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 wanted to provide some insight on how to better build and grow your small business by sharing some of our favorite advise as well as some from our own Jackalope Vendor Community! Here are some tips we gathered:
“I’ve always been inspired by the quote “Success is never final and failure is never fatal. It’s the courage that counts.” (Rumored to be from Winston Churchill, perhaps) It’s the perfect example of the struggle business owners face as they put their passion into the forefront and strive for success, sometimes stumbling along the way.” - Sara Diederich with Jackalope Arts.
“Branding is important. It’s how people will pick you out of a line up and remember who you are. Make sure you have a consistent aesthetic when designing your brand and advertising.” - Dena with Fiber Relics
“Sometimes you may be underestimated, especially being a woman entrepreneur, but remain confident and strong. I always like to remember that I will prove my naysayers wrong!” - Melissa with Jackalope Arts
“Social media is your best friend!” - Chesa with Ramblin’ Woman Silver
Ramblin’ Woman Silver at Jackalope Denver
“It can be easy to fall into the trap of constantly working hard but don't neglect your wellness during your business adventure. Take time for yourself and reflect on your achievements and the things about your business that make you happy.”
- Holly with The Watercolor Naturalist
“Don't sweat the small stuff, you will make mistakes but that is all part of the process to make your business better. Also, you may never feel "ready" to launch your business or launch a new product or service but do it anyway. There will never be "the right time.” You will learn as you go!” - Kynsi with Kompass Apparel
“Be kind to yourself. Ask for help when you need it.” - Angela with Cute Laces
Cute Laces at Jackalope Pasadena
“Remember that your business and products will never appeal to everyone… but that’s perfectly okay. Focus on daily self improvement in yourself, your business, and the quality of the products and services you provide. It’s okay to receive constructive criticism from others, but no matter what they say, never, ever, for any reason.. undervalue yourself, your work or your TIME. Understand that as artisans, our passion and dedication to our respective crafts are priceless and admirable.. and that your work and your time are worth something. As long as you’re creating the best products/services you can produce, seeking improvements, and researching your market thoroughly, the right customers and crowds will come.”
- Rachel with Atelier Emi
“Take time to decide what you're business is going to be. When I decided it was time to leave the commercial textile world, I took over a year to work on designs and product before I started selling. It's important to have a well thought out product. Also, decide how large you want your business to be. Are you interested in growing it to include wholesale business to stores, are you able to keep up with supply and demand if you choose this route? If you decide to do wholesale to retailers, research this. Make sure you understand how selling wholesale to retailers works. Or, do you want to do as I have done. I decided to keep my business a very small boutique size business where I do shows/fairs like Jackalope Indie Artisan Fair throughout the year and also have my product at several small boutiques around California on consignment. - Donnett with DishRagStudio
Dishragstudio
“Spreadsheets will become your best friend, it is important to remain organized and notate everything. It makes staying on top of deadlines possible, especially as you grow and things expand.” - Melissa with Jackalope Arts
Melissa Shipley and Sara Diederich, Founders of Jackalope Arts
“Like most folks all of this started as an on-the-side thing I was doing in addition to a well paying full-time job. Once I realized it was going well - money was coming in and it seemed to have potential - I started thinking about quitting the day job and going full time. However, the good thing I did was to sit down with a friend who is really good with numbers.
She had me come up with my true "monthly nut" - an honest accounting every regular bill I had: mortgage payment, power, groceries, gas, etc
Once I had that we looked at exactly how much I would have to sell in order just to make that "nut" which was sobering. And then, almost more importantly, we also broke down exactly how much product I would have to make (not sell - just make) to meet that financial goal.
I realized that I needed to raise my prices. I realized I needed to streamline how and what I made because it actually wasn't physically possible for me to single-handedly produce enough product (let alone sell it). I realized I needed more sales avenues - online, wholesale etc.
It wasn't necessarily a "fun" series of realizations but it was incredibly valuable.”
