![]() With each craft show, I narrowed down my selection and began to see the power of building collections. The table was like a buffet of purses no two were alike. The majority of the table was dedicated to them, with a few pieces of photography at the end. My first craft show was a bunch of flannel pajama bottoms with matching rice heating bags, as well as some throw pillows made out of vintage t-shirts….aaand I was sharing a table with my friend selling photography.Īt the next event, my friend and I started our joint venture making handbags. If you’ve read my ebook, you know I started my handmade business with a completely different product than I finished with. If I could go back and talk to the handmade business owner I was when I first started selling at craft shows, these are important lessons I would share to get me some more sales! And the more you profit, the more motivation, energy, and ease you’ll have running your business. The sooner you find your sweet spot, the sooner you’ll start making more money. I hope my mistakes and answers to “If you could go back and tell yourself one thing, what would it be?” will help you get on the right path sooner and continue your journey as a handmade business owner. I can’t turn back time and give myself the valuable advice I’ve learned from a decade of selling at craft shows. I would have been starting in such a good place and heading in the right direction. I really wish the last couple of years of my business were actually the beginning. The problem was, I had spent so much time figuring things out, that once I found that sweet spot, I was exhausted and unmotivated to sell at craft shows. I played around with different display setups, fixtures, props, signage, and sales pitches at each event as well.Īfter years of selling at craft shows, I finally started to find my place. I started with selling pajamas and rice heating bags, sewed a few pillow covers, got into making (every style of) handbags, sewed mittens out of leftover handbag fabric, and sold a few odds and ends like wallets, coin purses, pencil cases, etc. ![]() Researching, choosing, and applying to the right events is covered in detail in my ebook MAKE MORE MONEY AT CRAFT FAIRS and is an essential step in craft show success.Īlong with trying a variety of events, I also tried a variety of products. I definitely had my share of events that were less successful due to the organizer or because I applied to a craft show that wasn’t a fit for my products. When you see other vendors doing well but aren’t seeing the sales at your booth, you really start to question if craft shows are right for you….and maybe even start to doubt your business. Especially when you can’t blame it on bad weather, poor organization or lack of promotion on the organizer’s part. ![]() An unsuccessful craft show can really take the wind out of your sails. I had sold at every type of craft show in my city, learning through trial and error how to pick the right ones. ![]() CRAFT TRENDS FOR HOT PRODUCTS TO SELL AT CRAFT SHOWS.You may also be interested in product ideas to sell at craft shows. I’m sharing some of those in this article to help you improve your craft show game. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t a LOT of mistakes and lessons along the way. I’m lucky enough to say that I always walked away from craft shows having made money (some profited more than others but I never took a loss). If you don’t find the right ones, with the right organizers, bring the right product and create an amazing display, they can be anything but profitable.Īlthough a handmade business can be successful selling only online and through retailers, craft shows are an amazing tool to test your products, get to know your customers, conduct market research, grow your business locally and if done properly, leave you with a wad of cash. A lot of people feel like throwing in the towel when it comes to craft shows. ![]()
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