Join me in the 31 Days of Craft Show Preparation by Blogger Molly of http://mollyeleen.wordpress.com. Molly was inspired to do the 31 days challenge when her friends took on the challenge that The Nester hosts each year. (based on the 31 Days to build a better blog by ProBlogger)
Molly shares a tip each Friday and I was struggling to come up with one for today’s post. I was thinking about the two shows I did and racking my brain to see what I could share. The last show I did was with an Etsy Team for my local area. I learned a lot by doing this so here are my top 3 tips for today.
Photo credit: sideshowmom from : morguefile.com
1. Draw Attention to Yourselves
I’m a bit of a shy gal and because of this my social skills are lacking. Knowing this about myself I volunteered my son to accompany me. He did and brought his friend along for the ride.
The location of the shop was a bit disappointing (see next tip) so I enlisted both these teens to pimp our show. I hate to call it that but it is what it is. His friend was a girl (smiles) so the two of them took some signs and a couple of balloons and steered traffic into our parking lot.
We did get more folks to look around but no buyers. (read Big Fat Craft Fair Fail by Me Sew Crazy) You will not be the first to ‘fail‘ nor will you be the last.
Photo credit: jdurhamfrom orguefile.com
2. Repackage Your Products
Knowing how to repackage your goods can bring additional products to your inventory. For instance, at the time of this show I was selling patterns online via Etsy. I took my top selling patterns as well as patterns to the items I was selling and printed them out. I placed them in large zip top bags and made toppers for them. (toppers are little stock paper tags similar to those on candy)
My item was a digital pattern but repackaging it made it possible for me to sell the actual pattern at the show. This might have worked had I chosen a show where my target market was at.
Another idea might be repackaging your amigurumi. Most people see these as collectables. Do you make food items? How about animals? Why not market them as story props. I was actually given this idea for my food patterns from a lovely author on Squidoo who is also an elementary teacher. She told me to use my food for learning tools. I’ve been meaning to do this but wanting to do something and doing it are two different things.
An example would be to make a gingerbread man and attach it to a book. You could make an apple and suggest books on Johnny Appleseed. You can also put together pretend play packages. It really depends on your audience.
Photo credit: RoganJosh from morguefile.com
3. Know What You Are Getting Into
This was a free show as it was at the shop of one of the gals who was in the group. Remember, when doing craft shows ask questions and lots of them. There were a couple things wrong with this show.
First, we were told the shop was off the main street. Although this was technically true, the actual location of the shop was at the end of the long parking lot with other shops. We were last so you actually had to pull in and park to even know we were there.
Second, we were told there would be lots of street traffic from a flea market. Again, technically this was true but it was not in the same area as her shop. It was two businesses down separated by parking lots. Tip: flea market means people are looking for bargains not handmade items you spent hours on.
p.s. Flea markets are fine for certain things like small dish cloths, seasonal crochet trinkets and such but remember people are not likely to spend more than $5.00. We have a local one that charges $25/weekend which receives lots of traffic. The thing is most of the sellers are junk sellers and resellers so not really a handmade marketplace.
About Sara Duggan
More than 1,200 FREE crochet patterns. 
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