Awhile ago I decided that I wanted to try selling at a craft fair of some sort. I always enjoy attending that type of event and feel like my stuff does better in person than in photos online so I decided that this is the year to do it! Today I sent my application in to be a part of the Patchwork Indie Arts and Crafts Festival. I am not sure if I will actually be selected to participate because there are a limited number of spots and they get lots of people wanting to sell there. But hey! Why not try? The show isn't until May 20th which gives me a lot of time to bulk up my back stock. Thank goodness. I already started going crochet crazy the last couple of weeks. I have been turning out coffee cozies and headbands like a maniac. The people running the festival look through all of the applications and select vendors that are unique and that will provide a well rounded show and shopping experience. The application says that I should know if I am in by April 10th. Yikes.
Now I have to figure a lot of things out. I need to figure out how I will display my lovely creations. I need to get a seller's permit through the IRS (that one should be fun). I need to find out if I need a business license. I need to print postcards to have at my booth if I have one. I need to make signs and tags. I have to figure out decorations that will help my booth stand out and be appealing to the passers by. I need to get a thing to read credit cards that will attach to my super clever phone. This list sure is getting long! Holy guacamole!
If anyone has any tips on selling at a craft fair please let me know!
Well, if you need me, I'll either be at Trader Joe's, running around like a mad person or somewhere with a bunch of yarn!
How wonderful, I really hope you get it!! I really wanted this to be the year that I applied to the Renegade Craft Fair for the first time, but my wonderful guy proposed and now I'm planning a wedding, so that has to take precedence for now :)
ReplyDeleteThere aren't a lot of "indie" craft fairs around me, so I don't have any experience in that area yet, but I'm really hoping to get off my duff one of these days and start doing the fair scene! I'm going to work on filling up a few bins of "stock" in between wedding planning and work and all that, so hopefully next year I'll be ready to take that leap.
I do, however, have a lot of experience *shopping* at fairs, and I have a few tips from that end of the spectrum! First, have a big mirror of some sort - people want to have a chance to check themselves out in your beautiful stuff. Also, some of my favorite booths are ones that have a little free something to give out. For your shop, you could crochet tiny chain bracelets or itty flowers stuck on bobby pins - something that you can make a lot of in a short amount of time and won't mind giving out. Pin it to a business card, and you'll almost surely catch a few new customers that way! Heck, I've even seen people who just have a plate of cookies on their booth. The way to some sales is through your customer's stomach hah.
If I think of anything else, I'll let you know :)
Thank you so much for your tips! I like the idea of handing out something free. I need to start making a list of "must have" and another list of "if I have time it would be nice to have". Once I check everything off the first list I can move to the second.
ReplyDeleteAlso, as much fun as it is getting ready for this, getting married is much much much more wonderful and amazing. I highly recommend it :) Congrats and I look forward to hearing about your adventures into the craft fair scene once you have checked that little thing called marriage off you list.
stumbled onto your blog and just wanted to leave you a little blog luv! Very Very Cute!!
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JENNA I would love to help you with your prepping. You know I am somewhat artsy and have a good eye for display....SO if you need me I am yours (and I am not working right now so I can come down to Long Beach and spend time with you on one of your days off)!! -Lauren
ReplyDeleteYay Lauren! Please do come visit. Really. Even just to hang out. I miss you, friend!
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