I love how honest you are Lindsay. So often people will tell you all "what to do's" but often leave out the "what not's" and "what could have been done better". Thank you so much for sharing your personal experience, your advice is very much appreciated ( :
Listening to you saying "don't sell yourself short", gave me enough confidence go sing up for my first craft fair. I remembered everything I heard you said 5 months ago in this video so when I contacted them to request the vendor application the second thing I asked was, " what type of crafts/items/vendors you have booked already because I do multiple crafts and would like to come prepared for whatever you have the least of to have variety." Boy did the lady loved that I said that? (I'm guessing the same example you gave happened to them before) So she sent the packet right away and told me she was excited for me to come since I sounded l like I knew my business very well and she loved the pics i sent of my work. That made me feel good enough that on that very same afternoon I signed for my second craft fair. Now, I'm working my butt off to go to my first craft fair in a week and my second in 3 weeks all because of your words of encouragement and all your tips and recommendations!!! Thanks for helping uplift others in the art and crafts community! By the way, now I'm going back years in to your videos to re-watch all the craft show tips videos to refresh on all the info so I'm extra prepared. You are awesome and thank you very much!!!
Update: Those craft fairs went great for me a year ago and I did them this year also and it was good as well. I'm still watching your videos regularly and still loving them and, of course, I've rewatched many of them! Also, I did the "original watercolor" sign for the craft fairs last year and this year again and for some reason (probably because it's not common in my little city) everyone says, "Oh, really", with an incredulous face. So I go ahead and tell explain that I make the wc and wc cards myself and I have now a few that I keep aside so that people can touch them, feel them and see that they are actually wc originals painted by me because a lot of them think that it's a mini lithograph or something printed on wc paper since I keep them in sealed celo bags to protect them.
Cheers for this, I been tryin to find out about "christmas craft fairs near me" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you heard people talk about - Honsaac Qonandon Cure - (do a search on google )? It is a smashing one off product for getting Fairs And Festival listings minus the normal expense. Ive heard some unbelievable things about it and my partner got great success with it.
Your honesty and generosity towards others is astounding. I either get great watercolour advice, a life lesson on kindness towards others, or you crack me up. Either way your videos are always worth my watching. Thanks so much.
Winner of a video, I've been looking for "crafts fair near me" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you ever come across - Honsaac Qonandon Cure - (should be on google have a look )? It is a smashing one of a kind product for getting Fairs And Festival listings minus the headache. Ive heard some incredible things about it and my mate got amazing results with it.
cherylynn927 The rising tide lifts all boats:) If more crafters do well at craft fairs there will be more crafters doing craft fairs and more people going to craft fairs so it is good for all!
i dont mean to be offtopic but does someone know a trick to log back into an instagram account..? I somehow lost my account password. I would appreciate any tricks you can give me
Oh my Lindsey! You've got to be one of the best UA-camrs out there for info on arts and crafts info and marketing. Thank you so much for sharing what you've learned...the great, the good and oops, that didn't work out. You've got a generous heart and contagious spirit! I'm just beginning to get started in a/c instruction and sales (mostly paper-crafting right now) Thank you so much! Nancy, Bethesda, MD.
What you shared was genius! For years, I resisted the hassle of creating my own ecommerce website because I thought that my Etsy shop was enough. What I found several times though, was that many customers would get excited seeing items for sale from other Etsy shops as well and then they would end up buying from them instead. It felt like I was doing so much promotion just to benefit other artists. I finally invested all of the time and money into my own site and now, the sales have been finally coming my way! Thank you for your awesome video. I love your energy!
Interesting video. I have done a number of craft fairs, and have found by far the most frustrating thing is the people who think a craft fair is a flea market. No, I will not give it to you for less or 3 for $5 or whatever. It is just insulting. Most people have no idea how much time and money goes into these works of art, and I absolutely refuse to give in to that kind of pressure to make a buck. I give you a lot of credit. But your artwork is beautiful, and I hope you are asking for enough money for your items because they are so worth it.
SusanScrapPassion I really have not had to deal with hagglers and the owner of the antiques mall where I sell will not haggle, it is what it is for price and people seem cool with it. Some people just like to haggle though LOL!
One of the things that I make sure of is how my table is set. Even having a nice clean AND ironed table cloth makes a difference, not some Rag. Also, display needs to have Height - and there's free space behind the Table - such as a firm Back drop. I have used LUAN doors which are place right behind the table as IF it's a wall. This way the eye travels up as well as down. Placing things in front of the table makes it hard to bring people UP to the table...so the floor should be clear. Just from my own experience.
I'm totally addicted to your videos! I organise events which often have craft stalls and I NEVER duplicate stalls. I get a lot of frustration from people when they get turned away because we already have a stall like theirs and I have to explain that if they were here first, and I duplicated their stall, they would miss out. I'm glad you've reiterated that in this video :)
As far as people asking if there are similar crafts already in a fair, I am always shocked that no one asks me this. I put on the largest and best craft show in my county and I limit my like crafts. The floor map for the show is spread out over three large spaces and three smaller spaces within a school but I still don't want 20 people with crochet-top kitchen towels. lol I pride myself on the unique crafters and advertise it as such. The feedback I get it fantastic!
You are absolutely right about asking if some one else is selling what you are. It is totally wrong for the coordinator of a fair, etc. to let someone sell the same thing. I was one of the first few signed up to do a vendor show, asked that question, was told no one else was, then the flyer went out, and there was another selling the same thing. I told her that I had asked this at the time I signed up and you agree that no one else would be, and I see you have some one else signed up now listed on your. So, I told her that I could not do it and wanted a refund on my booth per her original agreement. She apologized and refunded me my money. This is a person who had not arranged this type of event before and was unfamiliar with the vendors she signed up. Sometimes they are more worried about making money off the table sold, and not supporting those who are helping them make money off the event. This is just my opinion.
pesto12601 you mkae a point BUT there are so many kinds of crafts, even within a genre so organizers can try not to book duplicate vendors. Sure have a person who make beaded jewelry, and a wireworker and a lampworker, those are all unique but 12 people selling beaded jewelry is too much. There was only 1 knitter and no one with doll clothes. Soaps and creams are varied too, you could even have a goats milk product booth and a beeswax product booth but not 3 beeswax people, KWIM. Especially at a show with $100 or more tables, you can expect duplicates if you are paying less than $25 a table because they need to fill the hall but more expensive should be more exclusive to the amount of the same crafts they allow. If the crafters do not sell well they will not be back and the shows will fail.
THANK YOU! It makes it harder sometimes to get into a craft fair but as a paper crafter I want to make sure that I am the only paper crafter selling at that craft fair. I went to one a few years ago and while I was the only paper crafter selling handmade cards I was not the only paper crafter there. There were also multiple bags, kitchen, and make up direct sellers there too. It was very hard to make any money from that fair.