- David with Cheltenham Road
Cheltenham Road at Jackalope Summer Nights
“Fake it until you make it. The thing that many people don’t realize is that you don’t have to be an expert in your field before you start your business. A lot of this stuff is learned and earned over years of actually doing it.” -Sara Diederich, Jackalope Arts
Have you heard? New this Spring, we are partnering with Verlocal for Jackalope Pasadena to provide hands-on workshops and unique activities at the Verlocal Experience Booth within the fair!
Verlocal is a perfect fit for us because we both believe in better exposing the local community to handmade makers and artisans. Verlocal takes experiences beyond just individual events by building businesses and connecting them to people looking to discover local classes, events, products and services!
Verlocal.com is a platform for artists, artisans, craftsmen and domain experts to offer unique classes, events, services and sell handmade products to a community of passion seekers.
Through Verlocal, Verlocal Business users can set up an online Verlocal Storefront and sell their experiences and products to hundreds of thousands of local customers.
Businesses will also gain access to online tools like an online booking system, customer messaging tool and more to help them launch and manage their passion-based business efficiently.
Whether you want to host a workshop at the upcoming Jackalope Pasadena event, or simply want to sell your products through Verlocal, the first step is creating a Verlocal Business Account.
Here’s TOP 6 reasons you should set up your Verlocal Business Account:
REASON 1 - Get a free digital online shop to sell anything, even workshops!
A Verlocal Business Account provides you with a free digital online shop that allows you to sell classes, workshops, events, services and products. Your offerings will also be listed in their localized marketplace for unique experiences and products.
REASON 2 - Join hundreds of other users, you will gain access to a suite of online software tools to maximize your craft business processes. Check them out at www.verlocal.com/pro.
REASON 3 - You can supercharge your craft fair experience through the social features of your Verlocal Account.
People can find your offerings easily through the Verlocal iOS App or Mobile Website. And through your account, people can easily follow your store in one scan/click and store you in their wish-list so they can revisit your store after the craft fair.
Any Verlocal business who is at Jackalope Pasadena will have a QR Code for shoppers to scan!
REASON 4 - If you are a Jackalope Pasadena vendor, you will benefit from their direct marketing promotions to get more sales from Jackalope Craft Fair Visitors.
REASON 5 - Also for Jackalope Pasadena Vendors, be part of a Fair-Wide Giveaway Scavenger Hunt!
Get customers to visit your store like Pokemon GO! When they scan a unique QR code at your store, they win a raffle ticket which they can use to enter in their online raffle exclusive where they can win free gifts and discounts.
REASON 6 - Get dedicated marketing support for Verlocal Businesses. For any Jackalope Pasadena Vendor, that will include:
Visitors can easily go to this landing page to find stores and follow those they like and they can make purchases directly on this page.
Verlocal will also write a content article about you that will be shared across all their social media channels.
At the event itself, they will also promote your brands in their Experience Booth and also display you at their Verlocal Booth.
From Craft Store to Passion Sharer, Meet Brandi, the Succulent Master
DIY Succulent Terrarium Experience with Brandi Tickets: https://goo.gl/prFf0Z --ABOUT BRANDI-- My love of succulents stems from my long-time residence in San Francisco's Outer Sunset neighborhood, which is full of wondrous succulents both large and small that thrive with minimal care and survive the harsh ocean winds, sandy soil, and fog.
From Wood Craftsmen to Passion Sharer, Meet Chris from Wood Thumb
Join us as we take a closer look at Chris's local experience "Triangle Shelves Woodworking" Tickets: https://goo.gl/pN5lwr Video Shot and Edited by: Bryce Charles Botorowicz Music Courtesy of www.bensound.com "" Like us on Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/verlocal/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Verlocal Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialverlocal/
As you can see there are many reasons why Verlocal is such a powerful tool! We are very excited to partner with them and we hope many of you see the value in what they have to offer, whether you are a Jackalope Pasadena vendor or not.
If you are interested in setting up a Verlocal Business Account, simply click here
OR....
Interested in hosting a workshop at Jackalope Pasadena this Spring? Click Below!
For any queries, feel free to contact us at edmund@verlocal.com
In light of the New Year, we want to take a look at what we can do to continue to grow and improve, and how to help our artisans do the same. We took notice in how popular Snapchat has become and wondered what we could do as a business to hop on the fastest growing social media platform. We're not going to lie, it was a little intimidating. We've seen snapchat used on a more personal level, posting stories for family and friends, but as a business how do you make that connection?
