A piece of advice I often share is to refine your product line. Most handmade businesses I see are trying to offer too much selection. But I understand a lot of people don’t want to scale back. So if you insist on offering several different types of products, consider carrying a theme throughout them. …
Chances are, you’ve seen backdrop frames made from PVC of copper pipes and connector pieces. I wanted to play around with this structure to see if there were different ways it could be used, aside from a backdrop. I created a tabletop version of the PVC frame and below are a few ways it can…
Unless you’re selling at a very small craft show, you’ll never get 100% of shoppers to stop at your table. Your products are not for everyone, nor should they be. However, some craft show vendors do a great job of grabbing the attention of more shoppers and drawing them in (giving them more opportunities to…
When I was making Christmas dinner for the first time, I had a lot of questions for my mom. I asked how much poultry seasoning she puts in the dressing and she said: “I don’t know…until it smells like dressing”. It’s an odd way to determine how much seasoning to use, but it works. If…
Repetition is important in all aspects of your business. It creates consistency and familiarity your customers can rely on. Repetition is equally important in visual design and should be used in your craft show display. Imagine a living room with white walls and grey furniture. If you place one red pillow on the couch, it…
To share the lessons in this article, I’ve replicated a craft show display I saw online that I thought could use some improvement, and have explained what I would change and how. Does the “before” display work? Yes. Could it use some improvement? Also, yes. I chose this display to replicate because it illustrates the…
There are many directions you can go in with your craft show display. And there really isn’t a right or wrong way to display your products; different techniques work for different businesses. What’s most important is that your display helps you make sales. If your display doesn’t: >> grab shoppers’ attention and get them to…
There are craft show tables that simply display products, and there are those that go above and beyond. They create a full experience for shoppers. As a shopper, you feel like you’re shopping with a legit business; you’re not just browsing a crafter’s creations. Everything feels polished and thoughtful. I think of these craft show…
When I sold at my first craft fair, I didn’t put much thought into my stock. If I thought someone might buy it, I made it. >> I didn’t consider if the fabrics I chose would look good next to each other or help tell a story. >> I didn’t choose which products to make…
With more than a decade of setting up, shopping, and reviewing craft show displays, I’ve learned from many mistakes. The biggest mistake I see vendors make with their craft show display is: Displaying everything they make. Your craft show display should not be treated as a stock room. A craft show…