I just did an Autumn Festival at my local church. It never gets a lot of foot traffic but it's free. I got my first credit card reader for my phone for it. Fortunately and unfortunately I didn't get a lot of card sales. It took a while to get it to work because, A) it was my first time using it and B) I didn't get a very strong signal from where I was at. So make sure your phone will be able to work wherever you are at. If I had just taken the spot across the isle from me I would have been able to use the building's wifi. So be sure to take that into consideration.
I agree that coordinators need to do their homework. I went to a small town craft fair recently in the basement of a church and there was NOT one single seller that had handmade crafts. It was literally all a bunch of stuff like Avon, Mary Kay, Tupperware, thirty One purses, etc. I was so disappointed because my mother and I drove 25 miles each way to get there and we walked out with nothing. I felt bad for the sellers too because there were duplicates of almost each brand. I saw only 2 people walking around with a bag. They marketed it as a craft fair. Those items aren't crafts. Needless to say, if they hold it again this coming year, we won't drive that far for it.
I was at a craft show one Christmas season, helping my husband sell his handcrafted soap, that was held at a casino. That was a BIG mistake. People at casinos are NOT interested in buying handcrafted items. All us vendors felt like we were part of the hotel's lobby Christmas decor as many vendors were selling Christmas theme crafts items. The people just passed us by as they quickly hustled themselves to the slot machines, etc. They were willing to pay lots of money to gamble but not to buy high quality, unique and handcrafted items. At the end of the day, the craft show coordinators were apologizing to all of us vendors, saying that they didn't realize how single minded (dare I say simple minded) the gamblers at the casino really were. So, always check WHERE the craft show will be held and if it is a first year trial event. I learned the hard way. Casinos are NOT the place for a craft show.
I had the same experience at a racetrack. It was a Mother's Day show and sounded great, but I found that people were only interested in playing the horses. In fact, I had a couple of guys try to write me checks for more than the amount of the item so that they could get cash back -- a big no, no!
That's become a trend that really upsets me. When I go to a CRAFT show, I expect handmade items. I've been to so many shows in the last few years that are over half direct sales vendors, and it upsets me when I waste my time going to them.
Where I live it's become very common .Even at Farmer's Markets you will see someone selling stuff like Tupperware. Then there are the Jewelry companies. Made it harder for me to sell my handcrafted jewelry .
It's so true! You have to see who else is selling what at these craft fairs. A few years back when I was doing jewelry exclusively, I did some craft fairs where there were so many people selling the same thing, I didn't make any sales that day. It happens more than people realize. TFS Hugs ~ Pat
How can I get a PayPal card reader? I want to start signing up for craft shows but I'm confused how people will pay if they don't have cash. Also do you all take checks when selling your items?
Irma Patton if you have a PayPal account apply for a merchant card same as debit card. then request for a reader to be sent to you. both are free for the asking, although there is a processing fee to accept charge cards via the reader.
You are truly amazing. It's so great of you to share what you learn with everyone so that they can be successful in their business ventures. You offered great advice in this video and I am so appreciative of your willingness to share your knowledge. Thank you, Lindsay!!
Lindsay thanks SO MUCH for your wisdom and “sale sense”. My sister in law and I do just one show a year right now and last year was our first. Watching your video and suggestion about taking credit cards was SO spot on! Thanks again for sharing!
When I started taking credit cards it more than doubled my business. I sell jewelry and other items. Thank you for your channel it's great. I am now learning water color painting and have done a few of your painting tutorials and it's so much fun. Thanks again and God bless.
I agree about the venues not having multiple vendors selling the same type of crafts. I participated in one craft fair that ended up being a LuLaRoe event with about 20 LuLaRoe vendors! I also think that Craft Fairs should be limited to crafts, so many of these events tend to be Avon, Tupperware, Pampered Chef and Origami Owl or Paparazzi vendors selling their company items. I even suggested to the coordinator that they might benefit from having a different event and limit it to that type of vendors without handmade crafts.
Good piece of advice, but honestly, when I attend these kind of events, I don't expect vendors to have the ability to take credit. I load up on all the cash that I want to spend and THEN attend the event. This also keeps me from overspending and makes me think about my purchases, so as a buyer I prefer the cash only method.
As a buyer, sometimes I stumble upon these type of events. Including yard sales, I don't plan to go, I just make the stop. So it's great that some vendors do take plastic, I don't miss out on a one of a kind item
I've got my Square reader all ready for my first craft fair. In fact, I've had the reader for several years, just waiting for an opportunity to use it, and it still works! Don't leave home without it. UPDATE: I attended my first little craft fair in a school in December, and I would have missed a $20 sale if I hadn't used my Square reader. So that sucker is coming with me everywhere anywhere.
what app did you use for your square reader? I’m doing my first craft fair on November 16th and bought a square reader for it. But I’m hesitant on which app to use that won’t over charge me with fees. I have an iPad and that’s what I’ll be using.
This is such a great informative video, Lindsay. Shows very important, thoughtful ideas about craft shows. If I ever decided to do it, I'd definitely re-watch this and take specific notes.
You will always get a thumbs up from me...no matter what the subject was! I love your videos and watch from start to finish even tho' I know I will never try some of the things you show...now that's loyalty...just sayin'. Todays tips are great and I know the info will be so useful to many. I have a craft room full of my creations and sell word of mouth only cause I am the worst marketer! So to end this ramble, I love your confidence and your energy! TFS Anita
Anita Holmes thanks! I think that crafters should get together and price each other's stuff because that is the hardest thing, to assign a price to something you made, we ALL lack a bit of confidence here, you are not alone:)
You are so right on with your tips! Thnx for sharing! Got out of shows for a few years but I'm going back & the tips help me know what I need now compared to a few years ago! Thanks doll, love watching your channel!
Great tips! Taking credit cards is 🔑 to do at craft fairs! Also, I get so frustrated going to a craft fair and seeing ten vendors doing the same things! A good Coordinator will make sure they do not duplicate. Of course they want to fill their spaces and might end up duplicating due to that. I’ve been on both sides as a vendor and coordinator. It’s a balancing act for sure.
I learned early on when I was checking out the territories of several venues Lindsay that a lot of folks said they were loosing money due to not taking credit cards so the first thing I did before I ever did a "show" was to get my easy pay set up so that wouldn't happen to me however the tip about too many of the same vendors was one I could have used awhile back lol Love your energy!
Thank you for sharing your experience. I use Square for my CC purchases. It is not expensive and had alteady paid for itself! One Very Important Tip-- if you do a Booth Share with a fellow crafter all of these tips apply to that! PLUS make sure if you are putting the deposit on the booth space up front, that you get your reimbursement from you booth sharer Before the show starts. Do not ever let them slide. I went $200 in the hole last year with "booth sharing" and Did not get paid. Now these ladies are also my friends but this left a sore spot and makes me less wiling to share.. So get that booth money from the get go.. don't let them say. .. oh I will pay you after the show...because then they'll say... oh can I pay you next week I didnt get any sales today...blah blah. No. No. No. Upfront or no sharing! Also on that same note if you do share-- Make sure you have Equal quantity of items in your shared space don't let them "take over" the space because they brought EveryThing They Ever Made!