We are no Snapchat pros. However, as we begin our journey we thought we would share what we have learned so far in case you would like take the plunge as well.
First, make sure Snapchat is for you. According to Hootsuite, the largest Snapchat age demographic is 18-24 year olds, making up 37 percent of users. Followed by 25-34 year olds, with about 26 percent of Snapchatters, and about 12 percent of users are aged 35 to 54. Each company has a target demographic so look into whether or not yours is on Snapchat.
What makes Snapchat stand out between other social media platforms is that you can utilize individual snaps (photos/videos) to create an overall snapchat story, or in other words, a video narrative. Each snap only lasts 24 hours which creates a sense of urgency and exclusivity which is always good when trying to engage your audience. Instead of demonstrating product photography, you have the chance to be more immediate and personal.
Here are some ways in which you can better engage your Snapchat audience:
1. Use it in real-time! This can include doing product launches, or snapping live events. Creating something new? Make it a story! Your first snap can be a mysterious "Stay Tuned" post or an incomplete snap teasing what is to come. Building excitement for your audience so that they keep coming back. Doing any live events/fairs, snap your day!
2. Deliver private content, exclusive for your snapchat audience. This creates a sort of VIP status. This can be a sneak peak, a look behind the scenes, and/or contest. You can even post on your other social media pages that you will be doing a first look via Snapchat, to encourage your fans to join Snapchat and follow you in order to achieve VIP status ;) (make sure to include your Snapchat username so they can find you!).
3. Offer a contest, perk, or promotion. Offer promo codes or discounts to the fans who watch your entire Snapchat story. Tease them to watch it until the end. This would especially be good for a product reveal, or perhaps promoting an event you will be at. Snap how you are preparing for the fair, or a new product that is coming. At the end of the story, maybe they get a discount code they can use at the fair or for that product?!
4. Feature your followers. Snapchat is more personal then other outlets so help engage your followers by enticing them. A great way to do this is to ask them to take a snap while utilizing your product! You could even create a contest utilizing this method. Post a photo with "______" and be entered to win "_________"
5. Demo your product. Use it as a guide for your followers, create a tutorial with your story. Have fun with it, since it is so personal, don't be afraid to be goofy.
6. Reward new followers with exclusive previews! "The next 25 new followers will get an exclusive peak at a new product or giveaway." Again post on your other social networks to entice them to join you on Snapchat.
Snapchat can be tricky and we are still figuring it out ourselves. So far, these are the things we found to be most relevant. We hope this helps, and if you do join Snapchat make sure to follow jackalopearts!
With holiday season prep underway, and shows upon shows all just around the corner, we thought it would be a great time to share some tips on how to make the best at any event.
And who better to hear tips from than artisans who have been in your shoes? Our Jackalope community has a wide array of knowledge and show experience to be shared. Here are some of the top tips for show day:
1) "Great advice given to me: "Sitters don't sell" I keep a high stool in my booth so I can get off my feet if there's a slow moment, but makes it easy to get up and talk to people." - Wendy Osmundson: Granola Mama's Handmade
The Vintage Grooming Company @ The Jackalope Denver Summer 2016 Fair
2) "Really think about your display! Customers will be drawn into your booth when they can visualize how your product will look in their home. People will notice all of the hard work you put into your product!" - Laura Rodriguez, Beyond and Back Vintage
The Happy Pantry @ Jackalope Pasadena Fall 2015 Fair
3) "Make sure to bring proper weights - there are great DIY videos on YouTube to make your own. Just the right gust or monsoon can be devastating but with weights... Sooo much less so. 😃 " - Heather DeSimone, Leetie Lovendale
Tumeric and Old Lace Healing Essentials @ Jackalope Denver Summer 2016
4) "Smile big and welcome everyone the same way. Don't prequalify your customers. You never know which ones will buy and how much they will spend." - Jennifer Enck, Drinks and Crafts
5) "Bring your craft or something to work on during the show. Customers love to see the work that goes into the products they're shopping for. And you'd be surprised at how many people ask if you make the product!" - Ashley Rutstein, Apparently Ashley
6) "Do a practice set up of your booth ahead of the show. Makes the best use of your space, and saves so much time at setup."
