Craft Show Etiquette – What other Vendors Expect
When you’re a vendor at a craft show, there are a few people you want to consider; the organizer, the shopper, and your fellow vendors. Chances are, you’ll bump into the same vendors if you sell at several craft shows. This article outlines a few unspoken rules vendors will expect you to follow. 1)…
Creative Swag Bag Ideas (shoppers won’t toss)
Swag bags are a good way for events to offer shoppers a perk. They also give businesses that contribute an item a marketing opportunity. Unfortunately, they’re often filled with items shoppers won’t use, don’t necessarily want, and may end up tossing. As a craft show vendor, swag bag items should give you a return on…
10 Ways to Lower your Prices (without lowering profits)
Lowering the prices of your handmade products, just to make more sales, tends to do more harm than good (here’s why). But what should you do if you’ve properly calculated your prices (here’s how to do that), and your items are overpriced and not selling? Below are 10 things you may try to help lower…
10 Reasons NOT to Complain about Handmade Prices
After writing and posting 10 Reasons to NOT to Lower the Prices of your Handmade Goods, I came across a comment on social media that made me think; an article explaining why craft show and Etsy shoppers shouldn’t make remarks about a vendor’s prices being higher than they would like. The people who don’t value handmade…
10 Reasons NOT to Lower the Prices of your Handmade Goods
How you price your products can make all the difference in whether your business is going to be successful or not. I’ll assume you’ve priced your products properly to cover your hours, costs, markup and profits (if not, follow this pricing guide: The Right Way to Price a Handmade Product (Step-by-Step Formula)). But if you’re…
4 Retail Best Practices to Apply at Craft Shows
If you walk into any retailer at the mall, you’ll find that almost all of them follow similar techniques for catching a shopper’s eye, drawing them in, and selling to them. These tried and true strategies can boost your sales at craft shows. Retail best practice #1: Window Displays Retailers use the windows of…
Why you’re Looking at your Craft Show Setup Wrong
Craft shows require a lot of work to prepare for and you may have spent weeks perfecting your setup on your dining room table. But before you settle on your display, consider if you’re looking at it from the wrong perspective. The Wrong Perspective While working on your craft show setup, you likely stand…
10 Signs you Shouldn’t Apply to a Craft Show
Before you apply to craft shows, it’s important to realize that not all events are worth applying to. Several factors go into producing a good craft show, so just because an organizer lacks an element below doesn’t mean the show won’t be great. However, if several areas are waving a red flag, it may be…
5 Craft Show Mistakes that Drive Shoppers Away
No one signs up for a craft show with the intention of alienating the shoppers but you may unknowingly be sending them away if they don’t feel comfortable. It’s important to have fun, be yourself and show pride in your work; that will always draw people to you. Here are 5 mistakes to watch for…
Laws To Follow when Packaging Handmade Products
Do you package your handmade cream in a jar? Do you have the product name, volume and your business name and address clearly printed on each label? If not, you may be in violation of packaging and labeling laws. Disclaimer: I’m not a lawyer by profession and nothing in this article should be construed as…
Label Laws for Selling Handmade Clothing & Accessories
Disclaimer: I’m not a lawyer by profession and nothing in this article should be construed as legal advice. Although I strive to provide accurate general information, the information presented here is not a substitute for any kind of professional advice or free from errors, and you should not rely solely on this information. Always consult a…
Farmers’ Market Etiquette for Shoppers
Farmers’ markets have a relaxed feel with friendly vendors, but as shoppers, we need to be sure we don’t take this relaxed feel too literally and are following common practices when it comes to etiquette. The vendors at a farmers’ market are running a business and working extremely hard to make a living out of the products…
Farmers’ Market Etiquette for Vendors
Farmers’ markets have a unique selling and shopping atmosphere. If you’ve never sold at one, you may be unaware of the unwritten rules the organizer, fellow vendors, and shoppers may expect you to follow. Each market will have its own set of rules to follow so be sure you read over the applications carefully. In general,…
How To Deal with Competition at a Craft Show
Chances are, you won’t be the only one selling handmade goods under your category at a craft show. If it’s a popular craft show, it will be competitive to get shoppers’ attention and you’ll likely be competing with fellow jewelry designers, knitters, soap makers, etc. at most events. Most juried craft shows will limit how…
How to Sell at an Outdoor Farmers’ Market
Outdoor markets are a great way to sell your handmade, homemade, or grown goods during warmer months. But farmers’ markets are often full of vendors and have lots of attractions. So it’s important to create a space shoppers are drawn to. I’ve asked several market organizers to share their best advice. The following advice is…
5 Fun Questions to Improve your Craft Business
I love a little bit of homework when it comes to my business and I also think it’s important to always be looking at it with critical eyes. These are 5 questions that are fun to answer and incredibly important when it comes to creating a successful business. If answered with thought and implemented, you can make some…
Tips for Selling at Vintage Markets
Vintage markets are fun to wander around and discover not only antiques but also handmade goods with a rustic feel, upcycled and re-purposed goods. Great finds for your home and great for the environment! There are amazing vintage markets out there and we got to chat with 4 in B.C and Alberta who never fail…
10 Tips for Buying a Vendor Tent for Outdoor Markets
Nothing beats standing outside in the sunshine, talking about your passion and selling your handmade goods at an outdoor market. But you don’t want to suffer at the hand of weather extremes so if you’re a vendor looking to participate in outdoor markets. You’ll need an outdoor vendor tent. They’ll shelter you from the sweltering…
How to Host a Successful Craft Show
If you’re planning to host a craft show, this article is a must-read. It shares do’s and don’ts from vendors and all the little things they appreciate from a craft show host. I’ve written several articles covering the do’s and don’ts for craft show vendors and one of my amazing readers suggested I put together…
How Much Promotion Craft Show Organizers Expect from Vendors
When you’re preparing for a craft show, doing your part to promote it should be factored in. But just how much promotion are you responsible for, as the vendor? I got the chance to speak to some amazing event organizers who really know how to market a show and bring in a good crowd. Although…