Yep when I do the mega sale at the fairgrounds the lady in charge asks what you sell. I was the only Stampin Up Demo but I also had the close to my heart lady there also. One issue I did have is a customer came in and handed out Stampin Up catalogs and then another Demo was helping her son and brought her catalogs. So even if they ask, there is not always a guarantee if they don't enforce the policy. I agree it is an important question to ask.
I usually do the juried craft fairs and they only allow maybe 2 of each kind of vendor and sometimes only one of each so they can be a little harder to get into but if you get your applications in early, you have the best shot (and with your app you usually need to have photos of your setup and your products and you cant sell things that you didnt mention to them in your app that you had).
I am a Crocheter and Loom Knitter. I will be selling at the Maple Ridge Farmers Market fall fair Saturday, November 12 2016. My items are: 10 knitted loom camouflaged baby hats for $5.00 each, 10 knitted adult hats for $10.00 each, Etc. We will be there from 9am - 9pm.
This helped me a lot. We had our car show/craft fair yesterday and I am thinking about doing it for next year. Great ideas. As I was walking around, I did not see anyone selling what I want to. I made a point to look. These were great tips. TFS!
I worked at a fairgrounds where we put on a huge Christmas Craft Fair. One thing to ask is attendance numbers and always have some cheaper things even if it is high end.
Love that you share all your knowledge and experience! You really are a fountain of information!!! I know that on the ask a crafter the girls look flabbergasted that you have some sort of knowledge for every question!
I stopped going to one local college arts and crafts show because what had started out as a "Hand Made ONLY" show has now become a fraud show. Many vendors are now buying "made in China" items, signing their names on them and marketing it as handmade. Very frustrating for those vendors who genuinely make thier items by hand and take pride in what they make. I felt so sorry for customers who were being told.."Oh I and my family stay up for nights on end painting all these things by hand" NOT!
Thanks so much for sharing your experience. It was very helpful and informative. I am in charge of a small boutique sale and several people are selling jewelry. I never thought to ask what kind. I will do that. Our sale isn’t until November so I have time to explore the possibility of duplication. I love your videos and your ability to paint. I wish I was half as talented as you. Thanks again
Just wonderful, I been tryin to find out about "art and crafts fairs" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you ever come across - Honsaac Qonandon Cure - (do a search on google )? It is a smashing one off product for getting Fairs And Festival listings minus the headache. Ive heard some pretty good things about it and my cousin got cool success with it.
Thanks Lindsay, This was very timely for me. Just finished a small craft fair but the upcoming fair in October will be bigger and getting a card reader is now at the top of my list. I am always interested in any and all information on selling craft items to the public. So, keep them coming! Hoping to be on line with my purses this fall so will also check out Volusions.
Thanks, I know this is like 3 years later that I'm leaving this comment, but it was really great advice, as I have been told by others that several of my items I make for family members and friends as gifts that I should be making to sell, so I'm going to try it at a craft fair/show coming up this year in October. That is a very good question to ask if you don't call right away. All of your information was on point, like what the audience is, and sometimes I have found just by going to some craft fairs/shows that even if it is in an upscale neighborhood, if it is at a church, it doesn't necessarily mean the prices or the stuff being sold there is going to appear upscaled. Which I thought was weird, but then again it was for a school, and the other was at a church. So I guess it was geared more toward church goers and people who went to that school.
I love your channel. Will be doing my first craft table in October. Prayerfully all will go well. Do you have advice on how to juggle a full time job and make room to make things. Sometimes I'm so tired from crafting and i get so excited in making things and lose track of time to get in bed. Then when I get to bed my mind just race with so many ideas. Thank you so much :)
Thank you Lindsay for such wonderful advice. I have been thinking about doing some craft fairs and you ave provided e with some extremely valuable information. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Good tips!! If it’s an annual craft show, I’ve started to ask how many people did they have go thru last year! I didnone craft show where there were more vendors than shoppers!! It was in an excellent location at a good time of year and there were quality vendors there with a wide variety of goods!! It all could be laid at the feet of the show’s promoter and little to no advertising!! I don’t think any of those vendors did another of her shows! 2 items were the most any of us sold! Worst one I had ever been to for attendance !!
Some will ask what you are making, so it’s not too many doing the same thing ! Depending how big a craft show is, this way they can limit the vendors , Tip ......always have new items at each show if you do same shows every year , I constantly add new items and have heard “it’s the same old stuff “ and smiling when I hear oh! Look this lady always has different items ! Have a nice display, and don’t just leave items on your table Try layering you can use many things to lift your items up ..... wrap boxes In cloth and have nice containers put on top, use covered cans to display your stuff ! TAKE CREDIT CARDS ! Make your display using baskets, or items you can display stuff on,
Last year I did a craft show at a senior center. It was nice for the residents, because they didn't have to go out to shop - we brought the crafts to them :) The public was invited and they did a great job at advertising. The only downside was the coordinator forgot to UNLOCK the security doors!!! The public couldn't even get in if they wanted to. This wasn't figured out until the end of the day when all the crafters were remarking on what a low turn out we had :P Ugghhhh!
Wow! Landed here looking for craft show tips. Great video, really helpful advice, and from an exciting animated artist! I love that you're so forthcoming about your experiences. I laughed with your "duh" about accepting credit cards. I have a similar story. Maybe a bit worse! I let a family member convince me I wouldn't need a cc processor for my first show. It was a craft fair at my mother's active adult retirement community. She insisted "No one pays with credit cards here. We all carry cash." Honestly, I knew better. But I didn't want to get caught. And I didn't have time to figure out how I could conceal & carry my iPhone and card reader. How would I let a "client" know I dealt in plastic? I'd have to conduct these mobile transactions in the "STAFF ONLY" alley I shared with the world's oldest tupperware lady. And she already didn't like me. She overheard me complaining to the coordinator about my location. The gist of it was "I'm an artist. I don't want to be near that lady peddling poisonous plastic food preservers." She plays bridge with mom and would have snitched. Can I say "THIS IS HARD! I make and sell fine art gourds and handcrafted jewelry. Besides blunders with fellow craft show vendors, I'm drowning in details of running my business. How much research is enough. How many reviews and opinions can one person endure about one tiny little detail - your domain name. "Choose wisely, Grasshopper, or you will surely fail." AHHHH Really? And don't ask me about SEO. If you don't know what SEO is take my advice: if someone tries to steal your blissful ignorance by offering to explain SEO or sell you a service that does SEO for you . . . COVER YOUR EARS AND RUN! My inbox is stuffed with offers to try every imaginable and unheard of ecommerce website. This journey is a mine field of scams, fine print disclaimers, and misleading advice. But. And this is a BIG BUT. I've never had so much fun. And I've never felt more satisfaction. And I've never enjoyed work so much as doing this. Making art and being in charge of my own life. Doing what I love to do. Thank you, Lindsay, for your recommendation about Volusion. I will check it out.