- Amy Godinez, SnickyB Handmade
7) "1. Do not eat at your booth, it looks unprofessional and people don't want to interrupt your meal so they keep walking. 2. No cell phones, again it's unprofessional and people feel you are too busy to engage with them. You aren't present when on your phone. 3. Don't sit, if you can, stay standing and available during the event. Be ready to engage with a vibe of positivity. 4. If applicable, have dog treats in your booth. We met so many cute furry friends and dog treats were very appreciated by owners and a great way to start a conversation. 5. Price your goods. People really liked our little price tags and table signs. Easy to read information is key" - Jamie Lynn, PrinEle Designs
8) "If you have the option, create a walk-up display vs a walk-in display. For example, vendors who use a table to showcase their products, like a single 6 or 8 foot table, move that table to the front of the booth and stand behind it. People are more likely to stop and browse the items on the table at the front of a booth than they are to walk in to a tent. There's a level of commitment in entering a canopy that not everyone is prepared to make, but taking a look at a table as one walks past or approaches, that's low pressure on the customer." - Mark Brunner, HumanTreeRobot
Lutume @ Jackalope Pasadena Fall 2015 Fair
9) "It can really be worth it to leave your stuff out, and not start packing up until the show is officially over. Some of my biggest sales have happened at the last minute." - Jennifer Wedgle, WillowSwitch Designs
Laura Ann's Jams @ Jackalope Pasadena Fall 2015
10) "Keep energy high! Remember good healthy snacks & water. It will keep your mind clear and a smile on your face. A beautiful booth wont help if you are crabby or sluggish.
Also, CARDS. I can't tell you how many booths I go to that dont have biz cards. You might not close a sale that day but with your card and a good memory of you, they may order online or pass it onto a friend later!" - Laura Ann Masura, Laura Ann's Jams
11) "I have a checklist of essentials that I keep and print it off before each show. It has saved my butt many times. I also keep an "emergency" backpack full of supplies - from paper clips to pens to a hammer and screwdriver." - Cari Ann: Wuve
12) "Utilize vertical space. Using varying heights is more interesting to the eye and makes it easier to scan your products. Also try raising your tables up by placing them on bed risers. This makes it so customers don't have to lean over uncomfortably to shop." - Carmen McNiel Voelpel: Jewelry by McV
13) "I found it really helpful to have pieces at a lot of different price points. Sometimes there will be a customer who really likes your work but doesn't have a huge budget. Likewise, if you have all lower priced items, you're going to have to sell so much more to profit." - Laura Jones Martinez: Line & Dot by Laura Jones Martinez
14) "Be thoughtful of your shoppers and offer small or medium paper bags with handles for their purchases from your booth. Put your name and logo on the bag and it's free advertising as well!" - Rondo Mieczkowski: Coldwater Canyon Provisions
15) "Be kind and courteous to your fellow artists attending the show with you and the organizers, everyone is there at the same place for the same reason, to share our passion with the world! When you remember that, everything runs smoothly and you will have a good show!" - Jenilyn Bailard: The Painted Ladies
Craft Fairs are a blast, a great way to reach a wider demographic and network network network. However, the not so much fun side is making sure everything is legal. Dotting all the I's and crossing those T's when it comes to your licensing, taxes, permits, and insurance needed and required for selling to the public.
1. Licensing: You must register your business as a sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation etc. in order to sell your products to the public legally. This process will provide you with your Employer Identification Number, or EIN, which you will need to file tax returns. The U.S Small Business Administration website is a great resource for more specific information.
2. Taxes: In addition to federal taxes, in most states you will have to file your state taxes as well, which can be done by getting a state sales tax license using your EIN. Some cities have county or municipal sales taxes or require a temporary sales license or permit (next step!) so make sure you know what is required!
Before going into a show, make sure you know the proper sales tax to charge. To make it easier to sell, a lot of vendors round up to the nearest whole number and tack it onto their product price! Make sure you keep proper records of everything, any expenses, sales info etc. so that you can efficiently report and pay your taxes (typically you can do this monthly, quarterly or annually).
