...Getting Ready...

Well here is a list of things I want to bring to the craft show:
1. Blank Note Cards
2. Cute bags (made with the cricut)
3. Decorated pencils, little note cards, etc.
4. Layout pages
5. magnets
6. Business cards
7. Tags for packages
8. cards (B-day, Mother's day, Easter, wedding and thank you)
I think that's enough. Oh, and my scrapbook layouts and one or 2 blank LO pages.

Maybe I'll make some of these and bring them too:

...160 Craft Fair Goodies...

Basically,this is my "do not forget list". I'll print it out at the library. I think I used all my ink here! Hee Hee!

For Professional Appearance:

Product/Packing Related:
•All merchandise clearly priced (best done, before the show)
•Any product information signs necessary
•Boxes for purchases
•Customer bags
•Extra price tags
•Hang tags & care instructions (as required)/ Price Tags
•Inventory list/prices
•String
•Tissue or newspaper for fragile items

Literature:
•Booth signs
•Brochures
•Business cards and holder
•Catalogs
•Company name sign
•Flyers
•Invitations to other shows/exhibits of your works
•Media folder (in case of interview at show)
•Portfolio
•Referral sign - where else can they find your work
•Retail order forms/price list
•Show schedule to use as a bag stuffer & handouts
•Special order forms - 2 part
•Wholesale and/or retail special order forms
•Wholesale order forms/price list

Office Supply Kit:
•Clipboard and writing pad or notebook
•Paper clips
•Paper or index cards
•Paper weight
•Pens and pencils - red one for mark downs
•Push pins & extra tacks
•Rubber bands
•Safety and/or straight pins
•Scissors
•Stapler and staples
•Tape - scotch, masking, duct, packing

Sales Related:
•800 authorization number for credit card authorization
•Calculator
•Cash box with change, ones, fives & tens or
•Cash register & battery pack
•Cell phone
•Charge/credit slips
•Credit card equipment (if you offer it)
•Laptop
•Receipt book/sales book
•Sales tax chart

Miscellaneous:
•Clear Paper Protector to hold the following:
•Copy of your sales tax certificate of authority to hang in your booth
•Correspondence with the promoter - directions, rules, regulations, phone notes, copy of canceled check, etc.
•Copy of application with date sent and check number
•Any notes about the show - pros or cons
•Guest book- to develop a mailing list
•3 Ring binder with all your show information in chronological order - this is great for sharing with other crafters
•Rolling drawer unit to keep all office/sales/literature materials in; it's easily accessible and you never have to unpack
•Tablet to record sales and mileage
•Copy of this checklist

For Displays:

Tool Kit:
•Glue for repairs - Elmer's, super glue, tacky
•Hammer (to pound in spikes)
•Hot glue gun
•Knife
•Nails
•Needle nose pliers
•Pliers
•Screwdriver
•Tacks
•Tape measure
•Touch up paintbrush
•Wire cutters
•Wrench

Display Props:
•Carpeting or floor covering for size of booth
•Chairs or stool with a back on it
•Display aids
•Backdrop
•Folding screens
•Grid displays
•Pegboard and hooks
•Plate display stands
•Racks
•Risers
•Shelves
•Wall units
•Fabric draping for riser or shelf coverings
•Folding tables
•Music and tape player
•Table clothes (clean & pressed) - to ground level
•Tables

Display Hardware:
•"C" Clamps (to secure a screen to a tabletop or sheeting to tent in case of rain
•Bungee cords if you're outdoors
•Canopy or tent & supplies
•Extra weights or spikes
•Fishing line (invisible hangers)
•Opaque sheeting or drop clothes to cover display at overnight shows
•Plastic tarps or sheeting in case of rain or overnight
•Shims for table legs
•Side-walls or tarps for overnight
•Tape gun
•Tie down ropes
•Twist ties
•Weights for holding display and tent down in the wind
•Wire
Lighting:
•3 or 4 extension cords- different lengths
•3-to-2 adapters
•Clip-on lights
•Duct tape to tape the cord to the floor
•Extension cord at least 50'
•Extra 40-60 watt light bulbs
•Flashlight
•Lamps
•Multi-plug outlets
•Power strip
Cleaning Supplies:
•Clean cloth rags
•Garbage bags
•Glass cleaner
•Other cleaners
•Paper towels
•Small hand vacuum
•Small trash can