+David Bryan McCracken Good luck David:) You don't need to know or do everything to be successful, find a few things that work and develop them. It is a fun journey!
What is a higher end craft fair & how do you know it's higher end? I'm going to get started next summer. Do you know of any magazines, newsletters or websites I should be subscribed to or following?
Our little local fair, well it's huge actually, has a limit on who sells what and it's pretty competitive. First come, first served and they have to see some of your work.
I learned today, from a fellow crafter, that being able to take credit cards actually costs the crafters more money than they loose by not selling items to credit card customers. Credit cards only work for big business, not for small businesses.
I sold at a craft fair for many years. I was the only one selling paper craft/ treat items. Then, last year they had someone else selling my stuff, and a third person selling one of my products (paper crafts/candy treats) at their crochet booth. I was annoyed as I was promised I would be the only one selling my type of item. The craft fair is too small for duplicates of some items. This year they had a note on the sign-up form that you could not sell anything not written on the application at the point you were accepted into the fair, and if you brought things not on your application they could ask you to remove them. Yea!
Great video Lindsay thank you for your honesty as always! Great info and tips too us all, good to know these things thanks!!! Thank you for sharing!!!! Hugs Liz x
I have a unique soccer training book I'm gonna finish soon. Along with a unique soccer board game. And last but not least I have a one size fits all portable soccer goal. Think I'd do well at a craft fair ?
GREAT TIPS Lindsay, I'm looking for flea markets (aka craft fair) here in the Bavarian area. Just finding the dadgum thing is a challenge. Up a creek with little or no knowledge of where to find a paddle. But I'mmmm gettin' there - fast! :)
Hi Lindsay, thanks for this GREAT information. I'm intrigued by your grab bags. Could you tell us more about them (what's in them, price point, packaging, etc?) either via a reply or via a video? This sounds like a great idea and I'd love to know more about it. Thanks!
Dishkitty Studio $5 bags had $10 worth of jewelry (2 pairs of earrings) and the $10 grab bags have $35 worth of jewelry or more! it is a great way to clear out older designs that are not selling as well to make room for new, it is all good stuff tough, no junk:) It's great for people to by at Christmas because they can give the individual items as gifts and save a bundle. I sell out at Christmastime.
***** I agree, kee[p people on your turf and if you are listing a lot of things it will be cheaper too! Is your store open yet? Leave a link if you want so we can check it out!
Accepting credit cards is absolute must. I am not sure how those that even occasionally sell at shows do not realize that cash only is long gone. Forget about cash and have a square reader. In pretty much all of my events I have not encountered one vendor that did cash only... you will loose 80% of sales if not more if you do cash only. You have to ask organizer how many folks of your type they have but they always have multiples when it comes to handmade artists. And organizer will tell you if they reached their limit. Good organizers wont overbook one type of art style or product type in order to keep the event diverse. You do want competition there, it is great for comparison shopping - esp when your work is better than another vendor's of course. Also you have to ask how many ppl are expected and the price tier they are targeting so you price your items accordingly. Of course company name that has the word "frugal" in it may not be the best fit for a more upscale event and may actually push customers away. So definitely do the research and try to get various aspects of your business in line with expectations of target audiences for best results. Or choose events that better fit your price range. And the table.... it was not bad but it was a very very simple craft fair type. For example, my table has height variations, beautiful props, draped floor length tableskirts - being in my booth is a relaxing for the eye experience and I always get compliments on my booth setup and my products. Booth designed well also draws customers in. Upscale events call for a beautiful booth - in this case your setup would not be a successful setup for an upscale show. Hope you tried to redo the booth design for events after this one and of course wishing you more success and more sales!
Great video! Even greater advice! Lol btw I had no idea u were from maine Lindsay! I live in the Augusta area and am attending my second craft fair ever in Lewiston on April 9th! Maybe I will c u there?! Lol
Lindsay, First, tfs your tips! Seeking your opinion... as a vendor, I regularly attend a local outdoor market that is open every Sat. during the warm months. I use a tent and have long debated whether to set up the display tables on the inside perimeter of the tent where I am inside and the customer is outside or should the tables be inside the tent where the customer would have to come in to view products. Have not set up on the inside yet as I feel like the customer may feel "trapped." Your thoughts?
I love how honest you are Lindsay. So often people will tell you all "what to do's" but often leave out the "what not's" and "what could have been done better". Thank you so much for sharing your personal experience, your advice is very much appreciated ( :
Listening to you saying "don't sell yourself short", gave me enough confidence go sing up for my first craft fair. I remembered everything I heard you said 5 months ago in this video so when I contacted them to request the vendor application the second thing I asked was, " what type of crafts/items/vendors you have booked already because I do multiple crafts and would like to come prepared for whatever you have the least of to have variety." Boy did the lady loved that I said that? (I'm guessing the same example you gave happened to them before) So she sent the packet right away and told me she was excited for me to come since I sounded l like I knew my business very well and she loved the pics i sent of my work. That made me feel good enough that on that very same afternoon I signed for my second craft fair. Now, I'm working my butt off to go to my first craft fair in a week and my second in 3 weeks all because of your words of encouragement and all your tips and recommendations!!!
Thanks for helping uplift others in the art and crafts community!
By the way, now I'm going back years in to your videos to re-watch all the craft show tips videos to refresh on all the info so I'm extra prepared. You are awesome and thank you very much!!!
Update: Those craft fairs went great for me a year ago and I did them this year also and it was good as well. I'm still watching your videos regularly and still loving them and, of course, I've rewatched many of them!
Also, I did the "original watercolor" sign for the craft fairs last year and this year again and for some reason (probably because it's not common in my little city) everyone says, "Oh, really", with an incredulous face. So I go ahead and tell explain that I make the wc and wc cards myself and I have now a few that I keep aside so that people can touch them, feel them and see that they are actually wc originals painted by me because a lot of them think that it's a mini lithograph or something printed on wc paper since I keep them in sealed celo bags to protect them.
aygo sounds good!
Cheers for this, I been tryin to find out about "christmas craft fairs near me" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you heard people talk about - Honsaac Qonandon Cure - (do a search on google )?
It is a smashing one off product for getting Fairs And Festival listings minus the normal expense. Ive heard some unbelievable things about it and my partner got great success with it.
Your honesty and generosity towards others is astounding. I either get great watercolour advice, a life lesson on kindness towards others, or you crack me up. Either way your videos are always worth my watching. Thanks so much.
Janoo Orenot aww, thanks:)
Winner of a video, I've been looking for "crafts fair near me" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you ever come across - Honsaac Qonandon Cure - (should be on google have a look )?
It is a smashing one of a kind product for getting Fairs And Festival listings minus the headache. Ive heard some incredible things about it and my mate got amazing results with it.
