I did my first craft fair of the year this weekend, and it was a wild ride of pulling everything together after the crazy run of fairs leading up to Christmas. Every year I say I’ll put everything away neatly, and every year it’s the same two days spent looking for things. But it was great! It was lovely to meet the other vendors and chat to some first timers, and I’m sure I ate my body weight in donuts from the Sorcha Bakery Sorcha Bakery (@sorchabakery) • Instagram photos and videos at the stall next door.
I took some time to really analyse my stand and think about what changes I could make in the next few months. I’ve been setting up my display the same way for years, and while it seems to work well, I think it’s time to try something new. So I went back to basics, and thought about what advice I was given, and what advice I would give, to new stall holders and vendors at craft markets.
After whitling them down, here are my top five tips for setting up a table at a craft fair:
1. Presentation
Show off all your wares to their best advantage with out over crowding your table. You can
accessorise your table with items related to your products or the season but remember that the stuff you want to sell needs to be the star of the show. Use a nice tablecloth and pretty stands to frame and support your products.
2. Use all your available space
Try to build some height onto your table by using vertical stands or utilise the space behind you with a standing or hanging banner advertising your business and products. People wont always be in a position to look down at your table, so consider all the angles and opportunities you have to grab people’s attention, no matter where they are standing.
3. Keep the area behind your table neat
Being tidy looks professional and prevents you from tripping over things while you are moving
around back there. Use the space below the table for easily accessible storage and think about how to store your stock so that you can find and replaced sold items quickly.
4. Advertise your business
Make sure you have business cards available in more than one place, that way customers can take a wee reminder of who you are, and you can direct people to your website or other outlets.
5. Be clear about your pricing
Have your prices clearly displayed in more than one place, so that people don’t have to ask. It is also handy to have information about your products available for people to read, so that if you are busy talking to a customer, a potential buyer can still be engaged. Craft Fairs take a little bit of practice, and the most important thing is to remember to have fun. Being enthusiastic is contagious, and nine out the ten people you smile at will stop and have a chat, and maybe buy something. How do you set up for a craft fair? I’d love to know your top tips for a beautiful, successful table!
