How to Sell Your Art at Craft Fairs

Larn nearly applications, fees, berth planning and setup, and lots more!

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Thinking about trying your hand at the craft fair excursion? Non sure what'southward involved, or if information technology's even the right motility for you?

I'm here to assistance!

A few years ago I had still questions. I was completely new to selling my own products and was but beginning to figure out where and how to get them in front of people. Craft fairs and markets seemed and then daunting—a bit like a secret society I didn't actually know how to break into.

But, just like with every initially scary new thing in life, I figured information technology out! I've experienced some great shows, and accept also had some major flops. I've tweaked and simplified my set up, learned how to amend talk about myself and my work, figured out which shows are worth my time and free energy ('cause they really do accept a lot of those things!), and made some friends forth the way.

Hopefully the lessons I've learned and communication I can share will help you experience more confident and set up to blast your first show!

Search

FINDING SHOWS

So…how do you fifty-fifty find arts and crafts fairs to utilise to in the offset place?

Welp, stride one, as usual, is to enquire our friend google! Search for "arts and crafts fairs" or "markets" or "pop ups" in your local area. The major ones will typically prove up on there, or if you get lucky, someone might have fifty-fifty compiled a list for you already!

Step two is to scour Instagram and Facebook. Follow artists who alive in your area, then check out what kinds of events they've been participating in. If yous detect someone who you admire who seems really tapped into your local scene, DM or electronic mail them and ask if they'd be willing to clue you in. Also, make sure to ask what people's favorite shows are, and be sure to prioritize those.

Step three, search local event sites (a good i for Austin is Do512) or whatever publications your community may accept where people share local goings-on.

Once yous become into your first fair or 2, you lot'll be able to inquire your booth neighbors what other shows they like and start making a list of those.

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APPLYING

Once yous've constitute a testify yous want to apply to, yous'll need to practice some online searching to detect out what their application process is.

Near of the time, there volition be a website which volition have an online awarding you can submit. The application ordinarily requires yous to answer several questions such as:

ane) What practice yous sell & what kinds of materials to you lot use?

ii) What's your website? The bigger the testify, the more than established they expect their vendors to be. If y'all have at to the lowest degree an Etsy shop to share, that's a cracking start, and nearly fairs will exist content with that. If yous have a professional looking website with an online store in information technology, that's even better.

3) What are your social media channels / handles? You don't have to have a ton of followers, simply markets like to run into you lot're trying to put yourself out there.

4) Have yous washed any shows before / what are the terminal 3 shows you participated in? Don't freak out if y'all don't have any shows under your belt even so. When I first started and answered this question, I admitted it was my start show I was applying to, but that I had already planned out my booth in particular and had a skilful handle on how shows are run—they accepted me!.

five) Practice y'all demand electricity? Most shows don't offer electrical outlets, or they accept a express number available. You should definitely make your set upwards cocky-sustainable and await little to no resources beyond what you bring yourself. If you want to include lights in your booth (not usually necessary), or a personal fan (might exist squeamish if you lot're outside), choose something that's battery powered.

six) If you lot're waitlisted and we take a drop out, how much lead fourth dimension do you demand to be able to participate? This is simply asking y'all how much advanced warning you need from them, should a spot open upwardly last minute. Mayhap all your products are all produced and ready to go all the time, in which case y'all'd need piddling to no advanced warning. On the other paw, If you manus-brand every item and don't go along any inventory, you might demand more similar a month to prep for a fair.

7) Why do you desire to participate in this show? Make sure to do your research and at least read their virtually page and FAQs. Let them know you get them and empathize why they're putting the off-white together, and prove them how you lot can be an asset!

*Note: Most applications too include an application fee from $5 all the way to the entire price of the booth. Small-scale application fees are often non-refundable. When you're asked for a bigger fee, you lot're usually making a deposit of some or all of the cost of renting the booth space for the fair. If you don't go far into the bear witness, you'll (hopefully) exist refunded (make sure you're clear on this earlier you apply). Renegade Craft Fair, for example, asks for the entire cost of your booth fee with your application (and it's not cheap…like $600ish or more, depending on what size booth you're applying for). If you don't make it in, they refund y'all. It's definitely not the standard to take the full fee upwards front, merely it happens.


BOOTH FEES

Speaking of fees, let'southward touch how much it costs to rent space at a arts and crafts fair.

Most shows charge a flat fee in return for a prepare amount space. One time you pay that fee, whatever sales y'all make are your own.

Flat fees range, depending on booth size, prominence of the show, and length of the testify. I've paid a flat fee of $25 for a really tiny fair, on upward to $600 for Renegade (which, I should mention, lasts 2 days). The typical toll I've encountered is usually between $85-$200 for anywhere from a 6x6' to 12x12' space. Also remember, I'thousand talking local craft fairs here, not behemothic trade shows or anything like that. Trade show booth space is in the thousands.

One of my favorite shows in Austin, Blue Genie Art Bazaar, has a very unlike structure. Blue Genie lasts for the entire month before Christmas, and artists don't homo their booths (which is really unusual). Instead, they bring in staff to monitor the whole room and help customers check out. Because they exercise so much to manage the testify, and it goes on for and then long, they take a percentage of every maker's sales. Percentages vary, depending on how much you sell (the more you sell, the less % y'all pay).

Me, at my very first craft fair. Such innocence!

Me, at my very first craft fair. Such innocence!