I love your openness and honesty, looking out for everyone and not just you! So refreshing! Hugs
cherylynn927 The rising tide lifts all boats:) If more crafters do well at craft fairs there will be more crafters doing craft fairs and more people going to craft fairs so it is good for all!
thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich That is a wonderful comment! You are a great lady!
thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich I love your phrase! Great video. You are fantastic!
i dont mean to be offtopic but does someone know a trick to log back into an instagram account..?
I somehow lost my account password. I would appreciate any tricks you can give me
Oh my Lindsey! You've got to be one of the best UA-camrs out there for info on arts and crafts info and marketing. Thank you so much for sharing what you've learned...the great, the good and oops, that didn't work out. You've got a generous heart and contagious spirit! I'm just beginning to get started in a/c instruction and sales (mostly paper-crafting right now) Thank you so much! Nancy, Bethesda, MD.
What you shared was genius! For years, I resisted the hassle of creating my own ecommerce website because I thought that my Etsy shop was enough. What I found several times though, was that many customers would get excited seeing items for sale from other Etsy shops as well and then they would end up buying from them instead. It felt like I was doing so much promotion just to benefit other artists. I finally invested all of the time and money into my own site and now, the sales have been finally coming my way! Thank you for your awesome video. I love your energy!
Interesting video. I have done a number of craft fairs, and have found by far the most frustrating thing is the people who think a craft fair is a flea market. No, I will not give it to you for less or 3 for $5 or whatever. It is just insulting. Most people have no idea how much time and money goes into these works of art, and I absolutely refuse to give in to that kind of pressure to make a buck. I give you a lot of credit. But your artwork is beautiful, and I hope you are asking for enough money for your items because they are so worth it.
SusanScrapPassion I really have not had to deal with hagglers and the owner of the antiques mall where I sell will not haggle, it is what it is for price and people seem cool with it. Some people just like to haggle though LOL!
One of the things that I make sure of is how my table is set. Even having a nice clean AND ironed table cloth makes a difference, not some Rag. Also, display needs to have Height - and there's free space behind the Table - such as a firm Back drop. I have used LUAN doors which are place right behind the table as IF it's a wall. This way the eye travels up as well as down. Placing things in front of the table makes it hard to bring people UP to the table...so the floor should be clear. Just from my own experience.
I'm totally addicted to your videos! I organise events which often have craft stalls and I NEVER duplicate stalls. I get a lot of frustration from people when they get turned away because we already have a stall like theirs and I have to explain that if they were here first, and I duplicated their stall, they would miss out. I'm glad you've reiterated that in this video :)
I subscribed to your channel I would like more information about the events that you set up.
As far as people asking if there are similar crafts already in a fair, I am always shocked that no one asks me this. I put on the largest and best craft show in my county and I limit my like crafts. The floor map for the show is spread out over three large spaces and three smaller spaces within a school but I still don't want 20 people with crochet-top kitchen towels. lol I pride myself on the unique crafters and advertise it as such. The feedback I get it fantastic!
You are absolutely right about asking if some one else is selling what you are. It is totally wrong for the coordinator of a fair, etc. to let someone sell the same thing. I was one of the first few signed up to do a vendor show, asked that question, was told no one else was, then the flyer went out, and there was another selling the same thing. I told her that I had asked this at the time I signed up and you agree that no one else would be, and I see you have some one else signed up now listed on your. So, I told her that I could not do it and wanted a refund on my booth per her original agreement. She apologized and refunded me my money. This is a person who had not arranged this type of event before and was unfamiliar with the vendors she signed up. Sometimes they are more worried about making money off the table sold, and not supporting those who are helping them make money off the event. This is just my opinion.
pesto12601 you mkae a point BUT there are so many kinds of crafts, even within a genre so organizers can try not to book duplicate vendors. Sure have a person who make beaded jewelry, and a wireworker and a lampworker, those are all unique but 12 people selling beaded jewelry is too much. There was only 1 knitter and no one with doll clothes. Soaps and creams are varied too, you could even have a goats milk product booth and a beeswax product booth but not 3 beeswax people, KWIM. Especially at a show with $100 or more tables, you can expect duplicates if you are paying less than $25 a table because they need to fill the hall but more expensive should be more exclusive to the amount of the same crafts they allow. If the crafters do not sell well they will not be back and the shows will fail.
pesto12601 very true.
"A rising tide raises all boats!" HOW BEAUTIFUL! What a fabulous saying to end the video on. You have a subscriber out of me.
THANK YOU! It makes it harder sometimes to get into a craft fair but as a paper crafter I want to make sure that I am the only paper crafter selling at that craft fair. I went to one a few years ago and while I was the only paper crafter selling handmade cards I was not the only paper crafter there. There were also multiple bags, kitchen, and make up direct sellers there too. It was very hard to make any money from that fair.
I just did an Autumn Festival at my local church. It never gets a lot of foot traffic but it's free. I got my first credit card reader for my phone for it. Fortunately and unfortunately I didn't get a lot of card sales. It took a while to get it to work because, A) it was my first time using it and B) I didn't get a very strong signal from where I was at. So make sure your phone will be able to work wherever you are at. If I had just taken the spot across the isle from me I would have been able to use the building's wifi. So be sure to take that into consideration.
I agree that coordinators need to do their homework. I went to a small town craft fair recently in the basement of a church and there was NOT one single seller that had handmade crafts. It was literally all a bunch of stuff like Avon, Mary Kay, Tupperware, thirty One purses, etc. I was so disappointed because my mother and I drove 25 miles each way to get there and we walked out with nothing. I felt bad for the sellers too because there were duplicates of almost each brand. I saw only 2 people walking around with a bag. They marketed it as a craft fair. Those items aren't crafts. Needless to say, if they hold it again this coming year, we won't drive that far for it.
I was at a craft show one Christmas season, helping my husband sell his handcrafted soap, that was held at a casino. That was a BIG mistake. People at casinos are NOT interested in buying handcrafted items. All us vendors felt like we were part of the hotel's lobby Christmas decor as many vendors were selling Christmas theme crafts items.
The people just passed us by as they quickly hustled themselves to the slot machines, etc. They were willing to pay lots of money to gamble but not to buy high quality, unique and handcrafted items. At the end of the day, the craft show coordinators were apologizing to all of us vendors, saying that they didn't realize how single minded (dare I say simple minded) the gamblers at the casino really were.
So, always check WHERE the craft show will be held and if it is a first year trial event. I learned the hard way. Casinos are NOT the place for a craft show.
I had the same experience at a racetrack. It was a Mother's Day show and sounded great, but I found that people were only interested in playing the horses. In fact, I had a couple of guys try to write me checks for more than the amount of the item so that they could get cash back -- a big no, no!
That's become a trend that really upsets me. When I go to a CRAFT show, I expect handmade items. I've been to so many shows in the last few years that are over half direct sales vendors, and it upsets me when I waste my time going to them.
Where I live it's become very common .Even at Farmer's Markets you will see someone selling stuff like Tupperware. Then there are the Jewelry companies. Made it harder for me to sell my handcrafted jewelry .
