How do I make my booth more appealing?

[AmyEsryTreasures]

I have done just one little craft fair so far, and I have a big one coming up in Oct. How do I make my booth more appealing, so people will stop and peak inside? I really really want this fair in Oct to go well! You can find a couple of booth photos on flicr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/99179524@N06/

Any suggestions? If the weather is wet, I cant put my dolls too close to the front. They cant get wet. Any ideas? It seems drab to me. I am buying a second table top shelf unit. So I'll have one shelf unit on each side table. I have about 24 dolls that I'll be selling. I dont have time to make more between now and the fair. This is a very creative group, so please share your ideas. Should I get some green leafy garland to hang with the curtains somehow? I'm clueless.

[SomeKindOfPretty]

I like the curtains in the corners. But I would add some signs and banners. It's kinda like decorating a house. You need stuff on the walls to make it feel homey. :-)

[Former_Member]

Jeez, Amy.............I would have though you were a season show goer!

That's a lovely professional setup. Each of your dolls has a presence that says: Hey, look at me.....I'm handmade!

Do customers enjoy moving about the tables?

If any changes I could recommend it would be lift the height of the tables.....but then young peeps wouldn't be able to reach the dolls. IS it your intent for children to touch them or only adults?

I suppose Catheryn suggest could be implemented, although I don't use banners and I'm very limited on signage. Those who don't understand my work, usually don't buy.

I love that it clean, professional and each doll stands out to me.

Here's a link about others setups and table adjustments, if you have
time read through it:

https://www.etsy.com/teams/8070/craft-fairs-its-a-living/discuss/11406309/page/1/

Off to browse your shop.
Good Luck
Mickey

[GlassyGrace]

A banner on your back wall with your business name and tagline, or shop address or both I think would be good. If you can't get a banner, make a large sign and put it in a large decorative picture frame and hang it on your back wall. No glass needed.
If that was my booth, I would build a set of wooden steps that fit the dolls when they sit down, 4 or 5 steps so it's no deeper than the table and maybe 18 inches wide. Then set some of them on the steps. I've built steps out of foamboard and a hot glue gun and covered them with fabric and that looked nice until I could get better displays.
If there is any way you can get some light on your items, it always helps. I've seen many people walk by beautiful booths that were dark and stop at tables with awful stuff just because they had some sparkly lights on them. Even one floor lamp with a 60 watt bulb in it would light up the back corner and reflect down on some of the dolls. Or an LED spotlight clipped on to the edge of your shelf. Good luck!

[RachelleStrackeArt]

My first thought was it needs a bit of contrast too... Maybe something white to pop from the dark colors - I was thinking a little signage / banner too? A couple of accessories for added dimension / depth? More varying heights? Just play around with some risers and cloth covers. Maybe have them spread apart a little more to give each one their own special space?

Oh, you could use books as risers, too, that might be cute and keep with your theme, plus give you lots of dimension. Depending on the style, place mats can work well for separation, but keep cohesive colors throughout. I think you've done well! Just play around and tweak here and there... :) Good luck!!

[Former_Member]

When I set up a booth for a festival, I always try to remember what would draw me into some else's booth. What do I like to see when I am the shopper? First and foremost I want to see the art, but I think you can add some color and comfort into the booth without distracting from your beautiful dolls. I agree with the others about a sign. I sell handmade quilts so I made a small quilt that is my sign. Maybe a rug on the ground, I have seen that alot lately and that would add to the homey feel. Just like a house with plain white walls feels empty, some color on your tent walls would make it look more homey. I understand about not having your dolls get wet, but if you are able to have something at the edge of the booth to draw people in. Last but not least, remember to always smile and engage shoppers (and passers by) in conversation. I say hello to everyone that I see, even if they aren't stopping to see my quilts. When they stop to look at something, I ask them if they sew or have a family heirloom quilt. Anything to get them talking and staying in my booth longer. Best of luck in October!

[AmyEsryTreasures]

Lots of great ideas here. Thanks! My tables are hard to raise, they dont have pole legs like regular tables. Two of my tables are like 30 years old, and the two legs on each end is really a pole bent into a flattened U. The bottom of the u is on the ground, not the ends. But I think I can put my bins (I use short bins so the dolls dont get smashed) under the legs. I'll see if I can lower the hem on my table cloths. My dolls are not meant for children, so raising the tables would be good if I can figure it out. I like the steps idea, and books. I have lots of books. And I will have to start looking for battery operated lights. I've read some other posts about how to do lighting. I'll go back to those. Thanks for the link crudeco, I'll check that out. My product isnt something that everyone would be interested in, so I need all the help I can get to attract people to at least look.