Demonstrating:
•All materials/supplies for making your craft
•All tools needed
•Apron
•Candy or cookies for shoppers and children
•Free samples

Miscellaneous:
•Baggies
•Clothespins
•Dolly or cart to transport stock to your booth
For Personal Comfort:
Clothing:
•Change of clothes- anything can happen
•Change of shoes
•Extra socks
•Inner soles for shoes

Food:
•Cooler with drinks & food
•Frozen bottle of water or juice
•Gallon jugs of water can double as weights
•High energy foods and juices
•Napkins
•Paper plates
•Plastic utensils
•Simple food - like crackers or cut-up vegetables that won't be a mess
•Thermal mug
•Thermos
•Water bottle

Weather related
•Battery operated fan
•Bug spray
•Jacket or sweater
•Neck coolers
•Pair of rainproof boots
•Sun hat and/or sunglasses
•Sun screen

Health related:
•Aspirin and/or any medicines you may require for the day
•Box of tissues
•First aid kit (prescription drugs, bandages, first aid cream, anything needed for allergies)
•Hand lotion
•In case of emergency - phone numbers of family members

Appearance/Hygiene:
•Deodorant
•Lipstick
•Make up kit
•Toilet tissue (you never know)
•Wet wipes

Miscellaneous:
•Camera
•Cushion for chair
•Fix-it kit with needles
•Paper towels
•Steamer/Iron

More craft show tips...

Another craft show goodie:

Rule 1: It's A Craft Show
You are selling items off a card table, so be realistic. There are going to be a lot of people who are just out looking. Some people may just stop by the see what's out there. Some people may be there to buy.

You can never tell. So be kind to everyone, but don't take it personally if they don't buy. The main objective is to have fun and see what sells. Showing off what you have made and getting to meet new people is what it is all about!

Rule 2: Grab their Attention and Give 'Em A Freebie
Display your most eye-catching items up front or on the outside of your tent. You want people to notice you immediately, and to make a bee-line for your table. We always hang our brightest, girlie items on the front of our tent. It attracts moms, kids and grandmas! Then once your customers have arrived, make them feel at home by having a bowl of candy, popcorn or homemade fans available next to your stack of business cards. That way everybody leaves your tent with something in hand.

Rule 3: Come Prepared
Make sure to have lots of change in small bills, pens, a receipt book, and lots of business cards. Make sure you are well supplied with food and drinks too, you may not have a chance for more than a bathroom break. Have all of your items clearly priced, some people are hesitant to ask about pricing. Hang signs that explain what you are selling and what it costs. We have had many people look at our tutus and say "What are these?" Even if it seems obvious to you, it may not to them!

Display your items in the way that they will be used. If it is a bowholder, put bows on it. Be available to answer questions and be prepared to play 'salesman'. Don't be pushy, but know that you are going to have to talk to your customer. A bright smile and an outgoing personality can equal some good sales!

For the Craft Fair

You have spent many frenzied hours preparing your art and craft items for the craft fair, but does that mean you are fully prepared to make as much money as you can at the event? Probably not. As creatives, we tend to focus on our art and forget about everything else (my house could fall down around me while I’m in the zone and I wouldn’t notice.) The problem is, you went to all that time and trouble to participate in a craft show, and I want to make sure you make the most money you can while you are there. It’s not just about what you sell at the show, it’s about the contacts you make and how you use them. Craft shows are a great place to network and market. Here are some easy tips to make your next craft fair/show pay-off for months after everyone goes home.

