It’s officially craft fair season! With that comes tons of prep for the big day. It’s easy for craft fair vendors to put countless hours into the creative process and product preparation but fail to prep themselves in small ways that make the day go by smoothly.
Below, we’ve created a video with tips from some of our seasoned craft fair veterans on how you can set yourself up to have the best event experience possible.
(email blog subscribers, you must click through to view the video)
We love this To Do List on Etsy by BoyGirlParty!
Preparation:
Make sure you know your booth number and pertinent load-in instructions. Arriving on-site with an idea of where and when you need to be somewhere will help your stress levels during the event.
Permits:
Make sure you're all set to sell with the city and state you're selling in.
Production:
We think Kristen Wiig in Bridesmaids said it best, "Get your S*** together Carol!" Although your name may not be Carol, we feel this still applies. You want to make sure you have enough inventory ready (more the merrier), signage and business cards, and a sound display (tables, table cloths etc). Your display is your first impression so you want to make it solid. You can read more tips and ideas on our Looking vs. Buying Blog.
Promote Promote Promote:
Just think about it, having 200 people talk about an event is more powerful than just a handful. Follow Jackalope Arts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest that way you can remain in the loop and share any exciting news!
if you have a website where you post upcoming events, make sure to include your next event so your followers can know where to find you. You can even launch a new product at the fair or offer an exclusive discount to help drum up support!
Payment Methods:
Make sure you get change if you are accepting cash and store it someplace safe. Also look into setting up a credit payment system, Paypal or Square card readers are great.
Fair Time:
Load up the night before and do a mock set up, that way you can pack smart and get straight to business upon arrival. We will include load in/out information as we get closer, but think about including a rolling cart or dolly to help. Also include scissors, string, pens, tape, anything "random" that may come in handy for display. Its important to remain hydrated so make sure to bring water, and don't skip lunch! You want to remain friendly and approachable so don't let a hungry stomach hold you down.
