How many shows do you do each year?

[Former_Member]

I'm rewriting my business plan today with the idea that I'd like to have at least 30-40% of my business come from craft shows. I'm curious to hear from you seasoned folks how many shows you do each year and if you rely mostly on shows or online for sales. Thanks for any insight!

[Mulchandmore]

Most of my sales are from craft show, do an average of 20 a year.

[TigersandDragons]

The last few years its been about 17 shows a year, most of them are juried multi-day shows (2-4 days), a few of them are small one day shows that I try out (and rarely do again). Online sales are only about 10% of my income. It's rare that I do any shows between mid December to mid May or June, just because there really isn't much worth doing in my area. Since you live in Texas where the weather is warmer, the show season will be different.

Other streams of income to consider; wholesale to stores and consignment (I'm not a fan of consignment but it works for some if you find the right stores).

[Former_Member]

Give or take 20.
Looking to add a few more this next year, 2014.

[CedarwoodCreations]

I have to admit I have never done a show! I want to, but just haven't. Goal for 2014 - Do a craft show!

PS Does anyone know of any regular craft shows in the S. Florida area?

[BettieKawaii]

Most of my income is from craft shows, fashion events, hot rod shows, burlesque and tattoo events etc etc - so basically market stalls.

I couldnt live without that income, selling online is just another way my customers can find me and its great to be globally accessable.

I usually do a major market, one for every month of the year. Some months I cant find any to suit me. But next month I have 4 (hopefully). So anywhere between 10 - 15 medium - large markets per year is what I currently do.

[Former_Member]

I am trying to do a show every other week during the autumn, if not every week until December.

[Former_Member]

Wowzer!! Here I am thinking maybe 5 or 6 would be good. Haha! I'll have to work up to 20. I did my first show last weekend and have two more planned before the holidays. I need to start researching shows for next year.

[PJCRAFTSWORLD]

We do 15-16 shows a year and most of our revenue comes from these shows.

[wayfaringgoods]

I do about 12-15 a year and it makes up just over half of my income. These shows are all juried, 2-3 day shows with a large and loyal following. I'm hoping to do about 20 shows next year in order to work on not relying on online sales nearly as much.

[ohmyclumsyheart]

This year I will have done 8 or 9.

There aren't many worth doing in my area, so I stick to the ones I know work for me and those tend to be around Christmas time. I am confirmed for 5 this Christmas and it's the best time of year for me to make money.

Sales are steady throughout the year but fairs bring in a large portion of my profit.

[HoldsIt]

Too many! I would love to get to a point of just doing a few really good shows. Most of mine involve traveling and that gets old pretty quick. Although a few evenings alone in a hotel without doing dishes or laundry or fighting with my kid are kind of nice.

[wildeyes]

I'm new to shows, but I have 7 lined up for the season, and I've already done 3 this year. I also have some things on consignment,which seems to be working well for me. So far though most of my sales have come from word of mouth for customs,or a custom at a show, or shortly after one. Its hard to set up shows now because I have 2 fall birthdays,both my girls.

[TigersandDragons]

I wish I didn't have to travel so much either Holdsit, but it's worth it for me to go where the good shows are. I don't want to sit all day locally just to sell $200 of product, when I could be making $800-$2000 in sales a day.

[SomeKindOfPretty]

I try to do at least two a month. But this past summer I only did about 1 a month.

[FlameOnGlass]

I do about 35 each year. (same one every Saturday for 7 months of the year.)

My last one for the year is at the end of the month.

[Former_Member]

I'll do at least 23 this year. I might sneak a couple last minute ones in as i heard there is a new market opening up close to my house for indoor tables on Sunday. Most my current shows are outdoor and on Saturday. I was thinking and indoor clay jewelry only booth might be a good fit and easy to set up and break down.

[TheSalvagedEdge]

I do a 20 week local saturday market (may to october), a 12 week friday market (october to january) and then about 10-15 other shows a year. I have pieces in a handful of shops too. It's just not feasible for me to travel far every weekend to a huge 3 day show. For now, local works though. Show income makes up the majority of my income with consignment/wholesale coming in second and Etsy coming in last.

[MoonlightDreams]

I do 20+ a year

[Former_Member]

Before I started on Etsy I was doing at least 3-4 shows each month between October and April - roughly 30 shows each year. If I had the chance I'd go north and do a few shows in the summer months but summers in the desert heat can be absolutely brutal.

In the past 5 years though I've reduced the number of shows that I've been doing and with my partner's recent heart bypass surgery we won't be doing more than two shows between now and Christmas.

[Former_Member]

I have two Markets I can do every Saturday for 9 months. The one about an hour away I do at least 20 times a year, the one in my small home town has just started this year and is trying to get established. I've done that one once and plan to do so 3-4 more times this year. I will have done about 7 bigger shows/cons by the time the year is out.

Also this year I have started doing a "First Friday" in an Art Park about an hour away. so I will have 9 of those done by the end of the year.

I make all my business at shows and custom orders.

Next year, I'd like to do more Comis Cons than market days. (Though I have a good fan base at those and I will miss them).