It's so true! You have to see who else is selling what at these craft fairs. A few years back when I was doing jewelry exclusively, I did some craft fairs where there were so many people selling the same thing, I didn't make any sales that day. It happens more than people realize. TFS Hugs ~ Pat
I recently was a crochet and yarn vendor at a local festival and my Paypal/Visa card reader was a life saver!!
+Queen's Yarn Boutique I just got one of those and you're right, life saver for sure.
How can I get a PayPal card reader? I want to start signing up for craft shows but I'm confused how people will pay if they don't have cash. Also do you all take checks when selling your items?
Irma Patton if you have a PayPal account apply for a merchant card same as debit card. then request for a reader to be sent to you. both are free for the asking, although there is a processing fee to accept charge cards via the reader.
You are truly amazing. It's so great of you to share what you learn with everyone so that they can be successful in their business ventures. You offered great advice in this video and I am so appreciative of your willingness to share your knowledge. Thank you, Lindsay!!
Ruthy Traynor you are very welcome, I hat to see people dissapointed at the end of the day at craft fairs when their things are so lovely.
Lindsay - loved your video about how to make a living as an artist. Lots of good advice!! Two thumbs up! You are the best!! Wish we lived closer!!
Lindsay thanks SO MUCH for your wisdom and “sale sense”. My sister in law and I do just one show a year right now and last year was our first. Watching your video and suggestion about taking credit cards was SO spot on! Thanks again for sharing!
When I started taking credit cards it more than doubled my business. I sell jewelry and other items. Thank you for your channel it's great. I am now learning water color painting and have done a few of your painting tutorials and it's so much fun. Thanks again and God bless.
Nice!
I agree about the venues not having multiple vendors selling the same type of crafts. I participated in one craft fair that ended up being a LuLaRoe event with about 20 LuLaRoe vendors! I also think that Craft Fairs should be limited to crafts, so many of these events tend to be Avon, Tupperware, Pampered Chef and Origami Owl or Paparazzi vendors selling their company items. I even suggested to the coordinator that they might benefit from having a different event and limit it to that type of vendors without handmade crafts.
Good piece of advice, but honestly, when I attend these kind of events, I don't expect vendors to have the ability to take credit.
I load up on all the cash that I want to spend and THEN attend the event. This also keeps me from overspending and makes me think about my purchases, so as a buyer I prefer the cash only method.
As a buyer, sometimes I stumble upon these type of events. Including yard sales, I don't plan to go, I just make the stop. So it's great that some vendors do take plastic, I don't miss out on a one of a kind item
I've got my Square reader all ready for my first craft fair. In fact, I've had the reader for several years, just waiting for an opportunity to use it, and it still works! Don't leave home without it. UPDATE: I attended my first little craft fair in a school in December, and I would have missed a $20 sale if I hadn't used my Square reader. So that sucker is coming with me everywhere anywhere.
what app did you use for your square reader? I’m doing my first craft fair on November 16th and bought a square reader for it. But I’m hesitant on which app to use that won’t over charge me with fees. I have an iPad and that’s what I’ll be using.
This is such a great informative video, Lindsay. Shows very important, thoughtful ideas about craft shows. If I ever decided to do it, I'd definitely re-watch this and take specific notes.
You will always get a thumbs up from me...no matter what the subject was! I love your videos and watch from start to finish even tho' I know I will never try some of the things you show...now that's loyalty...just sayin'. Todays tips are great and I know the info will be so useful to many. I have a craft room full of my creations and sell word of mouth only cause I am the worst marketer! So to end this ramble, I love your confidence and your energy!
TFS
Anita
Anita Holmes thanks! I think that crafters should get together and price each other's stuff because that is the hardest thing, to assign a price to something you made, we ALL lack a bit of confidence here, you are not alone:)
You are so right on with your tips! Thnx for sharing! Got out of shows for a few years but I'm going back & the tips help me know what I need now compared to a few years ago! Thanks doll, love watching your channel!
Your personality is a light that shines. You look so pretty!
+Julie Kent aww, thank you;)
Thanks for the grab bag idea! I put some together and sold them at a vendor event last weekend.... they were very popular!
So energetic. I LOVE it! Thanks Lindsay. Great tips.
Great tips! Taking credit cards is 🔑 to do at craft fairs! Also, I get so frustrated going to a craft fair and seeing ten vendors doing the same things! A good Coordinator will make sure they do not duplicate. Of course they want to fill their spaces and might end up duplicating due to that. I’ve been on both sides as a vendor and coordinator. It’s a balancing act for sure.
I learned early on when I was checking out the territories of several venues Lindsay that a lot of folks said they were loosing money due to not taking credit cards so the first thing I did before I ever did a "show" was to get my easy pay set up so that wouldn't happen to me however the tip about too many of the same vendors was one I could have used awhile back lol Love your energy!
thanks!
Thank you for sharing your experience. I use Square for my CC purchases. It is not expensive and had alteady paid for itself! One Very Important Tip-- if you do a Booth Share with a fellow crafter all of these tips apply to that! PLUS make sure if you are putting the deposit on the booth space up front, that you get your reimbursement from you booth sharer Before the show starts. Do not ever let them slide. I went $200 in the hole last year with "booth sharing" and Did not get paid. Now these ladies are also my friends but this left a sore spot and makes me less wiling to share.. So get that booth money from the get go.. don't let them say.
.. oh I will pay you after the show...because then they'll say... oh can I pay you next week I didnt get any sales today...blah blah. No. No. No. Upfront or no sharing!
Also on that same note if you do share-- Make sure you have Equal quantity of items in your shared space don't let them "take over" the space because they brought EveryThing They Ever Made!
great video! thanks... I would love to see one on crating/building/assembling displays of watercolor art for a show. Thanks again!
Thank you for actually listing your tips in the video description!! Very helpful!
Yep when I do the mega sale at the fairgrounds the lady in charge asks what you sell. I was the only Stampin Up Demo but I also had the close to my heart lady there also. One issue I did have is a customer came in and handed out Stampin Up catalogs and then another Demo was helping her son and brought her catalogs. So even if they ask, there is not always a guarantee if they don't enforce the policy. I agree it is an important question to ask.
Oh my gosh I just heard u talking about the made in Maine craft show :-) I live in Maine and this is one of my favorite craft shows
I'm from Maine too! I was excited when I heard her say she was in Maine.
Lindsay...just saw a couple of your videos, and I love them!!! You are sooooo good at teaching...please keep doing it!!!!
I usually do the juried craft fairs and they only allow maybe 2 of each kind of vendor and sometimes only one of each so they can be a little harder to get into but if you get your applications in early, you have the best shot (and with your app you usually need to have photos of your setup and your products and you cant sell things that you didnt mention to them in your app that you had).
I am a Crocheter and Loom Knitter. I will be selling at the Maple Ridge Farmers Market fall fair Saturday, November 12 2016.
My items are: 10 knitted loom camouflaged baby hats for $5.00 each, 10 knitted adult hats for $10.00 each, Etc. We will be there from 9am - 9pm.
