{Day 29 and 30} Craft Show Preparation – Making Lists and Checking Twice

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)

Today Molly shares the inventory she has so far. (see The Big Day checklist)  The day of her show is getting closer – Does she have enough?

As I was searching for resources for this post I read on one post that if you plan on making $500 at your craft fair you need to bring at least $1500+ inventory. Yikes. I’d like to know what shows and what products they are selling don’t you?

For that much inventory you are going to need a list to organize everything. Here are seven lists I found that might help you prepare for your next craft show.

Top 7 Craft Show Checklists

1. Craft Fair 101 Your first show is a post by Chicago Craft Mafia which gives you an overview of what you’ll need. It touches having a variety of items as well as multiple styles and colors. Next it gives you a bit of tips on displaying your products in a pleasing manner to highlight your best work. Finally, there is a large list of supplies you’ll need for the actual show under the title “The cost of doing business” which I find is a big reality check for those who choose to do shows. Cost is not only supplies but also time.
2. The Big Craft Show List is from handmadeology. It is actually a series of tips which you should check out. This list includes everything from tools (Yeah, you would hate to need a screw driver or hammer when setting up your booth – important), decorations for your booth, packaging, and finance. Again, do read the entire series if a craft show is in your future. I so wish this was around back when I did my selling.
3. 12 Craft Show Tips by Everything Etsy is a nice post that covers just about everything that Molly shared in her post. I’ve been off the Etsy selling thing since 2010 so didn’t even know about this site. There is so much information out there today to help out shop owners. I would interview those who are earning at the level you want to be earning. What are they doing?
4. Art Marketing is a board on Pinterest by Creative Chicks with tons of great ideas and resources to help you out. Be sure to follow it.
5. Printable Check List by My So Called Crafty Life by Ashlee is a great little list you can print out and use for each show. Nice little check off points and some space to add your own ideas.
6. Joyful Abode shares her checklist in neat little sections that include personal care, selling or accepting payments, displaying and setup, and emergency supplies and organization helps.
7. Indie Fixx – 61 Things to Bring to Your Craft Show (Be sure to check out her series of posts on craft shows.)

Do you have your inventory made? Do you have a list to keep you on target?

How You Can Participate

1. Visit Molly’s Blog post which has all 31 posts in the series
2. Blog about it. You can do one post for the entire week or one post per day. I’ll be doing one post a day. (31)
3. Chat about it either on the Crochet Business fanpage or in the CBB Google+ community.