Avoid these 5 common craft show mistakes!

Don’t mind my half drank chai tea latte in the background!😅🍵 Can you spot it?😂 Hope you loved today’s video!❤

I have been doing craft fairs and farmers markets for almost 10 years. If I see someone arrive late, I offer to help them set up their tables or canopy. Sometimes an extra set of hands can be a big help when someone is stressed or had an unexpected morning event. Ive also helped new vendors tear down if I see they are struggling.

I went to a craft show last month. They claimed to be the largest in the east. I was so disappointed. There were some good stands. Many w/ no prices, some w/ no room to look around and surprisingly many ignored the customers. I wanted to get ideas because I’m finally ready to jump in. I was most surprised at how many just sold things I’d already tried myself from YouTube videos, but sloppily done. I learned so much and you are confirming my impressions. Quite a few we’re still there w/ same boring items and they looked bored and disappointed themselves. I went on the 1st and last days. One of my friends has a stand and only sells one beautiful item. 1st day, she had so many choices hanging on perimeter rods that I had to Duck under them to wave to her. Last day, she was beginning to run out. She said she has 3 rules — find a niche, do it well, and enjoy yourself. I like that.

I did my first craft show yesterday and I’m proud to say I didn’t do any of the 5😂 I saw so many pushy people and I told my boyfriend “yeahhh I will not be doing that” I mostly crocheted during it and let people actually look at my products. I would make conversation with them enough but not too much to distract them from looking at everything. I actually did pretty good and a lot of table around me didn’t do great, there wasn’t much foot traffic

Great tips on avoiding mistakes. I went to a craft fair this past weekend and definitely got a good feel for the crafters that are more prepared than others. One table had some pretty jewelry that I wanted to find the price. I normally never buy jewelry and they might have got a sale from me that day but because there wasn't any price I could see anywhere I just walked a way because I was uncomfortable asking. On the flip side one of the 1st booths I came to was set up so beautiful and her work was beautiful as well. I ended up having a very pleasant conversation with her and made a point of telling her that she did a wonderful job with her booth. I also made a purchase even though I really didn't need the product but I couldn't resist!

Sometimes our morning goes to pot when we have to deal with uncooperative children- late babysitters- flat tires- whatever. Even the best laid plans can go up in smoke in a matter of seconds.

This past Christmas craft show season I did an event where there were no shows. Don't be afraid to ask the coordinator if you can fill in the spot before they notice the spot isn't filled! This specific show I've done for 3 year and the coordinator was so relieved I brought this to her attention and encouraged me (and the nearby vendors) to shift ourselves to give up more display room. My show neighbors were DEFINTELY pleased with the extra space and the coordinator promised me preferential booth choice next year for helping things run smoother when she wasn't aware things had gone off. Another tip: Take pictures of your set up so you can see what works well for you. It also helps setup in another space the similar size next time. If you haven't done a show before set up at home and take photos then. It truly helps. You can spend time tweaking the set up and then once you get to a show where you're on more of a time crunch you have those pictures to reference.

THANK YOU! I'm doing my first craft show in 2 weeks and I'm so anxious. I need all the help I can get!

Thank you for this. I had my first craft show today and watching this helped with my anxiety and to be better prepared.

For tip 3, I was in a craft market this weekend selling my crochet things and I saw another table selling mostly jewelry but they had a few crochet gnomes up too, and I just kinda wanted to know how much they were to kinda see if my pricing was a little high low or in the right spot (this was my first show but I’ve been to this event in previous years and seen their table so I thought they’d have more experience pricing than me) and so I went to their table looking for a sign or tag or anything and they had signs for all their jewelry but not for any of the gnomes! I am an extremely introverted person and I didn’t want to buy anything I just wanted to know the price, so I felt like I couldn’t ask because then they would think I wanted to buy it, but I also really wanted to know…people don’t understand why I didn’t ask, but I did look around their stand for a bit pretending to shop so I didn’t feel weird leaving😅(also my table was not unattended during this time, I called my mom to watch it because I wanted to look at other tables and she did a good job lol)

11:43, i am what i'll call a introverted extrovert, i can talk and do everything with people and not get overwhelmed, but i perfer to sit alone and crochet in my room listening to videos like these. :S nice video though!

The don’t be pushy part not only applies to customers but also your fellow vendors. Me and my mom have separate businesses and we were at an event and her vendor neighbor was so pushy asking her to barter her stuff for some of his. Asking his wife to go and barter with my mom. In the end we believe he cheated her out of some money. He paid for another customer and took the ones he wanted stating that they’d agreed to barter (they had not) then had my mom buy something from him that was worth more than what he got from her. If you’re okay with bartering your products that’s no problem, just make sure you’re getting AND GIVING something of equal value and aren’t pushing it like this is Wall Street!❤ Lol I feel like I was yelling! Sorry everybody! 😂😂

I think the biggest vendor turn off for me happened when I was at a local craft show and was new to the area… I am from an area where the crafting community is big and interactive. They support each other! So I went to the booth and was admiring the a cute stuffy. I said I loved her work and she was all bubbly. I then said I was new to the area and asked where she gets her yarn because there aren’t any craft stores in town. (I was struggling on figure out it where the yarn shops were at the time) She immediately frowned, turned away from me then ignored me. 😟 Like I genuinely liked the stuffie I was looking at. Definitely didn’t buy after that treatment.

Thank you! I have my first market in a week and a half and am SO nervous!! Just downloaded your checklist too!

Thank you for the checklist! I'm going to my first craft fair. I only sell two products. My comic book, Waggish, and hand drawn pet caricatures. Any tips for displaying books?

Taking people’s feedback so personal is one, not the biggest, setbacks I have. True, it’s valuable info you didn’t have before. At my first craft show I sold nothing. The lesson: I was selling scarves and blankets in 85-90 degree weather. At my 2nd craft show, I sold $60 in 7 days. Lesson: my mother told me it was where I was placed that was my downfall. The traffic there was not as heavy as in other areas. Also, I could have mingled a little more (difficult for me) as people were walking by. Don’t be pushy: Last, hustlers are everywhere. The vendor next to me kept trying to barter with me; I was not interested in going on an overseas trip with him as the guide.

I'm so glad you made this. I've been doing shows for a little over a year and I'm still not overly confident about doing them. I'm very introverted and have low self esteem so it makes it difficult to talk about my products. But thanks to your videos I'm slowly learning how to build up my booth and my confidence! I've been binge watching some of these in my off time to prepare for some shows I have coming up. I'll be sure to buy your book as well! (being the bookworm I am 😅). Thanks for sharing these tips & tricks they're sure to help. ☺

one thing you mentioned was actually something i cant stand from a vendor and it's if they are on their phone and you're ready to purchase something and they just continue talking on the phone while accepting payment.... so yes i agree get of your PHONE! Also something you didnt mention, if you are a vendor and your having a bad day, say its windy and your tent/canopy it moving about and you have to hold it, or something else is happening.... do NOT, get grumpy /snappy with your customers!!! Diana xx

Definitely lowered my stress level before my first show. Thanks.

You literally just talked about purple scrunchies as I'm making one while watching your video. :) Thank you for these tips they are very helpful!