Craft Fairs and Etsy

[Former_Member]

What do you do with your Etsy products when you head to craft fairs? I am new and don't have a ton of extra product, but I am worried that if I take my tutus to a craft fair (the tutus that I have listed on Etsy) that someone will purchase the item on Etsy the same day that I sell it at the craft fair thereby getting me in trouble on Etsy because I no longer have that item. But at the same time I don't want to leave those products home because they may sell at the craft fair where they wouldn't have sold on Etsy. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Former_Member]

Most of the people around here put their shop on vacation mode while at the show and then update their listings when they get home from the show.

[TOMgirlApparel]

I've heard you should just make the listing inactive while at the fair, then reactivate if it doesn't sell.

[ColorMyWorldCrochet]

Or if you have a smart phone, you can leave your shop open and just deactivate the item using the Etsy app. Chances are you would not sell it on Etsy at the exact same moment you sell it at the craft fair.

[Former_Member]

I was wondering this too. Thanks!

[Former_Member]

I just deactivate the specific listings while I'm away. Putting the shop on vacation mode has never sat right with me. What about all the items that are listed and I'm not bringing to the show? Seems silly to have them vanish too.

If you're going to be out of town and unable to ship for more than 3-4 days though, i would write that in your shop announcement and on the emails Etsy sends when an order is placed to notify your customers about the shipping delay.

[DesignsByDiBlankets]

I make extra stock where I can and then I do the deactivate the listing if something sells that I have at craft show

[Former_Member]

I had the same problem.

I only sell unique items and all items for sale on Etsy travel with me to the fair. It would be a lot of work to deactivate every single item listed on Etsy, so I decided to put my Etsy shop on vacation mode for the day. I make more sells on fairs than I ever did on Etsy, so when particular item is sold I delete it in my etsy shop.

[Former_Member]

I like Jenn and Amanda's advice. I have wondered this myself because I've considered trying out selling my art at a faire, so that sounds like an easy enough solution.

[Former_Member]

This is a GREAT thread. I had wondered the best way to execute this myself; I try to make more than one of most things, but some items have to be one of a kind, because I incorporate a vintage material or the like... I'm so glad I found this thread. Thank you to Karen for having the boldness to bring this up! It will come in handy near Christmas...

[Former_Member]

Although bringing your smart phone and deactivating listings if they sell is a good idea, I think it could be setting yourself up for a stressful moment if you are in a spot where service is not great or if your battery runs out. I've read seller horror stories about having to scramble (or watching fellow fair sellers scramble) when this kind of thing happens.

I think your best bet is to deactivate your listings and then put your craft fair dates in your shop announcement so that visitors have an explanation for less items in your shop all of a sudden.

[Former_Member]

Not sure if this is an option for you, but I plan on bringing my ipad or laptop with me to my shows. But, if you are at a show without wifi this may not help. I have ATT and I can make my iphone a wifi personal hotspot and any device that is wifi enabled can connect to my hotspot (they have to have a password, so no worries with others tapping in.) Worth the money really, because no matter where I am at I can access the internet and keep everything real time.

[winebottlelight]

Great question, Karen! I deactivate.

[Former_Member]

I just make another one if it sells. But...none of my stuff takes long to make, and it's all designed to make over and over rather than just once for this very reason. Couldn't you do that with a tutu? Or is it your goal for them to all be unique? (I'm not being condescending :) )

If you want to keep them unique, deactivate or bring a phone to deactivate if it sells. If you can make more of each, I'd just change your listing so it specifies Made-to-Order with a turn-around time and offer it in both places.

[Former_Member]

Put your shop on vacation mode, or make more than one of the same tutu. Those sound like your only options...

[Former_Member]

I'm making extra stock for the fair, and also giving customer the option to place made-to-order orders at the fair, just like on etsy.

[eaststreettins]

I went to a craft show over the weekend and just put my shop on vacation for the two days and told people where I was in my public profile. I just had an etsy sale from someone who visited my booth at the show! woohoo!

[AuntBsAttic]

I deactivate listings that are OOAK or can't be reproduced in 24 hrs. Luckily, my high volume show items are not listed on Etsy at all - and I've only sold one item at a show that sold on Etsy the same day. I contacted her that night - explained what happened - told her I could ship in 36 hrs - and sent a pic of her item before I shipped. She was delighted - but now I double check listings the night before a show & deactivate !! (less stressful !!)

[Former_Member]

Very helpful info as I think doing craft shows in the future

[Former_Member]

I would definetly put your shop on vacation mode for that day. That way you don't have to worry about it it double selling in your shop.

[Former_Member]

Thank you all for your responses. These were very helpful. I was going to reproduce as many as I could, but we are on a strict "No spending" for a few weeks. So I can only use what I have in stock right now (which isn't a ton, since I'm still in the beginning stages of this). I'm glad I wasn't the only one wondering this. :)