Booth layout - what's best?

[Former_Member]

So I did my second craft show this past weekend and I noticed something interesting. I've read online many times that you should have a layout where people can walk into your booth and see your items. So, when I initially set up my booth I did it in a "u" shape.

However, we were noticing that people were just kind of walking by, scanning, but not really stopping in. So midway through the day, we did a quick switcheroo and moved a 6' table to be facing the aisle and then had the smaller tables kind of back and inside, so people could still walk in but there was much more "frontage" with our items.

We noticed immediately people started lingering and looking at our items more thoroughly instead of just scanning.

Now, this show was totally dead - I ended up covering my fee and gas plus a little profit, but there were some sellers who never sold anything and so since the traffic level was so low it was really hard to say if it was really making a difference or if it was just coincidental and there were more real shoppers at that point in the day.

So - have you guys found any big differences? I've got a nice big show coming up which is much more targeted towards my audience next month and I want to make sure and maximize my effectiveness :)

[Former_Member]

I think the biggest mistake most people make is the dreaded "U". I think most of the veterans here recommend lining up your tables as close to the crowd as possible.

You may not always have that choice but even if you can only fit one table at the front edge of your tent; do it and put your best items there.

There are so many reasons why. First off is thresholds. Crossing a threshold means a commitment. Then think about how many you have with tables to the sides?

You ask your customer to; one, walk into your tent. Two, cross your tables edge, I know that may sound weak but think about how you've narrowed the opening of your tent. Three, people tend to hang outside, so they may even have to walk past them. Four, off the footpath, walkway if your outside. Lastly, they may even have to walk past you.

In retail, it's called the butt bump. People just don't like that. Warehouse stores are partially the result of studies done on the subject.

The closer your tables are to the customer the more they can see.

Lastly, there's nothing between you and the customer, no table, counter or display case. Customers just feel more comfortable that way. If you sell expensive items it's also more conducive to the negotiating process. Think jewelry stores.

[Former_Member]

wow, I've only done one show so far, another in a week, but I don't think I could get all my things displayed on one front table! yike. No ill intent to you Kevin, but I sure hope there's alternate opinions weighed in here, although one thing I've learned is to listen to others that have been down that road many times, so I'm open.

[Former_Member]

I believe table placement depends on the market you are showing in...

A farmer's market tends to have more quick walk by customers so it is productive to have a table across the front of your booth to make them slow down somewhat... You do need to make sure however that you don't have small 'walk away' items on that front table, but enough to draw the attention and interest of the customer into the rest of your booth...

Craft shows tend to have more customers who are there to browse and shop and they generally have no hesitation in entering your booth... especially if things are displayed in a pleasing and inviting manner without to much clutter.

And yes, 'butt bumping' is very important to consider when laying out your booth, don't make your space to crowded or even if you get someone to enter your space, they will feel uncomfortable and crowded and will exit faster than they entered...

In the end, we are normally only alloted a small 10 x 10 area of space to work with and we need to be creative with that space... Customers do not walk with their heads/eyes downward.. you need to grab their attention at eye level and make them want to come in...

[SomeKindOfPretty]

I do a "u" shape because it allows people to come in the shade, especially during the summer. During the summer, people would come in my booth just to escape the heat and then end up buying something! lol To help catch people's eye, I will only put my brightest or most eye catching necklaces on the display busts. The rest I have laying on black table cloths. I like for people to feel like they are entering a small boutique when they enter my booth.

[BohemianHollow]

I've learned that same exact thing about the U shape as well!

I agree with Kevin, he's got the right of it. However I've learned something else, that as long as you have something between you and the customer, such as a table, you can still get away with the U shape. At shows with enough room, I set up a small table as a little cash register and either sit or stand behind it and it made quite a difference. People walked in to my U shaped booth a bit easier.

Of course, I've changed things around now and have an "h" shape with me standing behind my one and only 4' table and walking room to the side of the table. (I have clothing racks in front along the sides and other racks continuing down the right side. When facing my booth, the "h" is flipped.) People walk in much more readily now! You can do the same general shape with tables.

Oh and having a back wall to my booth has seemed to change everything! It keep the customers eyes from wandering to what might be behind and keeps the focus on your booth.

I agree with Shirley too, though. It really does depend on the market. There's one I do where no amount of walk in space would work, things have to be right at the edge. Thankfully there's room to walk on all three sides.

So I think the thing to take away is that no matter how you set up always have something between you and the customer, it makes them feel so much more comfortable about coming into your booth to look around. And have a back wall!

[PJCRAFTSWORLD]

The so-called dreaded U is very good for some. We use it and do very well with it. As a matter of fact we did an artisian fair last week and most booths used the U shape. It's whatever works best for you and you are most comfortable with. Besides if you have a 10x10 tent and your space is 10x10 with 6-8 foot tables you can only put enough product out that fits on one table. We have a lot of product (handmade herbal soaps, jewelry, knitted items) and need all the space we can get. We use three tables.

