10 Questions to Ask Before Committing to a Craft Show
Craft shows are a great way to sell your handmade goods, especially if you make items that tend to sell well at craft shows. There’s no way to guarantee a successful show, as there are elements (like the weather) that are out of everyone’s control. However, when you’re thinking about applying to a craft show you’ve never heard of, it’s a good idea to ask some questions to be sure it’s a fit for your business.
Choose one, a few or all questions below to ask an event organizer before you commit.
1) Have you organized other events?
Event organizers can put on great markets their first time, but if they have past successes, even better! If this is their first event, see if they have experience with craft shows. If they have a handmade business, have attended several craft shows, and know a large network of people, that’s a good start.
2) Which vendors have participated in your show in the past?
If the event organizer has organized other events, find out what type of vendors have participated. This will give you a bit of a client list that you can use to get some reviews and let you know the type of vendors that are typically involved. It’s a sign of a successful event when vendors apply to the same show year after year.
3) How many vendors do you plan to have at this event?
Good things do come in small packages so don’t let the size of the event throw you off. Some of my favorite craft shows are on the smaller side and remain that way despite how popular they get. It’s still a great question to ask, as it will give you an idea of the size of the event, how many people are helping to spread the word, and how many other vendors may be selling items in the same category as yours.
4) What type of vendors will you have at this show?
Some markets will be strictly handmade while others will have a mix of handmade with home-based businesses (like Arbonne, Scentsy, etc.) or even vintage. If it’s a mix, find out if it will work to your advantage or not. If you sell handmade scented candles and wax melts and Scentsy will be at a booth across from you, it may not be the best fit for you.
5) Is it a juried event?
The majority of shows will be juried, which means the event won’t accept anyone and everyone who applies. This is important because it helps ensure that the organizers are looking for quality and creating a balanced selection of goods; making sure they don’t have too many vendors selling the same type of product.
6) Will there be any other types of attractions?
Planning a craft show is like planning a party; you need several elements to ensure success. Music, photo booths, giveaways, and donations are all added attractions that help set the tone. See if the organizer has any ideas for making the show unique.
However, you also want to be sure there aren’t too many attractions that will detract from you making sales. I sold at an event where live music was the main attraction in a smaller space, which made it impossible for me to talk to shoppers. People came to listen to music and drink beer, not shop for pajamas.
Consider if the event’s attractions will help or hinder your sales.
7) Who is the target market?
It’s important that the type of consumer the organizer is targeting and trying to attract to the event, is also a fit for your business. A vendor selling risque art likely won’t do very well at a mom-themed event.
8) How will you be marketing the event?
A lot of elements go into making an event a success and marketing is key. The best events I’ve sold at have had a strong marketing plan using a variety of platforms to get the word out; getting featured in local papers, news segments, radio spots, etc. If the organizer is relying on word of mouth, you may be in for a slow day.
Find out the ways they advertise their events and if it seems like they have multiple ways of reaching their target market.
9) Will you be charging an entrance fee?
Entrance fees can help ensure you’re getting more “serious shoppers” who are there with the intent to buy and not just lookie-loos there to fill free time in their day. However, if the event organizer will be charging an entrance fee, be sure that it’s not so high that it might deter some shoppers from stopping in.
10) Can I purchase a half-table?
If it’s your first market or the price points of your products don’t warrant the cost of a table, find out if there are any opportunities to share a table or booth with someone in the same boat as you. This will make your overhead costs more manageable and you can test out the waters with an unknown organizer. Having a booth buddy is great; you’ll have someone to chat with during slow periods and you can help each other cover the table for food or bathroom breaks.
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Hey, I’m Erin 🙂 I write about small business and craft show techniques I’ve learned from being a small business owner for almost 2 decades, selling at dozens of craft shows, and earning a diploma in Visual Communication Design. I hope you find my advice helpful!
I find shows that have other stuff going on (bounce houses, face painting, festival type) are not good for sales. Lots of traffic but too few buyers. They are spending all their money on the festival with nothing for the craft show.