>> Soap infused with coffee and coffee beans

>> Candles that smell like popular coffee drinks (e.g. caramel macchiato)

>> Art for coffee bars and kitchens

>> Coffee-themed jewelry (e.g. coffee bean pendants, coffee cup earrings, jewelry stamped with coffee phrases (e.g. “but first, coffee”), coffee-themed charm bracelets, etc.)

>> Bags made from coffee-printed fabrics or with coffee phrases printed on them

Etc.

You don’t want to go too small with your target market, but there’s lots of room to think outside the box.

 

2 – Spruce up your display

You can put a different spin on a common product by presenting it in a unique way.

For example:

>> A bag vendor may present their Summer collection to look like an ice cream stand.

>> A candle vendor may set up their booth to feel like a cozy living room.

>> A scrunchie vendor may set up their table to look like a flower kiosk. But instead of flowers spilling out of pots, buckets, and vases, they’re floral-printed or floral-coloured scrunchies.

>> A soap vendor may set up their table to look like a candy bar.

Think outside the box and give shoppers something out-of-the-ordinary to explore.

It’s not only about the products you’re selling; it’s also about the experience you create.

 

3 – Zag away from big-box stores

If consumers are seeing certain products and trends in big box stores, similar items at a craft show will seem less unique, trendy, or special.

It can be tempting to jump on a popular trend, but a small business is often late to the party once a big corporation has already started offering products in that trend.

For many people who shop at craft shows, they consider something “untrendy” or “too mainstream” once it can be found in big-box stores.

So be sure to research what the big chains are offering when it comes to your products and try to find a way to go in the opposite direction.

If that feels too risky, you can try putting a different spin on a trend.

For example:

>> If gold minimalistic jewelry is trendy, try focusing on minimalistic styles in silver.

>> If candles in modern white glass jars with black labels are popular, try colourful jars or labels to match popular decor paint trends.

>> If canvas tote bags with kitschy phrases printed on them are popular, try offering more elevated or sophisticated tote bags.

Look for common themes you see in big-box stores and even on sites like Etsy. If you’re tired of seeing a specific style/color/product everywhere, it’s likely that craft show shoppers are too.

 

Being creative is the best part of running a handmade business. But it’s important not to let your creativity run wild, or it can have the opposite effect and deter shoppers.

Your creativity should be focused so that you position yourself as an expert, create an eye-catching table, and attract the right customer.