No matter what your setup you will always have the "walk bys". They are not buyers they are only there for someplace to go. For them it's free entertainment.

[KimagineDesigns]

I've been doing pretty well with an inverted L shape - the end of my "L" is visible from the walking area, and I put something eye-catching there. There is then plenty of room for people to come in once I've caught their eye. And I agree with Catheryn about offering shade to people during summer shows - I've made a good number of sales that way, and I even joke about "Come into my shade!"

[Former_Member]

Wow, thanks guys for this thread. I've been doing shows for a couple of years recently, and I'm still up in the air about how to arrange my booth. I did very well last weekend but that's because there was no one next to me so I was able to have 10 ft. of table facing the walkway, but also 10 ft. of table down the side that led to an exit door. My best show ever. But I was pretty much able to get all the stuff I brought on 20 ft. of tables. When you only have 10 ft. frontage, I tend to put my table along the front of the booth and put my stuff, as much as I can, on the table flat. I have Tshirts and would like to hang them up, but folks don't go through all of them when they're hanging, usually only the first four or five, then they move on.. It's better for me if they're laying flat folded so the design is visible, but then I can't put everything out either. It's a toss up. I also bring other items, like hand towels, my baskets, some scarves, and usually lady's hankies. (They sell well at craft shows.) But I'm always at odds with my booth buddy about how to set up. She sells only one item and can fit hers along the one 10 ft. table along the front edge. However, I know that it looks awful to have this big 10 ft. square with one table along the front and the whole thing behind us is 'wasted space.' Still haven't found the optimum arrangement and constantly tweaking. Like the idea of having black fabric behind us, but as I come in a car with all my stuff, I couldn't possibly fit anything that big in my car. I realize that booth configuration can make or break a show, but how the devil do you decide what to do 'this time' versus 'last time.' Years ago when I had a B&M store, we were constantly changing the front of the store to look fresh and new. It was a constant battle, lemme tell 'ya. And it's not over yet, is it?

[Former_Member]

Emma, if you have two 10" tables you can always put them in a V with the point of the V inside pointing to the pack wall.. that way also the customer can step in out of the sun without fully having to commit to entering a booth.. I've used this set up successfully with two 6" tables also...

Also, if you are just having one table straight across your booth, bring it inside the tent about 2 foot... give the customer some shade to stand in but they can still see your product on a quick walk by... And I do like the idea of having the back wall down to stop the customers eye from roving.. I'm gonna try that at my next show where I use my canopy... cool ideas guys!!!

[Former_Member]

Wow thank you for all the ideas- I have my first show in about a week and I'm so excited to try our different configuration. I actually have a corner so I have extra frontage that I am excited about..

[Former_Member]

Wow thank you for all the ideas- I have my first show in about a week and I'm so excited to try our different configuration. I actually have a corner so I have extra frontage that I am excited about..

[GreenMarthaBoutique]

Always nice to hear various input on the subject. I have to redesign my layout once again as I will have mostly ready-to-wear and less accessories, plus a bigger canopy. Still pondering how to place my clothing racks and keep at least one table for accessories and myself...

[CGrabskiDesigns]

I need to redo my layout for this summer too. I've got a lot more product, many new items, and some need to have a table. So I'm trying to figure how how to fit everything nicely and in a welcoming way.

Would any of you be willing to post your lay out? Either a picture of your booth or diagram from above how it all fits.

@ Stefan- I'm really curious about this "h" shape. Do you have a photo?

[KidEssence]

Thanks for the tips! These are great!

Kim, I was planning on doing an "L" shape (two 4' tables and one 6'), but inverted "L" actually seems better! I like it!

[WilderNorthDog]

I do the U, and it works good for me. But of course, one wall that people walk past and see if gridwall full of collars. So it's very colorful and eye catching, and from the other direction people will see my bow ties which are also on gridwall on a 6' table. In the back I have dog beds. But nobody can walk past the bow ties, especially when they catch a glance at Sterling in a bow tie! I hear "OMG!!! How CUTE!" a THOUSAND times a day :)

[Former_Member]

I'm with Cheryl - I'd love to see some diagrams, it would be most helpful!

I've looked at all the tips in here, and read a few articles online about the psychology of shopping (why has no one written a BOOK on how to strategically design a craft show booth with shopper psychology in mind??) so I am going to be playing around with a new layout, we'll see if it helps.

[OutOfTheWoodsUSA]

When space is limited, we use the U shape - we have too many things to do just have one table across the front of our booth. Whenever space will allow, we try to line two six foot tables up on each side and leave the back open for our chairs and bagging/landing table. We have four six foot tables, three four foot tables, two six foot benches that we use to sit on top of the tables to elevate pieces, and a card table. For our wall art, we put grids behind the tables. We don't necessarily use the same set up all the time but having all these tables/benches allows us a variety of options depending on what we find when we actually see our space. Our table covers are color coordinated to match our shirts and sign.