[Former_Member]

Well, there you go. That's a NEED on your list of display tools, buy new tables!
Then have them fitted for pvc legs, in three different size heights. Then you store them in a bag, bring with for every event.

You never know when you might want to create height by playing around with the tables.

[AmyEsryTreasures]

crudeco, the varying heights idea is really good. Especially on hilly ground. I shopped a fair last weekend and was noticing the uneven ground and commented to my husband how that would be a problem for tables that needed to be level. I've seen the location for my fall fair, and its fairly level. And I'm signing up for an indoor holiday fair. If I make any money at those, I'll get new tables! My hubby is handy, he can make pvc extensions for me.

[hopeandjoyhome]

Some poster sized banners for the walls..or maybe even poster sized photos of your dolls..Kinkos, Staples etc. do that. You need a couple props..maybe a small chair or a small treelike plant or 2 for your more fairy type dolls..They are pretty but a setting would draw people in more. Maybe consider a smaller square card table (draped also) at the front corner.If the weather gets bad you can always move them in. You need to draw them in. Think about what story your dolls are telling to think of appropriate props..and be prepared for 50 people to ask to buy your props! If you have a "story" to go with your dolls, you may also want to print that out on a poster or smaller framed piece (poster is easier to read) maybe group your fairy type dolls together and add leaves, acorns, pine cones, mossy nests..make a vignette. A princess like doll could have a cinderella pumpkin with wheels and a couple felt mice behind them..etc. If it is a Christmas show..go more winter wonderland.

[AmyEsryTreasures]

Wow, Julia, really creative! Thank you. Love the ideas!

[saltyandsandy]

I had my first craft fair at the beginning of this year and I did a lot of research on the psychology of sales - there's is something really important about inventory and as the eye scans a booth you only have 3-4 seconds to catch a buyers attention or they just keep on walking.

My first thought was that it appears that you don't have enough options - buyers view this as "not having enough options for them" not "maybe they are popular and selling out" I always bring filler items to make my booth feel full no matter how much I sell- vases with big flowers in them, candle sticks, frames... It just fills out your tables and gives the illusion of lots of options!

Good Luck!

[AmyEsryTreasures]

saltyandsandy, great idea. I have flowers, greenery, etc that I can bring.

[RosiesVintageCottage]

Your dolls are amazing. The quality stands out at a glance.

I think the tables work well when they are at a comfortable height for most adults. I use bed risers that I got at Ikea or other places-right now is a good time to get them with the back to college stuff. Just me, but the red curtains are distracting and don't really add much. I'd look for some neuteral fabric that you could cover the white with-I use burlap, but that may not fit with your dolls. Try some signage to break up the vast whiteness of your walls. Or have large prints made of your dolls and put those on the walls. I have heard that places like staples makes l prints cheap. I'd do close ups of heads only.

Good luck, shows are a lot of work, but so much fun. Hope you sell out!

Also, love the earlier idea of unusual ways to lift the dolls and display at different heights, along with the idea of a "story". So much more interesting and appealing, like American Girls dolls for grownups.

Could one table be replaced with a shelve or something different? It may just be me, but the three table layout turns me off. I won't usually go in a booth that doesn't look creatively done-just my bias.
When I've done shows, I always like to stand near the opening and offer a treat or something free to visitors. Chocolate works!

[AmyEsryTreasures]

Cathi, Thanks for the ideas (and the compliment!). I've hesitated to use shelving instead of a table, because then I'd have to put something down low. And I dont want my dolls reachable by small children. Sticky fingers would be bad. But I get what you're saying about the three tables. They seem boring to me. I'll spend some more time on pinterest looking at pictures of what other people have done.

[TigersandDragons]

Many vendors don't use their lower shelves, or use them for storage, and cover the storage bins/baskets with fabric

[3BeadDesigns]

I agree with everyone's ideas--especially about adding different levels. One other thing I would suggest is having pretty baskets with a bunch of your small 6" fairy dolls inside. Several baskets would loosen up the appearance a bit and I've found people LOVE to shuffle through baskets of things. Since adding baskets of items I've seen people come over to my booth just to see what's inside. Plus, the price point on the small dolls is great and I bet you would sell a bunch on them. Beautiful and unique dolls, by the way!

[Mulchandmore]

I personally like the red curtains in contrast to the white sides, they give the look of a castle fit for your dolls to live in. Risers or shelves would help show each better.