This helped me a lot. We had our car show/craft fair yesterday and I am thinking about doing it for next year. Great ideas. As I was walking around, I did not see anyone selling what I want to. I made a point to look. These were great tips. TFS!
Thanks for the info Lindsay! It's so easy to overlook or forget things when you book a craft show, you need every bit of advice!
I worked at a fairgrounds where we put on a huge Christmas Craft Fair. One thing to ask is attendance numbers and always have some cheaper things even if it is high end.
Great idea!
Ty for the good advice, the video is straightforward and friendly. The best kind of advice seems either obvious or hard won, this video has both.
Love that you share all your knowledge and experience! You really are a fountain of information!!! I know that on the ask a crafter the girls look flabbergasted that you have some sort of knowledge for every question!
Sarah Longshore thanks:)
Very helpful. I have two Holiday Fairs coming up and will take your advise with me. Thank You for sharing.
I stopped going to one local college arts and crafts show because what had started out as a "Hand Made ONLY" show has now become a fraud show. Many vendors are now buying "made in China" items, signing their names on them and marketing it as handmade. Very frustrating for those vendors who genuinely make thier items by hand and take pride in what they make. I felt so sorry for customers who were being told.."Oh I and my family stay up for nights on end painting all these things by hand" NOT!
Thanks so much for sharing your experience. It was very helpful and informative. I am in charge of a small boutique sale and several people are selling jewelry. I never thought to ask what kind. I will do that. Our sale isn’t until November so I have time to explore the possibility of duplication. I love your videos and your ability to paint. I wish I was half as talented as you. Thanks again
Why is she such a beaut...?
Her face looks so gorgeous.
Dante Inugami aww, aren't you the sweetest:)
thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich Love your videos Linda
tons of makeup and plastic surgery will do that to anyone honey
Just wonderful, I been tryin to find out about "art and crafts fairs" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you ever come across - Honsaac Qonandon Cure - (do a search on google )?
It is a smashing one off product for getting Fairs And Festival listings minus the headache. Ive heard some pretty good things about it and my cousin got cool success with it.
Thanks Lindsay, This was very timely for me. Just finished a small craft fair but the upcoming fair in October will be bigger and getting a card reader is now at the top of my list. I am always interested in any and all information on selling craft items to the public. So, keep them coming! Hoping to be on line with my purses this fall so will also check out Volusions.
Patcrochets good for you, with purses, as they tend to be pricier taking credit cards removes a consideration for he customer. Good luck!
Thanks, I know this is like 3 years later that I'm leaving this comment, but it was really great advice, as I have been told by others that several of my items I make for family members and friends as gifts that I should be making to sell, so I'm going to try it at a craft fair/show coming up this year in October. That is a very good question to ask if you don't call right away. All of your information was on point, like what the audience is, and sometimes I have found just by going to some craft fairs/shows that even if it is in an upscale neighborhood, if it is at a church, it doesn't necessarily mean the prices or the stuff being sold there is going to appear upscaled. Which I thought was weird, but then again it was for a school, and the other was at a church. So I guess it was geared more toward church goers and people who went to that school.
Hi. Just stumbled onto this vlog and subscribed immediately. Can't wait to learn more!
I love your channel. Will be doing my first craft table in October. Prayerfully all will go well. Do you have advice on how to juggle a full time job and make room to make things. Sometimes I'm so tired from crafting and i get so excited in making things and lose track of time to get in bed. Then when I get to bed my mind just race with so many ideas. Thank you so much :)
Thank you for the tips! Our church has a Christmas Extravaganza each year, and I know we will benefit from your suggestions.
I would like to see what your store front looks like on Volution. Can we have that link?
Thank you so much! What a blessing that you share your experience with others. I am a beginner and need all the advice I can get!
Your videos are ALWAYS worth watching. Thank you for all that you have shared. I feel your viewers can trust what you say.
On grab bagss... Maybe a windowed paper bag so the customer can get a peek or glimpse of the product(s) inside?
Such awesome tips here Lindsay.....you are such an expert !
Thank you Lindsay for such wonderful advice. I have been thinking about doing some craft fairs and you ave provided e with some extremely valuable information. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Good tips!! If it’s an annual craft show, I’ve started to ask how many people did they have go thru last year! I didnone craft show where there were more vendors than shoppers!! It was in an excellent location at a good time of year and there were quality vendors there with a wide variety of goods!! It all could be laid at the feet of the show’s promoter and little to no advertising!! I don’t think any of those vendors did another of her shows! 2 items were the most any of us sold! Worst one I had ever been to for attendance !!
Some will ask what you are making, so it’s not too many doing the same thing ! Depending how big a craft show is, this way they can limit the vendors ,
Tip ......always have new items at each show if you do same shows every year , I constantly add new items and have heard “it’s the same old stuff “ and smiling when I hear oh! Look this lady always has different items !
Have a nice display, and don’t just leave items on your table Try layering you can use many things to lift your items up ..... wrap boxes In cloth and have nice containers put on top, use covered cans to display your stuff !
TAKE CREDIT CARDS ! Make your display using baskets, or items you can display stuff on,
I just found your channel and I love it, thanks for sharing your experiences
Last year I did a craft show at a senior center. It was nice for the residents, because they didn't have to go out to shop - we brought the crafts to them :) The public was invited and they did a great job at advertising. The only downside was the coordinator forgot to UNLOCK the security doors!!! The public couldn't even get in if they wanted to. This wasn't figured out until the end of the day when all the crafters were remarking on what a low turn out we had :P Ugghhhh!
Kathy Johnson oh, no! LOL! (not funny sorry)
What a sweet soul you are, a real blessing to us crafters, Bless you and thank you.
aww, thanks:)
Hi, I enjoyed your sharing about your experiences. Do you have a tutorial on how to be able to accept credit card payments from your customers?
Wow! Landed here looking for craft show tips. Great video, really helpful advice, and from an exciting animated artist! I love that you're so forthcoming about your experiences. I laughed with your "duh" about accepting credit cards.
I have a similar story. Maybe a bit worse! I let a family member convince me I wouldn't need a cc processor for my first show. It was a craft fair at my mother's active adult retirement community. She insisted "No one pays with credit cards here. We all carry cash." Honestly, I knew better. But I didn't want to get caught. And I didn't have time to figure out how I could conceal & carry my iPhone and card reader. How would I let a "client" know I dealt in plastic? I'd have to conduct these mobile transactions in the "STAFF ONLY" alley I shared with the world's oldest tupperware lady. And she already didn't like me. She overheard me complaining to the coordinator about my location. The gist of it was "I'm an artist. I don't want to be near that lady peddling poisonous plastic food preservers." She plays bridge with mom and would have snitched.
Can I say "THIS IS HARD! I make and sell fine art gourds and handcrafted jewelry. Besides blunders with fellow craft show vendors, I'm drowning in details of running my business. How much research is enough. How many reviews and opinions can one person endure about one tiny little detail - your domain name. "Choose wisely, Grasshopper, or you will surely fail." AHHHH Really? And don't ask me about SEO. If you don't know what SEO is take my advice: if someone tries to steal your blissful ignorance by offering to explain SEO or sell you a service that does SEO for you . . . COVER YOUR EARS AND RUN!