[KimagineDesigns]

Here's a pic of my inverted L setup: http://www.kimagine.com/pics/KimagineDisplay.jpg

[CindyTSews]

Just to give you an example. I am at a show this weekend and the expected attendance for The weekend will be between 25k and 30k and granted there are ebbs and flows in the crowd. But much of the time the aisles are very cramped and it is top ranked show and excellent venue. Believe it or not there have been surveys and studies that show bringing people into your booth rather that lineed up infront of your booth blocking traffic generates greater revenues. I would highy recomend that you attend some shows put on by promoters such as Huffman productions, Gilmore Shows, Christmas made in the South, Sugarloaf, Christmas in the Country, Yellow Daisey Festival. These are all shows that are on my annuals tours and are all in the top 25 nationally raanked shows. You will find a very, very, small percentage of exhibitors have there product line up in the front of there booth, as a matter of fact true juried shows that are juried on a point system just do not allow this type of set up. Do alittle research on juried booth shots. You will not find any with tables lined up across the front pf the booth. Just Google juried booth shots and hit images. See what comes up. Now I realize there is a big difference between fine art jury and craft jury because I do both however, the same principal applies.

[Former_Member]

I normally always run my tables along the front and sides of my booth. I make jewelry on the spot for my customers and this works out well for me as I have my work table along my back wall (with the back wall in place). I have tried the U set up but I haven't made it work yet with what I do. It is suppose to be better because customers can "enter" your store, but as others have noted there is a commitment when they do. I think this can be a good thing as then you aren't using up time engaging with someone who isn't interested in being a customer.

[julsofparadise]

Ive been doing a few shows a year for about 8 years and it seems each time I do something a little bit different. My display has evolved.

Under a 10x10 canopy, if you can imagine this, I set up 2 6 foot tables about 3 feet from one of the back corners, one table along the back, the other along the side. I have a wooden board I place across the gap between the corners of the 2 tables (the wood is covered w fabric) to make a corner that is usable space.

I set up a 3 tier shelf angled in the center to raise up items nicely. (The shelf folds flat for easy transport.)

Then along the side opposite the cornered tables I set up another 5 foot table (starting at the front corner of the canopy) and set another 3 tier shelf at the center of that table. Both shelf units match and it looks very pretty, (at least I think so!) So the tables give me about 40 square feet of space and the shelves add about 12 more square feet. I can fit quite a lot of stuff in my display, as long as I pack my Jeep like a space ship - everything in its place!

I made fitted table covers out of sand colored cotton/lineny fabric that extend perfectly to the ground on all sides to hide tubs and stuff under the tables. On top of the table covers I toss across a piece of fishnet. After I set up everything I scatter around a few silk palm and fern leaves across the tables and shelves. I also made my own sign out of the same fabric that fits on a bamboo pole and hangs along the bottom of the canopy along the back.

I never liked the look of the skinny metal canopy legs until I got the idea a few years ago to buy 6 pool floaty noodles and be creative. I sliced the noodles open the long way and I needed to extend the length so I cut 2 of the noodles in half and added a piece to each of the 4. I used duct tape to piece them together and they dont look pretty underneath, but then I bought several very inexpensive rattan beach mats - like $2 each and I used spray glue and covered the pool noodles with the rattan mats.

VIOLA! My display looks like a beachy cabana and now I have pretty covers that slide right over the canopy legs. The leg covers are light as a feather, they pop on in 2 seconds and stay attached all day.

I have a 15 foot x 1 foot grass skirt-looking valance that I pin across the front of my canopy. The pins are hidden under silk hibiscus flowers and I think it all looks very nice.

I use the open space in the back corner for my beach chair and I keep a tub hidden behind the tables to hold my wrapping papers and bags. I agree with other posters, I feel shoppers are more comfortable if there is something between you.

My next show is an evening show and Im planning to play steel drum music.

[BitsandPiecesCrafts]

Julie - you're so clever!

I have a 10x20 booth and use a U shape-ish. There are tables all along the back then I have 3 corner displays that we built from PVC and covered with canvas drop cloths. Since the space is big enough there's space at the front for a couple of small tables to catch the attention of passers-by. You can take a look here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/countryhillcreations/13465679365/

It works well for my goods since they're so big.

This year the drop cloths are being died a deep forest green as are the white table cloths and we've added a professional 8' banner (I was so excited about this!).

Good luck with your display and always remember you can change it so play around with your set up.

[BitsandPiecesCrafts]

...and yes we had the dubious pleasure of being right next to the security booth. A nice idea but in reality - not so great.

[BohemianHollow]

It's not the best pic but here's a photo of my flipped "h" layout:

https://www.facebook.com/BohemianHollow/photos/a.584102764991755.1073741828.131816803553689/61929232...

Displays all down the right side with the table on the left that I stand / sit behind and the back wall to attract the eye. :D