It’s that time of year again! Fall arts and craft shows! I love being both a shopper and vendor at shows. I do a handful of shows a year and thought I’d share my top 10 list of advice for vendors.
1) Make sure all items are tagged. Some shoppers may feel uncomfortable having to ask for the price. I purchase the business cards and tags I use at shows on ETSY.
2) If you have a smart phone, use a credit card reader. I use Square which offers a free reader when you sign up.
3) Have items in a wide price range to appeal to a variety of shoppers. I usually have a bowl of earrings that are $10 or less which is always fun and popular.
4) Create a display with a cohesive design that represents the 'look and feel' of your product. I use a solid suede-like piece of fabric as my table cover. It’s a nice shade of brown which looks good as the backdrop to my jewelry. I stay away from prints because my items will get lost in the design. I used to use an ivory backdrop but then realized that my items just weren’t ‘popping’. Also try not to be too cluttered, like this picture from my first craft show:
5) Group 'like' items together if you're selling jewelry items or something similar. I'll display my items in groupings by color or gemstone .... that way if someone is interested in a turquoise necklace, they'll see a complimenting pair of earrings or bracelet.
6) Use unique items to create different display on your table. Try to have some of your items elevated. Think outside the box…. Mirrors, vintage luggage, cake plates, picture frames can all become unique ways to display your items. Here are some examples of displays from a home show I did last year:
7) Make your displays! You don't have to spend a lot of money. Here's my post from earlier this year with DIY instructions for an earring display: DIY Earring Display
8) If you can, bring a helper! It’s amazing how all at once multiple people are ready to check out and others have questions! It will also give you a chance to browse the show and take a restroom break.
9) Be approachable! Don’t stay seated behind your display. Take time to go in front of your table and tidy up your displays... and chat with customers while you're there. You can be friendly to customers without being over-bearing or pushy.
10) Good luck and most important, have fun!
First, a disclaimer: I only do a few shows a year and they are all inside where I have one table. I'm definitely not an expert, but have put together a few display tips to share.
- Have a consistent theme and look. For me, this begins with the earring card holders and price tags. I recently purchased ones from a new favorite seller on Etsy. I'll be posting a separate topic on this!
- Use a nice table cover. This doesn't have to be expensive! I purchased a few yards of a suede-like fabric from Joann Fabrics when I had a 50% off coupon. For my jewelry, a nice solid color works best as a backdrop. Anything with a print would be too busy and distracting. Other options for a table cover are sheets or blankets... be creative!
- Vary the height of your display. I had a couple photo storage boxes that I placed on the table, with a fabric napkin over them. I would have liked something a bit higher, but didn't have the time to come up with something. I apologize for the clutter behind the tables.... everyone was still setting up!
- Search the internet for ideas. Here's just a few of favorite discussions of displays I found:
- Group 'like' items together. I had bracelets and necklaces in pretty shades of blue. I grouped those together along with several pair of matching items. That way potential buyers can see the whole collection together and buy the whole set.
- People love looking through my bargain bin! I always have a bowl with earrings under $10. Most often people would find something in there first, then pick out something else too.
- Think outside the box when it comes to displays. Buying displays can get expensive, and for someone like me that doesn't do a lot of shows, it's not feasible. If you google 'jewelry displays' you'll come up with lots of ideas - people are so creative! I made a new earring display for this past show. DIY instructions coming soon!
I hope you find these helpful! I'm always looking for new tips and would love for you to share yours!
