Crafts Shows- How much Inventory should you bring, helpful tips....
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
United States
January 25, 2008 10:02am CST
With the late winter/ early spring craft shows starting to pop up, let's share tips and ideas on how to prepare.
In a thread that had been started yesterday... here's how much inventory you should bring with you to a craft show.
As a jeweler, I always bring a decent back-up supply of pieces to fill in open areas when I make a sale. Most of my show pieces fit in a few small 3 drawer containers and a large tote for my knitted items. Actually, my display pieces take up more room than my items!
My first tip for shows... business cards are a must! I've often made a sale after the show to someone who came by my table, saw something they liked and picked up my business card and contacted my at a later date.
Okay, who else has something to share? Ideas and tips welecome! (but please, no links!)
2 people like this
6 responses
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
25 Jan 08
We've only done 2 crafts shows and didn't do particularly well at either one but we are just starting and working on building up our inventory.
I displayed 'everything' we had the first show and only sold a couple pieces. But, there were also very few customers and talking to other ventors they didn't do well either.
The second show I did the same thing but there were a lot more people and we sold more - still not what I would have liked to but again other ventors reported not doing as well as they had in years past at the same show.
LOL - we have business cards but at this point have actually exchanged cards with more vendors than customers.
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
26 Jan 08
I do alot of craft sales and festivals. I bring enough inventory to fill my display tables and just a little extra. I have learned that you never can tell how many people are actually going to show as when I sign up I go according to attendence....and gauge my inventory by that. I also do art festivals and do better at them then craft sales. I do sell more artsy stuff...my books, framed poetry, greeting cards and painted windows. It is also said that if your booth or area smells good you attract more buyers like a vanilla spray you spritz occasionally on you table cloths etc. My daughter and I did quite a few last year...and I think having your tables very neat and appealing helps. I have seen some with wrinkled tablecloths etc and they just don't sell as much. They don't really look professional.
1 person likes this
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
31 Jan 08
Biz cards are DEFINATELY a must! and I also liked having a brochure/flyer type thing to put in the bags too, letting ppl know what I had to offer etc etc....
Always bring MORE items than you think you'll need..sometimes you wont need them but other times you'll have a high sales day and definately will need them! My attitude was always better to be safe then sorry!
also IMO always have a nice display, always have samples (if your product CAN have samples of course) and keep a pad and pen handy, you never know whether or not you'll need it..
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
31 Jan 08
All great ideas! I will often have a small " table gift" that anyone can sign up for. I display the item/items and at the shows end, I'll ask the vendor next to me to select a number (or 2 depending on the # of gifts I'm giving away) and these will be the winners. Since the winners are often local, I mail them their gifts and include a copy of my ETSY page and a few business cards.
Almost 50% of the table gift winners have either purchased from me through my ETSY shop or contacted me through via email about purchasing an item.
I haven't used the email addresses in any way, but I think the addresses I collect this year, I may use in the late fall/early winter to send out a newsletter about my ETSY shop with a discount offer and include a list of shows I'll be attending during the winter.
Thanks for your response!!
@HUNTERSMOM (47)
• United States
28 Jan 08
I belive it is just so hard to say I think it all depends on what people are looking for at that time. I think people are really looking at how they spend their money. Good Luck!
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
28 Jan 08
That might be, but I think a lot of people will make an impulse buy if they see a quality item at a good price. If people consider it to be a good value, they'll usually buy it becuase they know it's handmade.
Thanks for your comments.
@dvschic (1795)
• United States
25 Jan 08
i didn't do well at my past two to three craft shows. i sell soy/vegan candles and crafts that accompany them.. but it just didn't go well. i wonder if i did something wrong. i had a nice layout, not too crowded but with at least one of all my types out.. give me some hints, love to hear them!
1 person likes this
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
25 Jan 08
I could suggest a couple of things that might help. IMO, you have a niche market that you sell to. Possibly having a couple of votives to give away, with a business card of course can help you expand your market base.
If anyone comes to your table, always smile, no matter how bad the show is going. If they stop to talk, talk a bit about your products, how safe they are for them and the environment. If they seem interested, perhaps a sample votive.
I always like to put out a small bowl of candy, usually hard candy or wrapped peppermints and a couple of business cards nearby. You'll be suprised at how many people spot that bowl and make their way over, pick up a piece of candy, your business card and really spend a few moments looking at your table.
Help promote the show. I always ask the promoters to email me a flyer, so I can promote the show. I scan it into my computer and add my "CreationsByRobin" to it and place it at the local grocery store, convenience stores, laundromat, etc. Leave a couple cards with each flyer and you may find customers searching you out at a show, or emailing you for purchases. You never know where your next customer is going to come from... a little leg-work helps promote the show and yourself.
Have you tried selling your creations on ETSY.com? If you haven't, take a look there, you'll find a very large vegan market at Etsy and you may do very well there. It's only for handmade items, but there is a HUGE vegan/organic/environmentally safe following there.
Thanks for your response!!
1 person likes this
@qbranchltd (129)
• United States
25 Jan 08
I have just posted an article about this on my blog site
http://qbranchltd.blogspot.com
The article goes into how much inventory to bring rather extensively. Search through the site archives for other craft tips. Sorry for the link but it is a lot to repeat here.
We just set up for a craft show and had to fit our 10x10 display into an 8x8 space. We were able to get it all in without looking terribly cramped for space. It is always important to have several layout plans for your booth - space sizes change from show to show.
1 person likes this
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
27 Jan 08
Thanks for the comments. I agree about having several layouts- it is very important to be able to adjust on the fly. I always talk with the promoters about location size, so I can do a mock-set-up a night or two earlier.
