10 Annoying Things you’ll Deal With at Craft Shows
Craft shows can be a great experience, but many vendors give up on them. Some of the things mentioned in this article may be the reasons why. Knowing about common vendor frustrations can make you more prepared to deal with the uncertainty and unique selling/shopping setting craft fairs create.
1) Low profits
When I first started selling at craft fairs, credit card readers designed for vendors weren’t popular, so I only accepted cash. Walking away with a stack of bills at the end of the event made me feel like I earned a lot of money.
But once I started tracking my hours and every little expense, I realized, I really wasn’t making much money at all.
>> Here are common craft fair expenses you may be ignoring
Preparing for, selling at, and packing up from craft fairs requires a lot of time and money. It’s important to be strategic with how you spend your time and money to help ensure you’ll profit.
2) No guarantees
Even with all the work you put in and the money you spend to sell at a craft show, there are no guarantees that you’ll make that money back.
When we pay our table/booth fees, we trust that the organizer is going to put a portion of that towards marketing to ensure people show up. But that’s not always the case.
Even if the organizer does an amazing job marketing the event, bad weather or other local events can reduce attendance.
The best you can do is research craft shows, avoid any with these red flags, and estimate whether or not you’re likely to make enough money to profit (How Much Money can you Make at a Craft Show?).
3) Seeing sales go to competitors
I remember one craft show, having my competitor set up right across from me (as in, 8 feet away, facing me across the aisle). I had to watch a few people browse my handbags, work their way to her table, and buy one of her bags.
At least online, you don’t know when someone leaves your shop and goes right to a competitor to buy from them.
Competition is a part of business but it can be hard watching shoppers say, with their dollars, they think a competitor’s product is better than yours.
4) Selling next to MLM businesses
I’m not sure when the shift happened but it seems like Etsy is saturated with mass-produced items and most craft shows are a mix of handmade vendors and vendors selling items such as Avon, Norwex, Young Living, etc.
Many craft shows are strictly handmade and curate a unique selection of vendors; look for those events in your city. If you’re unsure, ask before applying if there will be MLM vendors (here are other questions to ask before applying).
5) No lunch breaks/break rooms
Unless you have a helper, you’ll be stuck in your booth all day. It may be okay for you to ask your next-door vendor to watch your booth while you make a quick bathroom trip, but it’s inappropriate to ask them to do so while you take a 30-minute lunch break.
You’ll need to wait for breaks between shoppers to take bites of your lunch, run to the washroom, or move around and stretch.
If you sell at multi-day shows, you’ll be tired of that space by the end of the show.
Remember to pack everything you need so you can be as comfortable as possible in your space (here’s a free printable checklist so you don’t forget important items).
If you can’t get someone to help you for the entire event, ask a friend or family member if they can stop by and watch your table for several minutes so you can have lunch, use the bathroom, or walk around the event.
6) Unsolicited feedback
Unfortunately, not every craft show shopper realizes how personal it is to create products and put them out there for strangers to judge if they’re good enough to buy.
Although people often mean well, getting opinions on your product color choices, product designs, craft show display, logo, etc. can be frustrating…especially when you didn’t ask for them.
One word of advice: unless you’re repeatedly getting requests for a certain product or product feature, don’t let those opinions send you in a million directions.
You know your business best and you know who you’re targeting (most people offering criticisms aren’t your ideal customer). If you end up accommodating every suggestion (e.g. “you should make this in pink”), it will be hard to stay profitable.
7) “How did you make this?”
It’s one thing if a potential customer is interested in the process so they can better understand the value or story behind a product. It’s another when it’s a fellow crafter trying to gather your company secrets.
How much you decide to divulge is up to you, and it might change depending on who you’re talking to.
If you’re connecting with someone on your shared love for your craft and you want to share tips, that’s perfectly fine.
But it’s also fine if you want to keep your “company secrets” a secret.
“It’s kind of hard to explain” or “it’s too long/complicated of a process to explain right now” are acceptable answers when someone asks about your process, techniques, or even where you source your materials.
Then share some of the product features or production techniques that are selling features (e.g. I double-stitch all my book bags so they can hold a lot of weight).
8) “Why is it so expensive?”
You may get a bold shopper asking why your prices are so high, or you may overhear a shopper telling their friend they think your items are expensive.
It happens to all of us. Unless you’re getting that from dozens of shoppers or are noticing signs that people think your prices are too high (showing interest in an item until they see the price tag), don’t take the comments personally.
Not everyone can be your customer and you don’t want to lower prices to attract a wider range of customers (here are 10 reasons NOT to lower your prices).
Unless you’re following this pricing guide (or something similar), chances are you’re already undervaluing your work.
If you do feel you need to lower your prices, find ways to lower your costs first, so you’ll still profit. Here are 10 ways you can lower costs.
9) “I could make that” or “Could you make this?”
You will run into people who are unaware of how insulting it is to ask a friend or family member if they can make one of your items, instead of just buying it from you.
They’re essentially saying they’re going to steal your design and have someone else (who won’t charge for their time) make it for them.
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do about this aside from creating a strong signature style that’s hard to replicate and honing your craft so the average knitter/jewelry maker/sewer will find it difficult to make what you’re making.
The nice thing is, most of these people won’t actually take the time to make the item and they’re unlikely to start a business doing it. On the other hand…
10) Copycat vendors
Depending on how small your city/community is, you may end up dealing with fellow vendors who start making the same product as you.
Vendors keep an eye on other booths and make note of which ones seem the busiest throughout the show. Some aren’t shy to take a page out of a successful vendor’s book and start copying products, displays, signage, etc.
You have to stay on your toes and keep your products and display fresh so you’ll always be ahead of the competition.
Feel free to share your craft fair frustrations in the comment section.
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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!