3. Permits: In addition to the proper licensing, some areas may require a permit in order to sell in that local area or municipality. For instance in Pasadena, they require a Special Event permit. A lot of times the show promotor will provide you with this information. Especially if you are selling food you will most likely have additional permitting and health regulations to abide by.
4. Insurance: Although insurance is sometimes not required it is definitely recommended. Just as you would get car insurance or home insurance, it helps protect you and your products if something were to happen. At one of our Jackalope Phoenix events, we had terrible wind, right out of the movie Twister! Unfortunately even though all the tents were weighted, some did not hold and flipped over- either breaking themselves or breaking someone else's tent or products. In this instance, insurance can help you out! We recommend ACT Insurance who has a lot of experience insuring artisans and crafters and you can even do a short term policy. Some fairs require that you list themselves under "additionally insured" so look out for that!
As discussed each city and state is different when it comes to their licensing, permits and taxes required. When participating in Jackalope Art & Craft Fair we make sure that you are in the loop with what is required per show. Please visit our Vendor FAQ page for more specific information!
It is very important that you conduct your business legally. Not only can you get in trouble, but the event can be shut down-which is not good for yourself, the promoter, and your fellow vendors.
Thank you to the following sources for putting this legal jargon into proper words: http://www.fairsandfestivals.net/articles/view/licensing-permits-and-taxes-for-festival-craft-show-and-art-fair-vendors/14504 AND https://www.sba.gov/
Our mission with the Jackalope Art & Craft fair is to create an event where the attendees can interact with you and your work and touch, try on, taste, smell etc. However, outside of the fair setting, when you are being represented online by only a picture, quality product photographs are key to your success.
Whether selling online through sites like Etsy, Shop Envy or your own website or applying to sell at a craft fair or boutique, the product photos are often all that is seen and can make or break that sale or acceptance. Most of us aren't professional photographers but with a little help, you can become your own awesome product photographer!
The most important part of product photography is to TELL A STORY of not only the item being photographed but the story of your shop as a whole. Develop a photo styling back pallet with similar background and styling in each photo so the brand feels cohesive.
KEEP PERSPECTIVE when you have products of various sizes by either emphasizing the size via a close up shot or showing multiple perspectives of each item.
Each image in a product listing should show a different facet of the product. Your can photograph VARIATIONS of the product in color and style & in USE!
There is a wealth of information on the web about how to take great product photos, even with just a smartphone! Check out these posts from Etsy and Handmadeology:
Make sure you take a lot of photos and then edit & curate them down to tell the best story. Always put the best one first as the thumbnail! We are excited to see your product photos when you apply for Jackalope Art & Craft Fair!
We want take a moment and go more in depth to what exactly we are looking for at Jackalope Arts and how you can increase your chances on jury acceptance.
Your application is your resume for us to view, so it's best to really put some thought into it. Please note our jury often changes so go into this with the expectation that they have not seen your work before.
While the specific types of art and craft work that we are accepting is quite broad, there are definite quality features that our jury will keep in mind during review.
Some of the key factors to keep in mind:
We're looking for trendsetting, indie goods - not just your run of the mill craft fair feature. We want to see new and innovative ideas brought to the table that will captivate our patrons and provide a dynamic experience at the fair. Use the space provided in your application and really describe what makes your work unique.
Really emphasize your brand. Some artisans create items that aren't necessarily unique by trade - but everyone has a certain something that makes their work unique. Highlight that for the jury. We want to know what little sparkle you've added to really make your jewelry line -- your bath and body products -- stand out from the rest. Some categories are very competitive - so it's really important that you show the jury why to choose YOU. Think about your packaging, logo, product ingredients, presentation etc. these all reflect your brand.
What we are NOT looking for:
We are really looking forward to reviewing your application and giving our local community of artisans an opportunity to sell their wares at Jackalope Indie Artisan Fair.
We look forward to seeing your application soon!
Haven't gotten to it yet?
Have specific questions about your application? Email us: vendors@jackalopeartfair.com
Not quite ready to apply yet but want to stay in the loop?! Sign up for our Newsletter!
