How to sell at a craft show: a guide for handmade sellers

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A craft show is a different kind of selling from an online marketplace: one day, one table, and buyers who can pick your work up. A little planning makes the day pay for itself.

Before the show

• Pick shows whose visitors buy what you make. Ask the organizer about past attendance and the kind of sellers who usually exhibit.
• Read the costs and rules: booth fee, table size, power, and whether you need a sales-tax permit for that city or state.
• Plan stock around your best sellers, and bring a few lower-priced items for people who want something small.

The booth

• Price everything clearly. Many shoppers will not ask.
• Raise products toward eye level with risers or shelves, and keep the table uncluttered.
• Use a sign with your shop name and web address that can be read from the aisle.

Taking payment

Take cards as well as cash. A card reader linked to your online store, such as Shopify POS, keeps in-person sales and stock counts in one place. Bring change, a charged phone and a backup way to take payment in case the venue's signal is weak.

After the show

Note what sold, what did not and what people asked about. Follow up with anyone who joined your email list while the day is still fresh.

For how to turn booth conversations into online customers, see Craft shows let you connect with your customers on a more personal level.