Display is important. Dedicate some creative energy to your display. You want to stand out in the crowd. This is especially important if your artwork is currently a popular trend and you have lots of competition. If you sell jewelry right now, you know what I mean. At the majority of the shows I have attended, I see the jewelry laid out flat-sometimes on black velvet or in white bins at almost every table. What if you bought cool, retro mannequin heads and used them to display your jewelry? I know I would make a beeline to a table full of faux heads to check-out what’s going on.

Once you have attracted clients to you with a great display, you need to capture their information. Have a guest book out and invite people to sign it and tell you what they think about your art. Make sure you ask them to check a box saying they would like to receive mailings from you. The book will be give you an idea of what people like about your art and you will have their contact information. Create a mailing list and make sure that you send out cool invites every time you are going to be at a show. Include a discount coupon on the postcard, that way you can track how effective your mailing was. For an even nicer touch, make sure you send out a thank you note, right after the show, telling them how glad you are that they stopped by to look at your work.

Have a free drawing. Ask people to drop their business cards into a hat and raffle off a prize. Instant list!

GET MARKETING MATERIALS! I can’t tell you how many artists don’t have any information about themselves out on their tables. What if I don’t want to buy today, but really like your stuff? How will I ever find you again? You absolutely must put out business cards. Business cards don’t have to be expensive. You can even print them out from your home computer; just make sure you give people the opportunity to find you again. Make flyers about trunk shows or anything else you want people to buy from you in the future. If you have catalogs bring them. Create a portfolio of your work and have it out for people to look at. You might get some special orders. I download digital pictures onto my laptop of past work and have a slide show of the work running on it during the show, or you can use a digital photo frame to display your portfolio!

More on marketing materials…Every product should have a tag on it with all your contact information. I just use my business card, hole-punched with a ribbon. This gives both the buyer and, if the item is being purchased as a gift, the recipient your contact information. The recipient may want to collect your work, but won’t be able to if there isn’t a tag.

Have freebies. Everyone loves to get gifts. For the holiday boutique I am participating in this year, I created special, creative gift tags. Each customer gets a free set with the purchase of any item. Of course, the back of the gift card has all my contact information.

Network with the other artists and crafters. Make friends. Even your competitors are potential clients. Gather the business cards of everyone who is participating at the show and send a friendly email to each one within a week of the show. Tell them how much you enjoyed seeing their work. If you remember something specific about them or their work, mention it. Tell them a bit about you and tell them to contact you if they ever need anything.

If you follow these few simple steps, you should have a nice list of clients, potential clients, friends and business partners in your possession. Now you must use this list to make it pay. Set-up a schedule to touch base with each person on a regular basis. Send them invitations to all your shows, send them your monthly newsletter or just drop them a line or a note telling them you are thinking about them. Have fun and be prosperous!

Items for a craft fair ~ Ideas a comin'

These pics are from google, but can be found over at Kerrycrafts.com she's amazing.....

These are some ideas of what to sell. These aren't from her blog, but from the web. They are suggested ideas.

Cards @ $2 each or 6/$10 - All occasion and thank you sold the best!

Lemonade gift @ $1.50 - barely banana folded like a matchstick cover or a pack of koolaid lemonade. The front cover had a lemon stamped on it and the words "if life gives you lemons..." from country comfort - Sold ALOT of these.

Christams Fudge gift @ $2.00 - this was in papercraft magazine and also posted on this site, a funny poem about having no time at christmas which you tie to a candy bar (your "homemade" christmas fudge!) I sold out of these.

All occasion cards (sold for $2.50ea or 5 for $10- most people bought 5)they were attracted to the wanda sets & cute "just a note" things like that- I would call them "girlfriend cards" and a lot a baby cards went but maybe it was just the crowd that day.

205 Individual Cards at $2 each ~ sold 41 = $82

5 sets of 8 monogrammed cards at $12 a set

26 packages of 10 Christmas tags at $3

18 packages of Snowman Soup at $1 ~sold 18 = $18