First Craft Fair ... need tips!!

[Former_Member]

I am going to be doing my first craft fair in less than 60 days. I have been doing some research and gotten alot of good tips but still have so many questions. For example:

I sell knit items, how much stock do you typically have??
Having trouble coming up with a great way to display my knit items in the booth all the display ideas I have found have been for jewelry.
Do you hand out cards with a discount for them purchasing on your etsy site? If so have you found this successful??

Any other tips would be great!!

[lollyjodesigns]

Hey Brittany!
Your shop is adorable.
Not sure how much stock to tell you that you should have.. hard to say really. Bring everything you have? :)

I sell sewn items and hair accessories and my setup is pastel colored mesh baskets (that I found at dollar tree!) and other containers that can keep things grouped together..
I did not hand out a discount card, just my regular business card.. I'd rather have the business that day, you know?

Other tips: have fun and don't stress. Make sure your items are clearly priced.. do a mock setup in your livingroom a few days before and take a photo, so you know how you want it that morning when you are setting up..
Hope this helps, good luck!! =)

[StitchinStation]

Congratulations on your first craft fair. As for stock, you never know how much you will sell. I would have enough to display plus extra in totes under your tables. As for display, go vertical. You might be able to use gridwall. Look around your house and see what might work that is light enough to take with you. Display some of your hats on foam heads. I found some at the local beauty supply for a few dollars each. Be prepared to take orders. Someone will love one your items but want it in another color so take some order forms.
I don't hand out discount cards. I do tell people I have a facebook page and an etsy store and give them a business card.
Be prepared for any weather dressing in layers, make sure you have weights for your tent. Make sure you take plenty of fluids, especially if it is warm.

Read through posts on here and you will find lots of other tips and lists of what to take.
Have fun.

[HipViolet]

Hi Brittany!

How fun! I bet you'll do great!

As far as displays, I agree about going vertical. You can go to your local thrift shops and often find great deals on display pieces that maybe just need a coat of paint (or are great as/is!). All of my displays were thrifted and I love that they are unique AND cheap! :)

I would definitely had out business cards or postcards with your products and info, but I wouldn't do a discount code. A good percentage of my orders come from people who originally found me a craft shows, they will come back to shop even without a discount code!

As far as inventory, it's really hard to say for your first one! Once you'll do a few then you'll know better what sells. I'm not sure if this helps or not, but when I have a new bib design, I make 3 of the exact same one. If they all sell at one show, I know I have a winner and I'll bring more next time. So I would at least have 2+ of each design and color combo so you can see a little better what people like. I am always surprised at what sells at craft shows as opposed to online - it's very different!

And my motto always is "You can't sell it if you don't bring it!" So make as much as you can! If it doesn't sell, you have a ton of inventory for next time!

Best of luck!
jesi

[Former_Member]

Hi Brittany,

Congrats on taking the plunge!

I've found that if I don't have it with me to sell, that it cannot be sold. So when I take stock for a festival, I take enough to fill the booth at least 2x.

I always have business cards available but I don't give out any discount codes at shows.

[Former_Member]

Hi, Brittany!

Have lots of fun. I take everything I have to my farmers markets. I was glad I did on Saturday. I sold out of three different kinds of soaps (I generally have ten to fifteen of each). I had more than that with me then. If you don't have it you can't sell it.

As for displays, I van't help you there. My displays will be completely different than yours. You will want something to add height to your display. I use baskets and something for risers underneath my tablecloths.

Good luck!

[Former_Member]

Thank you all for the tips. They have been so helpful!! I am really excited and will definitely be reading lots of posts on here.

[EdwardsFarm]

For display racks, we went to Home Depot and bought the open shelving made of metal wire (they might have been Rubber Maid shelves but it's been a while). We cut a couple inches off and then use them vertically from ground to the top of our tent. We bungie cord them to the rail of the tent and then use S hooks to hang things. We also made a rack out of white trellis and a wood frame. But the shelves work well for narrow spaces since they are about a foot wide.

Seems like we always end up using things for purposes other than what they were designed for....