My inbox is stuffed with offers to try every imaginable and unheard of ecommerce website. This journey is a mine field of scams, fine print disclaimers, and misleading advice. But. And this is a BIG BUT. I've never had so much fun. And I've never felt more satisfaction. And I've never enjoyed work so much as doing this. Making art and being in charge of my own life. Doing what I love to do.
Thank you, Lindsay, for your recommendation about Volusion. I will check it out.
+David Bryan McCracken Good luck David:) You don't need to know or do everything to be successful, find a few things that work and develop them. It is a fun journey!
Zibbet is a good one you can list as many items as you can for only $10 a month.
I am not ready fir sales but you had some great suggestions. It is nice to know the support us there.
Excellent tips. Thank you. Have been binge watching your videos.
Love You for sharing your experiences. Thank You so much for putting in so much effort in creating your videos, dear Lindsay.
What is a higher end craft fair & how do you know it's higher end? I'm going to get started next summer. Do you know of any magazines, newsletters or websites I should be subscribed to or following?
Our little local fair, well it's huge actually, has a limit on who sells what and it's pretty competitive. First come, first served and they have to see some of your work.
This tutorial was SOOOOOO helpful.. Thank you, Thank You!
I learned today, from a fellow crafter, that being able to take credit cards actually costs the crafters more money than they loose by not selling items to credit card customers. Credit cards only work for big business, not for small businesses.
+Patricia Hofferber it is about 3% on a credit card transaction in fees.
Loved your video! I make paper flowers. I normally give them to patients in hospitals. Do you think I'll do well selling at a craft show?
Vonica Burroughs Yes! I see people selling paper flowers at craft shows. You may even get orders for bouquets 💐 for special occasions like weddings.
I sold at a craft fair for many years. I was the only one selling paper craft/ treat items. Then, last year they had someone else selling my stuff, and a third person selling one of my products (paper crafts/candy treats) at their crochet booth. I was annoyed as I was promised I would be the only one selling my type of item. The craft fair is too small for duplicates of some items. This year they had a note on the sign-up form that you could not sell anything not written on the application at the point you were accepted into the fair, and if you brought things not on your application they could ask you to remove them. Yea!
they should!
i loved the little dress how did they get the two different colors of glitter paper
Thanks for the update and for the real things that I have been wanting to do.
Great video Lindsay thank you for your honesty as always! Great info and tips too us all, good to know these things thanks!!! Thank you for sharing!!!! Hugs Liz x
I have a unique soccer training book I'm gonna finish soon. Along with a unique soccer board game. And last but not least I have a one size fits all portable soccer goal. Think I'd do well at a craft fair ?
GREAT TIPS Lindsay, I'm looking for flea markets (aka craft fair) here in the Bavarian area. Just finding the dadgum thing is a challenge. Up a creek with little or no knowledge of where to find a paddle. But I'mmmm gettin' there - fast! :)
Thank you for the tips for selling at craft fairs. I've shared this video with friends who sell at craft fairs.
How does one go about accepting credit cards? Where and how to start. Will appreciate your help on this. Thanks.
LOVE THAT GUITAR CUTTING BOARD!!
Would selling homemade candles sell good? Is it expensive to buy a shelter for a farmers market craft show?
Great video. Wondering what is the best way to find shows? I live in CA and am willing to travel depending on the size of the show!
Great tips Lindsay! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Lindsay, thanks for this GREAT information. I'm intrigued by your grab bags. Could you tell us more about them (what's in them, price point, packaging, etc?) either via a reply or via a video? This sounds like a great idea and I'd love to know more about it. Thanks!
Dishkitty Studio $5 bags had $10 worth of jewelry (2 pairs of earrings) and the $10 grab bags have $35 worth of jewelry or more! it is a great way to clear out older designs that are not selling as well to make room for new, it is all good stuff tough, no junk:) It's great for people to by at Christmas because they can give the individual items as gifts and save a bundle. I sell out at Christmastime.
thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich Also I am going to offer some for sale on my blog on Friday:)
I don't sell at craft fairs but still enjoyed this video! Great advice Lindsay!
i found volusion a few weeks ago and signed up--- im learning about how to put my stuff up but seems way better than etsy-
***** I agree, kee[p people on your turf and if you are listing a lot of things it will be cheaper too! Is your store open yet? Leave a link if you want so we can check it out!
I adore The Frugal Crafter!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. How far do you usually travel to work at a craft fair?
Shanta Kaneshiro not far, I stay within 20 miles:) Some people drive hundreds of miles, it depends on how much you want to make it a full time job.
Accepting credit cards is absolute must. I am not sure how those that even occasionally sell at shows do not realize that cash only is long gone. Forget about cash and have a square reader. In pretty much all of my events I have not encountered one vendor that did cash only... you will loose 80% of sales if not more if you do cash only.
You have to ask organizer how many folks of your type they have but they always have multiples when it comes to handmade artists. And organizer will tell you if they reached their limit. Good organizers wont overbook one type of art style or product type in order to keep the event diverse. You do want competition there, it is great for comparison shopping - esp when your work is better than another vendor's of course. Also you have to ask how many ppl are expected and the price tier they are targeting so you price your items accordingly. Of course company name that has the word "frugal" in it may not be the best fit for a more upscale event and may actually push customers away. So definitely do the research and try to get various aspects of your business in line with expectations of target audiences for best results. Or choose events that better fit your price range.
And the table.... it was not bad but it was a very very simple craft fair type. For example, my table has height variations, beautiful props, draped floor length tableskirts - being in my booth is a relaxing for the eye experience and I always get compliments on my booth setup and my products. Booth designed well also draws customers in. Upscale events call for a beautiful booth - in this case your setup would not be a successful setup for an upscale show. Hope you tried to redo the booth design for events after this one and of course wishing you more success and more sales!
I am glad I seen this video. Do you prefer a company over another when it comes to accepting credit cards?
Thank You
Great Great Great Information! Thanks. Plus I had never heard of Volusion. I must check that out as well.
Great video! Even greater advice! Lol btw I had no idea u were from maine Lindsay! I live in the Augusta area and am attending my second craft fair ever in Lewiston on April 9th! Maybe I will c u there?! Lol
Lindsay, First, tfs your tips! Seeking your opinion... as a vendor, I regularly attend a local outdoor market that is open every Sat. during the warm months. I use a tent and have long debated whether to set up the display tables on the inside perimeter of the tent where I am inside and the customer is outside or should the tables be inside the tent where the customer would have to come in to view products. Have not set up on the inside yet as I feel like the customer may feel "trapped." Your thoughts?
fabulous video. Love your style. You get straight to your points and have great confidence. Great Job!!
Awesome tips ...Thank you Lindsay
Great advice ... thanks Lindsay.