10 Ways to Display Tote Bags at a Craft Show
Tote bags are one of the trickier items to display on a craft show table. Some styles don’t stand on their own and the styles that do, tend to take up a lot of table space. So here are my tips for creating a craft show display that includes totes, the fixtures and accessories I…
Products to Make & Sell for Mother’s Day (2024)
This is a list of ideas for products you can make and sell for Mother’s Day. The list IS based on research (and the Mother’s Day gifts that are popular now), however, that doesn’t mean an item is guaranteed to sell if you make it. Use these ideas for inspiration, but always consider your target…
Craft Show Display 5-Minute Fix: Color Groupings
Color, and how you use it, is the most important element of your craft show display. Color can instantly catch a shopper’s attention, tell your target market your products are right for them, and help tell a story. There are many ways to incorporate color. This article’s quick fix focuses on color in product groupings. …
15 Things Craft Show Shoppers Love
I’ve read hundreds of craft show reviews and there are a few consistencies when it comes to what craft show shoppers love (and what they dislike). These are points to keep in mind as a vendor, as well as some tips for organizers at the end of this list. 1) Something for everyone Most craft…
10 Things That Annoy Craft Show Organizers
If you plan to use craft shows as a sales channel for your business, you don’t want to make a bad impression on organizers who decide whether or not you’ll be accepted as a vendor. These are common mistakes vendors make that can annoy craft show organizers and have them second-guessing if they want you…
The Top 7 Complaints from Craft Show Shoppers
I went down a bit of a rabbit hole the other day, researching a local craft show. That led me to read its reviews on Yelp. Then I started reading reviews for other craft shows in my city. And then I moved on to big craft shows outside of my city. I ended up scanning…
5 Reasons Craft Show Shoppers Skip your Booth
You’ll never attract every shopper at a craft show. And attempting to can do more harm than good. As Marie Forleo says: If you’re talking to everybody, you’re talking to nobody. You need to define your target market and focus on building a business and products for them. However, a few mistakes can repel even your…
5 Reasons Craft Show Shoppers are Asking You for Discounts
If you sell at enough craft shows, markets, and events, you’ll eventually run into shoppers who think your prices are too high. They’ll tell you they could make it themselves, get someone to make it cheaper, or find the item at the mall for less. Yet they still want the item and are asking for…
How To Keep your Product’s Price Competitive
There are many different pricing formulas out there and different ways to get to a retail price. Some are better than others (I personally find my method gives me the most accurate pricing…you can check that out here). Even with all the different ways to price, many people email me or leave a comment fretting…
How To Make a Scrunchie Display Stand (for under $25)
When I first started selling at craft shows, I was in a tiny apartment. I didn’t have much room to store display fixtures and I didn’t have power tools to cut pieces of wood. I also didn’t have any way to cary big and heavy pieces of wood home. So to me, this DIY is…
How To Add Overhead Costs to Different Types of Products
When running a handmade business, you may have a variety of products and a wide range of prices. Simply dividing overhead expenses evenly among the products you make in a month, or the number of products you sell, can make some items overpriced. Here’s how to take your overhead costs and distribute them among your…
How To Price Handmade Scrunchies To Sell
If you’re starting a business to sell handmade scrunchies, it’s important to price them right. Not only do you need to ensure they’re a price your target market is willing to pay, but you also must profit from your sales…or you don’t have a business. I’m not a fan of the popular pricing strategy: Production…
How to Create a Scrunchie Collection
Although you can create a wide range of scrunchie options and make sales, creating scrunchie collections will: Boost sales Increase the perceived value of your scrunchies Increase your units per transaction Streamline your production and increase your profits Make your business appear more professional and potentially attract wholesale orders Collections will help tell a story,…
Craft Trends to Ditch in 2024
Each year I create a list of crafts you can make and sell that are seeing an increase in consumer demand (you can check that out here). I also look over the previous year’s trend list and see if those trends are still growing, are plateauing or declining in popularity. To create these lists, I…
How to Sew a Simple Lined Tote Bag (that looks professionally made)
This pattern requires minimal sewing and is easy to follow. These fabric tote bags are perfect for keeping folded up in your purse or glove box and use when you stop at the store but forget to bring your reusable grocery bags. This free tote pattern doesn’t have pockets but you can easily add them….
Craft Trends to Make & Sell (in 2024)
A lot of trend lists simply share common themes they see on fashion runways. But those “trends” don’t always translate to consumers, and/or sales. To create my trend lists each year I use tools that analyze search volumes and traffic to website and product listings to determine exactly which products are seeing an increase in…
Valentine’s Day Trends & Marketing Tips (2024)
Valentine’s Day is a holiday you can work with to give your craft business’s sales a boost in the first quarter of the year. This article shares tips for marketing your products, as well as product ideas you can sell at craft shows and online, and keywords you may want to use online to drive…
How To Define your Craft Business’s Target Audience
Your business’s audience is the group of people you’re creating products for. With the endless possibilities of products you could make and people you could market and sell to, your audience must be more specific than “women who like jewelry”, “people who need art” or “those who like to support local and handmade”. A business’s audience is broken down…
3 Metrics to Review Each Month for your Craft Business (Worksheet included)
You don’t have to wait for a new year to hit the refresh button on your business; you can turn things around at any point. The only requirement before jumping into change is looking back and reviewing what has brought you to where you are now; especially if you want to improve results. Let’s use…
6 Ways To Use a Loss Leader to Make More Money
It sounds contradictory, but the purpose of a loss leader is to make your business more money. In general, profit should be built into every product’s price. But in some cases, it may be beneficial for your business to NOT profit from a sale. This article explains what a loss leader strategy is, how it…