5 Reasons You Didn’t Get Accepted to a Craft Show
Craft shows are a great way to sell the products you make (here’s a list of ones that tend to sell better). The majority of craft shows are juried; this ensures there is a good mix of vendors for shoppers to buy from. This also means that there are a good number of applications that are turned down.
If you’ve applied to a craft show and are disappointed you didn’t get in, take a look at the list below to see if any of these reasons apply to you and how you can correct the mistakes for your next application.
1) Your work is too similar to other vendors
It’s incredibly beneficial to find a niche for your handmade products. The craft world isn’t what it was 5 years ago. With Pinterest and DIY videos, people are channelling their inner artists and turning hobbies into money-making businesses. This means more competition and your handmade products need to stand out.
Craft show organizers don’t want their vendors to be selling the “same old” products shoppers can find at any craft show. They want to put on the best craft show full of unique items.
Finding a niche can be as simple as focusing on a specific type of product (e.g. not just knitted hats but knitted berets), targeting a specific customer (e.g. knitted hats for skiers) or focusing on a product feature (e.g. knitted hats made from ethical merino wool).
Get to know your local competition by visiting a few craft shows. Determine how you can create a name for yourself (e.g. the knitter who sells neon winter accessories, or the soap maker selling wine-infused soaps, or the jewelry vendor with the best minimalistic solid gold pieces).
When applying to craft shows, highlight what makes your products different and why shoppers will want to come to their craft show to view your products.
2) Poor-quality photos
The effort you put into your application gives organizers an idea of the effort you’ll put into being a vendor. It also may be the first impression you make on organizers. Sharing photos that don’t look professional tells organizers that your display or behaviour at a craft show may not be professional.
Organizers may also want to see a photo of your craft show display. If you’ve never participated in an event, you should still show proof you can build a visually pleasing craft show table. Put a crisp white tablecloth on your dining room table and set your products up using display fixtures and props.
You don’t need a complete setup; they’re looking for signs that you’re not just going to throw your products on a table. Show them how you’ll use fixtures to elevate your display, props that help tell a story, and details that make it look like a professional (tiny) store.
If you need help with your display, try the free 5-day email challenge: 5 DAYS TO A STANDOUT CRAFT SHOW DISPLAY
3) You didn’t properly fill out the application
Craft show organizers are busy. If you don’t include all the information they need to make a decision, they probably won’t waste their time trying to track you down (especially if there’s a lineup of other people ready to take your spot).
Follow their directions, provide details, and be respectful of the organizer’s time. If they ask you to attach photos of your work, don’t provide a link to your website. Although they’re unlikely to toss your application for a spelling mistake, short answers, spelling mistakes, and bad grammar can lead them to believe you’re not taking the application seriously, don’t have time to properly fill it out, or don’t care to put an effort in.
4) Your work is not a fit
Many craft shows will have a theme or target market they’re hoping to attract (e.g. mom & tots show) or a shopping purpose they’re trying to fulfill (e.g. Christmas event full of items shoppers can buy as Christmas gifts). If your products are a good fit for their theme, target market, or mission, they won’t accept you. But that’s a good thing; you don’t want to spend time and money on a craft show you’re unlikely to do well at.
However, there may be shows you can do well at if you simply make a few tweaks to your work. For example, you may introduce a line of products that are ideal for gift-giving.
Before you spend time applying to a craft show, make sure you understand the vibe the event is going for and/or the type of shopper they’re hoping to attract. If your products are not a fit, don’t waste your time applying. But if your products could be a fit, highlight products and features that make them ideal for the market.
5) You don’t have an online presence
Having an online presence shows organizers you have a business you’re trying to grow and will take the event seriously. “Making a bunch of random items and seeing if they’ll sell” isn’t really the vibe most organizers are going for. An Etsy shop showcasing a cohesive product line will tell organizers you’ll show up prepared and will take care of their shoppers.
Although a craft show organizer should have a marketing plan and be responsible for attracting the majority of shoppers, they do rely on vendors to participate in as many ways as possible. Showing organizers you have an online following and can help attract more shoppers to the event will be a big perk. Use your social media pages, newsletter, or website to advertise the next event you’ll be at.
Organizers may also want to see more photos of your work, branding, and how you interact with shoppers online (e.g. does your Etsy shop have hundreds of raving reviews?).
At the end of the day, don’t get discouraged if you aren’t accepted to a craft show. Some craft shows have a long waitlist and are very competitive to get into.
You could have followed every rule in this list and still not be accepted but it doesn’t mean your products aren’t amazing. The important part is to accept their decision gracefully, think about how you can improve, and move onward and upward.
You may also be interested in:
- 10 Questions to Ask Before Committing to a Craft Show
- What you Must Know Before your First Craft Show
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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!
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