BOOTH Set up Up

Alright, you're in! Yous've paid upward! Congrats!!! Now it's fourth dimension to start planning your prepare up.

Other than designing and producing your products (which nosotros won't hash out in this article considering information technology'due south a whole separate brute), designing your booth and figuring out logistics of how to transport and assemble it is the most difficult part of participating in arts and crafts shows. The upside is, in one case you figure it out for 1 show, you take a good template to replicate for the residuum.

At that place are few things to note nigh how arts and crafts off-white booths work…

1) You typically get a certain corporeality of space that'due south measured out in feet. 6x6' is a common booth size. So is 8x8' or 12x12'. Very often, that space comes with NOTHING in it. I mean nothing. Information technology might just be a taped off, empty square. A few shows practise offering a table and chairs (some charge if you lot want to rent those), but information technology's less common.

ii) You might exist within or outside. Make sure you lot clarify! Truthfully, unless it'southward a completely covered area, I Detest being outside. Even if it's covered, wind, dust, heat, and rain are still not a fun mix with paper goods. If you're in an uncovered, outside area, you'll probable need a tent. It's probably fifty-fifty required that you lot bring one. I've never wanted to mess with that, but I know a lot of folks who aren't bothered past it. Just make sure yous get a tent that's quick and like shooting fish in a barrel to gather if you're gonna go that route.

When you're planning your ready, start by measuring it out with painter'south record on the flooring to get a experience for the size. Then, decide what it is y'all need to best brandish your products. You'll almost certainly demand a table or shelves. If you've got cards, you'll probably need a carte display rack. If yous take large posters, you'll need a poster display rack, or a big background wall you can tack them on to. Once you've figured out what you need, outset playing around with layout and placement.

You'll as well want to consider how customers will interact with your display. Are your products within their reach? Are your all-time selling items beingness highlighted? Is anyone going to exist able to see the tiny sign y'all're hanging on the wall behind you lot? You lot don't have to get this perfect correct away—just spotter how people answer to your layout and conform from in that location.

Finally, yous'll demand to recall about transporting and assembling your display. Can you fit everything in your car? Can you elevator everything and put information technology all together by yourself if you need to? Can you get together the full berth in the ready up time you've been given? (Ofttimes, you'll get 1-2 hours).

Overall, my best advice for new arts and crafts evidence vendors is: Y'all don't have to get completely innovative with your display ideas when you're first starting. Spend your time making your products amazing, and let your display quietly complement them. Work within your parameters, exist smart, and be nice to your future self by making it simple. And practice your set up!

Planning out my untraditional, unmanned booth for Blue Genie

Planning out my untraditional, unmanned booth for Blueish Genie

The final product!

The final production!

DAY OF: WHAT YOU Demand TO BRING

Your point-of-contact person will tell you when and how you lot demand to load in on the day of the upshot. Often, load in starts several hours before the fair opens to the public, and tin can be staggered depending on how many vendors need to prepare upwards. You're responsible for doing everything for yourself. Information technology'southward not unusual to never collaborate with the people who are putting on the evidence, every bit they're obviously super busy. Merely information technology is a good thought to innovate yourself if you can and at least send them a thank you email after the show.

Here are some things you'll want to remember to have with you lot on the day of…

one. Your sales taxation permit: All states are different, so you lot'll have to google "sales tax permit [your country]" to understand what you demand for your specific location. Here's some info for yous Texans out there.

2. Cash and coins for alter, plus a card reader (similar Square) for accepting payments by credit carte du jour: Probably 80% of my my customer transactions are by card. I usually bring a variety of bills and coins—$5's and $i's are going to be most important. Don't forget to add whatsoever sales tax is applicable in your location!

3. Snacks and h2o: You're going to exist at your booth for hours. Don't go hangry!

four. Your products: At first, it'southward tough to decide how much inventory to bring. I usually accept at least 3-iv of each of my posters and small prints, and 6-8 of each carte. I don't always bring every fine art impress and card I have. I'll often accept a selection of my top sellers, plus some back ups. Y'all just accept to figure out what's best for y'all equally yous get! I store actress inventory and supplies under my table.

5. Extra tools and supplies: You never know what's going to happen at a craft show. Bring some gluey tack or clamps to fight against windy days. Tape and scissors are always great to accept on hand.

half-dozen. Business organisation cards / Mailing List Sign Up Sheet: Don't forget, this is a adventure to brand real, personal connections!

seven. Price tags / signs: Some people tag every item and some list out prices. Whatsoever your preference, don't forget to let people know what your products cost.

viii. Bags / packaging: This depends on what you lot're selling. I give my customers recycled kraft paper bags that I stamp with my logo if they enquire for something to deport their buy domicile in.


Terminal TIPS

Perchance you're like me and you're not super comfortable with selling your work? Welp, permit me just tell ya, craft fairs are going to brand you lot feel a little funky. But recall, people are there shopping because they want to be! They're probable very interested in how and why yous make your art, and would exist excited to hear you talk about it. Try to approach it from that angle vs. the "Footstep right up! 2 for a dolla!" selling strategy. Much more than authentic.

Likewise—make friends with your neighbors! You're all going through this together, and you're all makers…so you lot accept a ton in mutual. The more people y'all know, the more than you lot'll hear most other opportunities, and the more fun you lot'll have.


I promise this helps you face up your offset prove with lots of conviction!

Allow me know in the comments if you take whatsoever other tips & tricks to add, or if yous've had any craft fair experiences you call back others would find valuable!

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