Irina's Blog

How to Have a Successful Art & Craft Show - 10 Things to Consider

Jul 16, 2014

Irina Designs Craft ShowI enjoy taking my jewellery and gift collection to art & craft shows as they give me an opportunity to showcase my collection in different venues, connect with new clients and get face to face feedback. I usually do some shows around the holiday season and some outdoor shows in the summertime. However, they do take a lot of research and preparation beforehand as well as require some significant logistics and time investment when they take place.

So I've decided to share some of my experience and things I've learned over the years of participating in a variety of art & craft shows. If you're considering to have your own show and wondering what it takes, you might find this blog post interesting. Here are my top 10 things to consider to have a successful art & craft show:

1. Where to find art and craft show information

First, you’ll need to find listings of different art and craft shows taking place in your area. Here is a list of some online resources where you can find out about different art and craft shows taking place in Ontario:

www.craftontario.com
www.facebook.com/OntarioCraftandVendorShows
www.kijiji.ca

2. Do your research before applying

Before applying for an art & craft show, do your research. Attend the show and see if it’s well attended, what the visitors are like and see other vendors participating in the show. If possible, talk to the vendors – ask if they think this is a good show. Also, see how well the organizers are advertising the show in the community.

You’ll need to identify the shows that will work best for you and your product. I’ve tried different shows over the years and came back many times to the shows that worked for me and never went back to the shows that didn’t seem like a good fit. Researching the shows will help you make the best choice for you and your product. Here are some key questions to ask and things to consider when researching the show:

Irina Designs Craft Show3. Applying for the show

Some shows are fairly easy to get into whereas the others are very competitive. Also, it will depend on your product category. Show organizers want to have a wide selection of different arts and crafts at the show. For example, the jewellery category is very competitive and has many vendors so it’s more difficult for jewellery vendors to get selected for the shows.

You’ll need to fill out the vendor application which varies from show to show but essentially similar where they require vendors to provide their artist statement, contact information and describe your art/craft. You’ll also need to include 3-5 photos of your work, pricing and sometimes indicate what percentage of your total product offering these represent. Some vendors may also require a photo of your booth display.

To ensure your application is successful, position your product as unique and explain how you will add value to the show and include photos of your best work. It’s also important to note that your products need to be one of a kind and not mass-produced to be considered for one of a kind art and craft shows. And last but not least, make sure you meet the application deadline. Show organizers need to get the applications well in advance before the show, the deadline is always stated on the application.

4. Creative display and presentation

Your booth display plays an important role in the success of your art & craft show. Think it through before the show and ensure you can display all your products so that visitors can see them well and they are positioned in the most attractive way. Keep in mind the size of your booth – the number of fixtures you’ll need will depend on how small or big your booth will be. Be creative – use some interesting objects to display your products.

For example, the two fixtures I get most compliments on are not traditionally used for jewellery display. I use a three-tier cake stand to display my spiral bracelets in different colours. And I also use a tall white-painted tree branch in a wooden pot to display my longer necklaces. Some visitors even said that they remembered my display from previous shows because of this tree.

It’s also important to have good lighting for the show. It’s good idea to bring your own table lamps for the indoor shows to ensure proper illumination. Also, remember to bring an extension cord and extra light bulbs.

5. Signage and pricing

Make sure you have all the necessary signage such as the sign with the name of your company with your website and other contact information. Position it in such a way that it can be easily seen and visitors can easily identify your business and what your product is. You can either order a vinyl banner-type sign that can be tied to your booth with ropes or a cardboard type that can be positioned on an easel.

Make sure your pricing is easily visible. You don’t need to have a price tag on each piece but should have a sign with your price/price ranges, for example earrings $10-$20 or bracelets $15-$30, necklaces $35-$55 etc. This will give visitors an idea of what your price range is like. Some visitors will ask for prices whereas the others will assume that your product is too expensive and they can’t afford it. So it’s better to give them an indication of your price level.

