Five things I’ve learned at my first craft fair
Share
By Cosmic Emigre
I’ve always been a fan of local craft fairs, and this year decided to do one myself. Luckily, I was accepted to one of the San Jose street markets and had a chance to share my greeting cards and art prints with a community beyond my social media following. As a result of my experience, I would like to share a few tips with you.
Stay local
For your first show, I would recommend doing one in your town. Doing something for the first time is stressful, and doing it in an environment that is far away and unfamiliar is even more difficult. If you decide to do an outdoor event, remember that it can be physically taxing to set up a tent and take it down. So I would stay local to learn how everything works and, with that knowledge, try new locations later.
Early preparation is key
For your peace of mind, make sure you have everything ready one week before the event. Create a checklist of things you'll need and organize them by groups, for example, booth setup, inventory, product display, payment, documents, self-promotion, etc. Test your booth setup at home to see how things look and what needs to be improved for a more cohesive feel. Load your car early and make sure everything fits. You don't want to drive all the way to the location only to find out that your canopy weights are nowhere to be found or that the card reader isn't working.
Start out small
For your first craft show, focus on creating 3 to 5 different product categories, for example, greeting cards, art prints, original artwork, stickers, and tote bags. You can re-use your designs and apply them to different products to see what sells best. Before investing into expensive banners and product displays, you can find more affordable options like hand-painted signs, crates, dish racks, grid walls, etc.
Document your journey
Document every part of your creative journey. As all things change, so will you—as a person and as an artist. And it would be interesting to see how your work evolves over time. So after you set up your booth and put your designs on display, don't forget to take a photo of one of your creative experiments—your very first craft fair. Who knows where it will lead you.
Moderate expectations
Craft fairs can be highly unpredictable. Sometimes you sell out, and sometimes there are barely any sales. It depends on the type of event, the location, and the audience. If you have beautiful designs, a variety of products at different price points, and if you are not afraid to talk to strangers about your work and creative process, you will definitely make some sales. Maybe a lot of sales. The holiday markets are good to do because people are looking for gifts, but they also tend to be sold out quickly, so you'll have to plan accordingly to get in.
Selling your art in person can be scary but rewarding. No matter the outcome, it's a great opportunity to validate your products, gather feedback and learn more about the customer. Being surrounded by other makers creates a sense of belonging and can inspire new ideas and new forms of creative expression.