Crafting as a business
Do's and Don'ts
When you begin to treat your hobby as a craft AND a business you can learn to make what you do fun and profitable!
So, you
were at a craft show, thought, "I can do
that", and now you are ready to work on
doing your first craft show. How do I
find a craft show, what are my expenses,
how do I charge - a million questions
are probably going through your mind.
Here's some advice as to what to do and
what not to do when doing your first
craft show.
DO - Craft shows close to where
you live. Look in local papers, chamber
of commerce places, or event websites.
This will keep expenses low such as gas,
time to and from the show, etc.
DO NOT - Go to the first show you
see advertised. There are a number of
shows out there such as street
festivals, high schools, etc. Putting
all of your eggs in one basket is not
wise because you could miss out on
others that may have more advertising
which leads to more customers, cheaper
space fees, etc.
DO - Know your price range for a
show. With this I mean the space fee
could be $20 to $500 or more. If you are
starting out go small and work your way
up. The higher you go when you first
start out doing shows can be a big let
down if you can't break even. Also,
higher priced shows are more for the big
league crafters that go from state to
state - not all crafters, but most. It
is best to get a following doing small
shows and then try out for a bigger
show.
DO NOT - Change the price of your
products from show to show. It will make
customers think you are dishonest and
possibly think you don't make your own
products. Find a happy medium and stick
with it - remember you can do sales to
help out at shows that are in lower
income areas. If you do have a problem
pushing your items then I would try
lowering the price and see what happens.
Another suggestion is to mention that
"Due to availability of certain items
prices are subject to change."
DO RESEARCH - Like what you are
doing here is research in learning about
what to expect doing craft show. But
more so, go to various crafts shows and
see it from the stand point of customers
and crafters. How is the flow of
traffic? Are crafters or customers
complaining? What is the size of spaces
at the show and what areas are getting
seen more than others? Also if someone
is selling similar products you are,
check prices and introduce yourself.
Some crafters may be iffy in giving you
advice due to competition but others can
be a wealth of knowledge.
DO NOT - Expect that once you
have a space and your craft you need
anything else. Your display is the
second most important thing next to your
craft and should try doing setting up
your display before doing the craft show
to know what to expect. Just having a
table and your items on it is not a
display. It is wise to get a table cloth
that covers three sides of your table.
And the table cloth can be plain or
decorative/festive. Having just a table
cloth alone will hide your boxes and
containers under the table. Also, having
height and dimension will get people to
see you items - i.e. shelving for on the
table or free standing, peg boards,
clothing racks (if you sell scarves,
clothing, etc.) If your items lay flat
on the table upon first look people
won't think you are selling anything -
just look at your display from a
customers point of view. And do not have
empty space. If you do, it looks like
you aren't well prepared or there isn't
enough to keep one's attention. The more
you fuss over your items as in
restocking, it gives customers a sense
of urgency in "ooh what else is she
putting out, maybe it is different than
what was out already," and that you are
busy due to sales.
DO - Wear comfortable clothes and
prepare for inclement weather. Some
indoor shows are hard to predict whether
it will be hot or cold inside (even
outside for that matter). Dressing in
layers helps. Also with rain (whether it
is an outdoor show or indoor show) know
the easiest route to your booth and how
to shield your items and display from
rain and wind. There are numerous times
I have seen displays blown over time and
time again due to wind and rain damage.
DO NOT - Assume that the promoter
knows your needs. In your application
make sure you have things noted like the
need for electricity, or that you need
an extra table, be in a visible area, or
not be next to certain types of vendors.
If you aren't specific in your
application, promoters may not be able
to help you.
DO - Give customers space. A lot of
customers are there to browse and may or
may not want to engage in conversation.
However, saying hello to customers or a
how are you today opens the window for
conversation if the customer has
questions.
DO NOT - Crowd your customers.
Just think of the one store you get
harassed in as soon as you walk through
their doors. Allow customers to browse
and suggestive sell. If someone likes a
certain type of jewelry, say a necklace,
show them a matching bracelet or piece
"xyz" would compliment their eyes. Also,
some customers zone in on one thing and
will be oblivious to other items on your
display, suggesting that if they like
what they are holding, they will
definitely like this one and point or
pick up the item you think they would
like in addition to what they have.
Also, keeping some information (personal
information) to oneself is good because
remember you are there to sell and tying
up some peoples time with conversation
can discourage other possible sales.
DO - Have business cards! How
else can a customer contact you if they
want to buy more of your things or have
an issue with one of your things? Doing
a simple business card on the computer
with a word processing software or a
desktop publishing program is very cost
effective than going to an outside
business. And the paper can be pretty
cheap depending on how nice you want
your cards to be. Sometimes your kids or
grandkids can help you with that too.
Also having a notepad for people to sign
up on a mailing list is really good too.
If they are interested in more
information this allows you to have the
ball in your court with the information
verses waiting by the phone hoping they
will call you.
DO NOT - Walk around asking
questions from other vendors about their
sales. This is considered a no no in the
show circuit. If vendors at the same
show do well and you are not, they will
probably not feel right telling you that
they are doing well. If they are having
a slow day it will only bring down their
morale to have to share figures they are
not proud of. Either way it is not a
good idea and is heavily frowned upon by
the show promoters and other vendors.
DO NOT - Have high expectations
for your first show. You will get a lot
of "How cute", "Isn't that nice", or
even "I can do that" and they can just
walk away. And you will get sales but
comments will for the most part out
weigh sales. Some do really well on
their first show and others don't. The
biggest reason for this is exposure -
the more exposure you do the more people
will find you and buy time after time.
Remember if you break even that is good!
Doing more that deserves a big pat on
the back. Also the more knowledge going
into a craft show the better you will do
too.
DO - Have fun! The biggest thing
with shows is generally they are a lot
of work but a lot of fun too. You get a
huge surge of self confidence and ego
boost from customers - who doesn't like
that?! Also, meeting other crafters is
really good especially the advice may
have too!
LASTLY - DO NOT - Get
discouraged. It may take 2-3 craft shows
to get the hang of them - but every
craft show is a learning experience.
Also, don't get carried away with
shopping for yourself - remember you do
want to make money and keep some around
for reinvesting in your craft as well as
walk away with some profit. I have been
doing shows for a couple of years now
and am finding my niche in what shows
are best for me and my products, getting
a following, etc. It will come, just
stick with it, plan well, and think
positive.
By Michelle Sholund
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