You can also come up with some special promotion for the show such as buy one, get another one at half price or buy two and get a third one free etc. but some shows don’t allow this type of discount pricing to be fair to all vendors. If that’s the case, they will say so in the application.

Irina Designs Craft Show6. Promo stuff

Prepare some printed marketing materials that you can distribute to your booth visitors. The easiest and most common type is your business cards. Leave them easily accessible on your display table so that each visitor can pick one up. You can also prepare some flyers, cards and other promo materials to make sure visitors will remember your business and look you up after the show. List your website, phone number and social media channels.

Another way to stay in touch with your show visitors is to collect their email addresses. Have a sign up sheet on your display table. Better yet, have a free jewellery draw for all the visitors that leave their email addresses. This will give them an incentive to share their contact information with you.

7. Packaging

It’s a good idea to have nice packaging with your brand name. It’s another way to make an impression on your clients and ensure they know where to find you if they want to buy more of your product. There is a number of options for packaging jewellery – boxes (great for presents), fabric/paper sacs and small plastic bags.

I always have some boxes handy for gift purchases. The box carries a large sticker with my business name and website. I also use small plastic bags which I put into pink paper bags that also carry my business sticker. It’s also a good idea to include your business card with the purchase. So if the client throws away the packaging, they will most likely keep your business card.

8. Client service and feedback

One of the most important aspects of your craft show is you and how you communicate with your potential client. You’re the face of your company. I love talking to clients at the shows. I love to see their reactions to my products and getting their feedback. It gives me ideas on what works and what doesn’t and how I can improve my display and product selection for the next show. Listen, get feedback and give them a reason to buy.

Explain why your product is unique and how it will enrich their life. Have an interesting story to tell them like what inspired your creations or what they mean to you. Educate them about your product. For example, some of my pieces are quite versatile and convertible so I like to show how they can be worn in different ways (ex. lariat necklaces) or how some jewellery components can be detached for a different look (ex. detachable pendants, brooches and hair clips).

I also like to tell my clients about different birthstones and interesting facts about the semi-precious gemstones used in my creations. It’s a fascinating topic. I also like to help my clients select the best option for them. Very often, they need some help to narrow down on that special piece that would be perfect for them or someone special they are shopping for. Ensure that you have easily accessible mirrors so that visitors can try on the jewellery pieces.

And wear your product if possible. I always wear my jewellery at the show so that clients can see how beautiful it looks on. As a result, I happened to sell a lot of pieces that I was wearing. People see it, love it and want to buy it. Always wear your product – it’s the best advertising.

9. Selection and variety

Irina Designs Craft ShowIt seems like an obvious thing but I just want to stress that it’s important to have a nice selection and variety at the show. Try to bring all your products or at least samples of your different products. Have a nice selection of colours and styles. You never know what your potential clients might like. People are so different and have unique tastes, so be prepared with your best work and a nice variety of your product. If you can’t bring everything to the show, then have a laptop with photos or a catalogue handy.

10. Payments

The ast but not least topic to consider is accepting payments at the show. The most common payment method at the shows is cash. Most visitors are aware that small vendors don’t accept credit cards and cash is the easiest way to pay. There is usually an ATM nearby within walking distance where they can go and withdraw some cash in case they don’t have it on hand. Make sure you have change on hand so that you can accept different bills and give change back to your clients. I always prepare extra change in different coins and smaller bills for the show.

Another payment method you can consider is the PayPal wireless payment option which allows you to accept payments via your smart phone. You can find more information about it at www.paypal.com. Look for the PayPal Mobile App.

Finally, I’d like to share with you my show packing checklist which might help you pack for your own show or give you an idea of what you might need to prepare for the show. You can pack all the items you’ll need in a rolling suitcase or boxes on a trolley:

Please note that for an outdoor show, you’ll also need to invest in your own tent as well as collapsible tables and chairs.

Hope you found this information helpful and good luck with your own art & craft show.

Browse through other posts in Irina's Blog