Depending upon how far you’re willing to travel, you could probably find a craft show nearly every weekend. Perhaps you’ve thought about selling some of the crafts you enjoy making. Read on to find out more.
Before you decide to do your first craft show it’s important to learn about them. One of the best ways is to attend as many as you can. Pay attention to what types of crafts are being sold and which crafts are selling well by watching what people are carrying. Then take time to chat with several vendors. Most will be willing to talk with you if they aren’t inundated with people at their booth.
You’ll want to do some research into the craft show you’re considering. Find out what type of crafts are typically sold. Are there other vendors who will sell the same thing you make? Will the craft show be indoors or outdoors? These are all questions you’ll want to consider along with the cost, how big an area you will have, and if there is a similar vendor whether they will be set up close to you.
Obviously having a good selection of crafts for people to choose from is important. Plan to take more than you think you will need just in case your crafts sell like gang busters. This will keep you from selling out and sitting at the booth with nothing to show. Of course, depending upon what your craft is, you may also want to keep some items set aside and take special orders for those.
Since you’re considering selling items at a crafts show, it’s a pretty good bet you already have a good number of items to sell. If your craft making does not need special equipment, be sure to take more supplies with you so you can make more during a lull in traffic. This will also ensure you have more of your crafts if they start running low.
How do you know what will sell? That’s a tough question to answer. Make items which you enjoy making and which people show an interest in. Ask friends and family for their honest opinions about your crafts. You can also ask them what would make the items better.
Find craft shows by looking in newspapers or on bulletin boards at local libraries, grocery stores, or recreation centers. Calling the local Chamber of Commerce or craft stores is another option. There are also a number of websites such as festivalnet.com and craftmasternews.com which list crafts fairs and festivals all across the country.
After you’ve made umpteen million (maybe that’s a slight exaggeration) of your craft, you’ll want to price them so they sell but still give you a profit. Consider the cost of your materials, how long it took you to make them, and overheads. This is your wholesale amount. Double this amount to reach your retail cost, which is what you’ll charge. By doubling your wholesale cost, you give yourself a little wiggle room if the show you’re at has several vendors with similar items.
There’s so much to know about setting up at a craft show and this article barely scratches the surface. Your best source of information is other crafters who have made the craft show circuit in your area. Most crafters are eager to share their knowledge and will be able to guide you in your desire to sell your crafts.
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